Most companies charge a premium for 3D, but here’s an inexpensive DIY alternative for just $5. All you need are transparency film, a regular 1,200dpi printer, and a monitor that’s 24 inches or smaller. The idea is to print your own 3D filter (aka parallax barrier), which is cut to size and overlaid on a regular screen for glasses-free 3D playback. Software-wise, users will need to install iZ3D’s 3D driver (with a 30-day free trial) and activate the interleaved mode under the vertical setting. Note that this will set you back $40 if you decide to keep it after the trial period.
Be aware that the vertical resolution is halved utilizing this approach, while the 3D depth and viewing angles are probably inferior compared with active-shutter 3DTVs. Still, it’s a weekend project that’s worth trying out thanks to its affordability. Check out the above video and click here for full instructions.
(Phil Lelyveld addendum) A 7 minute explanation of what parallax barrier is and how this $5 solution works is here. The full tutorial for creating this $5 solution is here; look for the Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:53 am post.
The original story is here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20029530-1.html?tag=mncol;2n