The Hacker's Encyclopedia 1998/hackers_encyclopedia.iso/etc/misc/sirds.faq

Text File | 2003-06-11 | 30.0 KB | 740 lines

     Date: 11-02-93    Time: 05:47p     Number: 3630
     From: [e-mail]              Refer: 0
       To: ALL                        Board ID: CRS             Recvd: No
  Subject: LATEST FAQ!                    3966: U-ALT3D        Status: Public
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [e-mail] (Todd D. Hale)

The following is a smattering of info I've collected about SIRDS.  It is not
too well organized, nor complete, but it answers a lot of FAQs out there.
Please submit any updates/changes to me at [e-mail].

The following sections are covered herein:

   SIRDS terminology
   SIRDS FTP Sites
   Commercial SIRDS Software
   HOW STEREOGRAMS WORK         <-- By popular demand!
   Stereogram Algorithm         <-- Also new (and rough)
   SIRDS Publications
   Sample TEXT Stereograms
   C Code to Generate SIRTS
   Hope for the Hopeless
   Commercial SIRDS Posters
   My Signature :^/



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- SIRDS TERMINOLOGY -----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SIRDS       Single Image Random Dot Stereogram
SIRD        Single Image Random Dot (not much to view in a dot; used by
            newbies)
SIRTS       Single Image Random TEXT Stereogram, also called ascii
            stereograms
Stereogram  general, simplified term for SIRDS and SIRTS and even
            stereo-pairs (occasionally)
Autostereogram, RDS, Auto RDS
            equivalent to a SIRDS
RLS         Random Line stereograms, instructional in learning stereogram
            concepts (see Slinker and Burton publication)

Wall-eyed viewing   Viewing stereograms by focusing past the actual image
Cross-eyed viewing  Viewing stereograms by focusing in front of the image
Focus to infinity   Forcing your eyes' lines of sight into parallel, NOT
                    necessary for wall-eyeing SIRDS!

Stereoptic Nausea  Caused by scarfing pizza before viewing SIRDS :-)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- SIRDS FTP SITES -------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Submissions from [e-mail], [e-mail], s
ftp.uwp.edu
  /pub/incoming/graphics/rdsdraw.zip
    EXCELLENT SIRDS painting/generating program.  CHECK IT OUT!
wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4)
  /mirrors/msdos/graphics/mindim20.zip
    Several SIRDS (~32) in an RLE format with versatile viewer.  GET IT!
  /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/demos/sirdsani.zip
    Lets you load a 3d object, position it, then generates an animated rotation
    within stereograms.
  /pub/xpgs/xpgs.?.?
    Xwindows stereogram utilities; generator, viewer, mindim rle viewer...
  /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS/graphics/dynamic.exe
    Animated SIRDS (page flipping)
  /graphics/graphics/mirrors/sugrfx.acs.syr.edu/3d/randot/3drandot.zoo
    Converts color GIF to SIRDS on screen
  /mirrors/msdos/graphics/perspect.zip
    Simple SIRDS paint/view program
sunsite.unc.edu
  /pub/academic/computer-science/virtual-reality/3d/
    alt.3d.Z        Older archive of the alt.3d newgroups
    mindimage       Stereogram Viewing package, rle images
    randot          Various programs to make random dot stereograms
    red_blue        Graphic files for viewing with Red/Blue glasses
    stereograms     Graphic and Text files of steroegrams
ftp.cs.waikato.ac.nz
  /pub/papers/???.tar.Z
    Research paper describing sirds, with several improvements
(archive??)
  shimmer.exe
    Flips through several SIRDS of the same image to create a shimmering effect
    (related to above research paper)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- COMMERCIAL SIRDS SOFTWARE ---------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

STW_DEMO.EXE: the full package will allow RDS creation
   Approx 40$
   N.E.Thing Enterprises
   P.O. Box 1827
   Cambridge, MA 02139

I know there are more!  SEND MORE INFO!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- How Stereograms Work --------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's start with a simple repeating pattern.  First we'll examine viewing
stereograms wall-eyed (focusing beyond the picture).

