3D, or stereo microscopy, is a method used to produce three-dimensional images using two dimensional images captured using software. It was first developed in the early 1960s as an option to two dimensional televisions. Today, it has become an important tool for scientists and engineers when studying various scientific subjects such as anatomy, physiology, cell and tissue construction, physics, and biochemistry. In general, 3D produces a whole image that can be viewed from any appropriate angle.
The reason that 3D has become so popular in recent years has to do with the improvement of technology. Three dimensional imaging allows scientists to study different objects at different angles and viewing different depths. For example, by varying the angle that the viewer is viewing the scene from, you can get a greater sense of depth. In addition, because three-dimensional imagery uses greater spatial resolution than flat images, it offers a clearer and more realistic image.
One example of a type of three dimensional imagery is called depth of field. It refers to an area that is beyond the center of the camera or viewer, but not necessarily visible. For example, when viewing a scene from a bird’s eye view, objects that are far away will be blurred; the center of the photograph will be in focus, while objects further away will be out of focus. This is due to the fact that objects that are further away are potentially out of sight, while closer objects become more visible as the viewer moves further away. Another example of depth of field occurs when viewing a scene with multiple objects, where some of the objects are being foregrounded while others are in the background.
Depth of field occurs in natural landscapes, for instance when looking at a distant mountain or distant cityscape. The phenomenon is called parallax. It occurs because the horizontal meridian that runs through a point is shifted slightly by the perspective of the viewer. This means that depending upon the location of the observer, objects that are closer or further away will appear to move in different directions. This can be visually disorienting. In photography, however, depth of field is used so that the photographed subject appears to have depth and a greater dimension than what is seen in a simple two-dimension image.
For artists, the use of depth of field can be useful when creating paintings that require the viewer to be looking directly at objects. By using depth of field techniques, an artist can create a greater emphasis on the foreground by making foreground objects appear closer and bolder than objects in the background. This technique is also useful when displaying an object in a painting, such as when an object is highlighted against a brightly colored background. This can make objects in the foreground stand out more, while also making them easier to see in comparison to the background.
In this way, the depth of field can be used to exaggerate or soften the effects of blurring lines or distance. For example, by placing one small clear circular object in a painting, you can make the apparent size of the object smaller than its actual size by blurring the edges around it. By making all of the objects in a painting of the same size, they will appear closer together and will be easier to see just by looking at their distances. In effect, distant objects appear closer because they are in the distance and close by because of the shallow depth of field.
