Guide: Anaglyph 3D content at DeoVR
Note: Anaglyph 3D is not supported on DeoVR - use SBS or OU formats instead. [April 2025]
Anaglyph video is one of the original forms of 3D media, used to provide a simple form of immersion. But what is it and how can virtual reality fans and creators use it?
What is anaglyph 3D content?
Anaglyph 3D content is visual media such as images or videos that have a three-dimensional effect when viewed using special glasses. The first known usage dates back to the mid-1800s but is most well-known for being used in a number of films in the late 20th century. It can be seen as a precursor to the VR180 and 360 content that’s popular today with modern VR headsets such as the Quest 3 and Valve Index.
How can I view anaglyph 3D content?
It can be viewed using special low-cost glasses. These glasses typically have two differently colored lenses, usually red and cyan. The images or videos are created with two slightly offset perspectives, one for each eye.
How does anaglyph 3D work?
When you wear anaglyph glasses, each eye sees a slightly different image because of the color difference in the lenses. Your brain then combines these two images, creating the perception of depth or a 3D effect. The red lens allows one eye to see one perspective, while the cyan lens lets the other eye see a slightly shifted perspective.
What visual content uses anaglyph?
This technique is commonly used in older 3D movies, comic books, or other visual media to give the illusion of depth without requiring expensive equipment.
Is anaglyph content as good as modern VR?
No, it’s generally regarded as being poorer quality, but it is a widely used format and many old 3D movies from the 1980s and 90s use this method to create a sense of immersion.
Can anaglyph be viewed in VR?
Anaglyph 3D is not supported on DeoVR but there are a number of anaglyph VR videos on DeoVR, such as this one of the Pattaya Elephant Village filmed with the Panasonic 3DA1. But they require the red/cyan glasses. It comes down to two fundamentally different formats that require different devices: VR glasses, and anaglyph red/cyan 3D glasses.
Join the discussion at the DeoVR forum, Facebook and Reddit.