              Adam
Adam                       Adam          <-- PERCEIVED IMAGE (3D)
  \
   \ \
    \   \
    Adam  Adam   Adam  Adam              <-- ACTUAL PICTURE (Flat, 2D)
     \       \
      \         \                        <-- LINES OF SIGHT FROM EACH EYE
       \           \
       (*)           (*)                 <-- EYES

As shown in the above graphic, the lines of sight go through different
(but identical) words.  The eyes must be directed to just the right level
behind the picture to get the two "Adams" to line up.  When they do line
up, a single "Adam" appears at the level shown behind the picture.

This is why it is easiest for some people to look at stereograms behind
glass.  You simply look at your reflection, which appears to be behind
the glass at about the same level as the 3d stereogram image.  More on
this later.

So, why is the second "Adam" in the above image "deeper" than the other
two?  Since the next two "Adams" that line up are FARTHER apart than the
first two, your eyes must diverge a little more to get them to line up.
As the eyes diverge, their lines of sight meet a little further away.
This causes the next "Adam" to appear deeper in the image.

              Adam
Adam           |           Adam          <-- PERCEIVED IMAGE (3D)
              / \
             /   \
            /     \
    Adam  Adam   Adam  Adam              <-- ACTUAL PICTURE (Flat, 2D)
           /       \
          /         \                    <-- LINES OF SIGHT FROM EACH EYE
         /           \
       (*)           (*)                 <-- EYES

The above graphic was crammed into 10 lines of text.  If we moved the
eyes back (to a more realistic distance), the whole 3d image would
appear deeper, and not so spread out.

Cross-eyed viewing follows the same principles, but brings the focal point
up front of the picture and inverts the image.  I'll use the same eyes and
picture, but move the eyes back for room to illustrate.

    Adam  Adam   Adam  Adam              <-- ACTUAL PICTURE (Flat, 2D)
       \   |
         \|
         Adam                            <-- PERCEIVED IMAGE (3D)
         |   \
         |     \
        |         \                      <-- LINES OF SIGHT FROM EACH EYE
        |           \
       (*)           (*)                 <-- EYES

Now for the inverse part.  Since the next two "Adams" are farther apart,
you must cross your eyes MORE (converge instead of diverge your eyes) to
get the "Adams" to overlap.  This causes the next "Adam" in the image to
appear closer than the first one.

    Adam  Adam    Adam  Adam             <-- ACTUAL PICTURE (Flat, 2D)
           \      /
            \    /
         Adam\ / Adam                    <-- PERCEIVED IMAGE (3D)
             Adam
             /  \
           /      \                      <-- LINES OF SIGHT FROM EACH EYE
         /          \
       (*)           (*)                 <-- EYES

Whew.  Ascii graphics are a bit too tight to be very technical.  By the
way, each letter (or pixel) in the 3D image comes from two letters in
the picture.  Stereograms have blurry edges (right and left edges)
because the line of sight from the one eye passes through the picture,
but the line of sight from the other eye is off the picture.  Examine
the wall-eyed example below.

                     Adam
       Adam                       Adam     <-- PERCEIVED IMAGE (3D)
\
  \ \
    \   \
       \   Adam  Adam   Adam  Adam         <-- ACTUAL PICTURE (Flat, 2D)
         \     \
            \       \                      <-- LINES OF SIGHT
              \           \
              (*)           (*)            <-- EYES

Here, the line of sight for the right eye goes through first "Adam"
in the picture, and the line of sight for the left eye is off the
picture.  (Everything to the left of the first "Adam" in the IMAGE
is blurry.)


HOW TO GENERATE STEREOGRAMS

Random stereograms work the same way; they simple repeat random text or
pixels, instead of words like the "Adam" used above.  Below, the pattern,
"ASDFGHJK", is repeated four times in each line.  (I duplicated it for
easier viewing.)

