Introduction To 3D Video

3D has been a feature of our cinemas for decades, sporadically rising to prominence as a new technology is discovered and then falling back into obscurity once it passes. However, the digital 3D revolution has been the most significant yet and now you can see the latest blockbusters in all their stereoscopic glory at your local multiplex and even watch 3D movies, shows and documentaries in your own home with a 3D ready TV. The games consoles of today can even bring 3D titles to life in ways that were previously impossible, but what is 3D video and how does all this technology work?

The theory behind 3D imaging using ostensibly 2D projection techniques has not changed a huge amount over the years. In essence you need a two camera rig set up to capture images for the left eye and the right eye simultaneously. These two images then need to be projected on a screen at the same time, but with some way of letting the viewer`s left eye only see the left image and the right eye the right image as this replicates the feeling of three dimensional depth we get when looking at the world around us. The word for this is `stereoscopic` although the modern 3D TVs do not rely on the old anaglyph imagery which uses chromatically opposite colours like red and cyan to help distinguish between the two pictures onscreen.

Modern 3D TVs use either active or passive technology to convey the depth-inducing effects. Most people will have encountered passive 3D as this is the type of technology that is used by major cinemas in order to show 3D movies. This is because you just need passive polarising glasses which are very cheap to buy and work best in the fully dark setting of the movie screen.

Active 3D requires active shutter glasses and the more expensive 3D TVs which are available to consumers will usually be based on this type of technology. Here a pair of active shutter glasses obscure the vision for the left eye and then the right eye hundreds of times a second, with the specs needing to be synchronised with the refresh rate of the television so that the 3D can be viewed correctly. Active shutter glasses provide a crisper viewing experience in the home environment, although the cheaper passive option is better for group viewing as there is virtually no outlay for the passive glasses themselves and your position in the room has less impact on your ability to see 3D video as it was intended.

It is worth pointing out that even in its most advanced state on contemporary devices, 3D video is still something that will not necessarily be possible for everyone to experience. For some the effect will simply never have an impact, while for others the effort of looking at a 3D screen for any length of time may tire their eyes or cause headaches. This makes it worth checking to see whether you are actually going to be able to make the most out of a 3D display before you choose free gifts with mobile phones, as a free 3D TV may end up being a burden rather than a boon.

Introduction To 3D Video

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