Richard M. Friedhoff Vivian Walworth
MaryAnn Nilsson Jason Figueiredo Ella Laramee
The Stereo Imaging Research Group developed methods, materials and applications for stereoscopic hardcopy. The group's StereoJet process forms polarizing images by inkjet printing, using commercial desktop printers without modification.1 Key inventions include specialized substrates, inks and procedures.2 Each StereoJet print or transparency consists of a a pair of superimposed, oppositely polarizing digital images, one representing the left-eye view and the other representing the right-eye view. The two images are printed on opposite surfaces of a single transparent support sheet. An observer wearing polarizing 3-D glasses views only the assigned image with each eye. Just as in natural binocular stereo vision, the brain processes the information so that the observer perceives the pair as an image in depth. If the original images are a photographic stereo pair, they undergo scanning and digitization. Digital image pairs obtained by computer graphics, computer-aided design or data visualization are used directly. The images are adjusted and registered stereoscopically in Adobe Photoshop. Sequential printing of the two image back-to-back produces a stereo transparency. Lamination to a reflective aluminum-coated paper backing converts the image to a reflection print. Stereoscopic imaging applications under investigation include medical imaging, molecular modeling, underwater photography, light and electron microscopy, computer graphics, and geology. Research continues on dyes, media, and viewing methods. The concept of using polarizing images for stereoscopy was first described in 1940 by E.H. Land.3 Land and his associates at Polaroid Corporation developed photographic and halftone printing processes for producing such images, which they termed Vectographs. The StereoJet process advances stereoscopy with polarizing images by using inkjet printing technology, new materials, and modern digital imaging. The technology portfolio is a list of 7 issued patents, a trademark, and a domain name. The portfolio
is available for licensing. Inquiries can be directed to Nila Bhakuni, at nila_bhakuni@harvard.edu.
A list of the patents can be found here. For more information about licensing, please view the website
for the Office for Technology and Trademark Licensing. REFERENCES Scarpetti, J.; DuBois, P.M.; Friedhoff, R.; Walworth, V.K., "Developments in StereoJet Technology," Stereoscopic Displays and Virtual Reality Systems VII, January 24-26, 2000, San Jose, CA, (SPIE, Vol. 3957, 2000), 288. 1. Scarpetti, J.J., P.M Dubois, R.M. Friedhoff, and V.K. Walworth, Full-color 3-D Prints and Transparencies, J. Imaging Sci. Tech. 42, 307-310 (1998). 2. Scarpetti, J.J., Coating Methods and Compositions for Production of Digitized Stereoscopic Polarizing Images, International Patent W/O 96/23663 (1996). 3. Land, E.H., Vectographs: Images in Terms of Vectorial Inequality and Their Application in Three-Dimensional Representation, J. Opt. Soc. Amer. 30, 230-238 (1940).
Members:
Stereo Imaging Group
The Technology -- Outlook for StereoJet -- PDF Download
The History
The Technology Portfolio - Available for Licensing
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