         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK
         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK
         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK

As you might guess, the image consists of THREE repetitions of the
pattern, set back behind the picture (wall-eyed).  To add some varying
depth to the image, we can simple add a space in the middle; or better,
we'll add a different letter, the letter Q.  I've also dropped the K
off the end to keep it suitable for framing. :-)

         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK
         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASQDFGHJKASDFGHJ
         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK

Adding the Q has the same effect as adding the space between "Adams"
in the previous example.  Here it is again for comparison.

         Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam
         Adam Adam Adam  Adam Adam Ada
         Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam Adam

These two stereograms demonstrate going down a level (deeper, for wall-
eyed viewers) by adding a new letter where you want to go down.  The
image returns back to the original level because the added letter was
not repeated down the line; it was essentially deleted again.  Hence,
deleting a letter causes the image to come forward one level.  Lets
look at this by deleting a letter before adding any.

         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK
         ASDFGHJKASDFGJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKA
         ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFGHJK

I deleted an H from the middle row, and added an A on the end to make
it flush again.  This causes the image to come up a level where the H
was deleted, then go back down where the H returns to the pattern.

To fully control the ups and downs of stereogram generation, you simply
keep track of what's repeating and add and delete letters when needed.
For example, start with the pattern ASDFGHJK.  If the input for the 3D
stereogram image is 00000000000011111222221111111110000, where the
numbers represent the levels of the 3D image, you simply delete a letter
from the pattern when you go up a level (0 to 1, or 1 to 2), and add a
letter to the pattern when you go down a level (2 to 1, or 1 to 0).

If you want to go up multiple levels, e.g., from level 1 to 3, delete
2 letters from your pattern.  Adding two letters to the pattern likewise
causes a two level drop in the image.

Start each line by dumping the whole pattern before you start creating
the image.  Recall that in the examples above, four "Adams" in the
picture creates three "Adams" in the image.  By dumping the pattern to
start, we are simple providing the first "Adam" to build the 3D image
from.  Now, we start building the 3D image.

        ASDFGHJK

Since the first 12 levels are at level 0, we do no adding nor deleting;
just dump 12 more letters from the pattern in order.

        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDF
                ^image starts here

We now have our first transition, from level 0 to 1.  Which letter do we
delete?  Delete the next one in the pattern.

        ASDFGHJK
            ^the next letter in the pattern

Since G is next, we delete it.  Our new pattern is ASDFHJK, and H is the
next letter to be used in the image.

        ASDFHJK
            ^the next letter to use in the image

Forget about the G.  Consider it gone forever.  The input now indicates
five letters at level 1.  Since we made the transition to level one by
deleting the G, we simply copy the next 5 letters from the pattern into
the image.  The next 5 letters in the pattern are HJKAS.  (You've noticed
by now that we wrap around when we get to the end of the pattern.) I'll
lay the input next to our image to make it easier to see where we're at.

                00000000000011111222221111111110000
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKAS
        {      }{          }{   }
        initial  level 0    level
        pattern             1

To jump up to level 2 from level 1, we delete the next letter in the
pattern, the letter D.  The new pattern is shown below.

        ASFHJK
          ^the next letter to use

We have 5 letters at level 2, so we copy the next 5 letters from the
pattern, FHJKA, to the image.

                00000000000011111222221111111110000
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKA
        {      }{          }{   }{   }
        initial  level 0    lev  level
        pattern             1    2

We must now move down a level, from 2 to 1, by ADDING a letter to our
pattern.  Where do we add it?  Add it as the next letter to use.  Let's
add an X (randomly chosen letters work better than previously used
letters).  Since A was the last letter used, S is the next to be used.

        ASFHJK
         ^add X here

        AXSFHJK
         ^next letter to use

Since there are nine letters at level 1, we must copy nine letters
from the pattern to the image (XSFHJKAXS).

