Methods and apparatus for taking and composing stereoscopic pictures

A method of obtaining an image record of a spatial object field that is useful in producing a stereoscopic picture of the type incorporating a viewing lenticular screen of lenticule width W, the stereoscopic picture to include a key subject matter element image in the plane of the picture and at least one of a foreground element image seemingly in front of the plane of the picture and a background element image seemingly behind the plane of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• photographically recording an overall image of the object field through a lens of focal length (f) from a plurality (N) of different relative vantage points aligned in a path extending generally transversely of, and in generally uniform spaced relation to, the object field;
• and
• controlling at least one of (1) said focal length (f), (2) the distance between adjacent ones of said plurality (N) of vantage points, (3) the enlargement ratio (R) between the photographic record of said object field and the stereoscopic picture, (4) the distance (a) from the path of the vantage points to the nearest foreground element of the object field, (5) the distance (b) from the path of the vantage points to the farthest background element of the object field, and (6) the distance (k) from the path of the vantage points to the key subject matter element of the object field, so as to maintain the change between adjacent vantage points in the parallax value between the image of the key subject matter element and the image of said at least one element, as recorded at each of said adjacent vantage points, within a predetermined range of multiples of W/R.

A method of producing a stereographic picture of a spatial object field of the type incorporating a viewing lenticular screen, the picture having the image of a key subject matter element of the object field in the plane thereof and at least one of an image of a foreground element of the object field and an image of a background element of the object field, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality (N) of negatives by photographing the object field through a lens of focal length (f) from a corresponding plurality (N) of different relative vantage points aligned in a path extending generally transversely of, and in generally uniform spaced relation to, the object field;
• exposing a photosensitive surface by projecting the object field image on each negative through a lenticular screen of lenticule width W with the projected image from each negative of the key subject matter element of the object field in registry with a reference point, the lenticular screen being positioned in overlying relation to the photosensitive surface such that the photosensitive surface is substantially at the focal plane of the lenticular screen;
• and
• controlling at least one of (1) said focal length (f), (2) the distance between adjacent ones of said plurality (N) of vantage points, (3) the enlargement ratio (R) between the negatives and said photosensitive surface, (4) the distance (a) from the path of the vantage points to the nearest foreground element of the object field, (5) the distance (b) from the path of the vantage points to the farthest background element of the object field, (6) the distance (k) from the path of the vantage points to the key subject matter element of the object field, (7) the number of said plurality (N) of negatives employed in exposing the photosensitive surface, and (8) the lenticule width W, so as to maintain the change between adjacent vantage points in the parallax value between the image of the key subject matter element and the image of said at least one element, as projected through said lenticular screen from the negative obtained at each of said adjacent vantage points, within a predetermined range of multiples of W.