Flat (2D) Image.  This feature displays one frame of a 3D left-right pair.  When you first sign on to the site, this is the default.  In order to see images in stereo you need to select one of the following methods in the 3D viewer control box (the blue links below give detailed info):

Mirror-View    See stereo using a common household or cosmetic mirror.  If you don't have the gear for the other methods below, TRY THIS!!   It works best on large screens (17", or preferably 19"+).  Default setting has THE MIRRORED IMAGE ON THE LEFT (see the details)  Use Orientation = Swap to put it on the right.  (The Dual Monitor mode can also be used with a handheld mirror).

Parallel    Right image on the right, left on the left.  Image size should be limited to 3 inches (6 inches per pair) for comfortable "wide-eyed" viewing.  Simple Prismatic Glasses (costing ~ $2) help!!  Other aides include the Pokescope and the ScreenScope. 

Cross-eyed    Look at the stereo pair by crossing your eyes. Right image on the on left, left on the right.  Not everyone can do this, but if parallel doesn't work give it a shot.

Anaglyphs   A classic way to view web-images and prints.  The left and right stereo information is coded by color. Anaglyphs must be viewed using Anaglyph Glasses that contain red and cyan filters.  Anaglyphs at Crystal Canyons are generated by computer and are less accurate (in terms of color and ghosts) than stereos viewed using other methods.  

Shutter-Glasses   (e.g.  i-glasses, i-Art, VRSurfer, etc., working with your graphics card and a rapid refresh-rate monitor). This is the most technologically complicated  viewing method, but it allows you to see large-size high-resolution 3D.

Dual-Monitor    This high-tech version of the simple Mirror-View is probably the best way to view digital 3D.  Set screens to 1024 x 768 to receive the highest quality images from this site.  Default has the MIRRORED MONITOR ON THE RIGHT!  Use Orientation = Swap to put it on the left.  This mode can also be used with a handheld mirror, but note that the default mirrored image is on the right.

Notes on Resolution and Image Size:  Most of our 3D images have a basic resolution of 800x600 (or 1600x600 per pair) and are compressed to medium quality.  Small images will look better if a fine dot-pitch monitor with a high-resolution display setting is used so that many pixels can be fit into a reduced picture size.  For the Mirror-View mode the image-size preference and your display settings should be chosen to run the image across most of your monitor (or pair of monitors in the dual monitor mode).

Image Orientation:   Use Reverse to switch the sides to be viewed via the mirror, or to see a new perspective on an image for the other 3D modes.   If your anaglyph glasses happen to be Red-Right (vs. standard Red-Left), or your shutterglass's sync is flipped, you may want to Swap the pictures.

Saving Your settings:  You may save your favorite viewing setting so that all images you subsequently download will be automatically formatted to your liking.  Cookies - small packets of data stored on your computer - are used to recall your preferences.  We will never use cookies for any other purpose.  Click "Save Settings" in the image viewer.