Tailpipe
BY PETER VIEIRA
FAIR WARNING: you may get an incredible headache doing
this, but when you fool your brain into thinking it’s seeing a 3D
image, you’ll really dig it. And here’s the best part: it’s incredibly
easy to shoot your own 3D pics (stereograms, to be precise).
;ere is no special equipment needed, just any type of camera.
RC 3D!
HOW TO SEE IN 3D
;e technique you’ll use to see the 3D image below is called parallel viewing. You can also use
a technique called cross-eyed viewing, but this isn’t as easy to do. Plus, according to your
mom, “your eyes might stay that way.”
OK, let’s do this. What appears to be two identical images are actually two nearly identical
images. Look closely, and you can see that the two pictures were shot from a slightly di;erent
perspective: one with the camera a little more to the left and the other a little more to the
right. ;e di;erence between camera positions is about 2.5 inches, which is also the typical
distance between a person’s eyes. Science!
To jump-start the 3D e;ect, you can use a “separator” to help each eye see only the image
that is dedicated to that eye. A piece of cardboard is all you need. Place the carboard between
the two images and line it up with your nose. Close your right eye, and your left eye will only
see the left image, and vice versa. Got it? OK. Time for 3D.
Open both eyes. ;e piece of cardboard between your eyes will look like two pieces of
cardboard, and it will appear as though you’re looking down a narrow hallway—a narrow
hallway with a 3D picture at the end! If you don’t see it right away, just relax—looking harder
won’t make it work. Don’t even try to focus on the picture; imagine you’re looking through it
and beyond. Bam! 3D!
Using a separator, the 3D image appears to be at the end
of a hall way.
When “free viewing,” the images appear to overlap
creating a third, 3D image in the center.
It’s super easy to make stereograms. Choose your subject, then take a picture. Slide the camera to the left or right
about 3 inches, then take another shot. Done. Put the pics side by side using any graphics program, or just print
them out individually and tape them together. Size the pictures so each is 2.5-inches to 3-inches wide—then get
your 3D on.
Making your own stereograms
TAILPIPE 3D
CONTEST!
Tweet your best stereograms to @RCCarAction
or post them at facebook.com/RCCarAction.
We’ll select one 3D masterpiece to share here
in “Tailpipe.” ;e winner will receive a Pro-Line
wheel, tire, and body combo—you pick ’em!
