DIY 3D Movies

January 12, 2009 By Digital Trends Staff

DIY 3D Movies

At CES, a pair of firms have been showing off ways people can make their own 3D films at home.

Always fancied making your own 3D movie, but though it would never be possible? Well, things might be changing for aspiring amateur filmmakers. Two companies at CES have been demonstrating technology that can make 3D filmmaking possible on a budget.

English company PDT has the Minoru webcam, an odd-looking beast whose two lenses are set about as far apart as human eyes. The software that comes with it turns the images into what’s known as an anaglyph, according to the BBC. That means you do still need those familiar colored glasses to see the image in 3D, although any movies you shoot can be shared on YouTube. The webcam can also be used for more normal 2D work.

Meanwhile, TD Vision was showing off a new codec that makes it easier to show 3D images on more screens. It only stores the information about the parts of each frame that change to evoke the 3D effect.

"The magic is in the method of how it compares the left and right view," said TD Vision spokesman Ethan Shur. "It takes only the differences, the delta, the changes."

The company has also developed the prototype of a 3D camcorder.

Showing 4 comments

NikkiJane at 6:34pm 19th January 2009 The killer app for the 3D webcam is video dating! It's perfect if hot chicks have the 3d webcams and guys can easily buy the glasses because the guys aren't often seen in the pay per minute video dating. Some people out of Silicon Valley are launching www.SoCalGlamourGirls.com and have hot bikini clad chicks with 3D WebCams.
Mark Lone at 10:55am 14th January 2009 This company claims to be able to deliver 3D movies on an XBOX 360 NOW...

http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2009/01/ces-2009-nex...

www.next3d.com
Kevin Bush\ at 8:51am 14th January 2009 I fail to see the validity in your reasoning. Yes, 3-d glasses aren't owned by everyone, but this basically can be used for projects in film classes, sharing artistic visuals with friends online/otherwise, and just having fun taking 3-d movies of what you see in the world. Who said that making a movie had to be used on yourself or another person?

Imagine videotaping the grand canyon or a recent visit to NYC, an archeological dig, etc. Imagine then, being able to revisit the same sights in 3-d, later.

I wouldn't buy one... I don't even own a standard/digital video camera, but I can certainly see the usefulness and the innovative importance of the device.
Varun at 6:42pm 12th January 2009 Here's the problem I have with this camera: what's the real application??? Are you buying it to see YOURSELF in 3D? That's pointless, so probably not. Are you buying it to see your FRIENDS in 3D in a webchat? In which case THEY need the camera, not you. Are you buying it so your friends can see YOU in 3D? In which case they're going to need those polarizing glasses... but the glasses are with YOU in YOUR box. So.... interesting device but missing application.

Now here's where I think it COULD be used (and would someone please tell the guys at Minoru this): with an application that's INTENDED for home monitoring. Something like HomeCamera (google it or see www.homecamera.com). Set it up at home, a set of glasses at work, a set in your briefcase (or whatever it is you happen to carry around), a set with the spouse or significant other, and hey presto, a real utility. 3D home monitoring with an easy-to-use and free service. Thats a story I can believe, thats an application I can buy into. Otherwise, it's nothing more than a novelty, a flash in the pan that'll die soon enough.