pamstereogram

Updated: 6 January 2006

NAME

pamstereogram - create a single-image stereogram from a PAM height map

SYNOPSIS

pamstereogram [-help] [-verbose] [-blackandwhite | -grayscale | -color] [-maxval=value] [-patfile=pamfile] [-xshift=pixels] [-yshift=pixels] [-magnifypat=scale] [-guidesize=pixels] [-dpi=resolution] [-crosseyed] [-makemask] [-eyesep=inches] [-depth=fraction] [-randomseed=integer] [infile]

DESCRIPTION

This program is part of Netpbm.

pamstereogram inputs a height map (a map of the distances from your eye of the points in a scene) and outputs a single-image stereogram (SIS). A SIS is a 2-D image specially designed to appear three dimensional when viewed with relaxed, slightly unfocused eyes. What's exciting about single-image stereograms is that they don't require special glasses to view, although it does require a bit of practice to train your eyes to unfocus properly. The pamstereogram program provides a wealth of control over how the stereogram is generated, including the following:

black and white, grayscale, or color output
single-image random-dot stereograms (SIRDS) or single-image stereograms (SIS) using a tiled image
images targeting a given device resolution and eye separation
optional guide boxes to assist in focusing
the ability to trade off depth levels for easier viewing
choice of wall-eyed or cross-eyed stereograms

The output is a PAM image on standard output. Options control the exact format of the PAM. If you want a PNM (PBM, PGM, or PPM) image, use pamtopnm on the output. There is no need to convert if you will use the image as input to a current Netpbm program, but many other programs don't know what a PAM is.

To make a red/green type of stereogram (that you view with 3-D glasses) instead, see ppm3d.

OPTIONS

You may use either single or double hyphens to denote options. You may use either whitespace or an equals sign to separate an option name from its value.

-verbose

Display messages about image sizes and formats and properties of the stereogram being generated.

-blackandwhite

Produce a single-image random-dot black-and-white stereogram. This is the default.

-grayscale

Produce a single-image random-dot grayscale stereogram.

-color

Produce a single-image random-dot color stereogram.

-maxval=value

Designate the maximum value of each gray/color component, i.e. the color resolution. Smaller values make the output image have smaller numbers of unique grays/colors. If you don't specify -maxval, pamstereogram uses the maxval of the input image. This option has no effect with -blackandwhite.

-patfile=pnmfile

Specify an image to use as a repeated background pattern for the stereogram instead of a random-dot pattern. Intricate images generally produce a crisper 3-D effect that simpler images. The output file will have the same maxval and format (black and white, grayscale or color) as the pattern file. You cannot specify the -patfile option along with -blackandwhite, -grayscale, -color, or -maxval.

-xshift=pixels

Shift the pattern image (designated by -patfile) to the right by pixels pixels (default: 0). This option is valid only along with -patfile.

-yshift pixels

Shift the pattern image (designated by -patfile) downwards by pixels pixels (default: 0). This option is valid only along with -patfile.

-magnifypat=scale

Magnify each pixel in the pattern file or each random dot by integral scaling factor scale. Note that pamstereogram applies the pattern magnification after pattern shifting (-xshift and -yshift).

-guidesize=pixels

Draw a pair of pixels by pixels black squares on a white background underneath the stereogram proper. These squares help you guide your eyes into proper focus to view the 3-D image. The trick is to focus your eyes some distance behind the image, causing you to see four black squares, then continue altering your focus distance until the middle two black squares fuse into a single black square. At that point, a crisp, 3-D image will appear.

If pixels is negative, pamstereogram will draw the guide squares above the stereogram instead of below it. If pixels is zero (the default), pamstereogram will draw no guide squares.

-dpi=resolution

Specify the resolution of the output device in dots per inch. The default is 96 DPI, which represents a fairly crisp screen resolution.

-crosseyed

Invert the gray levels in the height map (input image) so that the 3-D image pops out of the page where it would otherwise sink into the page and vice versa. Some people are unable to diverge their eyes and can only cross them. The -crosseyed option enables such people to see the 3-D image as intended.

-makemask

Instead of a stereogram, output a PAM mask image showing coloring constraints. New pixels will be taken from the pattern file where the mask is black. Copies of existing pixels will be taken from the pattern file where the mask is white. The -makemask option can be used to help create more sophisticated pattern files (to use with -patfile) Note that -makemask ignores -magnifypat; it always produces masks that assume a pattern magnification of 1.

-eyesep=inches

Specify the separation in inches between your eyes. The default, 2.5 inches (6.4 cm), should be sufficient for most people and probably doesn't need to be changed.

-depth=fraction

Specify the output image's depth of field. That is, fraction represents the fractional distance of the near plane from the far plane. Smaller numbers make the 3-D image easier to perceive but flatter. Larger numbers make the 3-D image more difficult to perceive but deeper. The default, 0.3333, generally works fairly well.

-randomseed=integer

Specify a seed to be used for the random number generator. The default is to use a seed based on the time of day, to one second granularity.

It is useful to specify the seed if you want to create reproducible results. With the same random seed, you should get identical results every time you run pamstereogram.

This is irrelevant if you use a pattern file (-patfile option), because there is no random element to pamstereogram's behavior.

This option was new in Netpbm 10.32 (Februrary 2006).

PARAMETERS

The only parameter, infile, is the name of an input file that is a height map image. If you don't specify infile, the input is from standard input.

The input is a PAM image of depth 1. Each sample represents the distance from the eye that the 3-D image at that location should be. Higher numbers mean further from the eye.

pamstereogram pays no attention the the image's tuple type and ignores all planes other than plane 0.

Like any Netpbm program, pamstereogram will accept PNM input as if it were the PAM equivalent.

A good initial test is to input an image consisting of a solid shape of distance 0 within a large field of maximum distance (e.g., a black square on a white background).

EXAMPLES

Generate a SIRDS out of small, brightly colored squares and prepare it for display on an 87 DPI monitor:

   pamstereogram heightmap.pam \
                 -dpi 87 -verbose -color -maxval 1 -magnifypat 3 \
                 >3d.pam

Generate a SIS by tiling a PPM file (a prior run with -verbose indicates how wide the pattern file should be for seamless tiling, although any width is acceptable for producing SISes):

   pamstereogram myheights.pam -patfile mypattern.ppm >mysis.pam

HISTORY

pamstereogram was new in Netpbm 10.22 (April 2004), but probably broken beyond usability until Netpbm 10.32 (Februrary 2006) and Netpbm 10.26.23 (January 2006).