Stereo 3D Display Options

This page is for aggregating the latest know-how and links to current Stereo 3D display options best suited for molecular graphics applications like PyMOL. Please strive to provide objective factual information based on first-hand experiences while using the displays for real work and teaching.

Let's figure out together what stereo solutions work well in this brave new post-CRT world!

Categories

• "Active Stereo 3D" requires expensive and/or bulky shutter glasses. For decades, this has been the standard solution for stereo 3D molecular visualization on the desktop.
• "Passive Stereo 3D" requires inexpensive lightweight polarized glasses. This is the standard solution for delivering stereo 3D to audiences of more than a few people.
• "Autostereoscopic 3D" means that no glasses are required. However, current autostereoscopic displays tend do not to work well for molecular graphics due to their inability to faithfully represent fine detail such as thin bonds and wire meshes.

Active Stereo 3D (High-Refresh) Displays

This solution would be analogous to using desktop CRT monitors with shutter glasses.

LCD Displays

Are any of these displays on the market yet?

• ViewSonic VX2265wm

DLP Projection Televisions

Projection televisions tend to be too large and blurry for desktop use.

• Samsung 3D-Ready DLP HDTVs

Passive Stereo 3D Displays

Mirror-based Multi-LCD Solutions

• Planar3D "I have used these displays with nVidia Quadro graphics cards under both Windows and Linux running both PyMOL and Maestro. They work well, and the stereo quality is excellent!" - WLD.
• Omnia MIMO

One Piece Multi-layer LCD Displays

• IZ3D
• Zalman 22-inch 3D LCD monitor

Autostereoscopic LCD Displays

Some autostereoscopic displays have the ability to switch between 2D and 3D display modes. Others are built for 3D only.

• Dimension Technologies Inc.
• SeeReal Technologies
• NewSight Corp.

Active Stereo 3D (High Refresh) Projectors

Although these displays require shutter glasses out of the box, when combined with the adapters below and a special "silvered" screen, they can be used to project Passive Stereo 3D to a large audience.

DLP Projectors

• DepthQ Stereoscopic
• Christie MIRAGE S+4K SXGA+ 6500 LUMEN DLP™ STEREOSCOPIC PROJECTOR

Passive Stereo 3D Adaptor Hardware for Active Stereo 3D Projectors

These devices make it possible for a large audience to see projected stereo 3D using inexpensive polarized glasses.

• RealD Stereo3D visualization for CAVEs and immersive environment

Who Say's?

If you provide a specific quote or endorsement above, please let us know who you are so that we can be sure the information is sound.

• WLD = Warren L. DeLano of DeLano Scientific LLC