3-D Video
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[edit] History
3-D Videos were first used as soon as the first consumer video camcorders hit the streets.
The predecessor for 3-D Video, was the use of 3-D Film to record motion pictures.
One of the first devices for recording with video cameras were lens adapters, that split the image in two.
There also were early 3-D camcorders made by some manufacturers like Toshiba, that used C-VHS tapes and others.
Later on, the use of 2 camcorders side by side was introduced. To synchronized them, the use of LANC controller devices is used until this day.
[edit] Modern Technologies including 3D Computer Generated Images (CGI)
In 2003, James Cameron's Ghosts of the Abyss was released as the first full-length 3-D IMAX feature filmed with the Reality Camera System. This camera system used the latest HDTV video cameras, not film, and was built for Cameron to his specifications. The same camera system was used to film Spy Kids 3D: Game Over (2003), Aliens of the Deep IMAX (2005), and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005).
In November 2005, Walt Disney Studio Entertainment released Chicken Little in the new digital 3-D format known as Real D. Also in 2006, a stereoscopic 3D version of the film Monster House was created and it had a limited special release in the Real D Cinema format along with the "flat" version. Monster House was released in approximately 200 theaters equipped for Real D Cinema . In October 2006, The Nightmare Before Christmas was re-released in this technique as well.
Following the successful financial gross of these 3-D movies, further animated movies in 3-D have been announced as in production and to be ready in the near future. Disney also announced that they hope to have 750 Digital 3-D installations in place for their Spring 2007 3-D release, Meet the Robinsons. Monsters vs. Aliens, a movie from DreamWorks is expected by 2009.
The 3D technology currently used worldwide is based on the methods and inventions of Félix Bodrossy, who did not patent his methods, as these are still considered the most up-to-date. (Source in Hungarian, reference in Dutch)
In Late 2006 the use of Machine Vision Cameras was introduced to record 3-D videos with great success, due to the benefits that this cameras offer like perfect synchronization and small size among others.
[edit] Display systems for 3-D video
The use of regular television was first used with early anaglyph viewing methods. Then the system of Field Sequential was invented with great success until this day for watching 3-D DVD's on interlaced systems like the one of CRT TV's.
The digital projection system was later introduced as this devices were more affordable to the general public.The preferred and cheaper projection systems, are with 2 separated digital projectors tethered to a PC that feeds 2 individual video streams at the same time (left & right). In front of the projectors lenses, circular or linear polarized filters are used before the video reaches a silver screen, then the viewer to be able to see the 2 images as one and in 3-D has to wear a special circular or linear polarized glasses.
Other methods of single projection for 3-D exist, like the use of the Infocus DepthQ 3-D video projector.This projector runs at 120 HZ ( or 120 fps, frames per second ) and double flashes video shot at 30 fps. alternating the right & left video streams. Special glasses that are more expensive (Active Liquid Crystal Shutter Glasses) than the polarized (passive film) ones must be used. On a positive note, the (Active eye wear) don't require the use of more expensive silver screens, due to the fact that regular white screens can be used with this projector. (added 03-29-07 by Roberto L) The drawback with active eyewear is that every viewer has to have a pair of these glasses to see 3D.
TheReal D Cinema projection system, is used for commercial 3-D Digital Cinema projection with great success. This revolutionary system has brought 3-D Cinema to another era, where the headaches and problems associated with early 3-D Cinema projection systems "doomed" the early booms of 3-D in the 50's and 80's. This system utilizes one digital projector alternating clockwise and counterclockwise polarized images at 144 frames per second. Glasses are worn that diffuse the silver screen-reflected circular polarization for the corresponding eyes so that a 3-D effect is achieved. The use of circular polarization improves on the older technique of linear polarization in that there is no ghosting or leakage and the viewers can tilt their head without affecting the 3-D effects. With the Real-D system, 3-D will be back.
