[comp.sources.wanted] Stereoscopic computer graphics

cristy@eplrx7.UUCP (cristy) (02/09/89)

  I need references, algorithms, or source code about displaying an object
  on a stereoscopic display.  My display requires that the left and right
  fields appear above-and-below on the video screen.  I have the (x,y,z)
  coordinates of the center of several spheres.  From this I want to create
  the left and right fields.  Next I  use a raytracer to create the stereo
  image.  Has any had any experience doing this?  
   
  Thanks muchly in advance.

  cristy@vax1.acs.udel.edu

cs161agc@sdcc10.ucsd.EDU (John Schultz) (02/25/89)

In article <147@eplrx7.UUCP> cristy@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (John Cristy) writes:
>  I need references, algorithms, or source code about displaying an object
>  on a stereoscopic display. 

  You might try to find "Stereoscopic and Multiplanar Computer
Graphics", ACM SIGGRAPH '88, from August 1, 1988 Atlanta, GA. (Course
#21). 
  
  The simplest accurate equations for displaying a stereoscopic
image are [orthographic projection]:

  xl = (x + seperation)*d / z + CENTERX - seperation;
  xr = (x - seperation)*d / z + CENTERX + seperation;
  y  = y;

  There are also equations to rotate the left and right eye
perspectives, but is not recommended for scenes with large
variations in depth.

  To generate an image with a raytracer: 

    For the left eye image, set up the viewpoint coordinates for a
view slightly to the left of the center of the image.  For the right
eye, move the viewpoint to the right the same amount you moved it to
the left (simple translation).  Experiment for the best results. (in
real world coordinates, you want to simulate horizontal parallax of
about 2.5 inches max on the CRT (the ave. dist. between human
eyes)).  From my experience, best results are obtained when using
translation as above and a *slight* rotation, which would mean
keeping the center of the *camera* on the same point in space when
moving the *camera* left or right (this is in fact what I do when
digitizing an image for 3D display).


  Hope this helps,

  John Schultz