Show your 3DS photos on 2D screens

The Nintendo 3DS can take 3D photos with its dual cameras on the lid. It's fun to look at these images on the 3DS, but then what? How else is anyone going to be able to see them in 3D?

The answer is to turn the 3D image into a two-frame animated gif like the one above. By quickly alternating images you get the feeling of depth. And maybe a little wooziness, too. Welcome to the world of the wiggle pic. Here's how to easily make them.

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Step 1: Get your files off your 3DS

Just pop out the SD card from the left side of your 3DS and stick it into your computer. The files will be in the DCIM folder. There will be subfolders in here so just look around.

Each picture you shot on your 3DS has a JPG file and a MPO file. What you want is the MPO file as that contains both the left and right image while the JPG only contains one. So copy the MPO files onto your computer.

Now that you have your files you have two options. One is quick and easy, but has no privacy or control. The other is the opposite. We'll cover the easy technique first.

Electronics Man says: Jul 19, 2011. 6:47 AM

Awsome!!!

vishalapr says: Jul 7, 2011. 10:16 AM

This is really cool!

bpantalone says: Jun 22, 2011. 8:09 AM

If you alternately blink your right and left eyes in sync with the animated photo, the 3D experience is tremendously enhanced. It's not easy to do, but play around with it and see what I mean. This is in fact exactly how the high-end 3D glasses work, by alternately opening and closing an LCD "shutter" in front of each eye. Very nifty instructable! I'm going to think about this, and see if I can build my own pair of 3D "shutter-glasses" with which to view your photos!

genesis357 in reply to bpantaloneJun 29, 2011. 12:16 PM

Wow! thats pretty cool! it almost looks like its crawling out of my monitor when i do that

zfolwick in reply to bpantaloneJun 24, 2011. 7:34 AM

so... what you're saying is that the flip-flop rate needs to be doubled? That'd make sense.

mtristan in reply to bpantaloneJun 22, 2011. 12:10 PM

. It's really hard to blink that fast, but the same effect can be achieved by alternately covering one of your eyes with your hands, and it looks great :)

hbergh in reply to mtristanJun 23, 2011. 9:52 AM

Not sure if this idea would work, but instead of using your hands, you could use a small portable fan, and replace the fan blades with a disc with 3 holes. Fan speed would have to be synchronized with the image animation speed.

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fungus amungus (author) in reply to bpantaloneJun 22, 2011. 10:26 AM

That's some fast blinking! Yes, LCD shutter glasses are very effective. I used to play 3D games with them 16 years ago and it was pretty cool. Haven't tried 3D gaming on any of the new consoles. Have a 3DS now, but no games for it yet.

GWJax says: Jun 24, 2011. 7:19 AM

This is really cool to look at. With only having one good eye to see out of, this gives me the sight of 3D that I have lost many years ago. Thanks for posting this and giving me a chance to see in 3D again..

Jax

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fungus amungus (author) in reply to GWJaxJun 24, 2011. 4:02 PM

Wow, never thought of that situation. Glad to introduce it to you.

GWJax in reply to fungus amungusJun 24, 2011. 4:59 PM

Once again Thank You for it.. I'm going to see if I can reproduce it in a form of robotics and live video.. If I complete it I'll write an instructable for it.

Thanks again,
Jax

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fungus amungus (author) in reply to GWJaxJun 24, 2011. 8:28 PM

For live video, this is what the screen looks like for active shutter glasses. If you could simply use that display with a low frame rate you should get some results along those lines. If I recall correctly it's pretty hard to watch, though.

DJJules says: Jun 23, 2011. 10:35 AM

Nice thanks for the info.

Jules

chaintheguardien says: Jun 23, 2011. 10:31 AM

Mystery guitar man made a video like this called poor man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLHwzGqg-BI&feature=related

Greasetattoo says: Jun 21, 2011. 2:27 PM

I made an instructable like this, a few years back.
Still in my working folder.
Has not been published yet. (read the comment)
http://www.instructables.com/id/View-Magical-3D-without-3D-Glasses/

I actually just take a picture and then take a step to the left or right.
And, take another picture.
Then make a animated .gif..
I guess I have to add more to it..
Will have to publish someday.
Enjoy

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fungus amungus (author) in reply to GreasetattooJun 22, 2011. 10:27 AM

Yeah, it's an old trick. Just seemed worth dusting off with the 3DS out there.

ihaveaweirdname says: Jun 22, 2011. 7:06 AM

couldn't you do this with any 3d camera?

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fungus amungus (author) in reply to ihaveaweirdnameJun 22, 2011. 10:26 AM

You can do it with any MPO file from a 3D camera or even two images shot with the same camera as Greasetattoo shows.

TheDodgyLodger says: Jun 21, 2011. 3:31 PM

I did this with my twitter icon (well, similar) with my eye.

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sunshiine says: Jun 21, 2011. 1:36 PM

Nice presentation!

NaturalCrafter says: Jun 21, 2011. 12:43 PM

I have thought of 3D photos but not ever tried incorporating them. Maybe when you need to express the layering view of a project this may come in handy. That way people get more of a sense of depth. Stereo cameras have come and gone, so I hope this app has a real staying power or leaps to something even better.