DEPTH CONTROL FOR STEREOSCOPIC IMAGES

The apparent depth (416) of an apparent point (404) in a set of stereoscopic images (300) is altered by moving a region (502) in at least one image (300) which corresponds to the apparent point (404). The location of the regions (502) within each image (300) representing the apparent point (404), together with the geometry of the vantage point (306) locations, specifies the depth (316) of an actual point (304) in a scene. The region (502) corresponding to the apparent point (404) in one of the images (300) is then moved to another location in the image (300), in order to produce another set of images (300) in which the apparent depth (416) of the apparent point (404) has been altered. In other embodiments, portions of both images (300) are moved, to place the apparent point (404) at a desired location both in terms of apparent depth (416) and apparent epipolar location (314). The determination of the new apparent depth (416) for the apparent point (404) may be based on the initial apparent depth (416), or may be unrelated to the initial apparent depth (416). The new apparent depth (416) for the apparent point (404) may be selected by the user of a computer program carrying out the method. The set of stereoscopic images (300) may be still images or moving images, and may be captured digitally, scanned from photographs, or computer-generated.