Content Conversion

Overview

DDD TriDef content services can convert regular 2-D movies into 3-D for playback on 3-D displays.

Unlike other display specific 3-D movie formats, TriDef movies are also playable on 3-D displays including those available from Sanyo, SeeReal, Sharp Corporation, Stereographics, Opticality and others.

This lets content owners future-proof their investment in 3-D media, and play the same media on a variety of 3-D displays.

If you would like someone from DDD's Content Division to speak with you in relation to a conversion, please Contact us stating the details of your query.

To get the best 3-D experience from original 2D video DDD recommends some simple practical tips.

Video source requirements

  • Uncompressed frame sequence or movie
  • PAL 720 x 576 25 fps
  • NTSC 720 x 480 29.97 fps:
  • Whole (progressive) frames are preferred and will yield higher quality results.
  • If NTSC, and transferred from film, for best quality, Telecine (3:2 pull-down) should be done after editing the film footage.
  • Supply video tape on DigiBeta format only.
  • If transferred from DVCAM, ensure progressive format is used.
  • Lower quality interlaced transfers from analogue formats, miniDV or poorly telecined film material will be de-interlaced by DDD before processing. This may lower the quality of the 3-D impression.
  • HD formats - talk to us first!

3-D conversion - "Do's"

  • Do use long, slow shots. 3 seconds is the preferred minimum shot length. Longer shots are OK too. Faster cut shots do not let viewers perceive much 3-D.
  • Use well-lit scenes with good distribution of objects in a scene - foreground, mid-ground, background layers.
  • Good contrast and importantly, texture detail of all objects is helpful.
  • Perspective cues assist - select wide angle shots over those shot with a telephoto lens.
  • Motion parallax, from slowly panning or tracking the camera is beneficial.
  • Use depth of field. A little out-of-focus in background objects helps our 3-D perception. Especially when foreground objects are in focus

Editing

  • If titles or graphic elements are to be super-imposed, provide elements with separate alphas. We composite the elements at the correct depth layer, based on your guide-tape.
  • With long fades or dissolves, objects can appear to be between two depth positions, with the result being ambiguous 3-D.
  • Its preferable to convert the 2D material prior to fades or dissolves having been done.
  • We recognise this is often impractical and try to get a 3-D result within these constraints.

Off-Screen 3-D

For "off-screen" 3-D effects, some extra rules apply:

  • The object(s) to come off screen should be relatively large, but remain centrally within the title-safe area of the screen, and logically appear to emerge toward the viewer.
  • If the object touches any of the 4 borders of the screen "window", the off-screen effect will be destroyed. "Floating" objects work best.
  • Since very little material is composed with off-screen in mind, it is effective to add the off-screen effect using CG (computer graphic) elements. Let us discuss with your CG producer.
  • For best 3-D effect, provide CG elements separately to live action, with alpha channel.
  • For longer CG productions , it is useful to work with your CG animation vendor to supply "Z-buffer" renders. This can reduce the overall 3-D conversion cost. Talk to us first.

TriDef Offline Conversion is offered exclusively as a service by DDD.

Standard definition video resolution for autostereo displays up to 50 inch, TriDef Movie format output.

  • Live action:
    • $1000 Set-up per job and
    • $2500 per minute
  • CG, or depth supplied:
    • $1000 Set-up per job and
    • $1500 per minute

Standard definition video resolution for polarised glasses, (typically projected on a 4-5 m wide screen) Left and Right format.

  • Live action
    • Standard detail $5000 per minute
    • Enhanced detail $7500 per minute
  • High Definition
    • Priced on sight of material.
3D Bear