Stereo3D on the pc - main differences

True "holographic" systems (like in StarTrek or Perry Rhodan stories) to show you Stereo don't exist yet (or are at least not available to the public, who knows).

Today the most common way of bringing Stereo to the pc (or the TV) is based on this idea:

The usual monitors of today will display two different pictures: one for the right and one for the left eye.
These two pictures must show the situation from slightly different positions, just like it is in reality.

So in addition to new software (Stereo driver) you will need some kind of hardware (e.g. Stereoglasses).

Now let us take a look at some 3D Stereo technologies for the PC as there are several platforms to choose from :

1. Anaglyphic stereoglasses
   
   (no name anaglyphic glasses)

   These are based on the idea of splitting an image into 2 pictures by taking only the red colors of a picture for the left and the green color for the right eye. (It is also common to use other colors, like blue or yellow)

   Second, as you can see at the screenshot below, both sub pictures show the scene from different perspectives.

   Third, both sub pictures are overlaid, drawn at the monitor at the same time, so the picture you see in the screenshot does show exactly how the displayed picture on the monitor will look like.

   
   A sample screenshot from Q3 with anaglyphic turned on

   At this place you can try to get anaglyphic glasses for free.
   Generally they cost about $1. (you also make your own of course). This however is not a preferred technology for the PC and especially PC gaming.

    

2. LCD Shutterglasses

(Wicked3D glasses)

Stereo3D with shutterglasses is realized in the way that 50% of the number of rendered pictures will be used for the left, and the other 50% for the right eye. The technique called "time-sequential multiplexing" will then alternately display left- and right-eye images every time the computer refreshes (draws) the screen.

Synchronized to these altering images the shutterglasses will work. They have 2 LCDs, one directly in front of each eye. Each LCD can block one eye's view onto the screen. When an image for the left eye is drawn on the monitor, the LCD of the right eye will block the right eye's view and the other way round.

If this is repeated fast enough (faster than can be perceived), and if the synchronization can be kept, then this will make you think you're seeing true 3D.

The price for technology like this is relatively cheap: $15 up to $200. Tip: of course you can also get used ones at eBay...

It is a bit difficult to show you a picture on how this would look on your monitor because both kinds of pictures are not drawn overlayed.


This is just a bad example, but it's good enough to
show you what you see on your monitor, when you've
Stereo enabled with Shutterglasses

There are several techniques that can be used by shutterglasses (Page-Flipping, Line-Blanking, Interlacing, Sync-Doubling) which will not be reflected here.