Depth-estimation models
These generate a depth map from a single image or video frame and form the foundation of almost every AI conversion tool. Quality varies a lot between models, especially on tricky surfaces like glass, water and hair.
2D-to-3D photo converters
Consumer-facing apps package a depth model and a view-synthesis step into a single click, aimed at people who want to convert phone photos into stereo pairs without touching a technical pipeline.
Video stabilization and stereo-alignment tools
AI-assisted alignment tools correct the small vertical and rotational mismatches between two camera feeds automatically, saving hours of manual correction that used to be standard on stereo shoots.
Categories worth knowing
- Single-image depth estimators — turn one photo into a depth map
- View synthesizers — generate the missing second-eye viewpoint
- Stereo pair aligners — auto-correct vertical parallax and rotation errors
- Upscalers tuned for stereo — preserve depth consistency while increasing resolution
- Format converters — move content between SBS, VR180 and spatial video containers
A word of caution
AI 3D tools are improving quickly, but results still benefit from a trained eye. Always preview converted content before publishing, and treat AI depth as a strong starting point rather than a finished product.
See it in action at 3dstreaming.org