Stereo textures

Why not just use 3d models instead?

A quick thought: If I were doing this in, say, Unity, I would put the 'right' part of the stereo texture in a 'right' layer, and the 'left' part of the stereo texture in the 'left' layer, and have the OVR right and left cameras set up to handle left and right layers accordingly.

I read the article. I don't know if I totally understand this, but I don't think this will work. A stereo texture I am assuming is a left and right rendering of a bumpmap. Because you are fixing the cameras position to generate the left, and right view, that texture will only look correct if the games camera is in the sweet spot, ie close to the position assumed in the texture.

Considering all the seam issues with bump, and normalmapping already, I think this will have even more seam issues. :geek:

Ok so here is the thing. It can work, in the same way 3D video does in the rift. By filtering which eye sees which texture. This really only will be effective with vertical items, such as pictures, paintings, and other wall mounted items. It doesn't have to use normal mapping or bump mapping, all you do is make say a picture frame on a wall and then have a plane that has the stereo texture for the left eye and filter it so that mesh is only visible via the left camera, and do the same for the right. So long as you don't tilt your head you should get a very unique effect, as if it was a real stereo image.

This looks very nice.

Thank you very much! 3D artists will appreciate a new market of 3DVR enthusiasts.

This is a way to experiment with stereoscopic projection on multiple planes, simultaneously. The effect is striking, but really needs the higher resolution of the DK2 (Crystal Cove, etc.). I'm really excited to see this in it's full glory. :ugeek:

Included are 34 stereo (68 total) images. They can been streamed from the web, but it's best to compile them into the project.

---
Notes: This was done as described above. I setup 2 layers for Left/Right (A/B) views and set them accordingly, with culling on the respective cameras. Further, stereo images must be aligned properly. Complicating matters, our source images were not standard sizes. I allowed Unity to scale the images in some cases, and have been impressed with it's management. The credit tags include Normal Maps, and they display properly from a reasonable distance. Ideas are welcome.

I posted an updated demo link in a new thread:
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=8133

* 39 Stereoscopic Pairs (78 Total Images)
* Objects From: Smithsonian X 3D - http://3d.si.edu/ (Converted to lower resolution for VR use)

Thanks to devs on this forum for encouraging progress!

Why not just use 3d models

As you get closer and further away from an object stereo paralax increases and decreases. Such a texture also asumes your head is perpendicular roll your head on its side and it will look odd. Basically it wil look like what a 3d TV or anyglyph looks like as you move you head around them. I suppose you could use one of those 360 spin GIFs to show a different image to cameras at different angles but it will still have odd distortions at different distances, go 2d if you turn your head on its side, and turn to look at you if you go above or below it like a billboard sprite.

So generally it will be best to instead use 3d models, tessellation, and displacement wherever you can.