Make Stereo Graphic Images in Excel

Stereo Graphic Images can add depth to 3D plots.

Step 1: An Example Table of Data

Make a table of values like so in excel. Colors are optional.

Step 2: Select and Graph

Select the whole table and make a 3-D surface.

Step 3: Adjust the View

Some viewing adjustments need to made the viewing angle.

Step 4: Make a Second Graph

Reselect the table again place another 3-D surface next to the orginal.

Step 5: This One Needs a Different Angle

This graph will have a slightly different view point.

Step 6: Finished Stereo Graphic Image

Use stereo graphic image viewing techniques to view the 3D image.
May need to scale images to the width between your eyes.

Step 7: Can Display DEM Data

Tables of dem data can display things like the matterhorn in 3D.

Step 8: Here Is the Matterhorn Data

Here is the raw dem data FYI.

Comments

[miiwii3]

will this work on excel 2003

[Allthatnerd]

That is really cool. But do you know how to put it on openoffice.org 3.0?

[dsauer]

I am looking for a way to do surface graphs on openoffice 3

[ifallacy]

I wonder if you could combine that with the method used at: http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/3d-stereo-photography/

maybe? =]

[dsauer]

I have a 3D camera and have taken lots of 3D slides. Hand made 3D images don't work well. Trying to make gif movies with these slides seems to really highlight some of the mild imperfections in the camera. I haven't yet figured out how to make all the corrections yet, but it looks like its worth at try.

[dombeef]

COOL!

[Pazzerz]

One thing to keep in mind with stereoscopic images is that some people don't cross their eyes as easily as others (and keep them there to view the 3D). So, by using the 'stare at something beyond the images' method, which pretty much aims each eye parallel to each other, the images have to be spaced no greater than the distance between each eye. Try staring at something that makes your eyes 'diverge'. Its nearly impossible. I guess I'm trying to say that if you want to stare at these, print them to scale so that your eyes won't have to diverge. Slightly convergent would be ideal. Does that make sense???

[dsauer]

I have a hard time using the cross eye method too. See the instructable at https://www.instructables.com/id/How_to_view_stereo_graphic_images/ . It looks like a way needs to be found as to finding out how a person's eyes naturally relax. Then the images could be adjusted for what is most natural.

There does seem to be a problem with the scaling. In the pdf format, the view can be scaled and apparently needs to be. The question is in the instructable page, can one scale be found that suits all?

[Pazzerz]

I think you would have to shrink your pics to allow for different screen resolutions that people use. A smaller pic is better than one that is too large to relax your eyes. When they are small, you adjust your distance to the screen to make the viewing easier. The resolution here at work is 1024x768, and one of my laptops at home is like 1280 x whatever. The home computer displays the pics fine since the high resolution shrinks the picture down a bit.

[dsauer]

I believe the images should be adjusted to suit the viewer. I have come up with a way to measure my natural double vision which for now works for me. If I hold out hand in front of a white screen with one finger, when I relax my eyes I will see two fingers. I find that with my right hand I can align my second finger with the right image of my first finger. I end up with my first two fingers being apart the same amount as my natural double vision. Some people might have better luck doing this using the left hand. Anyway, if the images are spaced to match a person's natural double vision, he will only have to relax his eyes to view in 3D. Now different people probablity have different natural double vision. When I open and close one eye, I find the left image belongs to the right eye and visa versa. The challenge is to be able to make adjustments to the images to match each and everybody's natural double vision. Nobody should have to strain their eyes. Its might be much easier if an effective way could be found to measure and modify the images to every individual. There appears to be enough differences in terms of which image goes where. I wonder what the spread is in natural double vision for the general population.

[Pazzerz]

The spread may very well be linked to the distance between the centers of the eyes. Not to be morbid, but when a person dies and the muscles relax, the eyes seem to take on a far away look, which is probably the thing we're looking for, just don't need dead people.... =O) Anyway, our way of keeping images looking 'correct' for us tends to make it a bit difficult to give up that control and adjust to the new image.

One the other hand, I wonder if getting skunk drunk would help...???

[Pazzerz]

Also, there probably is an 'average' distance between the eyes for an adult. This would be the distance to use, minus a slight bit to allow for the smaller folks (since this is an average of many distances).

[crapflinger]

another note is that this has to be in excel 2007....2003 or earlier doesn't have that function (last time i checked)

[dsauer]

I sure wish I could used an older version of excel on my MacBook Pro. What versions are available for people who are not using Macs?

[zachninme]

You can do it in OpenOffice.

[dsauer]

Can OpenOffice do 3D surfaces?

[nagutron]

This is awesome. I was able to see each of the graphs in 3D just by crossing my eyes a bit.

[dsauer]

There is a question on how to make things easiest on everyone. It probably should not be too surprising if everyone's eyes relax differently. The images are easy enough to adjust so that viewing is more natural. The instructable at https://www.instructables.com/id/How_to_view_stereo_graphic_images/ is in this direction.