                00000000000011111222221111111110000
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXS
        {      }{          }{   }{   }{       }
        initial  level 0    lev  level level 1
        pattern             1    2

Drop another level, from 1 to 0, by adding another letter to the pattern
at the current position.

        AXSFHJK
           ^add random letter (M) here

        AXSMFHJK
           ^next letter to use

Since there are four letters at level 0, we copy four letters from the
pattern to the image (MFHJ).


                00000000000011111222221111111110000
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXSMFHJ
        {      }{          }{   }{   }{       }{  }
        initial  level 0    lev  level level   lev
        pattern             1    2     1       0

WE'RE DONE.  Kinda anti-climatic, huh?  Let's duplicate the image line
to make it easier to view.

        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXSMFHJ
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXSMFHJ
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXSMFHJ
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXSMFHJ
        ASDFGHJKASDFGHJKASDFHJKASFHJKAXSFHJKAXSMFHJ

For each new line in the image, start with a new random pattern, and
follow the steps above.  So, how are graphics stereograms made?  The
same way, using colored pixel values for input.  3drandot uses RED as
the color deepest in the image, with GREEN in the middle, and BLUE as
the highest color.

The pseudocode below follows this algorithm.  If you have any questions,
post them in the newsgroup.  Let me know if you are interested in C code
that follows this algorithm.  The C code here in the FAQ follows a
different algorithm, the "lookback" algorithm.

Enjoy!!
[e-mail]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- STEREOGRAM ALGORITHM --------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is an algorithm I developed for SIRDS generation.  It is
functionally equivalent to the look back algorithms, without looking back.
It can be used for graphic stereograms, as well as the text stereograms.
It simply stores in PATTERN the values we would look back at.  The input
file is depth data, or a z-buffer (see example input below).  The levels
available in a picture are the maximum pattern size divided by two minus
one.  Maximum pattern size should be equivalent to half the distance
between the eyes (for easy viewing), which is about 1 1/4 inches.  So, for
typical text stereograms on an 80 char display, that's about 10 characters
for the maximum pattern size and 4 or 5 levels available.  However, since
4 or 5 levels is unreasonable, we push the max pattern size to 16 (still
less that the 20 character distance between the eyes).  This gives us about
7 or 8 levels.

If we do allow more than 7 levels when the max pattern size is 16, the
repeating pattern (of size max pattern - current level) grows so small that
four of them in a row (e.g., of size 7) would also create two double
patterns in a row (of size 14), causing floaties (aliasing).

I hope I'm making some sense.  I'll try to spend some time rewriting this.
In addition, I'll integrate answers to any questions that come as a result
of this mess!  In addition to the information here, we need to add a good
description of how they work (that is not covered here).


PL : Previous Level value
NL : Next Level value

INITIAL LEVEL SETTING
PL = 0

OPEN INPUT FILE FOR READING
WHILE NOT EOF (Y DIMENSION: FOR EACH LINE)

   GENERATE NEW PATTERN
   SET PATTERN PTR TO BEGINNING OF PATTERN
   OUTPUT FULL PATTERN

   WHILE NOT EOL (X DIMENSION: FOR EACH POSITION)

      NL = NEXT INPUT LEVEL VALUE
      IF NL != PL (IF WE'RE CHANGING LEVELS)

         IF NL > PL (IF WE'RE MOVING UP)
            DELETE NEXT NL-PL BITS IN PATTERN FROM PTR FORWARD
            (IF GOING FROM LEVEL 0 TO 2, DELETE 2 BITS IN PATTERN)

         ELSE (IF MOVING DOWN, AWAY)
            INSERT PL-NL RANDOM BITS INTO PATTERN AT PTR POSITION
            (IF GOING FROM LEVEL 3 TO 2, INSERT 1 BIT INTO PATTERN)

         PL = NL (UPDATE PL)
         OUTPUT NEXT VALUE IN PATTERN

      ELSE
         OUTPUT NEXT VALUE IN PATTERN

      ADVANCE PATTERN PTR (CIRCULAR PATTERN)
      ADVANCE INPUT PTR


(Redundancy exists to simplify readability.)

