3D Gugle
User's Guide

(Sample of Layers Assembly)
[A stereo image]

Layer Assembly is an essential LAB for creating stereo images from Layers.
Layer Assembly is not only an easy and logical way for the composition of stereo pairs but is also of use for retouching the Layers and for checking the deformations.

To deform and to clean the Layers

When the Layers are extracted they cannot be used before reconstructive retouching is carried-out.
The reconstruction work has to be very accurate so that retinal rivalries are not introduced. This is work only for experts, being both tiring and time-consuming.

With Layer Assembly you can create a reference image that clearly indicates where to apply retouching.
The method is very simple: you load the Layers and arrange them in their definitive (X Y) position and then save the image with "Save visible frame"
To be certain that after cleaning the Layers will return to their exact pre-arranged positions, you save the Layers data  with "Save frames data"

Generally, before assembling and establishing the definitive positions, it is necessary to apply perspective deformations on some Layers.

In the example image, deformations are applied to four Layers: the floor, the wall with the window, the wall with the arcade and the red table.
To deform the Layer for stereo use, 3D Gugle has three specialised laboratories that are :

"Free" to deform in any way
"Sphere" to create concave or convex parables and for barrel deformation both vertical and horizontal
"Depth" to apply a perspective deformation with a real or linear method.

Each of these laboratories is designed to operate in parallel with the synchronised window and in this way you have a real-time preview to allow checking of your actions.

Note:
If you use the synchronised window, it has to be open before accessing the deformation laboratories.

When you make a deformation on the Layers, it is advisable to use 3D Gugle's multi-session capability.
In other words , open an instance of 3D Gugle to apply the deformations and open a second instance and run "Layer Assembly" in parallel.

The laboratories "Free", "Sphere" and "Depth" have a button to save the deformed images without needing to close the laboratories.
After saving the new image, you can load it into the second instance of 3D Gugle using "Layers Assembly/Load Layer".

In "Layer Assembly" LAB you can load as many copies as you want of the same Layer. In this way you have the possibility of seeing many variations of the same scene.
If you want to hide a Layer, click on "Visible" wheeas if you want to completely eliminate the Layer click on "Del" (Delete)

When the deformation work is completed, it is possible to continue with the definitive spatial arrangement of the Layers.

In "Layers Assembly" open "Window/Synchro Window".

With the "File" menu of the synchronised window, open the original image and you will then have a live preview for freeviewing.

Arrange the Layers into the correct spatial positions and save the displayed image with "Save visible frame" and then, to finish, save the position data with "Save frames data".

Attention:
To use the data loaded with "Load frames data" it is essential that, before loading, you move the Layer to the exact position in the layer- hierarchy that it occupied when you saved it.

The saved image will be an invaluable reference when retouching the Layers.

The image below has been used as a retouching reference when making the stereo pairs used in the example on this page.

The missing areas (in black) must be reconstructed.

For retouching, 3D Gugle has two specialised laboratories: "Paint" and "Combine"

In the "Paint" laboratory are all the necessary options for retouching and two directional-clone functions, one of which is specifically for use with Layers.
The "Combine" laboratory is specialised for inserting "Patches".
The patches are used in the Layers-extraction phase when an area has been overlooked and to avoid the 'mess' caused if extensive retouching was employed instead.
"Combine" also corrects the very common "Black Hole" error, which will be described in the following section.

Before opening in 3D Gugle the Layers to be retouched, you have to open the reference image.
Open the reference image with "View/New Window".
New Window is an always-available independent window that contains a copy of your reference image to be compared with your working image.

"The Black Hole"
3D Gugle Layer uses pure "Black" as the colour that denotes transparency .
In other words, when 3D Gugle verifies that a pixel is black it does not draw it and the corrisponding background pixel is visible.
Be careful however, because if the colour is almost black 3D Gugle does draw it, causing you many problems.

When a Layer is retouched, you have to be very careful not to paint in areas that are to remain intact.
Artists are so familiar with this problem that they call it a "Black Hole".

