# Autostereogram
An autostereogram creates the visual illusion of a three-dimensional
scene from a single two-dimensional image [1]. The package `austere3d`
(AUtoSTEREogram) creates such images based on two input files (a
seamless wallpaper and a depth map):

## Dependencies:
The package `austere3d` needs the python modules `matplotlib`, `numpy`,
`PIL`, `scipy`, `tkFileDialog`, `Tkinter`, `tkMessageBox`, and `ttk`.
## Installation:
First, install the package with pip:
`pip3 install austere3d`
Next, find the location where the installed files are:
`pip3 show -f austere3d`
The location could be something like
`$HOME/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/austere3d`. Copy the whole
`austere3d` directory to a place where you have read and write access.
## Usage:
This package provides three possibilities to create autostereograms: a
command line tool, a GUI, and a GIMP plugin.
### Command line version:
Run the command
`austere.py`
to create an autostereogram from the wallpaper `quilt.png` and the
depthmap `cube.png`. The output will be saved in the `output`
subdirectory.
Change the definitions of `wallpaperfile` and `depthmapfile` in the
python script to create other pictures. In addition, the values of
`d_invert`, `d_factor` and `symmetry` can be used to change the created
images.
### GUI:
Run the command
`austere-gui.py`
to start the GUI. Select one of the wallpaper images from the
`wallpaper` directory and one of the depthmap images from the `depthmap`
directory.
### GIMP plugin:
Copy the file `austere-plugin.py` into your GIMP plug-ins directory
(e.g., $HOME/.gimp-2.8/plug-ins).
Start GIMP. Open a wallpaper image (must be RGB mode without
transparency, i.e., no alpha channel). Open a depthmap image (must be
Grayscale mode). Then select the new item `Autostereogram...` in the
`Filters/Render` menu.
The GIMP plug-in is slower than the command line version or the GUI.
## Implementation:
The algorithm used by `austere3d` is based on an article in the German
edition of Scientific American from 1995 [2].
See depthmap/README for more information about depth maps.
See wallpaper/README for more information about seamless wallpapers.
## References:
[1] Wikipedia. Autostereogram
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autostereogram
[2] M. Simeth and R. Sander. Mathematische Unterhaltungen: Der kleine
Hobbit und das Autostereogramm. Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Jan.,
10-15 (1995)
http://www.spektrum.de/magazin/der-kleine-hobbit-und-das-autostereogramm/822061