Stereogram FAQ Page
Glossary/ Explanations / Excuses
With this page, I've tried to explain some essential things about my stereograms, and stereograms in general, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions from my Feedback page.
FAQ's
Glossary
— Frequently Asked Questions —Posters available? — Yes. These are carried exclusively through VizPar ... http://www.illusionartstore.com
Have I publications available? — Yes, but.... I have over a dozen nice publications, but primairily in the vicinity of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. My primary publisher is Takarajimasha in Japan. There is one publication so far in the UK.
Stereogram books info pageCustom stereogram work available? — Yes. If you are interested in commercial work e-mail me.
What software & hardware do I use? — See the Tools of the Trade page.
More nude women! — Geesh! I get a lot of request for this. I am indeed one of those fuzzy artists who think women are the only true work of art—and I do love nude women, but opportunity eludes me. Hence, there are very few nudes, and please don't expect any porno on this gallery site.
Good for the eyes? — I get frequent questions concerning positive physiological affects for the eyes from viewing stereograms. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence for this. In fact, the primary publications of my work claim eyesight improvement. I also get email from Doctors, and other viewers that claim vision improvement. However, I tell people, I was nearsighted before I began creating stereograms, and I am even more nearsighted now. Who's to say I am not less nearsighted than I might have become? I truthfully don't know if stereograms help the eyes, or not.
— Glossary —The first thing to get out of the way is definition of types. Do not contact the wide-eyed legal team of cross-eyed lawyers if I make a mistake here.
To avoid, too much confusion over labels, it is best to realize Stereograms or SIRDS are often used as a catchall term for all kinds of autostereograms. I will also use them this way on my site, though I will only use the term SIRDS when a hidden image is involved.
Stereogram: Two dimensional images that can achieve three dimensional effect with, or without mecanical devices.
Autostereogram: Two dimensional images that can give a 3D effect when viewed with out any devices other than two functioning eyes, a human brain...and a bit of practice.
SIRDS: Technically refers to Single Image Random Dot Stereogram. This is the kind of autostereogram where a hidden image appears within a random pattern of dots, either black & white, monotone, or multicolored.
SIS: Single Image Stereograms: same as SIRDS, but uses patterns instead of dots. These are referred to more often as SIRDS, though technically wrong. However, I also will refer to them as SIRDS. I like it better, and there's much less confusion if I should talk about them around my sister.
Depth Image: This is the grayscale image used by SIRDS/SIS software for the hidden image formed in the random dots or pattern. Also known as Image Maps, Reveals, and other various nomenclature.
Depth of Field: Autostereograms have no depth of field. That is what is so notable. If you've ever wondered about the peculiar sharpness possessed by stereograms, it is because the deepest and highest planes of the image are all in focus at once. In real world viewing, the eyes generally focus on one focal plane at a time. Stereograms, being physically 2-D, possess only one plane, no matter how complex depth appears.
Stereo Pairs: Are the bases for all stereograms--even SIRDS. They have been used in the world of photography since the mid 1800's. Now, with the personal computer and a graphics program, any image can be manipulated for a stereogramic effect. Though they use a pair of images as their basis, this may be obscured when more than two images are used, as I often do.
Stereo Fields: Many people may refer to these as Wallpaper Stereograms, but I believe this inaccurate, as my Stereo Tiles are far more indicative of repetitive patterns found in wallpapers. In my Stereo Fields, I've manipulated multiples of stereo-pairs for various 3D effects.
Stereo Tiles: I call them tiles because they are seamless in that there is no limit to their ultimate perimeter border. Open your browser window all the way and they will fill the entire screen. Perfect for computer screen desktops.
Hybrid Stereograms: Autostereograms using a combination of stereogram technique. Whatever stereograms I can't readily define, goes into this gallery. Technically... there's a lot of Hybrid Stereograms under all my categories. The way I categorize is taken from what I consider the major element. In other words: it's kind of vague and arbitrary. However, it keeps me semi-organized, and doesn't present viewers of this site with one big column of titles.
Wide-eyed: Viewing with your eyes focusing parallel to one another, as opposed to normal convergence. All images on this site were created using wide-eyed vision. Wide-eyed vision can be very relaxing to the eyes.
Cross-eyed: Seeing with right eye viewing the left side and left eye viewing right side. Some images on this sight can be viewed cross-eyed, as well. The effect is usually one of deepening depths, or a flattening effect. If something goes flat in one of my stereograms, it should probably be viewed wide-eyed. Cross-eyed viewing can create eyestrain and headache until you get used to it—which I can't.
Stereogramic: I made this word up. Someone had to do it. I use this to describe the elements of stereograms that possess 3-D effect. If this isn't a real word—it should be, so let's get out there and spread it.
Whey: Watery part of sour milk.
