Manually Creating Anaglyph Video from Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro offers Anaglyph previews of Spatial Video clips and projects but not the ability to export in anaglyph. (There isn't any plugin to do it that I'm aware of currently).

Final Cut can only export a Side by Side or a Spatial MV-HEVC Version. (As of June 2026)

The solution is to manually create an anaglyph version.  It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

Process:

Export the finished video project as a full side by side video such as 3840x1080 at 30fps in ProRes.

Import the exported file back into Final Cut Pro.

Manually change the properties of the full sbs clip from stereoscopic to monoscopic.

Create a new video project (example: 1080p at 30fps).

Place the clip on the timeline. (This will be the left eye)

Duplicate the clip and place it on top. (The top clip will be the right eye)

Spatial Conform should be "FIT" for both clips.

On the LEFT eye clip:

We want only the left side of the video clip, so adjust a transform position value of X axis  to -960px. 

(We are sliding the clip over to the right to only show the left side)

Adjust the color curves

Adjust the RED channel until it is 0%.  (Leave Green and Blue at 100%)

Make sure to uncheck Preserve Luma.

On the RIGHT Eye (The top clip)

We want only the right side of the sbs clip.  Adjust transform x value to 960px. (The clip slides to the left to only reveal the right side of the clip)

Adjust the color curves as below for the right eye.

Green and Blue channel is Zero. Red is 100%

Uncheck Preserve Luma.

Change blend mode of the top clip (the right clip) to "SCREEN"

If you have followed the steps correctly, you should see an anaglyph version of your 3D project in the viewer.

Share and export the project.

(This is a clip for a 1920x1440 per eye project. The same idea works for 1920x1080 clips)

Once you have mastered this set up, you can save each preset and name them like Left Eye HD, Right Eye HD etc to make the workflow easier.

Note: Depending on your project size how much you move the x-axis varies for the SBS clip.  For a 3840 wide original clip, just divide by 4 which is 960px for our 3840x1080.  Move either -960 or 960 on x axis positioning.

Quick Start to Taking 3D Stereo Photos. (IN PROGRESS)

A Quick Start Guide To Taking 3D Stereo Photos: 

Taking your own 3D photos is fun and easy!

All you need is your phone camera and the i3DSteroid app.

The app does all the magic, all you have to do is take 2 pictures.

Download i3DSteroid:

https://stereo.jpn.org/eng/iphone/index.html

Open the app. Find an interesting static subject. Take a photo. Take a sidestep to the right. Take the second photo. That's it!

Take a photo: 

Left Photo

Shuffle Slightly to the right and take the second photo.

Right Photo

i3DSteroid does the processing and alignment for you.

To view your 3D photo, choose the anaglyph format.

3D photo processed with i3DSteroid

Put on your anaglyph glasses and be amazed!

Here are some great guides to using i3DSteroid

https://stereo.jpn.org/eng/iphone/help/beginner.html

https://stereoscopy.blog/2020/06/05/how-to-make-your-own-iphone-stereoviews-basic-tutorial/

OBS Camera app for an old iPhone 6s

OBS Studio allows you to do fancy things with cameras, web cams etc, graphic overlays, text, live computer screens etc which you can use in video conferencing apps like ZOOM, FaceTime etc.

The output from OBS Studio can be a virtual camera that shows as an available camera that any video conferencing program can use. 

If you have an old iPhone laying around, install the OBS Camera app which allows the old iPhone to be a very fancy webcam and video source for OBS Studio.

You wouldn't get much money selling an old iPhone 6s--so why not get the most out it. (A cheap webcam costs MORE than an old iPhone 6s)

A nice compact USB-C Hub for my iPhone

One of the annoyances of using an external SSD for recording ProRes on the iPhone 15 Pro?  You are using the only USB port. 

If you need to also connect a USB microphone or external power at the same time, you will need a fast USB-C 3.2 Hub with PD. (Power delivery)

I have a Belkin USB-C Hub that works great, but it is bulky. (It's more for desktop use).

I recently saw this Twopan USB-C Hub from Amazon. (Not an affiliate link)

It is a bit pricey, but works great with my iPhone 15 Pro with an average sized phone case.  It probably won't work with a phone cage as the USB-C connector is just standard length. (One could get an extender I guess).  Next time, I'm going to get a iPhone with more internal storage. ;)

Braintrance.net - a new 3D media sharing platform. VR180 photos live!

I learned about Braintrance.net from the New York Stereoscopic Association meeting featuring Will Yeh from Braintrance.net about their new 3D social media sharing site. 

Their goal is to make sharing 3D Spatial Immersive Media simple.

I was thrilled to see VR180 photos from my old Lenovo Mirage Camera working great.. and in anaglyph as an option.

Here is a VR180 photo as an example:

https://www.braintrance.net/share/7PvNj06K

You need to go to site itself to see the anaglyph option.

Finally.. a great reason to use the Lenovo Mirage again.

Currently, the VR180 photo format needs to be converted to SBS first before uploading, but hopefully that will change in the future.

This is a great app to do batch conversion of VR180 photos to SBS.

http://www.suneelkanuri.com/2019/01/vr180-to-3d-sbs-converter.html

You can use Wine to make it work easily on a Mac.

Give the Braintrance.net site a try and sign up!

Binaural Sound from the XREAL Beam Pro Camera?

The XREAL Beam Pro has pretty good built in stereo sound recording.  (No way to use a microphone unfortunately).  The microphones are on each end of the phone and subject to wind and handling noise.  If you hold the phone with your hands like a normal person, you are probably going to cover up the mics.

So I decided to try attaching a pair of silicone Ears that I got from Amazon that shape the sound to be more like how our ears hear.

The results are pretty good IMHO.  Yes, I think the Beam Pro has Auto Gain Control, but the result are pleasing.

One can get silicone ears from Amazon for pretty cheap.  Cutting holes and mounting the ears is main challenge.

I decided to go for it and use the messy silicone glue and attach it directly to the case. (Pictured above).

The brand is ALECPEA 30g Silicone Glue.

I recorded the "No Kings" March yesterday with this setup.  Listen with headphones for best effect.

Reviving a Freefly Cinema Robot for use with the XREAL Beam Pro 3D Camera

The much loved, but discontinued  Freefly Cinema Robot has been revived for possible use with the Xreal Beam Pro 3D camera.

Biggest challenges:

1) The Android version of the Freefly Movi app does not work with Android 14. 

Fortunately, I was able to do a basic set up with an iPhone. (The trigger and buttons don't work of course, as it is meant for the Freefly Movi app.

2) Because of the size of the Beam Pro and the location of the cameras lenses, the phone has to be pushed over to the left (along with the optional counterweight set).  One still needs to slide it over an additional 1/2 inch to clear the arm. Otherwise, the right camera will see part of the motor.

It works satisfactorily with all those caveats.

(The insta360 Flow has the same issues when trying to balance the Xreal Beam Pro. You have to add a counterweight.)