Copyright: (c) olej 2001


Content

Overview  Features  System requirements

License  Shareware version limitations

Register  Contact

Quick tutorial

Main window

Main window

Main menu

Render Animation

Options

Configuration


Quick tutorial

Rendering stereogram

For rendering stereograms in Stereogram Explorer you need Depth map or 3D model.

Depth map of A-10.

Stereogram Explorer is delivered with few depth maps and 3D models. You can download thousands of free 3D models in 3DS file format from many Internet archives. See http://www.iitvr.com/meshes.html

If you want to render textured image, you need texture. This is stereogram with default texture

Stereogram Explorer inlcudes few textures. You can use any image as texture. Stereogram Explorer don't require special textures, but best are textures with small elements and good contrast or color distance.

Steps for rendering stereogram

1. You must load depth image or 3D model for rendering stereogram. If you load 3D model, you must scale and rotate model to needed position

2. Set stereogram type (by default is selected Textured stereogram)

3. If you want to render textured stereogram, you can load texture

4. Set size and DPI of stereogram

5. Start render stereogram

Rendering animation

Steps for rendering animation

1. Load 3D model

2. Set 3D model to needed position

3. Click Render Animation and output file name


Contact

Stereogram Explorer homepage: http://www.aolej.com

Some questions, bug report and advice you can send to olej@atlas.cz

Thank you for using Stereogram Explorer.


Rendering animation

Stereogram Explorer enables render animations. You must load 3D model and set starting position. Scale and rotate 3D model to wanted position.

Click Render Animation button and set animation properties.

Screen size

Set size of animation screen. You can select one of available sizes.

Frame count

Select number of calculated frames.

Frames per second

Set FPS parameter for AVI file. Length of animation will be Frame count/FPS seconds.

Animation

You can set positive or negative rotation for axes X, Y, Z and camera zoom.

Stereogram Type

Select stereogram type for animation. Recomended are random-dot types.

Click Start to select file name and rendering stereogram animation.


Shareware version limitations

There are no limitations for using Stereogram Explorer in 30 day trial period !

There is only superimposed the name of the program onto the upper-left corner of the images.

After trial 30 days period, program shows information about expiration.

If you want to use Stereogram Explorer, please register.


License

      STEREOGRAM EXPLORER

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      License for use and distribution

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      The STEREOGRAM Explorer is distributed as try-before-you-buy.

      This means:

   1. All copyrights to  STEREOGRAM Explorer  are  exclusively owned

      by the author Andrej Olejnik.

   2. Anyone may  use this software during a test period of 30 days.

      Following this  test  period  of  30 days or less, if you wish

      to continue to use STEREOGRAM Explorer, you MUST register.

   3. Once   registered,    the   user   is  granted a non-exclusive

      license to use STEREOGRAM Explorer on one computer (i.e. a single

      CPU),  for  any  legal  purpose,   at  a time.  The registered

      STEREOGRAM Explorer software may not be rented  or  leased, but

      may  be  permanently  transferred, if the person receiving  it

      agrees   to   terms  of  this  license.  If the software is an

      update,   the    transfer    must   include   the  update  and

      all previous versions.

   4. The  STEREOGRAM Explorer   unregistered  trial  version, may be

      freely  distributed, with exceptions noted below, provided the

      distribution package is not modified. No person or company may

      charge a fee for the distribution of STEREOGRAM Explorer without

      written permission from the copyright  holder.  The STEREOGRAM

      Explorer   unregistered   trial  version  may  not  be  bundled

      or   distributed   with  any  other  package  without  written

      permission of the copyright holder.

   5. To   register   you   must  register online, with registration

      fee, to one of the authorized registration sites.

   6. STEREOGRAM Explorer   IS    DISTRIBUTED   "AS IS".

      NO  WARRANTY   OF    ANY   KIND   IS   EXPRESSED  OR

      IMPLIED.   YOU  USE  AT  YOUR OWN RISK.  THE  AUTHOR

      WILL  NOT BE LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS, DAMAGES, LOSS  OF

      PROFITS  OR  ANY  OTHER  KIND  OF  LOSS  WHILE USING

      OR MISUSING THIS SOFTWARE.

