Facebook has introduced a new element to its 3D photo feature. Now, the system is able to create depth in any image, which means you can turn any static picture into a 3D graphic.
Facebook describes:
The feature has relied on the dual-lens “portrait mode” capabilities available only in new, higher-end smartphones, however. So it hasn’t been available on typical mobile devices, which have only a single, rear-facing camera. To bring this new visual format to more people, we have used state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to produce 3D photos from virtually any standard 2D picture. This system infers the 3D structure of any image, whether it is a new shot just taken on an Android or iOS device with a standard single camera, or a decades-old image recently uploaded to a phone or laptop.
Facebook originally released their 3D photo feature in 2018 and then added the option to Stories last year. However, as mentioned in the quote, these photos were only available using higher-end dual-lens devices. Until now.
Through Facebook’s latest process, any image from any device can be given the 3D effect.
To try it, update your app to Facebook’s latest version. Navigate to where you would typically start writing a Newsfeed post, where it says “What’s on Your Mind?”, and scroll through the post options. Now, you should see 3D photo as an option. Once you tap that, you will be taken to your camera roll where you can select an image that you would like to turn into “3D.”
While of course the feature is not completely 3D, the technological feature is still an innovation in and of itself! Which photos of yours do you want to see in 3D? Let us know in the comments!