Abstract: A dual-mode photographic printer which can be used to make both two-dimensional and three-dimensional photographs of different sizes having a plurality of print material cassettes which separately supply 2D and 3D print material of different sizes or types of 2D print material or of 3D print material. An easel is transported to one of the cassettes to pick up a section of print material according to the printing mode and the magnification. The same easel moves the print material to different locations for 3D printing. A chemical processor is included in the printer so that photo-processing is part of the on-line printing process.

Abstract: A dual-mode photographic printer which can be used to make both two-dimensional and three-dimensional photographs having two print material cassettes which separately supply 2D and 3D print materials. An easel is transported to one of the cassettes to pick up a section of print material according to the printing mode. The same easel moves the print material to different locations for 3D printing. A chemical processor is included in the printer so that photo-processing is part of the on-line printing process.

Abstract: A 3D printer that uses two video cameras with different magnification powers for acquiring images from 2D negatives for editing and key subject alignment. One video camera takes full view image for key subject selection and picture cropping, the other video camera which is used for acquiring image data for key subject alignment sees only an enlarged section of the image around the key subject. The printer also uses an automated image matching algorithm to find the relative location of the key subject in each frame. In particular, the algorithms are divided into a crude computation step and a fine computation step which reduces computation time. The printer uses a criterion to check whether the actual key subject alignment is satisfactory. The optics for printing and key subject alignment are assembled on a single mechanical stage to reduce mechanical errors.

Abstract: A 3D printer and method which uses a beamsplitter or a mirror to form a reflected image which is a mirror image of the actual image exposed on the print material. A CCD detector array is placed on the reflected image plane to monitor the key-subject registration. The beamsplitter or mirror is physically linked to the print material cassette so that the CCD detector array shares the same projected image that is exposed on the print material regardless of the printing position. With such an approach, the CCD detector array can directly detect any off-alignment due to mechanical errors or distortion/aberration by the projection lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving uniform density of image elements of a 3-D photograph by using a 3-D printer with a linear motion blade shutter which travels at varying speeds during printing a negative view to control the duration of exposure across the 3-D photograph. The scanning speed of the linear shutter is varied during the exposure of each of the 2-D negative views and is based upon the position of the 2-D negative view in relation to the field of illumination of the enlarging lens in order to compensate for the non-uniformity of illumination due to the vignetting effect.

Abstract: A method and a printer for printing an image array on the photosensitive surface of lenticular print film from a set of 2D views which involves moving the negative carrier on the printer in accordance with the equation ##EQU1## where S is the distance between key subject images of adjacent 2D views,T is the separation between adjacent camera lenses,F is the back focal length of the camera lens,K is the distance between the lens of the camera and the key subject K' and moving the negative by the appropriate S value between printing of adjacent 2D views.A fully automatic and semi-automatic printer is provided.