   7. You   may  not  use,  copy, emulate, clone, rent, lease, sell,

      modify,  decompile,  disassemble,  otherwise reverse engineer,

      or  transfer  the  licensed  program,  or  any  subset  of the

      licensed  program,  except  as provided for in this agreement.

      Any  such  unauthorized  use  shall  result  in  immediate and

      automatic   termination   of   this  license  and  may  result

      in criminal and/or civil prosecution.

      Andrej Olejnik reserves all rights not expressly granted here.

   8. Installing and  using  STEREOGRAM Explorer signifies acceptance

      of these terms and conditions of the license.

   9. If you  do  not  agree with the terms of this license you must

      remove STEREOGRAM Explorer files from  your storage devices and

      cease to use the product.

   Thank you for using STEREOGRAM EXPLORER.


Overview

Stereogram Explorer is user-friendly design software for creating

high-quality hidden 3D graphics, also known as Single Image Random

Dot Stereograms (SIRDS) or Single Image Stereograms (SIS) known

from the "Magic Eye" series. Stereogram Explorer uses advanced

algorithms and can render animations from 3DS models.

Unregistered software superimposes the name of the program onto

the upper-left corner of the images.

Stereogram Explorer enables import 3D models in 3DS-file format

(3D Studio) and generate depth maps. You must only select 3DS file

and change scene parameters as scale, rotation and camera offset.

Model is displayed as depth map. Depth parameters are automatically

recalculated on scene modification. There are some special options

to control depth parameters.

You can find thousands free 3DS models on

http://www.iitvr.com/meshes.html

Stereogram animations from 3D models are rendered to AVI files.

Human eyes and brain is not ready for stereogram animations, because

texture is not moving with object. In this way is recommended using

random dot stereograms for creating animated stereograms.

If you want to made own 3D models use

Anim8or - http://www.anim8or.com

or 3D text

LaFonte -  http://www.utah3d.com/lafonte.htm


Features

Program

User-friendly interface

Random dot stereograms (SIRDS)

Pattern or textured stereograms (SIS)

Support for many file types including GIFs, JPEGs, PICTs, and BMPs

Import 3DS (3D Studio) models

Export depthmaps from 3D scene

Autocalculated depth coeficient for loaded 3D models

Scaling, rotating and moving 3D models

Generate AVI animation from 3D model

Export to BMP, JPG, PNG, TGA

Rendering

Hidden-surface removal

Complete absence of artifacts (ghosts)

Really smooth 3D images (oversampling up to 8 levels)

Blur effect (3 levels)

Automatic texture and depth image bilinear resizing

All options are configurable

Supported file formats:

 Depth & texture Image Formats - BMP, JPG, PNG, TIFF, TGA, GIF, PCX, WMF, EMF,…

 3D model formats - 3DS

 Output Image Format - BMP, JPG, PNG, TGA

 Output Animation Format - AVI


System requirements

    Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME

    Minimum 32 MB RAM

    4MB space for program

    Disk space for AVI files


Configuration

Set main stereogram params.

Observation distance

Set observation distance in inches. If you render poster or stereogram with large observation distance, set appropriate value.

Max & Min 3D depth

Use default values. If rendered stereograms are difficult to view, try reduce Max 3D depth

Separation value

Separation value is width of strip, where is repeated pattern or texture. Separation value is automatically calculated from values above and DPI value.

DPI

DPI is pixel resulution per inch for your display or printed stereogram. Use values 70-75 for stereograms displayed on monitors. Other values depends on printed resolutions.


Register

If you want to use Stereogram Explorer, you must register to receive a registration number.

The registration fee is $20 USD.

Registration is performed online.

Order processing is performed by Regsoft or ShareIt!.  or

Follow this links:

Secure online order form.

Stereogram Explorer - Regsoft

Stereogram Explorer - ShareIt!

You will be asked to input information about yourself. When Regsoft or ShareIt!, have received your order,

your registration number will be emailed to you straight away. In Stereogram Explorer select the menu

Info/Register, and input your name and received registration number. Registration is now complete!

Thank you for using Stereogram Explorer.


Stereogram preview window

Use right mouse click to save stereogram image to file.


