Vision III Blog

Vision III goes to the Future Zone at IBC in Amsterdam

Vision III Imaging will be participating at IBC(International Broadcasting Convention) in the Future Zone section. President of Vision III, Chris Mayhew will be presenting Vision III's patented parallax visualization technologies at booth 8.G04.

Check out the announcement videoabove! For more information about IBC Future Zone, go to this link: IBC Future Zone.

2D to 3D Conversions: Are They Worth It?

Absolutely! The conversion process of a standard 2D movie to a 3D version typically costs less than what it would to produce a stereoscopic 3D movie. Many people would argue that the 2D to 3D conversions that have been released were done poorly and do not match the level of quality that can be achieved from shooting in 3D. However, the conversion process has only improved as technologies and workflows have evolved.\n

\nIt is a safe bet to say, the 2D to 3D conversions of upcoming rereleases Titanic and The Phantom Menace will be done well given the minds behind these films. And should these films be successful conversions, there will be a scramble for studios to raise the bar. As pointed out by 3DTV, there is huge upside potential for the 2D to 3D conversion market as classics could be converted and enjoyed in a new medium. Virtually any film ever produced could be converted.\n

\nThis would be a huge leap for the 3D video market as a whole. Skymovies chief Ian Lewis believes that successful 2D to 3D conversions are what will bring 3D to the masses. Given the fact that converting a film is much cheaper than shooting in stereoscopic 3D. This will be very interesting to see where the market goes once the conversion process catches up in quality to material that was shot in 3D.

Stereoscopic 3D in Video Games

As stereoscopic 3D has gained popularity in the last couple of years it makes logical sense for the video game industry to take advantage of this growing trend. While stereoscopic 3D games have been out for over a year and a half on both Microsoft's XBOX 360 and Sony's Playstation 3, it has mainly been Sony at the forefront of S3D gaming. However, Microsoft may be leveling the playing field in the not too distant future with the upcoming release of Halo: Combat Evolved and Gears of War 3. Being that these are two of Microsoft's most popular games it could prove to be just what they need to regain some ground in the realm of S3D gaming.\n

\n As I mentioned earlier, Sony being at the forefront of the stereoscopic 3D gaming industry has created demand with the Playstation 3, offering full 720p resolution for the right and left eyes individually, while XBOX 360 outputs both the left and right eye into one 720p frame i.e. half the resolution of Playstation 3. Sony is also set to release it's own Playstation-brand monitor built with 3D gameplay in mind. I suspect, Microsoft will not want Sony to leap too far ahead of them in the S3D realm. This will be interesting to see just exactly what they do to compete.\n

\n It has become apparent that video-game manufacturers are taking the 3D market seriously with the number of 3D games that have been released. Consumers on the other hand still have not fully jumped on board. However, the popularity of Halo and Gears of War could be just what the gaming world needs to become immersed in S3D. What Avatar did for 3D films, Halo and Gears of War could do for 3D video-games.

Deathly Hallows in 3D

The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. II, brought about the final movie in the ever so popular series. Grossing $168.6 million on the opening weekend in just the U.S. and Canada, it broke box office records by a long shot. With 43% of those sales coming from the 3D version of the film many critics say that this is a low percentage of 3D viewers. Compared to the 60% of 3D viewers that chose to to see the recent film Transformers: Dark of the Moon, it does seem low. However, my counterargument to this is that still close to half of the viewers are choosing to see Harry Potter in 3D. This does not seem as if 3D is weakening to me.\n

\n\n\nFurthermore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. II grossed $72.8 million from 3D sales in its opening weekend putting it at the second highest grossing 3D release behind Alice in Wonderland's $81.3 million. In terms of highest grossing 3D films of all time Deathly Hallows Pt. II is fourth on the list. Not to mention it is Warner Brothers' highest grossing 3D film to date. All of these facts would point to signs that 3D is in fact here to stay rather than just another fad.\n

\n\n\nAnother important consideration is that because of the increased cost to watch a 3D movie, a larger percentage of the gross sales are coming from 3D. So even if 3D viewership is low, sales are still at the same levels if not higher. It would appear then that 3D is more of a lifesaver to the film industry than a burden.

Stereoscopic 3D Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro

As many of you may know, Adobe's Premiere Pro CS 5.5 has recently thrust itself to the forefront of professional editing software, partly due to Apple's not so graceful restructuring of Final Cut. What many of you may not know, is Premiere's ability to handle a substantial 3D workflow. Just as in Final Cut Pro, Premiere works seamlessly with the Neo3D software plug-in to offer a variety of 3D looks and outputs such as side by side, top/bottom, and anaglyph. Having the Neo3D plug-in also allows you to control the convergence, vertical alignment, rotation disparities, and zoom differences between eyes for setting up a 3D scene. All of this can be accomplished in the Neo 3D interface and immediately reflected in Premiere by utilizing the powerful Cineform codec. As well, Premiere Pro has a 64 bit program architecture allowing it to better utilize computer memory for a faster workflow.

Another reason on using Premier for 3D editing is its seamless integration with the rest of Adobe's products, specifically After Effects. If you currently don't own a license for Neo3D software, After Effects has some similar tools used for editing 3D footage. Using the “3D Glasses Effect” and “Stereo 3D Controls Effect” you can still control your convergence and vertical alignment for setting up a 3D scene, along with the different 3D outputs that were mentioned earlier. Using these effects is as simple as dragging them onto the footage you wish to edit. Adobe has made it easy not only to edit in the 3D workspace, but also to make the transition from Final Cut Pro to Premiere.

