The software used by most of the 3D groups is "StereoPhoto Maker", written and maintained by Masuji Suto (I use hyperlinks here, so just click on the highlighted text above to go to a referenced url--use "shift" + click to open in a new window). From the SPM site you will want to download and install the latest version of SPM (I suggest getting the version with the help file). The latest version (as of this writing) is Ver4.21, released February 24, 2010. You might want to bookmark this site since the software is being continuously updated. The download is a zip file consisting of the help file (HTML) and the actual program, stphmkre.exe. Place the latter on your desktop and simply double click its icon to start the program.
I suggest you also download the "SPM Beginner's Guide" which is a .pdf file that gives good "step-by-step" instructions. In order to get you started, I have uploaded images to Flickr for two 3D photos. The first is the cemetery picture I shared during the January BPC photoshare.
You should be able to see this with the glasses handed out at the last focus group meeting. The left eye image, right eye image, and a side-by-side and color anaglyph are available to download from my Flickr site.*
Place the left and right eye images in a folder and start SPM. Under "File" select "Open Left/Right Images". Locate and select the left and right eye images and click "open". If you then select "Adjust" and "Easy Adjustment" you will be able to fine-tune the two images so that they overlap nicely (actually little adjustment is needed for the cemetery photo since I used my "stereo camera".
Once you are satisfied that you can use the program try downloading the left eye and right eye images for the barn in my back yard. This one is tricky! I took it with my Nikon D80 (hand-held) and just moved over about 6 inches between the two shots. I purposely tilted the camera for the second shot. An additional problem is that there was a slight breeze, so the bird feeder has rotated between the two shots. Thus, the resultant 3D image is terrible! But--it does actually come out more or less OK. Keep in mind that you have to rotate as well as translate in the "Quick Adjustment" window. You will notice that I cropped the image. It is difficult to focus because the two images are a bit too far apart (hyperstereo--not good for most shots!). In any case the following is my version of the left-right stereo. You can also download the anaglyph to see if you can see it.
There are all kinds of options and tricks to learn about taking and "processing" stereo photographs, but don't give up if you don't get the results you want immediately. I really didn't know what I was doing (and some will say I still don't!) when I started, but I find the results very satisfying. I admit I have an advantage since I spent much of my professional life looking at stereo images, so my eyes can adjust rapidly and I can "accommodate" many flaws.
Good luck and have fun! If you have questions or need help just email me.
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* To download images from Flickr, click on the "ALL SIZES" button at the top left of the image and then click on "Download the Large size".
