Incredible Editing Technique Lets You Turn 2D Objects in a Photo Into 3D Objects You Can Manipulate

According to the paper — which you can read in its entirety here if you so desire — the point was to take image editing beyond what even the most powerful 2D editing programs (read: Photoshop) could do. From the abstract:

We demonstrate our system by producing object manipulations that would be impossible in traditional 2D photo-editing programs, such as turning a car over, making a paper-crane flap its wings, or manipulating airplanes in a historical photograph to change its story.

Check out the videos above to see the technique in action, head over to the CMU press release to read up on how it all works in simpler terms than the full paper linked above, and then drop us a line in the comments to let us know what you think.

(via Engadget)