Converting 2d flat photo into immersive 3d VR 180 steroscopic (with depth) photo

Sorry if did not explain my question clear enough.

What I meant is that I want to convert a 2D photo into a 3D VR180 immersive photo ( that should look like exactly the same as the 2 examples I mentioned below ) so that I can view it in any VR headset (in my case I have HTC vive pro headset).

Note that the stereo photo that you mentioned in your reply is indeed a 3d photo and I can view it in a VR headset but this is not what I am looking for since it is not immersive as VR180 photos which you move your head up/down and right/left ( look at the 2 examples bellow to see what I mean)

Example 1:

Here is an example of a 3D photo that you can view in VeeR VR App if you have a VR headset https://veer.tv/photos/stereoscopic-vr180-jenny-leong-opera-house-289767 .

All what you have to do is

1- just bookmark the 3d photo in the link above.

2- then open VeeR VR App in you PC

3- put your VR headset on

4- log in into your VeeR account then go the bookmarks section then you can find the bookmarked photo there

5- Then you can view the 3D photo.

Example 2:

Here is also another example of how the 3D photos should look like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFIUgLEGN44

you can open the youtube link in the YouTube VR app .

Thank you for your reply.

@Gerry Siegel Thank you for your reply!

Yes I think you should try VR headsets they are great. Then you need to see the 2 examples I mentioned in my previous reply and examine them your self so that you can understand what I mean when I said " Is there a way to convert 2d images into 3d VR180 stereoscopic immersive images?" Theses 2 examples show you 3d VR180 immersive images exactly what I want to convert to from 2 flat images.

Thank you again and if there is a discord or any other mean so that I can join and discuss this topic and other similar topics please let me know I will appreciate it?

I don't have a red/cyan 3d glass to view this anaglyph image unforunitly and I don't know how to view it in my HTC Vive pro headset.

The thing is I have some old and new pictures and I want to convert them into immersive 3d VR 180 stereoscopic like exactly what I showed you in the 2 examples

Example 1

1-https://veer.tv/photos/stereoscopic-vr180-jenny-leong-opera-house-289767 .

Example 2

2-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFIUgLEGN44

Please refer to my reply to know how to view these 2 examples.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Thank you

This is cool but its not what I am looking for if you misunderstood my query please let me know so that I can try to explain it in a different way because it is very important to me to find the answer to my query I have been searching for long time to find the answer and I have not found it yet if you know someone is expertise so that I contact him in person I would appreciate it .

Gerry Siegel wrote:

Nerazz wrote:

Thank you

This is cool but its not what I am looking for if you misunderstood my query please let me know so that I can try to explain it in a different way because it is very important to me to find the answer to my query I have been searching for long time to find the answer and I have not found it yet if you know someone is expertise so that I contact him in person I would appreciate it .

Well, what if, just if, the answer is no. Not by ordinary users. Sometimes I find that I seek the impractical for my abilities as a non industrial user. I have been into stereoscopy for ages and keep up with new techniques. From cinerama to anamorphic.

How about the makers of the VR headset. And are there forums for users. Our reach must exceed or grasp, that too is true. Sometimes. Aloha.

Thank you for your reply

But the reason I am optimistic and keep looking for a solution because:

Facebook ,in 2018 and this year, talks about something similar but I don't know if it is still out there or not.

you can check the following links:

https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/01/facebook-vr-memories/

https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/facebook-f8-3d-photos-to-virtual-reality-vr-1846189

Yes, this is possible from technical point of view.
1. Take your 2D pictures and convert them in 3D pictures (for good quality, you need a specialist to perform multi-layer mapping 3D conversion).
2. Each image for the corespondent eye must be inserted in a 360* panorama format (black background, and the image will occupy only a surface with the corespondent FOV).
3. Each pair for 3D images will be inserted in a 360* panorama 3D format (with dedicated software), which can be seen in a VR 3D device with proper software.
4. If your pictures are not panoramic, panorama formats for VR with limited FOV can be used and in final you will have something VR 3D in which the head movement is limited at 180* (by example).
5. Instead of a black background, a pre-rendered 3D background can be used, for a more spectacular effect (something like a 3D cinema room, and your picture will be placed on the screen of this cinema...

