A method for adjusting and generating enhanced 3D-effects for 2D to 3D image and video conversion applications includes controlling a depth location of a zero parallax plane within a depth field of an image scene to adjust parallax of objects in the image scene, controlling a depth volume of objects in the image scene to one of either exaggerate or reduce 3D-effect of the image scene, controlling a depth location of a segmentation plane within the depth field of the image scene, dividing the objects in the image scene into a foreground group and a background group, selectively increasing or decreasing depth volume of objects in the foreground group, selectively increasing or decreasing depth separation of objects in the foreground group relative to the objects in the background group, and generating an updated depth map file for a 2D-image.