Stereo-scopia that is double vision. It's the one everybody puts into effect whenever observing reality, thanks to the possibility of relying on two eyes working and most importantly apart from each other. Being a distance in between is of primary importance because it let two images of the same object or panorama, be delivered to the brain, shot from a different angle. Our brain knows well the distance between the eyes, thus, analizing the difference between the two images of the couple, it traces back the space depth through a prompt geometrical calculation. This way we are able to distinguish which object is in front compared to which is behind. Isn't that magic?

Well, this magic can be reproduced digitally, by means of a series of tools called, in fact, "Stereoscopic Vision Systems".

The first and simplest ones can be used on common PC monitors, where sure we know only one image is viewed at a time. In fact is the image itself that contains, one on top of the other, the two images needed for the stereoscopy. One image will be coloured in red, the other in cyan (or green). Now It needs only a pair of anaglyph glasses with tinted lenses in red and cyan (or green), in order to have each eye see its proper image and there you are. The image will get "deeper" and volumes will look like popping out of the screen!

Another system is to distinguish the two images not by colors, but polarizing the light: one image will be polarized horizontally, the other vertically. In this case we necessarily need two projectors, each with a polarizing lens and a common projection screen or a white wall. The glasses we are going to wear will have each lens polarized accordingly as well, so that each eye is going to perceive only its dedicated image.

A third system requires a bit more specialized equipment, but it offers the highest degree of space depth perception of the images. We are talking about "active" stereoscopy. Indeed the idea is very simple: if we need to output two images on the screen, one for the right eyes and one for the left eye, we can accomplish that by doubling the projection speed, namely the frame rate, from 25 images per second to 50, alternating the two images. A pair of so-called "shutter glasses" is going to obscure the vision of each eyes in a syncrhonized way. As a matter of fact this is the most effective and simple method, but we are going to need a specific projection equipment.

A fourth system is the one called "autostereoscopic", in which a special prismatic lens is mounted upon a normal monitor or LCD or plasma display. The lens will divide the screen in many couples of thin vertical stripes and a spcific software will do the same with the images we want to output. This way it's possible to see two overlapping images at the same time on the sreen. The magic is you don't have to wear glasses! It's like watching an ordinary TV, although we first have to find the best focus and then keep ourselves still in position as possible. It is definitely an innovative technology which sure is going to allow us in the next years to move freely in front of stereoscopic screens, replacing the "old" monoscopic television sets.

NoReal has produced and continues producing images, animations and interactive 3d models for all these technologies, suggesting which is the best according to circumstances. Stereoscopic images and videos are more demanding production wise because some steps to optimize the stereoscopic result must be done manually and the frames calculation is doubled. But sure the end result is amzing.

Stereoscopic images and videos are very useful for the "waw" effect often used in exhibitions, conventions and events. The anagliph technology (red/cyan) can be used in your web site as well, offering the required tinted glasses as free promotional gadgets. Museum stands and multimedia rooms could be equipped with double projectors for passive stereoscopy, whereas companies IT departments could be better provided with a fully active stereocopy room. Besides, stereoscopic displays installation is very easy and of a certain effect being quite similar to that of a common PC plugged into a monitor.