Assuming spaces translate to level 0, input like this (thanks, Dave
Thomas):


   22222222222222222          11111111111111111111111
   2222222222222222222        11111111111111111111111
   22222222222222222222       11111111111111111111111
   22222          22222                11111
   22222          22222                11111
   22222          22222                11111
   22222          22222                11111
   22222          22222                11111
   22222          22222                11111
   22222222222222222222                11111
   2222222222222222222                 11111
   22222222222222222                   11111


Yields output like this:

Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D
mwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,
7Z,o:.sw5[rHt&{:7Z,osw5[rHt&{:7Z,osw505[rHt&{:7Zosw505[rHt&{:7Zosw505[rR
g"EzQy{lW_3C&B[8g"Ez{lW_3C&B[8g"Ez{lW_3S3C&B[8g"z{lW_3S3C&B[8g"z{lW_3S3y
yiQ?fiVF!G{TAtrJyiQ?VF!G{TAtrJyiQ?VF!G{T]TAtrJyi?VF!G{T]TAtrJyi?VF!G{T]s
1`I|r?FLoB#<sf!Q1`I|FLoB#T#<sf!Q1`ILoB#TaT#<sf!Q1`ILoB#Ta#<sf!#Q1`ILoB#T
m$LuSD0hh7\qy5:nm$Lu0hh7\x\qy5:nm$Lhh7\x"x\qy5:nm$Lhh7\x"\qy5:-nm$Lhh7\x
[#7hrqKUm`/<bic$[#7hKUm`/7/<bic$[#7Um`/7r7/<bic$[#7Um`/7r/<bick$[#7Um`/7
L,'O)X\L&Xu)ZUw(L,'O\L&Xu|u)ZUw(L,'L&Xu|y|u)ZUw(L,'L&Xu|yu)ZUwy(L,'L&Xu|
3`#YPTdg:,;rmy9`3`#Ydg:,;(;rmy9`3`#g:,;(7(;rmy9`3`#g:,;(7;rmy94`3`#g:,;(
1w^N7d;f964U,yml1w^N;f964&4U,yml1w^f964&;&4U,yml1w^f964&;4U,ym{l1w^f964&
<>Y8igID(]?"A0+;<>Y8ID(]?"A0+;<>Y8ID(]?"?"A0+;<>Y8ID(]?"?A0+;<O>Y8ID(]?"
eRl5hfJx.cD0tscheRl5Jx.cD0tscheRl5Jx.cDeD0tscheRl5Jx.cDeDtscheiRl5Jx.cDe
v,r7f6%<)R-AaV^hv,r7%<)R-AaV^hv,r7%<)p)R-AaV^hv,r7%<)p)R-aV^hv>,r7%<)p)R
VbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]q
`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=


This uses 16 as the Max pattern size.  Notice on the third line of the
output (the first line with level changes), the pattern is "7Z ... &{:".
When we go from level 0 to level 2, we lose two characters (i.e., ":.").
When we go from level 2 back to level 0, we insert two new characters
(i.e., "05" after the "osw5").

Any questions?  Or better yet, what did I leave out??  I do hope this helps
someone!?!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- SIRDS PUBLICATIONS ----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Search library databases with these keywords: Stereogram, Autostereogram,
SIRDS (Single ImageRandom Dot Stereogram), RDS.

From [e-mail]

An excellent source of information (sample RDS and source code)
is contained in Andrew A.Kinsman - Random Dot Stereograms
ISBN 0-9630142-1-8  $13.95 U.S.  Published by Kinsman Physics,
P.O. Box 22682, Rochester, N.Y. 14692-2682

See the following periodicals:
Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, May/June 1992, Vol 36, #3.
   Slinker & Burton

SEND MORE REFERENCES!



