Lytro light field camera gets new tools

3D NEWS> 3D TECHNOLOGY

The Lytro camera will soon offer the ability to change the perspective of images using a mouse.

A free software update available from December 4th will work with all new and existing images taken by the camera which captures a richer set of data than any other type of camera. An online gallery of images shows how it works which allows for the user to very slightly change the viewpoint up, down, left and right. This can be manipulated in addition to the ‘focus shift’ function of the Lytro system.

“By capturing the light field, the Lytro camera lets photographers achieve things that were never before possible. The first groundbreaking capability was focusing pictures after they were taken and now we are excited to offer Perspective Shift, which brings living pictures to life in an entirely new way.” said Ren Ng, founder and executive chairman of Lytro.

In addition to perspective shift, nine new interactive ‘Living Filters’ are available which can change the look of the picture based on light field depth. Living Filters is a free update to Lytro Desktop and works on all Lytro light field pictures, including retroactively.

“Having the ability to play with tiles of your living pictures while you refocus with Mosaic or to give an evening shot more drama with Film Noir will let Lytro camera owners and their friends and family have even more fun with the light field and the living pictures it creates,” said Eric Cheng, director of photography at Lytro.

To see the Living Filters for yourself, check out the Lytro Living Filters Gallery.

Video could be next for Lytro. Talking exclusively to 3D Focus earlier in the year, a Lytro spokesperson said “Video is definitely possible within the light field and it's on our long-term roadmap.” Read the full interview here.

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