3D Vision: getting depth of field and convergence right

When we published our article on 3D Vision game tests, a reader questioned us on the potential of a parameter that we had largely ignored: convergence.

During the tests we mainly focused on depth of field. To change this parameter, you simply have to use the scroll at the back of the infrared receiver. The more you accentuate the depth of field, the further the decor extends into the background. This comes at a price; it gets harder to adapt your sight. The further you extend the depth of field, the more you feel it pulling on your eyes.

Playing with convergence AND the depth of field

To change convergence, do as follows:


NVIDIA control panel -> Set Up Stereoscopic 3D -> Define shortcut buttons -> and tick the Enable advanced in-game settings box.

Once you've done this you can play with the convergence settings in games with combinations of ctrl +F5/F6. A piece of advice: start with depth of field and then work on convergence.

Here are 2 screen shots taken in 3D Vision (JPS format). To view them, download the images and install the NVIDIA 3D Vision Photo Viewer software (download from the NVIDIA site).

If you don't have a 120 Hz screen, you can use some coloured filter card glasses and install the NVIDIA 3D Vision drivers in 3D Discoverer mode.

Assassin's Creed 2 screen shots (taken with alt+ F1):

Image 1: little depth of field and convergence
image 2: extended dOf and convergence

The difference is impressive. Look at how the details of the clothes come out for example. With little convergence, they stay flat. Once you increase this setting, they take on more volume.

Gaming with extended depth of field and convergence?

While the 3D effect is much better with extended depth and convergence, you have to say that a set-up like this requires extra effort from your eyes. Perhaps with time it's possible to get used to this. Nevertheless, in the meantime, we are continuing to do our gaming at lower depth and convergence settings.

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