3D vs. Stereoscopy
When I tell people I make animations and images in 3D, I always have to explain what I mean. Since most movies in cinema are referred to as being 3D, there is some misunderstanding of the term 3D.
3D can refer to 3D computer graphics and Stereoscopy.
The process of creating 3D computer graphics can be sequentially divided into three basic phases: 3D modeling which describes the process of forming the shape of an object, layout and animation which describes the motion and placement of objects within a scene, and 3D rendering which produces an image of an object.
Stereoscopy, any technique capable of recording three-dimensional visual information or creating the illusion of depth in an image.
The image above shows a combination of a 3D computer graphic as a Stereoscopic image.