Image processing is making leaps and bounds as processors shrink and cloud computing takes off. It’s gotten to the point where depth can be extrapolated from single-shot photos; it takes some fancy algorithms and intense calculations, but programs can simulate/predict shapes, textures, and colors of occluded areas of a photograph. In other words, software makes a very educated guess that the blue sky will continue to be blue behind people, and the backs of heads will be round and have hair that’s of similar color and texture as what’s visible. With relative size and distance approximations, depth can also be determined. The new service 3DEFY does some version of this to generate 3D printable images from ordinary photos.
You may remember BumpyPhoto, which offers a similar service. The differences are that 3DEFY gives users control over the creation of the image and their paying for the conversion. BumpyPhoto sells actual prints. 3DEFY sells 3D files that users can then have printed by whatever service they prefer. The modeler is fairly easy to use: upload a photo, trace the subjects, push/pull to preference, and set some basic print parameters. Images can also be bent and turned. It’s fun to play with.
3D images are becoming more and more pronounced. With 3DEFY, which can bring to 'life' your single shot photo, determining the size and distance approximations, so that the depth of the background can be calculated. This new service charges for the conversation not the print in the end, you'll have to find another place that will print out your result, elsewhere. I like this idea and you would want to test it out...maybe for a mixed media project?