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Washington DC
March 2008
In March the DC Section met at Atlantic Video as part of Quantel's
multi-day presentation of their Stereoscopic 3D processing platform. The
event featured a screening of scenes from 3D theatrical releases, including
footage from director James Cameron and segments from the recent "Hannah
Montana" movie. The images were projected by two vertically-oriented
projectors with polarizing filters and audience-worn passive polarizing
glasses.
3D images are created by manipulating the position of identical images
which are shown to each eye at slightly different times or with optical
polarization. Where visual elements are placed within the interocular
distance (average distance between the pupils of both eyes) determines the
perceived depth those elements have in the scene. Elements can be behind,
on, or in front of a virtual "z-axis" plane. Live 3D is shot with two
cameras mounted in tandem and synchronized to make identical recordings. The
distance between the camera lenses determines the interocular distance of
the scene.
Typically, 3D material has been edited in 2D form--by cutting all the
scenes for a single eye and then cutting the reel for the other eye. The 3D
end-product is then viewed.
The great disadvantage of this is that editing decisions are made
without being able to see the final 3D effect, often leading to many
changes. Likewise, imperfections in the 3D source material may not be
noticed right away, and fixing them can be extremely time-consuming. Quantel
was able to demonstrate real-time manipulation of the 3D image to correct
flaws in the original footage and to create particular depth effects.
This meeting was particularly interesting to viewers who have never seen
high-quality 3D video in a theatrical setting. Many of the difficulties with
3D systems of the past have been solved and the end result is quite
surprising (and much less prone to viewer discomfort). Live productions,
such as the Hannah Montana concert, are particularly effective in 3D as they
give the viewer a greater sense of presence at the event.
The Section would like to thank Quantel (Rob Forman and Rommanett Pardo)
as well as the staff at Atlantic Video for their hospitality.
-- Eric Wenocur, Section Manager and Program Chair
DC Section members and guests prepare for
3D
Eastern Regional Governor Graham Jones, Quantel's Norman Rouse,
and PBS' Jim Kutzner discuss 3D processing
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