You may have started to see a new type of dynamic photo as you scroll through your Facebook feed and wondered how they did that? Facebook have just rolled out a 3D photo feature for selected devices which captures the distance between the subject in the foreground and the background of your image, adding movement so it looks like your photo is coming to life.
Here’s how to take and post 3D Photos on Facebook:
- You’ll need a smartphone with dual cameras. Currently, Facebook’s 3D Photos supports iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. There should be support for other dual camera phones coming soon – so Samsung, OnePlus and Huawei users, don’t fret.
- Open the Facebook app on your phone and go to create a new post like you usually would. On the right-hand side you’ll see three dots. Tap these to bring up extra options.
- Choose 3D Photo
- Facebook will automatically display the Portrait mode photos you have saved on your iPhone. Pick the photo you want to publish.
- You’ll then be able to view your photo in 3D mode to make sure everything looks good. Once you’re happy you can add a caption and hit the share button.
Or check out this video from Facebook which shows you the steps to create a 3D photo
Top tips for taking a 3D Photo:
- Depth: the best 3D Photos have lots of depth to them. You can create depth by having a photo with lots of layers, such as person or pet in the foreground and a landscape in the background.
- Distance: stand three or four feet away from the subject.
- Texture: avoid transparent subjects and having a subject and background that are the same colour – it works best if your subject has lots of texture too (shiny objects don’t work well).
And there you have it – great photos that look like they’re moving. You can see 3D Photos come to life by scrolling down or titling your phone. Or you can view 3D Photos through an Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, or Samsung VR virtual reality headset for a totally immersive experience.
