How to Make 3-D Movies

Add 3-D effects to your home videos.

If you are into movie-making or you love to edit home movies for fun, you can create your own 3-D movie. All you need are two webcams or handy video cameras and 3-D video-editing software. You can view these 3-D movies in the comfort of your own home using 3-D glasses you can purchase or make yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 2 video cameras
• Tripod
• Scrap of wood
• 1/4-inch screws
• Drill
• T-nut
• 3-D movie-making software
• 3-D glasses

Instructions

1. Make a base or tripod plate to hold two cameras on one tripod. Drill two holes on a piece of scrap wood, and put two 1/4-inch screws where your cameras will be connected. Use a T-nut at the center to connect the base to the top of the tripod.

2. Place the two video cameras on the tripod side by side. The distance between the two should be 2.5 inches from the center of each camera lens.

3. Avoid too much depth. The distance between your camera and your subject or actor should be at least 15 to 20 feet.

4. Test some footage by editing it on your 3-D editing software (see Resources). Drop the video footage on your video timeline. Put the left video footage on top and the right video footage at the bottom timeline.

5. Desaturate both clips to make them black and white.

6. Modify the right video by going to "Modify" and selecting "Add." Go to "Video Effects," then select "Color Balance" and add "RGB Balance Effect." Turn the radio button for "Red" all the way down to the left for the right video, and then for the left video turn the "Blue" or "Cyan" radio button all the way down to the left.

7. Render and save your work.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your own 3-D glasses by using colored transparencies. Use blue or cyan for the right eye and red for the left eye.

• Use simple objects first. Put an actor in front of an object where one camera focuses on the actor and the other on the object, fuse the two together, and edit.

• Don't shoot too far. The farther away the subject is, the bigger the background becomes, which will make the front object seem ghostlike.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• New Free Downloads: Stereo 3D Camera Driver 1.0