stereofilm

A stereofilm is a motion picture designed to create depth perception by presenting two slightly different images to the left and right eyes. This binocular disparity, or stereopsis, allows viewers to perceive a three-dimensional scene when viewed with suitable display equipment. Stereofilms may be captured with dual-lens camera rigs or produced in computer-generated imagery using a paired virtual camera, and then encoded for stereo playback.

In production, the two images are aligned and balanced, with careful control of interaxial distance and convergence to minimize eye strain. Films may be distributed in formats such as side-by-side or frame-packed stereo, and some productions are created or adjusted in post-production through 2D-to-3D conversion. Depth cues are enhanced through compositing choices, lighting, and focus, while preserving comfortable viewing for audiences.

Display technologies for stereofilms vary. In cinemas, passive polarized 3D projection and active shutter 3D projection are common, while home viewing often relies on HDMI-enabled 3D displays or virtual reality headsets. Autostereoscopic displays, which aim to deliver 3D without glasses, are also explored. The viewing experience can be affected by factors such as crosstalk between the two images, misalignment or improper convergence, and the vergence-accommodation conflict, where focal depth and eye convergence do not match.

Historically, the idea of stereoscopic vision predates cinema, with early devices like the stereoscope. Stereofilms gained popularity in the 1950s during an early wave of 3D cinema and have seen renewed interest with digital projection and immersive formats in the 21st century. Today, stereofilm remains a common approach to 3D storytelling in theaters and increasingly in interactive media.