top of page

Create in 3D: A PHANTOGRAM

  • Writer: PhotoED Magazine
    PhotoED Magazine
  • Aug 3, 2017
  • 2 min read

Updated: Nov 9, 2019


A quick and easy technique for creating phantograms. All you need is: A slide bar, A tripod, PhotoShop & your camera.

Concept and object selection Start with a target or reference rectangle of known size, such as a standard size piece of paper. Phantograms are designed to be viewed at a 45° angle — viewing them on a vertical monitor will not work. Select a size that can be easily printed. For this exercise, a sheet of white letter-size paper is used (size 8.5 × 11 inches). The angle at which the object is photographed is going to be the same as the viewing angle (45°). Select an object/subject that has some height and stands up from a flat surface. The entire object must lie within the reference rectangle when viewed from the camera position. Camera position is about 1 metre from the object horizontally and 1 metre vertically. This will give the camera a position of 45° to the object. Setup and shooting Centre and level the camera on the slide bar so that the object is centred in the viewfinder. Adjust view so that the entire rectangle is seen when the camera is shifted 3 cm to the left and 3 cm to the right. Shift camera 3 cm to the left of centre and take the first image. Shift camera 6 cm to the right and take the second image.

Processing (using Photoshop CS5) Open the left image. Select the crop tool and make sure the Perspective box (far right of the menu - Fig. 1) is checked. This will allow each corner to be moved to the corners of the reference rectangle. Do this as accurately as possible - hint: use the magnify tool.

Crop the image and save as the left image. Do the same for the right image and save as the right image.

Resize image to reference rectangle. Go to Image > Image Size. Deselect Constrain Proportions and enter Width: 8.5 and Height: 11 inches. Do the same for the right image. (Fig. 2)

Making the anaglyph and viewing With the left image open, select the Red channel (Fig. 3). Select all (⌘+A) and copy.

Open the right image with the Red channel selected and click on RGB box in the top left to view all channels. Paste. The phantogram effect is achieved.

Crop the resultant anaglyph as desired. Print and place paper on flat surface - view from a 45° angle about 1 metre away.

DIY 3D Easy Phantogram

Read more...

photoed-meld-issue-spring-2025-2000px.jpg

Meld Issue
In Print

Popular Articles

Sign up for fortnightly e-news

Above and Beyond

“I’m a new subscriber but love the first copy I received. A great quality magazine. The price for a subscription is so reasonable. Customer Service goes above and beyond.
Can’t wait to get the next issue!”

—Rebecca Petersen

COLOUR_W2024_shoot-37 600.jpg
Subscribe
28c3bc_55ed5b3d76c34d6194bb27f51540b72b~mv2.jpg
Special Offers
Screenshot 2025-04-30 at 9.29.32 PM.png
Digital Extra Edition

DIGITAL BONUS CONTENT. Flick through our FREE BONUS companion edition.

external-file_edited.jpg
Patreon Perks
AdvertisewithUs_edited.jpg
Advertise With Us
nathan-anderson-c7fShzYk4bA-unsplash_edited.jpg
Submissions
patreon-reader.webp

What’s on Patreon

See the latest news for our community of Patreon supporters 

Follow us on Instagram

Our Supporters

images.png
nikon-logo-black-and-white-300px.png
beau-photo_logo-blk-300px.jpg
Historical-Society-of-Canada-logo-rev-300pxsq.jpg

Community Patron Partners

PPOC_logo_national_vertical.png
K2-Logo-new-blk-300px.jpg
Westland-FrontRow_Logo+Tagline-Cobrand.jpg
DTC-DOWNTOWNCAMERA-logo-blk-300px (1).png
Toronto-Image-Works-blk-300px (1).png
Harcourt-House-logo-blk-300px.png
b3k-Digital-logo-300px (1).jpg
bottom of page