Thank you @3D Gunner

This looks little bit advanced but I will try my best to do these steps and see what happens I wish there is one dedicated software can do all or most of these steps.

Thank you for your reply.

The only serious challenge is to convert 2D images in good quality 3D images. The task is better to be done with real 3D pairs.
- To insert your images in a black background for 360* VR pano is also very simple (images with smaller FOV than 180* must be properly distorted before insertion and must be placed exactly in the center of background).
- Then, you need a proper player to see your 360*/180* images located on your computer, with your VR device.

How to watch videos/photos on the HTC Vive and Vive Pro

- For others to see your images as in your link (veer.tv/photos/vr180), special metadata must be attached to images before placed on internet!

So, I made a small demo for you.
- The 360* 3D VR background was downloaded from internet (I supose is free for demo).
- The inserted picture is mine (with the insect under magnifying glass).
- On a 3D TV can be seen with GoProVRPlayer (with proper settings for input and output), by example.
- On a smartphone VR device (smartphone with tracking sensors + HMD) can be seen with VR Media Player - 360° Viewer (with proper settings).
- The picture is a simple .jpg file, without dedicated exif attached, so is not automatically detected as a 3D 360* VR file. The viewers/players must be manually settled to see the image in 3D 360* VR environment!
- Other VR devices may need an other VR player!

Enjoy!

Hi,

I understood your need because I have the same
I capture 2 images by placing 2 Iphones side by side
When I merge them in photo software, I can see them in 3D with a Google Cardboard
But it does not work in 3D with my Oculus Quest 2

Have you found a solution?

Thank you

Hi Brian!

Specification for ZEISS VR ONE Plus say: Supported wide range of interpupillary distance (IPD) - 53 ~ 77 mm (this means 68mm is included)

So, something is wrong. Your images should be viewed without spacing.
I know you make very good 3D photos, so the problem is about how to assemble the images so that you can observe them comfortably.

If you want to use the entire screen area (or a larger part) in the VR device, may need a different approach to how to capture and mount the images for the 3D pair.
For viewing standard 3/2 format pairs, a lot of available screen is wasted.
First question: Why no increase the size of pictures until cover the entire width of the screen?

I propose to open a separate thread where we can discuss / develop these aspects.

Yes and no. No you can't create a 180 degree picture from a photo because it would look like a fish bowl and wouldn't have enough resolution to stretch it without making it look terrible. Unless the photo is panorama. But what you can do instead is convert a 2d photo into a 3d photo and you can use AI to generate Depth Maps. The Depth Maps are like a separate png file you have which looks similar to the original photo, but its colour pallet is black and white. The white would represent close up and black would be far away, then different grades of grey to represent the depth of objects in between. You could use a tool like StereoPhoto Maker (SPM) to do this. There are other projects on github doing similar things that might get even better results. You can stick to the software UI, or dive in deeper by learning how to run python scripts and install the plugins, or maybe Google Collab scripts could be easier, which is a Cloud based script workbook that people have written, to run their code and do the conversions. There are some on there that can do this. But this picture in VR will not feel like you are there, it will be like looking at a photo up close in vr, but if you move your head you will see the different objects move in a way that gives the illusion of depth. They don't move a massive amount but enough to make it look cool.

Once you have a depth map you can create a SBS (side by side) image using the 2d image + the depth map converter. Then just save it as jpg, load up the image in a photo viewer VR program, switch it to side by side and you are good to go. If you switch to 180 you will realize that it looks terrible, flat should work ok though.

"I think" there are some new age mobile phones that have cameras that can generate depth maps. Another alternative, if the photo is of a person, you could cut them out and paste them into a pre-existing 180 degree scene. Maybe go to the same place in google maps and save the 360 photo of this place and put the person in. lol