How to Make a Autostereogram

by CarpetGnome

106K3714

Intro: How to Make a Autostereogram

An autostereogram is a 2d image that when looked at properly, shows a 3d image.
This instructable will show the many steps to completion.

STEP 1: Download and Install a Stereogram Maker.

I used STMaker, a freeware stereogram creation program. It can be downloaded at:
http://www.swiftgear.com/stmaker/features.html
(I am not the creator, just a user)

I installed it and opened it up.

STEP 2: Choose Your Image

I used photoshop 7 for this, as well as an Instructables Robot silhouette.
The next few steps will be preparing the image to create a nice, rounded end image.

STEP 3: Editing the Image

To make it seem to have depth, we will use a gradient effect, blending the black into the white.
This will make the stereogram maker give it depth when it processes it.
I then used the select tool to select the area outside of layer 1, popped back to layer 2 and filled the selection with black.

STEP 4: Adding Blur to "round It Out".

I then used a gaussian blur of 3 pixels, to create this image. Go ahead and flatten your image and save it. I chose robot.jpg.

STEP 5: Back to STmaker, Open the New Image.

Click on the icon to open an image. Select your image and a small window will pop up. Click on "as range image" and click "OK".

STEP 6: Making a Pattern

Click on "Create random coding pattern" on the tool bar, it'll give you two options. I chose color, but greyscale works just as nice.

STEP 7: Time to Make This Bad Boy!

Now that everything is set, click on "create stereogram", it'll take a few, but not too long if your computer is nice.

STEP 8: View Your Artwork and Save.

It'll pop up your piping hot stereogram for you to see. At this point, right click it and click on save, that way you can share it with friends.

In retrospect, I should have shaded the arms better, so they stood out.

Enjoy.

12 Comments

JoTheGemini 5 years ago

Thank you so much for posting this! This made the process much more simple for me to create. My boyfriend and I were recently looking at a magic eye book and with Valentine's day approaching, I thought it would be clever to make a photo of ours into a magic eye picture. It turned out fantastic. So appreciated!
The only trouble I had was using the download link (the file might've moved).

RichardH389 5 years ago

Step 1: Download and Install a Stereogram Maker.

Brilliant.

dchall8 15 years ago

This is pretty cool! I've never seen these on the computer before. Thanks for posting it. For the case of the robot, it might look more recognizable if you had left the silhouette alone in 2-D and simply let it sit raised above the background. I gotta try this. Thanks again!!

lemonie 15 years ago

It works, but the shape of Robot is wrong, the perspective doesn't look right. Is this a limitation of the software, or just the way you've shaped the 2D into 3? L

CarpetGnome 15 years ago

It was my bad, I wish I had done more detail on the robot, all I got was a general shape. My artistic skills need a lot of work it seems!

The Jamalam 15 years ago

So how exactly do you view them?

maruawe 15 years ago

pick a point in the middle of the picture and stare at that point for about 10 to 20 seconds. the picture will become visible.

lieuwe 15 years ago

cross eyed(or was it with your eyes parallel?) like you do with those 3d images which have two photos next to eachother