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It is proposed to add the following section to the document "Extensions to the PNG 1.2 Specification, Version 1.2.0"
When present, the sTER chunk indicates that the datastream contains a stereo pair of subimages within a single PNG image.
The sTER chunk contains:
Mode: 1 byte (reserved; must be zero)
The sTER chunk with mode==0 indicates that the datastream contains two subimages, encoded within a single PNG image. They are arranged side-by-side, with the left subimage intended for presentation to the right eye and the right subimage intended for presentation to the left eye. The left edge of the right subimage must be on a column that is evenly divisible by eight, so that if interlacing is employed the two images will have coordinated interlacing. Padding columns between the two subimages must be introduced by the encoder if necessary. The two subimages must have the same dimensions after removal of any padding.
Decoders that are aware of the sTER chunk may display the two images in any suitable manner. Decoders that are not aware of the sTER chunk, and those that recognize the chunk but choose not to treat stereo pairs differently from regular PNG images, will naturally display them side-by-side in a manner suitable for cross-eyed viewing.
If present, the sTER chunk must appear before the first IDAT chunk.
For compatibility with software not supporting the sTER chunk, the padding pixels must also be valid indexes in case of palette image even if they are never used.
Given an image with width W the subimage width and inter-subimage padding may be calculated as follows, where REM is the mathematical remainder operation:
subimage-padding := (8 - (W REM 8)) REM 8
subimage-width := (W - subimage-padding) / 2
error if (W - 2 x subimage-width) > 7
These calculations may be simplified to the following C language expressions:
subimage_padding = (-W) & 0x07;
subimage_width = (W - subimage_padding) >> 1;
if (W - 2 * subimage_width) > 7)
error;
There is no provision for interlaced images where left and right-eye scanlines are offset from each other.
Decoders can expect that the samples in the left and right subimages are cosited, such that the subimages and their centers are coincident at the projection plane. The decoder can assume that the left and right subimages are intended to be presented directly to the right and left eyes of the user/viewer without independent scaling, rotation or displacement. I.e., the subimages will be presented at the same size in the same relative position and orientation to each eye of the viewer.
Encoders should use the pHYs chunk to indicate the pixel's size ratio when it is not 1:1.
It is proposed to add the following paragraphs to the document "MNG (Multiple-image Network Graphics) Format, Version 1.0":
At the end of the list in Paragraph 4.2.3, IHDR, PNG chunks, IEND, add another bullet:
At the end of Paragraph 4.6, Ancillary PNG chunks, add another bullet:
Encoders should use the pHYg chunk or the MAGN chunk to indicate the pixel's size ratio when it is not 1:1.
In paragraph 5.2, Ancillary JNG chunks, after the word "sCAL", add ", sTER".
Add paragraph 10.8, Interlacing and the sTER chunk
It is recommended that when the sTER chunk is active and the two images are conveyed in separate PNG or JNG datastreams, interlacing not be used.