
              ANAGLYPHs
               3-2009
  Leroy Whetstone Email lrwii@joplin.com

This is a system of files that help make anaglyphs stills and animations.
They where written for the Windows version of Pov3.6.
 There are Three files in this system:
     RB_Camera.inc: set the camera for the eye veiws
     RB_Merge.pov: merges the eye veiws into a anaglyph
     RB_animation.INI: set up and drives 'RB_Camera.pov'
  Each have txt file describing it's features. 
   
   QuickRef.txt is a quick refference of variable use
  
  There's example animation 'TwarlAni.pov' 
  Also an example Still 'Junk.pov' 

 The basic Idea behind the RB_system is that Pov can make the picture
 needed for each eye of an anaglyph and then merge those pictures
 into the final anaglyph. This is accomplish using the animation 
 feature of POV(even for a still anaglyph).

  Let talk about still anaglyphs first and built one from scratch.
  Well, a quick overview any way.
  First start with the INI. I'll assume that you've changed all the
  settings(size,file locations,...)to what ya need. You can turn
  the animation feature off for testing your scene, other wise for
  a still set 'Initial_Frame=0' 'Final_Frame=1'.

   Now for the scene itself, anything ya want. Just set the values 
   use in 'RB_Camera.inc' then include it. If your just testing a scene 
   you can use RB_Eye_Position="Center"or"C".This will put he camera
   right between your eyes. When your ready to save the pictures ya 
   need a little snipet of code:

  #if(mod(frame_number,2)=1) #declare RB_Eye_Position="R" #debug"Right\n"
  #else #declare RB_Eye_Position="L" #debug"Left\n"
  #end

   This will move the camera for each eye. When the picture ares saved
   they'll be named in order left then right.(Scene0.typ,Scene1.typ)
   
   We're half way to making an anaglyph.
   
   Now let merge the pictures. Turn off the animation feature.
    Change 'Output_File_Name' to your anaglyph name.
   Open 'RB_Merge.pov' or make a renamed copy, 
   Change: 'Image' to the first(left) scene name(Scene0.typ)
   
   Then Run!  You should have an anaglyph.
   
   If the picture is to dark play with the Brightness & Contrast
      
      
  Now lets look at animated anaglyphs.
   The INI file is basicly the same as for a still. Just extend
  'Final_Frame' to what ya need.
  If you are making a 24 frame per second animation it means that 
  you'll need 48 pictures per second.(one picture per eye per frame)
  There is a big difference between testing and saving the eye veiws.
  If you want to test with 'RB_Eye_Position="C"' you'll need only 
  24 frames per second. The 'Final_Frame' needs to be set accordingly.
  
  When you save the eye veiws they'll be save in marching order:
            Left Right Left Right Left Right ....
       (Scene01.typ)(Scene02.typ)(Scene03.typ)(Scene04.typ)...
  
   Now to making an animated anaglyph.
   
   The INI needs changing:
    Change 'Output_File_Name' to your anaglyph name.
    Change 'Final_Frame' to your animation lenght.
   Open 'RB_Merge.pov' or make a renamed copy, 
   Change: 'Image' to the first(left) scene name(Scene00.typ)
   
   Then Run!  You should have an animated anaglyph.
   

  ======== Tips and after thoughts =====================
  
    In the examples I keep 'Width' and 'Height'in the INI the
   same for both the eye views and the anaglyph view. 
   You don't have to. You can do is change them when you merge 
   the eye views. It's a way of scaling the anaglyph.

    I use the preview feature of POV a lot! 
   Before saving an anaglyph I preview it, even the animated ones.

   I always set 'Initial_Frame=0'. But you don't need to, any even
    number will produce the left right sequence.
   
   When dealing animation it's eazy to remember that even number
   pictures are for the left eye and odd for the right. 
   
   