As was explained in the article “What is 3D?” in order to achieve 3D images, the brain needs to see two slightly different images to create a sense of depth. Those images can’t be displayed simultaneously though. If they were displayed at the same time, everything would just look kind of blurred. Instead, one eye needs to see one image while the other eye needs to see a second, slightly different image.
The goal is to have the right eye receive the image meant for the right eye and the left eye receive the image that is intended for the left eye. There are two ways of achieving this with 3D technology, both of which require the viewer to wear glasses.
Shuttered glasses open and close to correspond with the 3D TV. The right eye is open when the screen is displaying the right image. It then closes and the left eye opens when the left image comes up. This may sound distracting but in fact it happens 120 times a second, so fast that your eyes don’t notice the opening and closing at all but your brain combines the images into a 3D image. For more detail on how this works see our “Guide to Shuttered Glasses”
Polarized glasses accomplish the same effect but in a different way. The screen shows both images at one time but the lenses filter out the image that isn’t meant for the eye. In other words, the left eye only sees what is meant for it and the right eye only sees what is meant for it. For more detail on how this works see our “Guide to Polarized Glasses“.
