Perceptual compensation mechanisms when viewing stereoscopic 3D from an oblique angle

Abstract

Mathematically, 3D content should appear distorted unless viewed from the position the content was produced for. However, 3D content regularly gets viewed from incorrect angles, not perpendicular to the screen as intended. This distortion is not noticed, or at least does not affect the impression of 3D. This may be because a compensation mechanism known to exist with 2D content extends to 3D.Using canonical-form testing, we show that 3D content can appear warped when viewed from oblique angles, but the effect is small and non-stereo cues help to restore the effect.