Program shortcuts

Render stereogram - F12

Close stereogram preview window - ESC

3D model

left mouse button - rotate model

left mouse button + CTRL key - rotate model Z axis

right mouse button - move camera


Main window

There are two pages 3D Model and Stereogram


Stereogram page

Stereogram Page displays depth map and texture. There are all main stereogram parameters. For additional parametes see Configuration

Stereogram Type

Textured

Select one of available stereogram types. Best and default selection is Textured stereogram. This is best implemented algorithm for rendering SIS stereograms. You can play with Blur and Oversampling parameters free.

FastRandomDot

If you want render old-style SIRDS random-dot stereograms, select FastRandomDot. Result is sliced  stereogram(no-smooth shapes). You can avoid it with adding Blur. There can not be used Oversampling.

You can see slices. It can be removed by using Blur.

RandomDotTextured

Random-dot textured algorithm is combination of Textured and FastRandomDot. As texture is used random-dot image. You can remove image slices with using Oversampling and Blur. This is the best way how to create high-quality random-dot stereograms.

Blur

Use blur to remove slices on random-dot stereograms. You can free play with this parameter to get the best results.

On first image is FastRandomDot without blur on second with blur.

Oversampling

Oversamling enables generate smooth stereograms. Default value for Textured stereograms is 4. Oversampling can't be applied on FastRandomDot stereograms.

Colors for RandomDot

Select what kind of random-dots you want to use. Now are available two types - black&white and RGB-color dots.

If you want to use other, you can load it as texture. For Black&white dots you can set dot intensity.

B&W and RGB dots

Size&DPI

Set size of image in pixels and result resolution. If stereogram will be displayed on monitor use values about 70.  Other resolution depends on print resolution.

DPI resolution on destination media (monitor or paper) must be

Texture

Click on image to load texture or select File/Load texture in menu. Texture will be used for rendering textured stereograms. By default is checked option Stretch on render. This automatically resize texture for correct filling. If you render stereograms with large DPI (more than 100 DPI), you can try disable Stretch on render option.

Depth map

Click on image to load Depth map or select File/Load Depth map in menu. You can load depth map from image file. If you want create depth map from 3D model, use File/Load 3DS model in menu.

Stereogram geometry

Select diverging or converging type. Default type is diverging.


3D model page

Displayed 3D model is rendered as depth image. Depth parameters are automatically recalculated on change scene parameters. This reduce FPS but depth parameters are correctly precalculated.

Rotate model

To rotate model hold down left mouse button and move mouse on model screen. To rotate Z axis, hold down CTRL key and left mouse button.

Scale

3D model page displays 3D model. Use File/Load 3DS model to load model. When is model loaded, use scale trackbar to display model in acceptable size. Some models are saved in non-normalized size and after loading are invisible. They are too big or too small. By default is scale set to 100%.

Focus

You can control camera focus.

Move Camera

Use trackbars to move camera in scene. You can do same with moving mouse cursor on scene with hold right mouse button.

Depth Control

You can play with main depth scene parameters. You can change result stereogram depth.

Render Animation see detail

Save depthmap

You can save actually displayed depth map to image file.


Main menu

File

Load 3DS model

Click to load 3D model. If loading is finished, 3D model is displayed in grayscale. If you don't see model, try change scale parameter.

Load Depth map

Click to load depth map. You can load depth map from image. There is many supported format. Recommended is image in grayscale.

Load Texture

Click to load texture. Texture is used for rendering textured stereograms (SIS). By default is loaded green tree texture. You can click on texture image for load another texture image.

Save Stereogram

You must render at least stereogram to enable this item. Stereogram image is saved to selected file name and format. You can save stereogram image by right click on stereogram preview image.

Exit

Close Stereogram Explorer application.

Action

Render

Start render stereogram. You must load depth image or 3D model. Rendered stereogram is displayed on stereogram preview window.

Render animation

Start render animation. You must load 3D model to start render animation.

Show last rendered

Application shows last rendered stereogram in preview window.

Configuration

Show configuration window for setting main stereogram rendering parameters.

Info

Help

Help window

Register

Click to enter registration number.

See Register.

About

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