Facebook adds new 3D feature for any image

The new option allows depth to be simulated on any static image, so you no longer need a fancy high-end camera to light up your posts.

If you’ve ever seen a 3D post from your friends on Facebook and felt an uncontrollable surge of envy, then fret no longer. Starting from this week you won’t need a top-of-the-range smart phone to create photos with interactive depth.

Facebook has just introduced a new element to its photos options, allowing any image taken (even those on a single lens camera) to be simulated into a 3D post. It first started implementing three dimensional features onto its site two years ago, later adding them to its mostly unused Stories tool.

It’s only this week that depth perception has been added for any image you take – which is exciting. You can even try it out for yourself right now, provided you have the most up to date version of the app installed.

If you want to give it a go, you’ll want to head to the ‘what’s on your mind?’ prompt on the news feed tab. From there you can browse a variety of posting options, one of which is ‘3D Photo’. This will allow you to choose any image from your Camera Roll and turn it into a movable, interactive image.

The setting is live and usable right now, so give it a shot! You can send them to friends, family, and it’ll probably impress your nan to no end.

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the 3D is only an effect or illusion here – it’s not creating actual depth, obviously. Facebook has developed an image recognition and object perception process using millions of public images as test samples. If you want to get into the nitty gritty of how it all works, you can read Facebook’s full description here.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to create three dimensional portraits of my mum’s dog to send to my extended family.