Pulfrich Glasses showing a dark lens frame and an empty frame.

Most people do not know this, but there is a simple way to make most any moving image appear in 3 dimensions.

Sometimes when I watch a movie or a tv show that has some interesting action, I place my hand over one eye in such a way as to produce a small aperture with my thumb and forefinger. When I do this, I can actually see the movie or tv show, or the news in full 3d stereo.

The effect only happens with a moving image such as TV, Movies and Video. The technique is actually called the Pulfrich technique or Pulfrich effect. It is a phenomenon that has to do with signal timing to the brain. The way I understand it, when one eye is looking through a small opening (aperture), the amount of light is reduced at that eye and causes a slight difference in the time it takes for the each eye to send a signal to the brain. Meanwhile the uncovered eye is already sending the next frames to the brain. The effect works so well that they actually sell Pulfrich glasses and there have been tv shows that have been produced specifically for Pulfrich viewing. It was one of the first methods for viewing 3D movies. The glasses function the same way as the aperture made with a hand except the glasses use a dark lens over one eye to cause the delay. I make my own using an old pair of sunglasses with the lens removed from one side. The problem with the Pulfrich effect is that over a relatively short period of time it may cause a strain on the eyes and can produce some minor discomfort.

You might want to try it for a few minutes the next time you go to a movie. However, you can also see the effect on your TV when watching action. I’ve watched such things as old black and white films from WWII, as well as Dr. Strangelove, Titanic, Alien, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, home video, sports events and the news. You do not need a stereo 3d TV. It will work on a regular TV, a computer monitor, and even on your Smart Phone or iPad. As long as the subjects are moving, you will more than likely see 3D. It really works.

Here are a few videos that show how it works. You’ll need a dark filter over one eye to experience the effect.

Here is a video link that demonstrates how the effect works.

Please have a look at some of my other posts here.

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