This tutorial explains how to create Stereograms using SIRDS 2.0, a shareware utility, and depth layers rendered in Design 3D.
Stereograms were all the rage at the end of the 80’s. Now they are not, but you’d be surprised at the number of visits the stereogram pages of my website have.
SIRDS 2.0 is a USD 20 shareware program that enables you to convert depth maps into stereograms. The best thing is, you can try it for free.
The creation of the Depth Map for SIRDS is simple. In this example we’ll use the helmet shape that comes in Strata 3D CX and drag it into the modeling window.
Now we’ll do a PSD rendering with just the depth layer active.
When the render is done you’ll se a “normal” rendering, not the desired layer. Save as PSD and open in Photoshop. You’ll see the depth layer is there.
The background is transparent. Things work better with a black background, so fill the background with black and save as a PNG.
A black background works better
Then, all that’s required is opening SIRDS and dragging the depth map into the window that says Drop a Depth Map Here. Voilá! the Stereogram is ready.
There are several options for using different dot patterns, guides, etc. but the stereogram is ready when you drag the depth map into SIRDS.
From there you can export the stereogram image as a JPEG or a PNG.
Can you see it?
