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National 3-D Day – March 19, 2024

National 3-D Day falls on March 19 this year. It is observed annually on the third day of the third week in March. This year, it takes place on March 19. This holiday is dedicated to 3.D. technology and its various mediums. 3.D. technology has a long and storied history and is becoming increasingly common as time passes. Because we have two eyes that observe the world from somewhat different perspectives, we perceive it in three dimensions. Our brains usually blend these two points of view together and the perception of depth is experienced as a result of the disparities.

History of National 3-D Day

3D Space, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of stereoscopic images, founded National 3D Day two years ago, but the history of 3D dates earlier than that. In 1838, Sir Charles Wheatstone produced the first stereo 3.D. drawings. Viewing 3.D. photos became a popular kind of home entertainment in the second half of the nineteenth century.

The invention of 3.D. movies, comic books, holography, and other methods of viewing 3.D. representations of the world occurred during the 20th century. Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies have opened up new ways to create and interact with 3.D. material. Because of the cost and techniques required to produce and broadcast 3.D. pictures, they had been mainly limited to a niche in the motion picture industry since 1915. Nonetheless, 3.D. films were quite popular in American cinema in the 1950s, and they had a worldwide renaissance in the 1980s.

Lenny Lipton, a filmmaker, inventor, novelist, and songwriter, has had a lasting impact on numerous parts of 3.D. He began his career in the early 1980s, when he founded StereoGraphics Corp. CrystalEyes, a stereo visualization system launched by StereoGraphics in 1989, was utilized for medical imaging, aerial mapping, and molecular modeling.
He was also the principal developer of the ZScreen polarization modulator, which allowed a projector to show both the left and right sides of a stereo pair on the same screen. This method, which was first introduced in 1988, was utilized for molecular modeling and aerial mapping visualization.

National 3-D Day timeline

1844
The Introduction of the Stereoscope

David Brewster introduces the stereoscope, a device for taking stereo photos.

1851
The Great Exhibition

At the Great Exhibition, a 3.D. photo of Queen Victoria is on display.

1922
The First 3.D. Film

The first-ever 3.D. film, “The Power of Love,” premieres in Los Angeles at the Ambassador Hotel Theatre.

2009
“Avatar”

James Cameron’s film, “Avatar,” pushes 3.D. films into the public consciousness.

2010
The World's First 3.D. T.V. Station Debuts

South Korea's SKY 3D, the world's first 3.D. television station, debuts with stunning 1920x1080i quality.

National 3-D Day FAQs

Can a photograph become a 3.D. model?

Yes, you can make a 3.D. print from a photograph, but you’ll need to convert it to a 3.D. model first.

How old is 3.D. modeling?

3.D. modeling began in 1963, when Ivan Sutherland, a computer scientist from the United States, created the Sketchpad application.

What does 3.D. stand for?

3.D. is a term used in computers to describe an image that gives the impression of depth.

National 3-D Day Activities

  1. Read about the origins of 3.D. technology

    Read about how 3.D. technology came about. This includes Sir Charles Wheatstone and everything that has happened since his invention. Learn about how 3.D. technologies evolved from cinema to 3.D. printing, art, and virtual reality programs.

  2. Watch a 3.D. film

    Invite your friends and family to see a 3.D. film. “Avatar” is always a classic and is a milestone in the history of 3.D. films. You can also share your favorite 3.D. experiences with your friends and family, whether they be movies, books, or art.

  3. Create a 3.D. design

    Create a three-dimensional design and share your project and ideas! If you're looking for design inspiration, go online or visit the National 3-D Day website.

5 Interesting Facts About 3.D.

  1. It’s older than you think

    In the 1980s, the first 3.D. printing experiments and patents were published.

  2. 3.D. printing was invented in France

    3 French inventors filed a patent for 3.D. printers in 1984.

  3. 3.D. printing is used in outer space

    Not only can 3.D. printing be used on Earth, but it can also be used in space.

  4. The world's most expensive 3.D. printer

    Imprimere's Model 2156 is the world's most expensive 3.D. printer, costing $2.5 million.

  5. 3.D. cinema screens

    There are 1,263,000 3.D. cinema screens in the world.

Why We Love National 3-D Day

  1. It is aesthetically pleasing

    3.D. street art is not only visually stunning but also entertaining and engaging. It’s very visually distinct from other mediums of art. The sky's the limit when it comes to 3.D.

  2. It allows for complex designs

    More complicated patterns can be designed and printed using 3.D. printing. You don't have the same design constraints that traditional printers do.

  3. Waste reduction

    3.D. printers are very efficient and produce very little waste. The procedure not only saves resources, but it also lowers the cost of the materials used.

National 3-D Day dates

YearDateDay
2022March 22Tuesday
2023March 21Tuesday
2024March 19Tuesday
2025March 18Tuesday
2026March 17Tuesday

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