re. 3D glasses Options

[Stu]

If anyone out there - I'm thinking UK forum members - still hasn't got any red/blue 3D glasses to use for viewing the gorgeous anaglyphs many UMSF members are now posting, here's an idea.

If you have a decent-sized newsagent near you, you can get a pair of pretty good quality plastic-framed 3D glasses with this week's issue of the kids magazine "Dr Who Adventures". Because they're plastic-framed they're much more rigid than the usual cardboard ones you often find in magazines, and they're good quality, too. I know, I know, it's a kids magazine, but you can always pass on the mag itself to a friend or neighbour's kid if you don't want it. (You might want to keep hold of the centrespread 3D "Silence" poster tho, it's great - er, I mean, the depth of field is a great illustration of 3D imagery... Think I got away with that... )

Alternative sources of glasses: try your local discount bookstore, there's bound to be at least one 3D book of bugs/dinosaurs/whatever with a free pair of glasses inside, And, of course, as others have said, if you're a US Forum member you can probably get some free 3D glasses just by writing nicely to your local NASA centre.

[tanjent]

I still use the cardboard glasses, but in addition to the problems related to flimsy structure, I prefer to wear them in combination with my regular prescription lenses. This creates additional problems. When viewing this site, the anaglyphs appear at randomly space intervals, and require constant re-arranging of the facewear.

Some years ago I tried to order a pair of prescription sunglasses made with the red/cyan lenses, and the personnel in the optometrist shop looked at me like they were considering whether to call the police or the mental health authorities. My latest idea is to buy a set of baseball clip-ons and replace the lens pieces with appropriately colored panes of plastic. Usually the lenses are attached with little screws, and it should not be too hard to do the job myself if I can secure the colored plastic. Does anyone have any suggestions though, what sort of product, hobby or industry uses colored plastic of a type that would be suitable for this use? I suppose I have occasionally come across pieces that could be used, but as commonly happens, when I am actively looking for something I haven't a clue where to find it.