Combining two JPEGs into a single one

cosmicap · 04-08-2009, 08:28 PM

I seem to have inherited my Grandfather's interest in stereoscopy and have started to have a dabble. I have been encouraged by my first results and have printed out a few stereo pairs using MS Word to place the left and right images side by side in the same document, then printing at a size that I can view in my inherited Holmes viewer. The limit to quality is my inkjet. As digital shop printing is now so cheap and so good I would like a way to print a side by side pair of JPEGs on a 6"x4" which would then mount easily in the Holmes viewer. So how do I combine a pair of JPEGs into a single JPEG file? I remember watching my Grandfather meticulously mounting his steroscopic pairs. How simple the process is now on the computer. I run a Mac, not a PC, if anyone has a suggestion for an application. Love my K22D! Would like to chat with anyone about steo photography.

Venturi · 04-08-2009, 08:34 PM

Hi and welcome to PF!

I stumbled upon this site a couple weeks back whilst on a quest for a 35mm negative cutter and ended up buying one from him. DrT's Stereoscopic 3D Site

cosmicap · 04-08-2009, 08:47 PM

Thanks for that. Just had a quick look - nice to know there is a community out there!

*Wheatfield* · 04-08-2009, 09:05 PM

Do you have any sort of image editor? Photoshop Elements will do what you want.

jeffkrol · 04-08-2009, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by cosmicap

I seem to have inherited my Grandfather's interest in stereoscopy and have started to have a dabble. I have been encouraged by my first results and have printed out a few stereo pairs using MS Word to place the left and right images side by side in the same document, then printing at a size that I can view in my inherited Holmes viewer. The limit to quality is my inkjet. As digital shop printing is now so cheap and so good I would like a way to print a side by side pair of JPEGs on a 6"x4" which would then mount easily in the Holmes viewer. So how do I combine a pair of JPEGs into a single JPEG file? I remember watching my Grandfather meticulously mounting his steroscopic pairs. How simple the process is now on the computer. I run a Mac, not a PC, if anyone has a suggestion for an application. Love my K22D! Would like to chat with anyone about steo photography.

In the old days I used an old theater beam splitter, Tamron 90 macro lens and did slides. These were projected using the same beam splitter (now transferred to a slide projector) and projected using crossed polarizers and crossed polarized glasses.... It was fun for awhile but the subjects I liked needed hypo stereo and though I could tilt the mirrors it gave a tough to reconcile background. Below is one of these files, scanned in for printing (though this of course is a reduced file).
Pentax does (or did) make a beam splitter to attach to a 50mm lens (others as well but it was designed for a 50).
your easiest way is to take the two images, make a NEW image twice as big as 1. Copy and paste them side by side on the new sheet.. Adobe or Corel or any number of photo editors should easily allow this.

RMM 3D Encyclopedia - Hypostereo
Found an interesting product.........
3D Lens

*OregonJim* · 04-09-2009, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by jeffkrol

In the old days I used an old theater beam splitter, Tamron 90 macro lens and did slides. These were projected using the same beam splitter (now transferred to a slide projector) and projected using crossed polarizers and crossed polarized glasses....

I used to use a beam splitter to shoot slides, and viewed them in a matching handheld stereo viewer. Alas, splitter & viewer got lost some years ago. Being a Viewmaster nut (and collector), this thread has inspired me to get back into stereo photography. Anybody have a favorite web site on the topic?

*falconeye* · 04-09-2009, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by cosmicap

I seem to have inherited my Grandfather's interest in stereoscopy

So far, I ignored the possibility for 3D imaging.

But this thread and something I read start to fuel my interest.

What I've read is this: Appearantly, Sony intends to release a 3D feature for its PS3 game console / media center. I assume that it includes 3D glasses with shutter technology. It should allow you to watch 3D on a HDTV. Its main purpose is for 3D-enabled games, of course.

However, assuming there is a photo viewer software for PS3 making use of it, stereoscope images should become a 3D slide show on HDTV as well.

Because Sony made the awesome photo viewer software "PhotoGallery" part of PS3, I am optimistic that this is going to show up. However, nothing has been revealed, so far.

So, does a 3D image community exist and are 3D slide shows on HDTV a topic with them?

jeffkrol · 04-09-2009, 07:20 AM

3D w/ Samsung and Mitsubishi HDTV's

Samsung 3D TV

cosmicap · 04-09-2009, 04:37 PM

Thankyou Jeffkrol - so easy I'm ashamed to put you to the bother. Should have worked it out myself! The Loreo 3D In A Cap looks interesting. Apart from the portrait format what are its limitations? Am I right thinking your mushroom photo was taken with one? I am still struggling to freeview parallel although the cross method I have no problem with. Does anyone have a few magic words to get my eyes and brain to cordinate?
I have made a contraption that sitstop my tripod with a swinging base that allows a 2.5" separation bewtween shots. It's not elegant but I'm confident that it is robust enough for me to entrust my K200D to it and it gives a fine result.
Its limitations are legion but I think I will beconcentrating on scenes rather than people. I find the realism of "frozen" 3D people a bit creepy - even more so than a waxwork!
Roll out 3D telly! The few people I have shown my first attempts to have been awed at the realism, not having seen stereo photography before. Perhaps the time is right for a resurgence of popular interest.

