Stereo image to single image and depth map

threed123 wrote:

Whenever I am out with my digital camera without my 3D cameras (I also have two stereo cameras, the W3 and the Panasonic 3D1 pocket camera), I use the cha-cha (body shift left, then shift right) method to create a left/right eye images. And then use those two images in Stereomaker to create a stereo image, whether printed SBS or a digital MPO file for my 3D monitor or TV. No reason to create depth maps regardless of camera then. I suppose if you have a 2D image that would look great in 3D, then going through the depth-map process would be worth it. My point, why go through the depth-map process with a stereo image to make a printable SBS image, when you can print a SBS image from a stereo image in Stereomaker without a depth map. Or am I missing what you are trying to do?

My comment was originally to the article on the launch of the K-Lens, suggesting another possible approach, for less money.

Specific use cases of that lens were said to include loading a 2D image and Depth map into Photoshop and doing all sorts of masking, DoF adjusting, Focus point adjusting, etc.

For example it's much easier to mask fuzzy subjects with a depth map. Also if you want the sky darker - select on great distance, etc.

From the article:
"The lens is able to record a grid of images that contain information about the relative distance of different objects in the scene. This information can then be used in post-processing to adjust the focus point in the scene, as well as to easily mask different areas to alter the brightness and colors of different layers in the scene."
https://www.dpreview.com/news/9729848884/hands-on-with-the-k-lens-a-light-field-lens-that-captures-3d-data-for-post-capture-refocusing