When this error is present, and the layers have already been assembled, it is difficult or even impossible to determine which Layer is the cause.

The image below shows an example of a "Black Hole"..

Above-left shows the Layer after analysis performed with "Edge Sharpen".
Edge Sharpen is a 3D Gugle function in menu "Image/Edge" that can identify and highlight "Black Holes".
The "Black Hole" is the patch seen to the right of the saint's shoulder and has been caused by bad retouching.

To the right, the Layer with the "Black Hole" does not display any obvious problems.

Underneath is the image after assembly in which the effect of the "Black Hole" is clearly seen (indicated by the red arrow).

To eliminate the "Black Hole" is actually simpler than this description suggests.

1) Open another session of 3D Gugle
2) If not already active, activate the "Undo" function.
3) In the new session, open the Layer with the hole problem.
4) Apply the "Edge Sharpen" filter and press "OK".
5) Select "View/New Window"; the new window will show a visual reference of the area on which to operate.
6) Apply "Edit/Undo" to return to the original image.
7) Right-click the image then click on "Selection Box" and draw a box that adequately surrounds the area of the "Black Hole".
8) Right-click again on the Layer and select "Fill".
The "Fill" LAB fills the rectangle whit a colour (default is black). Press "OK" and then "Enter" or select "OK" with right-click.
9) Select "Edit/Save Memory" so that you can access the "Combine" laboratory.
10) Apply "Edit/Undo" to return to the original image.
11) Select "Image/Special Functions/Combine".
12) In the "Combine" LAB, paint again with mouse-drag or double-click the area of the "Black Hole" to delete it. Use the zoom of the "View" menu to do an accurate job.
13) On completion, when "Combine" asks if you want to save the changes answer "Yes"
14) Save the Layer and in the other session of 3D Gugle (that has "Layers Assembly" with "Add Layer(s)) load the Layer to check it.


"The patch"

The patch technique that is performed in the "Combine" LAB is generally used in three cases which are:

A) to rapidly and immediately make a visual test.
B) the Layer is missing parts that have been overlooked.
C) The layer has been changed during retouching.

The procedure in this case is also very simple.

1) Open another session of 3D Gugle
2) In the new session open the original source image.
3) Select "Edit/Save Memory" so that you can access the "Combine" laboratory.
4) Open the Layer that you wish to modify
5) Select "Image/Special Functions/Combine"
6) In "Combine" LAB, drag the mouse or double-click the area to be replaced.
7) On completion, leave "Combine" and answer "Yes".
8) Save the Layer and in the session of 3D Gugle that has "Layers Assembly" active, open the Layer with "Add Layer(s)" to check it.

If you want to create a new Layer with a part of the first Layer and the same dimensions, after point "3" above use the following procedure:

4) Select "File/Resize Canvas", and in the dialogue that appears verify that the background colour is Black and then press "OK"
5) In 3D Gugle, press the "Escape" (ESC) key or from mouse right-click select "Deselect". The screen image will be completely black and is the base of the new Layer.
6) Select "Image/Special Functions/Combine"
7) In "Combine" LAB, mouse-drag or double-click to draw the Layer, use the zoom of the menu "View" to ensure an accurate job.
8) On completion, leave "Combine" and answer "Yes".
9) Save the Layer and in the session of 3D Gugle that has "Layers Assembly" active open the Layer with "Add Layer(s)" to check it.

 

Adding Dimensionality to the Layers

After the possible deformation of the Layers and their retouching you can proceed to create the final stereo pairs.

If you wish, you can save the image with "Save visible frame" and then close "Layer Assembly".
 
The stereo image just created is not complete because the single Layer suffers from the 'cardboard cut-out' effect: multiple layers with small depth widely-separated .
 

The complete procedure to convert the single Layer in 3D is described in the "Direct Layer" LAB tutorial.
In this procedure, the assembly and checking parts are not required as they have already been done.

Here is the completed and final image.



 

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