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- SAMPLE TEXT Stereograms (Not random) ----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Dave Thomas)

                            O   O
n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n   n  n
f    f    f    f    f    f    f    f    f    f    f    f   f
e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e   e  e
a    a    a    a    a    a    a    a    a    a    a    a   a
a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a   a  a
r    r    r    r    r    r    r    r    r    r    r    r   r
r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r  r



g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g  g
r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r   r
 e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e    e
a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a     a
 t      t      t      t      t      t      t      t      t      t      t
<<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>><<<<>>>>
 d      d      d      d      d      d      d      d      d      d      d
e     e     e     e     e     e     e     e     e     e     e     e     e
 p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p    p
t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t   t
h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h  h


One more from ... well ... YOU figure it out!

_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~
!   Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam   ! "Lawn       !
!Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg!   service!" !
!   Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam   !       -Stup !
!Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg!             !
!   Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam   !  atspragg@  !
!Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg   Spragg! ucdavis.edu !
!   Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam      Adam   !   GO AGS!   !
_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- C CODE TO GENERATE TEXT STEREOGRAMS -----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Also from Dave Thomas:

Now here's a hack of a hack I found on the net.  Basically it generates
stereograms from ascii diagrams.  Here's the program first:

#define DEPTH0  16
#define COLS    79

#include <stdio.h>

main()
   {
   long now;
   int col;
   char m[COLS+1],s[COLS+1];
   int i,e,c;

   /* seed random number generator */
   time (&now);
   srand (now);

   /* print fusion X's */
   for (col = 0; COLS - col >= DEPTH0; col += DEPTH0)
      {
      for (i = 0; i < DEPTH0-1; ++i)
         putchar (' ');
      putchar ('X');
      }
   putchar ('\n');

   /* process input image */
   while (memset(m,'\0',COLS+1),fgets (m, COLS+1, stdin))
      {
      e = 0;
      s[COLS] = 0;
      for(i=0; i<COLS; )
         {
         e = 0;
         while (i >= DEPTH0 && i < COLS &&
            (c = m[i - DEPTH0]) >= '0' && c <= '9')
            {
            e = 1;
            s[i] = s[i-DEPTH0+c-'0'];
            ++i;
            }
         s[i++] = (e || i < DEPTH0) ? randasc() : s[i-DEPTH0];
         }
      puts (s);
      }
}

randasc()
{
   /* large set of random characters */
   return ('!'+rand()%92);

   /* lowercase random letters */
   /* return ('a'+rand()%26); */
}


Try passing it this file as the standard input:

           22222222222222222           11111111111111111111111
           2222222222222222222         11111111111111111111111
           22222222222222222222        11111111111111111111111
           22222          22222                 11111
           22222          22222                 11111
           22222          22222                 11111
           22222          22222                 11111
           22222          22222                 11111
           22222          22222                 11111
           22222222222222222222                 11111
           2222222222222222222                  11111
           22222222222222222                    11111


You'll get output like this:

