Nvidia Vision 2 Manual

							NVIDIA Corporation7
CHAPTER
2
USING THE N V ID IA  3D  STEREO DRIVER
This chapter describes the basic functions of the 3D Stereo Driver Control Panel, and 
contains the following sections:
“Getting Started” on page 8
describes how to install the 3D stereo driver and how to use the control panel to play 3D 
games in stereo.
“Game Ratings for Stereo” on page 17
describes how to determine if your game is suitable for viewing in stereo.
“Stereo Test and Refresh Rate Setup” on page 18
describes how to test different color depth, resolution, and refresh rate combinations to 
determine the best display modes to use when playing games in stereo.
“3D Stereo Laser Sight” on page 21
describes how to use the NVIDIA laser sight feature for first-person shooter games. 
						

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G etting S tarted
Perform the following steps to use the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver. Each step is explained 
in greater detail later in this section. 
Step 1: Install the Drivers and the Stereo Viewing Hardware.
Make sure the NVIDIA Detonator XP (v22.90 or later) driver is installed, then install 
the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver.
Step 2: Set Up the Stereo Type
In the Stereo Properties sheet, click either Page Flipped or Anaglyph stereo type, 
depending on the type of stereo glasses you have.
Step 3: Enable the Stereo Function.
In the Stereo Properties sheet, under Stereo Enable Mode, select either Enabled or 
Enabled by Hot Key, then click Apply. Be sure to take the stereo medical test.
Step 4: Set Up Basic Stereo Parameters
Verify the Hot Keys.
Under Display Properties > Stereo Properties, click Additional Properties, then set 
up or verify setup of the six hot keys—Toggle Stereo On/Off, Less Stereo 
Separation, More Stereo Separation, Save Image, Increase Gamma, and Decrease 
Gamma.
Adjust the Stereo Separation.
Under Stereo Properties, click Stereo Setup & Test, then in the Monitor Size section 
of the Stereo Setup & Test page move the bar to your monitor size. In the Stereo 
Properties sheet, preselect the stereo separation using the Stereo Separation slide bar. 
Adjust the Stereo Gamma Setting
The default setting should be adequate for all games, but can be adjusted by moving 
the Stereo Gamma slide bar in the Stereo Properties sheet. 
Step 5: Play Games in Stereo.
Under the Stereo Properties > Stereo Setup & Test sheet, set the stereo refresh rate you 
want to use for your games, then start the game in full-screen mode and use the hot keys 
to control the stereo display.  
						

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Step 1: Install the Drivers and the Stereo Viewing Hardware 
Installation
1Install the NVIDIA Detonator XP (v22.90 or later) Display Drivers.
Refer to the installation instructions that came with the new drivers or the display card. 
2Install the NVIDIA 3D Stereo Driver.
aLocate the executable stereo file (StereoE.exe) on your hard 
drive. 
bDouble-click the file to launch the installation program., then follow 
the instructions to complete the installation. 
3Install the stereo viewing hardware.
Refer to the documentation that came with your stereo eyewear for instructions.
The Stereo Control Panel
The driver installs a Stereo Properties sheet in the Display Properties Control Panel under 
Settings > Advanced. To access it:
1Right click on the Desktop, then choose Properties, or click Start > Settings > Control 
Panel, then double-click Display from the Control Panel window. 
2Click the Settings tab, then click the Advanced ... button in the Settings sheet.
3Click the Stereo Properties tab. 
Figure 2.1Stereo Properties Control Panel 
						

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Step 2: Set Up the Stereo Type
Choose Page Flipped or Anaglyph Stereo Type
In the Stereo Type section of the Stereo Properties page, choose either Page Flipped or 
Anaglyph by clicking the corresponding radio button and then clicking the Apply box. See 
Figure 2.2. 
 Page Flipped—Choose this type if you have LCD shutter glasses. 
 Anaglyph—Choose this method if you have “Red/Blue” 3D glasses.
Step 3: Enable the Stereo Function 
1Choose the Stereo Enable Mode.
In the Stereo Properties sheet under Stereo Enable Mode (see Figure 2.2), click either 
the Enabled or Enabled by Hot Key radio button, then click Apply. 
Enabled: If you select Enabled, stereo turns on as soon as the game starts. Some 
programs start with simple startup screens that are best viewed with stereo off. The 
driver attempts to detect this case and waits until the “triangle rich” game starts 
before turning stereo on. 
Hot keys are functional when Enabled is selected.
Enabled by Hot Key: If you select Enabled by Hot Key, you must use the hot keys 
to turn stereo ON or OFF after starting a game. This is useful if you want to view 
game menus and setup screens in non-stereo mode. 
Figure 2.2Stereo Enable Setup Controls
Stereo Enable Setup
Medical Test Button
Stereo Type Setup 
						

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2Take the stereo medical test.
Each user should take the stereo medical test before playing games in stereo for the first 
time. 
aLaunch the test.
When you enable stereo for the first time, the test is launched automatically.
To launch the test at any other time, click the Medical Test Image button. 
The Medical Test Image appears on the screen.
bFollow the instructions on the screen. 
Figure 2.3Medical Test Image

If you do not see the image immediately, allow a few seconds for your eyes to adjust, 
while changing your viewing distance from the screen.
If the page flipping method is used and the image is blurred, verify that the stereo 
eyewear is functioning. 
The view through the eyewear should darken because each eye view is cycling on 
and off. If the eyewear does not darken, check the hardware installation and setup. 
						

