In this laboratory it is possible to easily and quickly convert any ordinary image or sketch into a corresponding three-dimensional anaglyph.  

3D Gugle operates directly on the image to be converted without preventing the creation of stereo pairs.

With "Direct Anaglyph" a further advantage is that you can interactively see, (in "real time") the result of any manipulations that you make, without any complications or difficulty. 

3D Gugle also provides numerous 'laboratories' to assist with the precise retouching and rapid execution of your anaglyph. 

Although the quality of the images produced with "Direct anaglyph" is not limited by technical considerations, the best results require some ability and knowledge of anatomy and perspective. 

Working with "Direct anaglyph" you are a sculptor but your tool is a mouse rather than a chisel.

After opening an image that you wish to convert to 3D, select "2D to 3D/Direct Anaglyph".

In the "Direct Anaglyph" environment, the preceding menus are replaced with others relevant to the conversion job.  

Before describing these techniques, let us look at these new menu options

With "Perspective Control" it is possible to create deformations that correct errors or produce special effects.

The use of "Perspective Control" is easy and intuitive.

When a deformation is applied by pressing 'OK' in the "Perspective dialogue", you can still alter it before moving to the next plane.

To Undo the previous deformation, use mouse left-click, to Redo use mouse right-click.

"Save Project" saves the current project together with all the necessary parameters to continue the work from the same state at a later time.

The extension of the project files is: *.3dd.

Files with the extension *.3dd can normally be opened from the menu: "File/Open Image", with a drag-and-drop method or by making a double click on the name from Window's "Resource Explorer".

When you open a "Project" file directly, you enter the "Direct Anaglyph" environment in exactly the same state as when you left it.

"Fixing" resets the counters and memory and 'freezes' the image, prohibiting any further change.

Fixing is an important function which serves to preserve the image for final retouching and completion.

The function will be explained in the example that follows later.

"Restart" cancels all the performed operations, restoring the memory and image to their original state.

If "Fixing" has been previously applied, "Restart" restores the image to how it was at the time of the last fixing.

"Exit" is the only way to leave "Direct Anaglyph". It is advisable that you first "Save Project".

Before returning to the ordinary environment of "3D Gugle", "Direct Anaglyph" asks if you want to save the changes.
If you answer "Yes", the anaglyph is recopied to the main window and in this way you can save or correct with the other 3D Gugle tools.
If you answer "No", the image will reappear in the main window as it was before conversion.

The menu: "Trace" contains the options to change the size of the chisel, to activate the Box and to use the recorder.

Trace: "Numerical menu 2-250" changes the diameter (of a circular chisel) or the side (of a square chisel).
You can use function keys F1 to F11 to achieve the same effect.
The use of the function keys is preferable because it allows for rapid change without removing the chisel from the surface being worked-on.

Trace: "Box". The "Box" tool is very important and provides two functions: the first acts as a chisel but with the ability to operate on large areas; the second defines a visual reference guide that helps you avoid unnecessary retouching work.
The Box can be moved and resized with the mouse according to your requirements.
The Box is enabled by pressing the "Space Bar" key and cancelled pressing the "C" key (Cancel).  

Trace: "Centre Box" When the Box is shown, this menu is active and it positions the Box to the centre of the window.
This function is essential when the image area is large because it allows you to immediately recall the Box into the work area without having to seek it by moving the scroll bars.

Trace: "Trace Type" From this menu it is possible to choose a circular or square chisel.
The circular chisel is the most useful in the majority cases but for straight lines it is essential to use the square form.

Trace: "Record" The recorder is an important option that allows the job to be simplified.
The recorder memorizes all the actions performed with the mouse or with the Box and repeats them when the "E" key (Execute) is pressed.

Trace: "Record Start" Start recording
Trace: "Record Stop" or F12 Stop recording
Trace: "Record Execute" or key "E" Applies the recording

See also "Using a record" on this page

New Window: shows a new window with automatic image resizing.  

It is normally obligatory to activate this function.  

If your images are destined for publication, with this window you have the possibility to verify the exact 3D effect.

Always remember to ask to your client what size (in millimetres) the converted job will be printed.
It is impossible to produce a good job without this information. 
The anaglyph depth changes if you change the dimensions of your anaglyph.
For instance, an image with high dpi (dots-per-inch) resolution appears enormous on the monitor and dwarfish when it is printed.
The example below shows that the small image does not have much depth.
If you use a millimetre ruler to resize this window, you can see your job as it really will be when printed. 
Even if your image will not be printed, this window is always essential because it helps to see the whole image.

Ideally, this window should be located on a second monitor if your graphics-card supports dual monitors. 

To refresh the Free Window, click with the mouse on the same window image.

Key "E": The "E" key applies the actions memorized by "Record".

Menu: "<-": Pressing this pushes the depth plane backwards. If you observe the image with anaglyph glasses, it will appear more distant.

(It is like adding a new plate to an existing stack of plates).

Menu "R=n": This passive option indicates which depth plane you are at.
The menu indicates out (negative) or in (positive) with respect to the reference depth level.

Menu: "+>": Pressing this pushes the depth planes forward. If you observe the image with anaglyph glasses it will appear nearer.

We will now proceed with a detailed description of a conversion of a normal image to a three-dimensional image.

With 3D Gugle the 2D to 3D conversion is fast and easy.

3D Gugle is the only programme that implements this anaglyph conversion method.

The basic concept is to divide the image into areas at different depth levels or planes. 

You paint with the mouse all graphic objects that are at the same depth level. 

Having finished working on one plane, you move to the next depth plane and execute the same actions. 