               X               X               X              X
"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D(v"i`<$$Co6&`R(D
dZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,QFdZ<$wamwBy&>`,
rHt&{:7Z,o:.sw5[rHt&{:7Z,osw5[rHt&{:7Z,osw505[rHt&{:7Zosw505[rHt&{:7Zosw505[rR
3C&B[8g"EzQy{lW_3C&B[8g"Ez{lW_3C&B[8g"Ez{lW_3S3C&B[8g"z{lW_3S3C&B[8g"z{lW_3S3y
{TAtrJyiQ?fiVF!G{TAtrJyiQ?VF!G{TAtrJyiQ?VF!G{T]TAtrJyi?VF!G{T]TAtrJyi?VF!G{T]s
#<sf!Q1`I|r?FLoB#<sf!Q1`I|FLoB#T#<sf!Q1`ILoB#TaT#<sf!Q1`ILoB#Ta#<sf!#Q1`ILoB#T
\qy5:nm$LuSD0hh7\qy5:nm$Lu0hh7\x\qy5:nm$Lhh7\x"x\qy5:nm$Lhh7\x"\qy5:-nm$Lhh7\x
/<bic$[#7hrqKUm`/<bic$[#7hKUm`/7/<bic$[#7Um`/7r7/<bic$[#7Um`/7r/<bick$[#7Um`/7
u)ZUw(L,'O)X\L&Xu)ZUw(L,'O\L&Xu|u)ZUw(L,'L&Xu|y|u)ZUw(L,'L&Xu|yu)ZUwy(L,'L&Xu|
;rmy9`3`#YPTdg:,;rmy9`3`#Ydg:,;(;rmy9`3`#g:,;(7(;rmy9`3`#g:,;(7;rmy94`3`#g:,;(
4U,yml1w^N7d;f964U,yml1w^N;f964&4U,yml1w^f964&;&4U,yml1w^f964&;4U,ym{l1w^f964&
?"A0+;<>Y8igID(]?"A0+;<>Y8ID(]?"A0+;<>Y8ID(]?"?"A0+;<>Y8ID(]?"?A0+;<O>Y8ID(]?"
D0tscheRl5hfJx.cD0tscheRl5Jx.cD0tscheRl5Jx.cDeD0tscheRl5Jx.cDeDtscheiRl5Jx.cDe
-AaV^hv,r7f6%<)R-AaV^hv,r7%<)R-AaV^hv,r7%<)p)R-AaV^hv,r7%<)p)R-aV^hv>,r7%<)p)R
IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]qi(IRW)ytVbWqd^]q
BX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=[gBX(Aqq`^Y-z8v=



-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS :-) ---------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (William C. Haga)

Being one who has used wide-eyed vision on chain link fences ever
since I was a kid, I was able to see the images in SIRDS right
away. But I've had difficulty explaining the technique to
friends. Today I had the latest Games magazine with me at my parents
house. Games is running another contest using SIRDS, so there are
three in the latest issue. This time I thought of the reflection
idea. So I opened mom's china cabinet, put the magazine against the
glass in the door, and told mom to keep looking at her own reflection
in the glass until the image appeared.

It took less than thirty seconds.

When she saw the 3d train engines, I was subjected to a squeal of
delight that I hadn't heard from her for a long time. "EEK! IT'S
COMING OUT AT ME! IS THIS EVER NEAT!".  Dad tried for about a minute
but gave up.

About an hour later, mom and I heard a shout. We went to
the dining area, and there was dad with the magazine against the
glass in the door. "Isn't that just the most amazing thing!", said he.

Later they were making jokes about teaching old dogs new tricks.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
----- COMMERCIAL SIRDS Posters ----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

For those who do not have a local SIRDS distributor (i.e., the poster
cart at the mall), here is one company you can order from.  The
following posters are all certifiably cool with lots of great details,
and come in nice colors.  They are (I believe) designed by NVision and
distributed here by Axis Corp.

Posters:$25 Dinosaurs
        $25 Discovery (Space shuttle and planet)
        $25 Lady Liberty (U.S. Statue of Liberty)
        $25 B-2 Stealth Bomber
        $25 F-117 Bomber
        $25 Nature's Majesty (Eagle with fish in talons, pine trees in bkgrd)
        $30 Calypso Reef (Ocean Scene--new design, more detail)
        Many more now, including small, $15 posters.

Address:Axis Corp.
        1732 S. 790 W.
        Salt Lake City, UT 84104
        USA
Phone:  [phone]
Call for shipping details.

ANOTHER SUPPLIER:

Infix Technologies
PO Box 381
Orem, UT 84057-0381
[phone]

18x24 Earth (mercator projection of the Earth's altitudes)
18x24 Salt Lake LDS Temple Centennial
18x24 Beethoven
(others are coming soon, too.)

Call for details.

                                              *
Todd D. Hale                          * * * *
[e-mail]                      * *
[e-mail]
---------------------------------          _  /X\     ------------------
Unofficially speaking, of course.     :^/_/__// \\_
----------------------------------------- \__ --------------------------
===============================================================================
·