What's With The 3D Pictures?

The Emily of New Moon graphic novel is currently set up to view here on our website, almost like an online web comic.  As you've probably noticed, we're releasing it page by page (as we complete it), and we are fitting about 10 art pages per webpage.  But the final delivery of the completed graphic novel is meant to be released as a 3D experience.  What that means for us, is that as we build it, we are drawing each layer separately. 

So for instance, page 14, seen above, is actually made up of the back wall, the characters closest to the back wall (each of which was drawn separately), Douglas Starr, then Emily and the closer characters, followed by the characters closest to our view.  Even the funeral flowers were drawn each as their own separate entity.

Now in some ways, this adds to the time investment.  But in others, it gives us flexibility with our end image...AND it makes it possible for us to easily utilize an interesting feature that Facebook recently added on its social media platform: 3D pictures. 

Sadly at this point in time, the 3D imagery is not supported for Android devices.  We decided to create a little video of our process and the end result, so those of you who have Android (like myself), can check out what others have been ohhing and ahhing about on the Facebook page (which you can find at https://www.facebook.com/DejaVuDimensionsEoNM/ ). 

Daniel is the magician behind all of this.  But as you can see from the video, he turns each layer into grey value between black or white, with layers closer to our view, lighter in color, and those further from view, a darker color.  Then, he simultaneously uploads both images (color and depth) to Facebook, and the platform does the rest (the depth image being defined by "_depth" being tacked on to the file name).  Movement, like that shown in the video can then be seen.  Which is kinda fun and feels interactive. 

It's fun to experiment like this, and it gives our fans an idea of where we are heading with our 3D experience, although on a limited scale.  But, rather than just images that move, wouldn't it be neat to get to walk on Prince Edward Island in Virtual Reality?  Maybe walk into New Bideford Parsonage, (which is what we are using as our model for New Moon?  These are the kinds of things all fans dream of getting to do, but not all can, for one reason or another.  So, we want to offer that as part of the "Emily Experience".  It's where we're going.  And I think it's exciting to give you all a glimpse into that.   Even, by just using Facebook's 3D photos.