To move to the next plane, click "<- "

Tip: for your first attempt, use the same image as in this example.

To download the image, right-click with the mouse on the image below, select "Save with name" and then select *.bmp extension.

After the Save operation, select 3D Gugle's "File/Open Image" to load the image that you have just saved.

Select "2D to 3D/Direct Anaglyph" and open the image.

The original image is:


 

Attention, the method that will be described is not the recommended way to make high-quality anaglyphs. It is just a simple description of the main steps so that you can understand the procedure.

Graphic artists experienced in the art of conversion have their own methods or improvements derived from experience.

3D Gugle is designed to allow for the maximum operational flexibility and has tools with which it is possible to make many types of corrections and other preparations prior to conversion. These operations can not only speed-up the work but also improve the quality of the result.

Many artists also use some hybrid techniques based on direct conversion but also integrated with Layers. These operations are relatively complex and require a deep knowledge of 3D Gugle's capabilities.

Attention, the eight planes represented in this figure are just an example and are intended to give an idea of the process involved. In the example that follows there are more than eight planes.

2) Step
When you start the conversion work, you are located at depth-plane Zero. (Red=0)

This plane does not require any work as it represents the region farthest from us.

In our example, the zero plane is represented by the sky in the background.

The rule, explained in Step 4, is that you cannot work on layers that have already been worked on and that rule must always be adhered to. 

If you do not observe this rule, the red colour displacement becomes excessive. However, when a graphics object re-enters areas already completed, it is not necessary to work the entire object but only the left contour.

This is not a difficult concept but to gain understanding requires some practice.

To activate record, select "Trace/Record/Start".

When the recorder is active, every effective action that you perform is recorded.

When the recorder is active you can still cancel or use the Box. In practice you are able to work normally.

To stop recording, press F12 or use menu option "Stop"

To apply the recorded action, press "E".

To see the area worked after applying the recorded action, press "Z"

We will now begin with the retouching of the three-dimensional effect.  

If you look carefully at the completed anaglyph you will see some errors.

Attention however: the errors that you identify depend not only on your artistic sensibility but also on two other important factors, namely the monitor calibration and the quality of the glasses.  

Before progressing, it is an opportune time to check these devices.

The fact that your glasses and monitor are calibrated does not assure that your client uses the same setting.  

To help you see these errors, there is a function available in 3D Gugle that can convert your Anaglyphs in to Stereo Pairs.

Retouching of the anaglyph

We will now begin with the retouching of the three-dimensional effect.

To make corrections, magnify your anaglyph with the menu "View" set to 200-300% and observe with the glasses.

The first thing to be observed, and then analysed, is the different behaviour or three-dimensional effect of the specific colours.

The light colours normally result in greater depth than the dark colours.

Also, although you may have worked logically and correctly divided the image into depth planes, it can still seem that objects on the same layer appear to be on different layers. 

This, however, is an optical illusion present in every 3d image and is independent of the stereo technique that you used.

This error can only be corrected with special functions that are only available in 3D Gugle.

The 'depth distortion' effect produced by different colours depends on many graphic factors that apply to the entire image.

It cannot be predicted beforehand and, for this reason, it is necessary to use only simple visual analysis and one's own experience.

Initially, when working on the planes, one is concerned with the general rather than the particular, particular details will now be adjusted. 

Every 3D artist, generally, develops a workflow for correcting 3D errors; the following 'classical' method is the basis of most other methods. 

To correct, it is necessary to centre the graphic object in its Shift space.

After centering, apply "Options/Fixing".   

To centre an object use "<- " or "+> ". These move the Shift colour to the left or right.

In the example that follows: the left image is before the action and the right image is after centering the red.

If your detail requires increased depth click "<- ". If it requires decreased depth click "+> ".  

If you observe the jockey with the glasses, you will see that the face, the left arm and the left leg do not have any depth (they are flat).

To correct this problem, click "<- " and then paint the parts that require it.

If, (as in this case), it is required to further increase the depth, repeat or click on "<- ".

You may like an explanation of why it is possible to work simultaneously on an object that is situated at a different depth level. 

The secret is this: when you execute "Fixing" you flatten the entire image to level zero but you do not change anything of the job already performed.

The jockey's hat was on a different level to the arm and remains on a different level. 

With the retouch you have simply moved the level of the hat, from what it was, to one less and that of the arm from what it was also to one less.

For instance, if the hat was at level -5 and the arm was at level -6, after the correction the hat is at level -6 and the arm is at level -7.

If you want to push a detail back in depth, the procedure is identical to that just described except that you click on "+> ".

If you observe the figure below, you will see that the grass between the arm and the chest of the jockey has the wrong depth: it is too near.

To correct this, first centre the red and then execute "Fixing".

At this point you press "+>" (five time in this case) and then with a small chisel you work in the area that has to be pushed back in depth.

Using the method just described, continue the same work on all details of the image for which it is necessary.

Note:
The same method is used to correct the single objects or the general depth of the anaglyph produced by two images.

Before doing anything, you need to move one level forward with "<-".

Now you start the recording with "Trace/Record/Start" and work with the mouse in the required areas of your image.

On completion, press "Stop" to terminate the recording or press function key F12. (The "Stop" and the "Start" commands are in the "Trace" menu.)

After the action is stopped, press "E"(Execute) to apply the recorded actions. 

In other words, for every new level that you move, you have to apply the recorded actions.

In the first figure shows the area worked during the recording.

The second figure shows the result after applying the recorded action ten times.

Remember that for every new level, before applying the recording you have to press "<-".

The third figure shows the completed job.

To complete areas where the recorder has not acted, manually paint with the mouse.