There is an amount of disagreement on this issue of the cut-out effect; more to do with terminology and the individual's concept of the image that is being looked at, but as mentioned previously, the images tell the story.

One argument is that using a long lens foreshortens the image (as it does in 2D cinematography too), so producing the cut-out effect. Therefore increasing the inter ocular distance adds more volume back into the scene, lessening the cut-out effect.

The problem with this, in my mind, is that adding more 'artificial 3D volume' makes the objects seem more 'cut-out'...

See what you think...

This first image shows the use of long, or zoom lenses, compressing or foreshortening the distant between objects into similar, but separate, image planes, causing a cut-out appearance, as can be seen by comparing this image to the same area within the wide shots used previously.

To overcome the effect of compressed objects when using long lenses requires exaggerated inter ocular distances, but with potentially worse 'cut-out' effects as the amount of stereo effect is now unnatural...

This can be seen to a greater extent in the following panoramic images, where distance between objects is far greater.

This first image has a fairly normal inter ocular distance of approximately 2.5 inches, and the stereoscopic effect is very mild, but fairly natural.

This following image has an exaggerated inter ocular distance of some 8 inches, and has a greatly exaggerated stereoscopic effect, causing the objects to appear spaced further apart, as well as introducing the 'miniaturisation' effect discussed previously.

In the second image the 'cut-out' effect, or more accurately a 'planar' effect, can clearly be seen.

If we now add a long lens to the camera and shoot with a small inter ocular distance the effect is exaggerated further as the effect is to shrink (foreshorten) apparent distance between objects.

If we now increase the inter ocular distance the 'planar' effect becomes a lot more apparent, as although the larger inter ocular distance has increased the 'stereo volume', it has done so as a percentage of the original object sizes and distances...

What this means is that while the apparent depth of the objects has increased, the distance between them has also increased by the same percentage, making the objects (that may now appear less cut-out) to be positioned on very separate planes within the now stretched image...

An all this is in conjunction with the miniaturisation of the scene caused by the excessive amount stereo.

Having said that, the fact there are normally few foreground objects within such shots means the effect of miniaturisation is reduced.

What do you think? Does the uses of exaggerated inter ocular distance improve or worsen the cut-out effect?

Next Page - Scene Focus

As always, test before committing to a particular style of stereoscopic 3-D shooting.

Or better still, contact steve@lightillusion.com for more info.