Coloured glasses let you see two different images from one image on your monitor by allowing each eye to see only colours that the other eye can't see. This method only requires a pair of bi-coloured glasses, but has the disadvantage of not displaying a video's true colours.

Coloured glasses have a pretty big effect on the way you see video. With certain colours, they can cause an unpleasant feeling called "retinal rivalry". To minimise this feeling, you can try out a few different settings. While watching a video, you can choose one of the following options from the 3D menu (or click the 3D menu button to toggle between them).

Full colour

The colours aren't modified, only separated for the two eyes. No retinal rivalry compensation.

Optimised

The video will not have any pure red or pure cyan. Instead, it will have a greener colour that both eyes can see. Colours are less vibrant in optimised mode.

The optimised mode can also reduce "ghosting" in some cases. Ghosting is when the left eye sees some of the image intended for the right eye, or vice-versa.

For technical details, read about the Dubois anaglyph.

Grey scale

Colours in the image are changed to shades of grey, so both eyes receive the same amount of light.

3D-capable TVs and monitors are great for displaying 3D content, but they don't all work the same way. Often, some configuration is needed on the 3D device, as well. Consult your 3D TV or monitor manual to determine which option to choose.

Interleaved Rows, Columns or Checkerboard

Select this mode if your 3D monitor supports it.

In this mode, some of the screen pixels display the left-hand image and the other pixels display the right-hand image. Polarised 3D glasses are used to let each eye see only the pixels that it's supposed to see. Interleaved pixels can be arranged in rows, columns or in a checkerboard pattern.

Side by side

Select this option if your 3D TV supports it. In this mode, some TVs can take as input two videos placed side by side and turn it into one 3D image. You may need to set up the TV to work with this mode. Consult your 3D TV manual for details.

HTML5 Stereo View (including NVIDIA 3D Vision)

HTML5 Stereo View allows standards-compliant devices to watch 3D content. For more information on viewing 3D content using HTML5 Stereo view, please visit this Help Centre article.

Haven't got any 3D devices?

You can still watch 3D video without a special 3D device, but the methods of doing so can be difficult and may not work for everyone. We recommend that you get a 3D viewing device, like a pair of red/blue glasses.

If you pick this option, you'll be able to choose from several viewing methods in the YouTube player's 3D menu:

Cross-eyed

Two images will be displayed side by side. Cross your eyes until your right eye is looking at the left-hand image and the left eye is looking at the right-hand image. Two white dots are placed above the images to make this simpler: cross your eyes until you see 3 dots above the video. It may take a few tries before you finally master this technique. This method can cause headaches for some people.

Parallel

This is similar to cross-eyed viewing, except that instead of crossing your eyes, you look off into infinity (uncrossing your eyes). Unfocus your eyes until your left eye sees the left-hand image and your right eye sees the right-hand image. Two white dots are placed above the images to make this simpler: cross your eyes until you see 3 dots above the video. This method is more difficult than viewing cross-eyed.

Mirror split

Two images will be displayed side by side. Using a mirror, each eye can see a different image. To see an example of how to set it up, watch the beginning of this REQ2010's video.

Left-hand/right-hand image only

Just want to watch in 2D? You can watch just the left- or right-hand side of the image.