How can I make stereoscopic 3D images for VR viewers from a left/right photo pair?
Asked 7/10/2019
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I have a collection of stereoscopic 3D photo pairs that I usually view cross-eyed, but I’d like to make them easier for other people to see in VR viewers such as Google Cardboard. Is there a common file format or workflow for turning a left/right stereo pair into something VR viewers can display? I’ve heard of side-by-side files, JPS, MPO, and JPEGs with embedded 3D metadata, but I’m not sure what is actually practical for hobbyists.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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There are multiple ways stereoscopic image data can be stored. The easiest to create are side-by-side JPGs.
Side-by-side JPGs (JPS). According to sView: Stereoscopic Formats, the images are in cross-eye order for JPS. You can use ImageMagick to create them.
convert right.jpg left.jpg +append output.jpgWhen done rename the extension from
jpgtojps. If you don't change the extension, you can view it as a cross-eye image.Embedded in Exif metadata (MPO, JPG). MPO files are produced by many dedicated 3D cameras, such as the FujiFilm Real 3D W3. JPGs with embedded 3D data are produced by some apps, such as Google Cardboard. Some multi-camera phones similarly embed image data from multiple cameras into a single file. However, I know of no current multi-camera phone that is 3D capable.
I don't know of any tools that create MPO files from image pairs, and ExifTool is not able to create new tags containing image data (thumbnails, previews, etc).
To extract 3D image data from images, see:
Anaglyphs (red/blue images). This format is created by some toy 3D cameras (Vivitar, Toyo). I wouldn't bother with it.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A common and simple way is to make a side-by-side stereo JPEG, often saved with the .jps extension. This is easy to create from a left/right pair and is widely understood by stereo viewing software. A basic workflow is to place the two images side by side in the correct eye order, then save as JPEG and rename it to .jps if needed.
More specialized formats also exist, such as MPO or JPEGs with embedded 3D metadata, and some dedicated 3D cameras and apps use them. But for hobbyist use, side-by-side/JPS is usually the easiest and most practical.
The important part is alignment: the left and right images must be carefully matched vertically and geometrically, or viewers may experience eye strain or headaches. Software such as StereoPhoto Maker is specifically designed to align stereo pairs and export many 3D formats.
So, yes—people do make 3D photos for VR and stereo viewing, and the most accessible route is usually: align the pair properly, export a side-by-side image, and view it in compatible stereo/VR software.
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