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Broadcast Engineering on 3-D
Archive for the ‘Film’ Category
by Michael Grotticelli May 10th, 2011
 Earlier this year, CableLabs, the nonprofit R&D consortium for cable TV operators, published a new specification for formatting, or “panelizing,” 3-D content into a frame-compatible format for use by cable TV systems in the United States. The spec, which is now being used across the industry, is designed to serve as a guide for producers, programmers and aggregators of stereoscopic 3-D programming so their programs are delivered properly and the end result is a pleasing viewing experience for the consumer. This specification, called Content Encoding Profiles 3.0 Specification (OC-SP-CEP3.0-I01-100827), can be found on the CableLabs website under “OpenCable specifications.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3-D, CableLabs, delivery, encoding, specification
Related Topics: Application, Broadcast, Film, Post Production, Professional video |
by Michael Grotticelli April 26th, 2011
 At the 2011 NAB Show, James Cameron and Vince Pace stressed the importance of a streamlined 3-D production process more like that of standard 2-D. James Cameron, the director of “Avatar,” and 3-D production guru Vince Pace have formed a new company, the Cameron-Pace Group, to help TV broadcasters produce programming in 3-D.
“Our goal,” Cameron said at the show, “is to banish all the perceived and actual barriers to entry that are currently holding back producers, studios and networks from embracing the 3-D future.”
Cameron and Pace have already contributed technologies, products and services that were used in movies that produced $4.7 billion in box office receipts and have played an extensive role in 25 features, seven concerts and 40 sports productions. They have provided few details of their business plans, but they stressed the importance of a streamlined 3-D production process more like that of standard 2-D. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3-D Production, Cameron-Pace Group, consultants, James Cameron, new company, Vince Pace
Related Topics: Application, Broadcast, Film, News |
by Michael Grotticelli April 26th, 2011
 The PMW-TD300 3-D camcorder features a twin optical lens equipped with three half-inch CMOS Exmor sensors for each eye view. It was another year for new 3-D cameras at the NAB Show as major video manufacturers tackle the production issues and high costs that have been plaguing producers of 3-D content for TV and motion pictures. Counting those introduced last year, there are now literally dozens of options to choose from.
The industry as a whole is clamoring for operator-friendly, light and single-body production equipment that can replicate the 2-D HD production experience, and there was clear evidence this year that vendors understand the requirements and are working to make cost-effective production a reality. Here are a few notable cameras that were presented at this year’s show. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3D, cameras, FOR-A, JVC, Medusa, Panasonic, production, Sony
Related Topics: Acquisition, Application, Broadcast, Film, Products, Professional video |
by Michael Grotticelli April 10th, 2011
 Element Technica’s Pulsar is engineered to stereoscopically mount midsized and box-style digital cameras. Gregg Katano and Ajay Relan, the creative team behind Hi-Ground Media, and producer/director Wayne Miller, of Action 3D Productions, used the Pulsar 3-D camera rig from Element Technica to capture “Red Bull Rampage 3D: The Evolution.” Shot in Virgin, UT, the project captures the story of five top riders from around the world, competing at the world’s most extreme freestyle mountain biking event.
“The location was in the rugged, dusty mountains of Virgin, UT, in close proximity to Zion Park,” said Katano, executive producer and Hi-Ground founder. “The ride began at about 6000ft, and the rugged, rocky terrain required us to move cameras/rigs into position each day via SUVs and manpower.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3-D, camera rig, Element Technica, Hi-Ground Media, Pulsar, Red Bull Rampage
Related Topics: Acquisition, Application, Film, News, Post Production |
by Michael Grotticelli April 8th, 2011
 The ATSC’s interim report states that while there is need for more bandwidth to handle the added amount of 3-D TV data, it could be solved with advanced codecs that provide better compression. The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has published an interim report on 3-D TV asking for additional data on emerging technologies and health issues that have been reported involving the new medium.
“To ensure that the final version of the report provides a complete analysis of all available broadcast delivery options, the ATSC issued a formal request for input from the industry on additional technologies, including those that are still under development,” the ATSC said.
At the moment, most of the ATSC’s observations about 3-D technology are that it shows promise for a variety of applications.