With 3D production more prominent than ever, Adobe Premiere has stepped up to the plate to handle the increased demand.

Below are some useful links that further explain some of these features:

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/stereoscopic-3d/ae-cs55-stereo-3d-glasses-effect/

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/stereoscopic-3d/stereoscopic-3d-editing-with-nvidia-3d-vision-pro-and-adobe-premiere-pro/

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/stereoscopic-3d/stereoscopic-3d-workflows-with-adobe-cs55-production-premium/

Stereoscopic 3D - Do Ad Agencies Really Care?

The lights go down in the movie theater, in anticipation you put on your 3D glasses only to see that the content being projected in 2D. Waite a minute, you paid twelve dollars for this 3D movie and all the surrounding content is being displayed in 2D?

Hold on, this makes no sense! Your an advertiser with a captive audience and your displaying your next great product or service offering in 2D? Why?

How many times has this happened to you?

To this point, the ad industry has taken a back seat when it comes to incorporating stereoscopic 3d into ad campaigns. There has been much talk, but little to no response.

Disney “Ad Lab” in Austin, Texas recently performed a comprehensive study with adverting professionals in regards to viewers response to 3D ads, during the coverage of ESPN's 2010 World Cup. The testing consisted of a 1,000 sessions within 2,700 lab hours. The audience response was overwhelmingly positive in favor of 3D advertising.

On average, viewer purchase intent increased from 49% to 83% when comparing a 2D to 3D ad, recall increased from 68% to 83%, ad enjoyment grew from 65% to 70% and overall presence went from 42% to 69%.

This study definitely shows the positive affect and retention value is much higher for viewers when it comes to 3d advertising. As well, Xpand and Texas Instruments have done studies that have shown the attributes of 3D ads, with the average increase in viewer retention at 15%.

With the emergence of new 3d technologies, easier to use hardware, greater number of production companies understanding 3D workflows, post-production becoming streamlined, 2D to 3D conversion more prevalent and growing numbers of distribution channels, you would think ad agencies would welcome this new media environment.

Only time will tell. Personally, I'm betting on 3d. The ad agencies, I'm not so sure.

First 3D Smart Phone in U.S. ‘93LG Thrill’94

AT&T has announced the first glasses-free stereoscopic 3D smartphone in the U.S.. The LG Thrill 4G has a 4.3 inch viewable 3D screen, and a stereoscopic 3D camera for recording 3D video and stills. The 3D content is captured in 720P and 2D content in 1080p.

The 3D LG Thrill is powered by dual-core 1GHz processors. The thrill also includes HDMI output for streaming content to a HDTV.

Pricing and availability for the LG Thrill 4G have yet to be announced.

SOURCE: MobileBurn

In 3D - ESPN’s E:60

E:60, ESPN's prime-time newsmagazine featuring profiles, investigations and cutting-edge stories on emerging and established sports has made the leap into 3D. Last night ESPN aired in 3D “The Great Throwdini” Dr. David Adamovich, the world's fastest knife thrower.

Robert Abbott, senior coordinating producer said “We want people to feel like they are right there, and 3D is another tool.” Incorporating cutting-edge technology makes viewers feel like they are part of the story.

The 3D scenes were captured with a beamsplitter 3D rig with Sony P1 cameras, a Phantom high-speed rig, and the Panasonic AG-3D1 camcorder. Stereoscopic 3D editing was done on a Quantel Pablo system.

The full article can be read at Sports Video Group.

Samsung Unveils Two New 3D Monitors

Samsung has announced two new LED 3D monitors incorporating their proprietary 3D, Smart hub and Connect Share technologies. The new stereoscopic 3d monitors are available in 23" and 27" sizes.\n

The TA950 and TA750 displays incorporate Samsung’s 3D HyperReal Engine–which is said to optimize color, motion and contrast for ''hyper-realistic'' 3D viewing. Combined with a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and a refresh rate (120-Hz in the 3D mode), the TA950 and TA750 displays are ideal for 3-D PC or console gaming or for watching 3-D video content like movies and sports.

Providing a wide range of connectivity options, the TA950 and TA750 models offer Samsung’s new Smart Hub, which includes:

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Search All, which makes it easier to search for and access desired content, not only on a PC, but across the Internet and on any connected storage, PC or mobile device within the home network.
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Your Video, which delivers video recommendations based on a user’s viewing history.
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Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based application store, which offers a range of paid and free apps that help people connect to their various passions – whether in sports, entertainment, information, games or social networking.
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Additionally, both models include Samsung’s ConnectShare feature which allows users to simply and conveniently connect devices via USB to enjoy instant playback of video, music and photo files without connecting to a PC. Multiple input ports—including two HDMI inputs—allow users to connect up to seven electronic devices to the monitor, while a built-in HDTV tuner can further expand content choices to include live television. The TA950 and TA750 displays both integrate a convenient picture-in-picture function with use of a separate coaxial cable, allowing for simultaneous activities like editing documents or browsing the internet while watching live TV.

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Source: Business Wire