jeffkrol · 04-09-2009, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by cosmicap

Thankyou Jeffkrol - so easy I'm ashamed to put you to the bother. Should have worked it out myself! The Loreo 3D In A Cap looks interesting. Apart from the portrait format what are its limitations? Am I right thinking your mushroom photo was taken with one?

No I bought and old "beamsplitter" many years ago. I was for theater use and had adjustable mirrors (it was used to project the image onto the screen but of course worked both ways), so I could "toe-in" the mirrors (there are a bunch of problems w/ this technique though). Thing is huge and heavy but had high quality first surface mirrors inside..
As to the loreo I'm just eying the products now. Seems the "macro" version is not available as of now (haven't checked too deep yet)..

Originally Posted by cosmicap

I am still struggling to freeview parallel although the cross method I have no problem with. Does anyone have a few magic words to get my eyes and brain to cordinate?

Not me though having some familiarity w/ 3d reconnaissance (forestry related) photos I know some people can do it, some can't. Some people can't see 3d in any manner for some optical reason (not just 1 eyed).

Originally Posted by cosmicap

I have made a contraption that sitstop my tripod with a swinging base that allows a 2.5" separation bewtween shots. It's not elegant but I'm confident that it is robust enough for me to entrust my K200D to it and it gives a fine result.
Its limitations are legion but I think I will be concentrating on scenes rather than people. I find the realism of "frozen" 3D people a bit creepy - even more so than a waxwork!
Roll out 3D telly! The few people I have shown my first attempts to have been awed at the realism, not having seen stereo photography before. Perhaps the time is right for a resurgence of popular interest.

3D goes back and forth in popularity......

*falconeye* · 04-09-2009, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by jeffkrol

3D goes back and forth in popularity......

Yes.
And yet ...

As soon as HDTV and media centers capable to display 3D content are commonplace the game may change. Or not?

Just like color TV shifted the content towards color as well.

But only if special glasses aren't needed... So, this may still be a couple of years into the future.

cosmicap · 04-09-2009, 07:27 PM

This is my hastily made contraption which works fine for a first attempt.
Name: St1.jpg
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In my next version I will extend the two platforms so that the camera body rests on the top platform without the whole skewed weight hanging off the post. I will remove the steering stalk as the base tripod head has all the manoeuvrability. To reduce the distance between images I can simply put a spacer between the platforms.
If there a more appropriate forum to discuss general stereoscopy?

*falconeye* · 04-10-2009, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by cosmicap

This is my hastily made contraption which works fine for a first attempt.
[ATTACH/]

This is a great device. Brilliant engineering!

Thanks for teaching me about the [ATTACH/] forum markup as well.

One concern I do have though...

Stereoscopic images with a long tele lens (like 300mm) may be incredible to watch at -- because the naked eye would never be able to see 3D in the distance. But you would need a distance 6x the normal distance between eyes. Can you do this with your device? Or would it be necessary to use a precision-engineered metal device anyway (because of the required increased precision)?

jeffkrol · 04-10-2009, 07:41 AM

RMM 3D Encyclopedia - Hyperstereo
* As a guideline, use an image separation of about 1/30 to 1/50 of the distance to your main subject. For example, to photograph a mountain range 5 miles distant, you would want to try a camera separation in the range of 528 - 880 feet apart.
* You must exclude nearby objects from your photos. If you do not do so, you will create excessive on-film divergence in your images. If you don't believe this, just try it.
ect.........

*SCGushue* · 04-10-2009, 09:44 AM

[QUOTE=jeffkrol;552397]In the old days I used an old theater beam splitter, Tamron 90 macro lens and did slides. These were projected using the same beam splitter (now transferred to a slide projector) and projected using crossed polarizers and crossed polarized glasses.... It was fun for awhile but the subjects I liked needed hypo stereo and though I could tilt the mirrors it gave a tough to reconcile background. Below is one of these files, scanned in for printing (though this of course is a reduced file).
Pentax does (or did) make a beam splitter to attach to a 50mm lens (others as well but it was designed for a 50).
your easiest way is to take the two images, make a NEW image twice as big as 1. Copy and paste them side by side on the new sheet.. Adobe or Corel or any number of photo editors should easily allow this.

Jeff,

I have the Pentax splitter (havn't used it in a decade or more) and really did enjoy using it when relevant. I sat back from the screen and looked at your images and was able to parallax fuse it into an onscreen 3D image. Looks fantastic.

Stephen