Making View-Master Scenes


Anyone who grew up during the heyday of the View-Master probably wondered how they made those 3D scenes. Florence Thomas was one of the artists responsible for the stereoscopic images. She would sculpt Disney characters from clay and set them in dioramas, then take photographs from two angles to get the stereo effect.
Thomas produced her first reels for View-Master in 1946 --a series of Fairy Tales and Mother Goose rhymes that are still in circulation. According to one source, Thomas "developed special methods of close-up stereo photography and modeling which is now in common use by major motion picture studios" (John Waldsmith, Stereo Views, 1991). She created scenes of such detail and attractiveness that you feel you could step inside and look around a corner at a complete world.

Link -Thanks, John Kankley!

omg...thank you for this...i am a collector and lover of viewmaster reels and am planning on doing my bfa thesis project creating viewmaster reels...it is the most amazing art form to me...thanks again
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I wonder if any of those dioramas still exist. How could they ever get tossed? Of course, maybe it's like original art from classic comic strips, and nobody realized what they had.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I still have my original Viewmaster from 1964, plus all the reels. The casing is a little split, but it's still possible to view the reels. Some are factual, like The Roman Forum, Hampton Court and the Hawiian Islands, but most are Disney. I would never get rid of it!
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
@ edward...i wish it was this coming spring...unfortunately i have until spring 2010...but am planning on learning the techniques next summer and i am super excited...fun part is i am in portland, or, which is the original headquarters of viewmaster
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I recently became the proud owner of an early 1900's version of the viewmaster with a box of 3d pictures from Germany circa 1898 to 1908. It a real head-trip to see that area pre-war in 3d.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Click here to access all of this post's 13 comments




Email This Post to a Friend
"Making View-Master Scenes"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More