These are the essentials to shoot and fix good anaglyph pictures. This is a basic fast explanation, I will make a more detailed one inthe future, I promise.
1a) Take 2 pictures Left/Right with two cameras se up on a slide bracket, synchronizing the shots the best that you can. Choose cameras separation according to how far away our subject is.
Alternative:
1b) Take 2 pictures left/right with one camera only changing point of view. Problem: all moving objects in picture will come out ugly. Not good for windy days, people, cars, etc.
2a) Without a second thought delete blurred or out of focus images. 3D requires sharpness and contrast to work at its best.
2b) Name the resulting pictures so they can be kept in the same folder in your computer (example: anag_0567_LX.jpg - anag_0567_RX.jpg)
3) Check switching from one picture to the other how much of a “difference” there is among them.
The difference is what will give the 3Dimensionality.
With experience you will get to know right away which will come out a good 3D effect and which will not.
4a) Import pictures in one of my Photoshop templates.
Open all 3 files. Move background from Right picture to Template, select the background, move the Left picture now. Download template here.
4b) Overlap pictures so the 3D effect is at its best, rotate if necessary.
4c) Modify pictures to suit the best result. Contrast, lighten, darken, USM, whatever.
4d) Flatten, Crop, Save flattened layers'picture with a different name. Always keep the layered picture.
Alternative:
5) Use one of those "3D anaglyph maker" software you find on the web, and you’re in business.
In the downloads page you will find links for a few ones (all of them are free).
You’re done.
Of course I haven’t shown here all the possible tricks to make your anaglyphs the best, there are quite a few, the more you experiment the more you will find by yourself.
But this is the basic method for getting results way better than 95% of the stuff I have found in cyberspace, enough right? ;-).
