This
long awaited children's book of phantorams is an 8-1/2" x 11" in
size and featuring thirty-two pages of 3D wonder, the images are enjoyable
for all ages. The text is geared for ages 10 and up, describing the basic
nuts & bolts of how 3D imagery works. Almost all of the images are
viewed with standard red-cyan 3D glasses (2 pairs are provided with the
book).
While
principally introducing its readers to phantogram imagery, there are also
opportunities to free view stereo pairs, and contrast the differences
between traditional 3D and phantograms. Finally Pop-Up 3D encourages it
readers to try 3D imagery for themselves, pointing out a tutorial on this
site and a link to a free download of StereoPhoto Maker.
It
begins with a wonderful two-page spread of drawn phantograms by Steve
Hughes, and includes some amazing photographic phantograms by Steve Boddy.
Unlike traditional 3D images, which are viewed straight on, and can show
remarkable depth between foreground and background, a phantogram is viewed from
above and at an angle. A phantogram is an optical illusion, a special class of
3-dimensional photography. Phantogram images miraculously rise off the
printed pages, perfectly realistic phantoms of the real subjects
photographed. The illusion is accomplished by the systematic mimicry of normal
vision. This first-of-its-kind book represents a dramatic raising of standards
for printed anaglyphs (color-filtered 3-dimensional images). To date phantogram
images have been seen by very few other than 3D photo hobbyists.
"It's difficult not to reach out to try to touch them (almost everyone
does). The WOW effect is practically universal, both for adults and kids."
See the other Phantogram book Phantograms
from Nature.
The book's
cover is not a 3D image. It is however the right-eye half of a phantogram.
It differs from a normal photograph in that the narrowing effects of
perspective have been reversed out.
