Anaglyphs are pictures formed from the integration of two images.  If created correctly, a stereo picture should result.  With separate images for each eye superimposed over one other, special viewing glasses are required in order to obtain a 3-D effect.   The glasses are either polarized or different in color for each lense; therefore each eye is presented with only one image.  The difference in the pictures create the illusion that the image is floating above the screen.

To describe the true effect behind anaglyphs, we consider a picture plane.  In order to view the picture, ones' eyes focus on a single spot.  If we assume that the picture plane is transparent and realizing that images may exist behind the plane, then a 3-D image may be created.  The specialized glasses will provide this effect, allowing each eye to receive information from the different points on the picture plane.

                                                                                                                                            Object

                                                        Left Eye                Right Eye                           Left Eye                Right Eye

The separation points as displayed on the picture plane between the two different colored circles allows the brain to perceive a 3-D picture.  The points on the picture plane are separated by a distance (shift) that is constrained by the location of the object behind the plane.  In order to create a decent effect, there are a few rules that should be followed:  lines that are drawn right on top of each other are seen on the picture plane, lines that shift a color to the left are viewed behind the picture plane conversely lines that shift a color to the right are seen in front of the picture plane.  These were the basic ideas we followed in our attempts to create our own anaglyphs.  See the next page for results.