Science in Focus: Shedding Light: Lights, Action, Camera

3D Photography and Anaglyphs

3D Glasses

I. The Web Activity

Optional Materials: red and green filters or red-green 3D glasses. See Resources for where to buy glasses.

Directions: Anaglyphs are images that, when looked through red and green filters, appear to be three dimensional. Using red and green filter or 1950's style 3D glasses, look at the images below. Working with your Light Buddy, try to answer the following questions:

  • Can you explain how these images were made?
  • What is the role of the color filters?
  • Why do you think there appear to be two images superimposed on each other?
Anaglyph of flowers
Anaglyph of Balls

 

 

Also try these anaglyphs made by others.

For more hands-on experiences, see III. Do It Yourself to make your own anaglyphs.

To learn about what's behind a 3D image, read on in II. The Science.

I. The Web Activity <—
 II. The Science
III. Do It Yourself
IV. Do It with Your Students
V. Resources