Computers are a real boon when it comes to working with stereo images.
On this page I will provide links to pages describing the various techniques I have
developed that make life easier for me and which make the hobby more interesting and
productive. You don't have to use any of these techniques, but they may serve to give you
additional ideas.
Van Ekeren Twin P41/43 Stereo Rig
I wanted a commercially-produced twin digital stereo rig and decided to
try this camera system from Co van Ekeren in the Netherlands. I was not disappointed!
Film Choices, Exposure, and Processing
Some basics on film selection, exposure, and processing. All the
computer hardware in the world will not help unless we start with a well-exposed image.
No matter how you intend to manipulate or present your pictures, it is
essential that you have some stereo editing software to format your images and correct any
problems.
Some very simple basics on good composition when taking stereo
photographs. Nothing elaborate or "artsy" - just simple common sense.
The fundamentals of scanning stereo pairs from prints, slides, or negatives.
Holmes Stereoviews Without Tears
How to make high-quality Holmes stereoviews - painlessly!
Loreo Asia has made some really nice basic stereo photography equipment over the years. Unfortunately, the image format has some limitations and is not that highly regarded by some stereographers. This page is designed to show you how to fix many of the limitations of the Loreo format, as well as even hiding the fact that they are Loreo prints!
Experimenting with the 4x6 Print Format
If you thought that standard 4 x 6 prints were just for beam-splitter images, think again! With the power of the computer at our disposal, it's possible to use this format in new and unique ways.
Making Thorpe-format Stereoviews from Digital Camera Files
In a sense, this is an extension of the previous 4x6 format page. Richard Thorpe has created a very sensible stereoview standard for 4 x 6 prints. This page describes by approach to making such stereoviews from digital camera files.
When you do high-resolution scanning of slides and film, dirt and debris on the film can present major problems, especially with older material. New digital editing tools make it much easier to deal with the problem.
Not one of these typical diatribes, but simply why I prefer digital for most of my stereo photography needs.
Projection of Digital Stereo Images
If you want to share your digital images with larger groups of people, projection is an option you might want to consider. Since your images are likely to be digital, some approach to digital projection may seem like the only answer. Unfortunately, digital projection standards don't really exist and the moment and the required equipment tends to be both expensive and bulky. This page will show you how to use Realist-format stereo slide projectors to get the job done far more economically.
Realist-format Slides from Digital Files
While photographic purists spend a lot of time extolling the superiority of film over digital, particularly for slide viewing, the reality today is quite different. It is quite practical to make stunning Realist-format slides from stereo digital image files. If you would like the option of slide-viewing or projection for some of your favorite digital images, this is how its done!
Ralph E. Taggart (taggart@msu.edu)