“There is no doubt that creating and displaying 3-D content offers many benefits to increasing the viewer experience and enhancing revenue,” the group said. “There appears to be viable options for 3-D broadcasts.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3-D, 3DTV, Advanced Television Systems Committee, ATSC, digital, health issues, report, television
Related Topics: Application, Broadcast, Film, News, Products |
by Michael Grotticelli April 7th, 2011
 The new technology will allow users to experience the immersive technology across all types of compatible 3-D displays with a single pair of active-shutter glasses. A group of consumer electronics manufacturing companies has joined to promote M-3DI as a single specification for 3-D glasses for home TVs, personal computers and motion picture theaters. Initial plans for the specification cover only IR sync, with the RF Bluetooth technology included on many current 3-D TV sets.
Both Panasonic and XPAND initially developed the new M-3DI standard. Other leading 3-D companies that have agreed to support the standard include Changhong Electric, FUNAI Electric, Hisense Electric, Hitachi Consumer Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric, Seiko Epson, SIM2 Multimedia and ViewSonic. Samsung, Sony and LG Electronics, three prominent 3-D manufacturers, are notably missing from the list of participants. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Active Shutter, glasses, M-3DI, Panasonic, standard, XPAND 3D
Related Topics: Application, Broadcast, Film, Products, Professional video |
by Michael Grotticelli March 28th, 2011
 MasterImage 3D has sold more than 400,000 Hitachi WOOO cell phones and portable media players with its auto-stereoscopic 3-D display screen technology into the Japanese market. Consumer electronics manufaturer Samsung has a separate division that goes out and hunts for new ventures to invest in so the company can stay ahead of the curve on 3-D. Its most recent find is MasterImage 3D, a company that has been involved in 3-D technology for both large and small screens since 2004.
Among the innovations that Younghoon Lee, chairman and CEO of MasterImage 3D, has championed is auto-stereoscopic LCD screens for small game consoles and portable media players. For the past eight years, Lee has been working to develop his own manufacturing process that he says improves upon other techniques for producing auto-stereoscopic LCD screens. His technique ensures just the right amount of left-eye/right-eye alignment between the 3-D panel and the TFT LCD display to enable a single viewer to experience the desired effect without using special 3-D glasses. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: auto-stereoscopic, display, investment, MasterImage 3D, Samsung Ventures, single-user, TFT displays
Related Topics: Broadcast, Film, News, Products |
by Michael Grotticelli March 22nd, 2011
 The new Dolby 3-D glasses use a nylon frame and multilayer optical film lenses from 3M that reduces weight and increases comfort for moviegoers. Dolby Laboratories has developed a new type of inexpensive passive 3-D glasses for theater owners that are lighter and easier to wear. The company said it joined with 3M to produce the glasses, which are compatible with existing Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems.
The new glasses use a nylon frame and multilayer optical film lenses from 3M that reduce the weight and increases comfort for moviegoers. In addition, the new frames fit comfortably over 98 percent of prescription glasses and are well-suited to youth and adults. The new 3M lenses are scratch-resistant and include an antireflective coating. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3D, 3M, digital cinema, DLP, Dolby, glasses, passive, Texas Instruments
Related Topics: Application, Film, Products |
by Michael Grotticelli March 17th, 2011
 Two RED EPIC cameras on a 3Ality Digital TS-5 rig are providing “all the benefits of a (stereographic) 3-D picture on a 2-D schedule,” according to director of photography John Schwartzman. Productions pros are staring to figure out how to shoot 3-D the way they like to: not limited by the equipment. John Schwartzman, an award-winning cinematographer and the director of photography on the latest “The Amazing Spiderman” production, which hits 3-D screens July 3, 2012, wanted up-close and personal shots, and he wouldn’t use a heavy handheld 3-D rig until it was small enough to allow his crew to work like they do shooting in 2-D.
For Schwartzman, smaller and lighter is better on set; it allows him to “maintain the actor’s eyeline.” That’s why chose to shoot with a pair of RED EPIC cameras on a small mirror rig from 3Ality Digital. The entire rig weighs about the same as a typical film camera with accessories, and it can be used wirelessly, so directors of photography don’t feel constrained. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3-D, 3Ality Digital, beamsplitter rig, cameras, cinematographer, DP, Epic, John Schwartzman, on-set, production, Red Digital, The Amazing Spiderman, TS-5
Related Topics: Acquisition, Application, Film, Products |
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Michael Grotticelli is writer and editor of Broadcast Engineering’s “Beyond the Headlines” and “Sports Technology Update” e-newsletters. Each week, he provides a fresh perspective on the latest in 3-D technologies and innovations as well as report on real-world applications of 3-D in the broadcast, professional video and film industries.
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