Stereoscopic (Stereo3D) describes an image which has all of the dimensional attributes as in the "real world". A stereoscopic image requires two eyes to view it, as each eye is provided with a slightly different perspective of the same object(s). The slightly differing perspective views are combined by the brain into a single, true stereoscopic image. A 3D camera has two lenses, one for each eye's perspective.

Today, 3D is a term which is also used to describe computer generated graphics having the appearance of possessing three dimensional perspectives. Two eyes are not required for viewing 3D computer graphics--though 3D computer graphics can be generated in stereoscopic views, for a full depth perception effect for use in your 3D Stereo production. The term 3D was first coined by newspaper ad men in the 1950's and used to describe the three-dimensional movies Hollywood was turning out. By abbreviating three-dimensional to 3-D, there was more room for the hype and photos.