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cPress ESC when you are finished viewing the image.
The Stereo Test Result dialog box asks whether you can see the image in stereo.
dConfirm your ability to see the image in stereo. 
If you are able to see the image, click Yes. Stereo is now enabled.
If you are not able to see the image, click No. 
Any further attempts to enable stereo launches the Medical Test Image again.
Inability to see in stereo might be due to hardware problems or visual problems. 
See “Possible Cause: Eyewear Hardware Not Set Up Properly or Eyewear Driver 
Support not Installed Properly” on page 44 in the Troubleshooting chapter for help in 
diagnosing a problem with the eyewear setup or driver installation.
Consult a physician if you suspect a physical problem seeing stereo.  
						

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Step 4: Set Up Basic Stereo Parameters 
Verify the H ot K eys
Make sure the hot keys are set up so you can control stereo functions during gameplay. 
1From the Stereo Properties sheet, click the Additional Properties ... button. 
Figure 2.43D Stereo Driver Hot Key Setup
2
Get familiar with the hot keys. If they are not assigned, set up each hot key as follows:
aClick in the New Hot Key box, then enter keystrokes corresponding to the desired 
hot key. 
bClick the Set button corresponding to the hot key function you want to set.
NVIDIA recommends using the following hot keys:
Toggle Stereo on/off—Ctrl+T
Less Stereo Separation—Ctrl+F3
More Stereo Separation—Ctrl+F4
Save Image—Alt+F1
Increase Gamma—Ctrl+G
Decrease Gamma—Alt+G
3Click OK to return to the Stereo Properties sheet. 
						

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Adjust the Stereo Separation
Stereo separation refers to the difference in horizontal position between the right and left 
images. The greater the stereo separation, the greater the stereo effect. Too much 
separation, however, can be uncomfortable if your eyes are not adjusted to stereo. 
1Adjust separation according to the diagonal screen dimension of your monitor.
The driver calculates the maximum stereo separation (100%) based on the screen size. 
aIn the Stereo Properties Control Panel, click the Stereo Setup & Test ... box.
bIn the Monitor Size section of the Stereo Setup & test page, move the slide bar to a 
position corresponding to the diagonal screen dimension of your monitor. (See 
Do not exceed the size of your monitor, as this can result in too much stereo 
separation and cause visual problems and headaches. 
Figure 2.5Selecting the Monitor Size
2
Adjust the separation according to your stereo viewing comfort level. 
You can set the stereo separation in advance, and also adjust it later during the game. 
aIn the Stereo Properties sheet, under Stereo Separation (see Figure 2.6), move the 
slide bar to the expected comfort level, then click OK or Apply. 
Monitor Size selection, to establish the 
maximum stereo separation appropriate
for your monitor. 
						

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A recommended starting point is at 30%. You can increase the separation over time 
as your eyes grow accustomed to stereoscopic viewing..
Figure 2.6Stereo Separation and Stereo Gamma Setup Controls
b
During gameplay, use the hot keys to adjust the stereo separation. 
Press Ctrl+F4 (or whichever hot key is defined) to increase stereo separation.
Press Ctrl+F3 (or whichever hot key is defined) to decrease stereo separation 
Adjust the Stereo Gamma Setting
The On/Off action of LCD shutter glasses (page flipped stereo) darkens the display. To 
compensate for this effect, the gamma can be adjusted as follows: 
1In the Stereo Gamma Setting section of the Stereo Properties page, move the slide bar 
to the desired gamma value (0.5–6.00). See Figure 2.6.
This value is ‘added’ to the gamma that is already set by the game. NVIDIA 
recommends a value of 1.2. 
One setting should work for all games.
2Click Apply.
You can also adjust the stereo gamma during a game. This is useful when the game has no 
gamma adjustment of its own:
press Ctrl+G to increase the gamma (brightness) of the stereo display.
press Shift+G to decrease the gamma (brightness) of the stereo display.
Stereo Separation Setup
Stereo Gamma Setup 
						

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Step 5: Play Gam es in Stereo
Basic Gameplay
You can now play compatible games in stereo.
1Determine the suitability of your game for stereo viewing.
See “Viewing the Game Ratings” on page 17.
2Set the stereo refresh rate for your game.
aIn the Stereo Properties sheet, click the Stereo Test button.
bSet the color depth and resolution to correspond to the display mode that your game 
will be set to.
cSet the refresh rate and then click the Set Rate for All Resolutions button.
Set the refresh rate to 120 Hz if it is available, otherwise use 100 Hz as a minimum.
dClick the Close button.
For instructions on how to test the capabilities of your monitor before setting the stereo 
refresh rate, refer to “Testing Display Combinations” on page 20.
3Start the 3D game and set to full-screen display mode.
For setting up the 3D laser on first-person shooter games, see “3D Stereo Laser Sight” 
on page 21. 
4Use the hot keys to toggle stereo view ON/OFF or to adjust the stereo separation to a 
comfortable level.
Press Ctrl+T to turn stereo ON or OFF.
Press Ctrl+F4 to increase stereo separation.
Press Ctrl+F3 to decrease stereo separation.
Press Ctrl+G to increase gamma.
Press Alt+G to decrease gamma.
Advanced Features and Help
Refer to other sections of this manual for instructions on how to maximize the stereo 
display quality:
“Creating and Modifying Game Configurations” on page 24
provides instructions for advanced users on how to adjust various stereo parameters 
such as screen depth, convergence, and backplane positioning.
“Tips and Troubleshooting” on page 40
provides suggestions to help you successfully play games in stereo and maximize the 
stereo quality of your games.