The magic of stereo on your computer screen

Usually, a stereo photograph has two images. One shows the left-eye view, the other shows the right-eye view. (See example photo, below.)

If you can look at these two side-by-side images, and see them fused into one – then the magic has happened. You are viewing in stereo. As this happens, the crocus flowers leap towards the eye like skyscrapers... (Use the larger examples to practise.)

Larger examples: Crocuses Mars Patagonia

How to view stereo / 3D on your computer

You may have seen stereo photographs on Viewmaster reels
or on old postcards. Viewmaster comes with its own viewer,
but stereo postcards – and large stereo pairs on your computer screen – can be difficult to view, except with practise.

What is needed is a small, practical device that presents a different image to each eye. I recommend the clever little Pokescope stereo viewer, together with its standard software.

Pokescope allows viewing of all kinds of stereo images – out of books, on the Internet, large or small.