London has seen the launch of the first Sony 4K digital cinema system this week, with the Apollo Cinema chain unveiling the ‘Art Cinealta’ 4K projection setup at its Piccadilly branch.

The move is significant as it brings unrivalled picture quality to the big screen, with it the ability to play 3D movies in the best possible way.

At the launch event there were a number of industry heads discussing 3D cinema technology and the stereoscopic 3D industry as a whole. Among them was film producer and politician David Putnam who called the advent of 3D digital cinemas in the UK nothing less than game changing.

“The growth in cinema and box-office revenue is remarkable,” Putnam explained.

“2008 saw £170 million in sales, the best since 2004, and 3D is part of this. There is every indication that when films are shown in 3D and 2D, 3D is favoured by the public four to one. I do believe that in every sense that digital and 3D projection in general is the game changer in cinema.”

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The 3D Film Factory has released the first production-ready, cost-effective 3D camera system – the 3D-BS Pro Rig. This 3D beam-splitter rig was specifically designed for use with the Red One cameras, as well as, other larger, broadcast quality cameras. Its durable, precise configuration was developed with the guidance of veteran stereographers and award-winning filmmakers to provide a viable, affordable alternative to high-priced 3D rigs costing ten times as much.

“Up until now, there’s only a few high-end facilities offering 3D rigs for Red One cameras and they’re very expensive”, said company president Karl Kozak. “So we set out to create a quality 3D Red system most filmmakers could afford. We’re interested in proliferating 3D production by making it accessible. The result was the 3D-BS Pro Rig, a great 3D rig for the Reds, that shoots incredible 3D at a fraction of the cost.”

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The first Imax 3D movie cinema in Wales (UK) is set to open in Cardiff Bay mid next month.

The screen specs are: 16.8m wide by 7.7m high. The new stereoscopic 3d cinema will offer crystal-clear 3D images and laser-aligned surround sound clear enough for the audience to pinpoint exactly where each sound is coming from (or so they say  -Ed).

Construction of the 262-seat theatre has already begun and is due to be finished by mid December in time for the silly season rush.Emma Johnstone, marketing and tenant liaison manager for the Red Dragon Centre, said..

“We’re very pleased to be the first venue in Cardiff to host the new Imax screen but to become the first in Wales is a delight for us.

“We’re expecting cinema goers and film fans to be travelling long distances to be among the first to watch the opening film screened on the Imax screen next month.”

The stereo 3D Imax screen will open in the Odeon at the Red Dragon Centre on December 16 (2009) with a screening of James Cameron’s ‘AVATAR’ stereoscopic 3D feature film.

Word on the street is that Sony has developed a new movie camera capable of shooting stereoscopic 3D images with a single lense.

The new single lense 3D movie camera removes the complicated set-up required for dual lense stereoscopic 3D camera systems currently used. When using a camera with two lenses, one for the right image and one for the left, the lenses must be carefully aligned so that the resulting images maintain the same degree of 3D perception, otherwise either the image looks crap or viewers can get headaches.

Sony says their new 3D camera takes a single image and separates it into right and left images that are then recorded by individual image sensors. The light is split using mirrors, not shutters, so the recorded image also appears smoother.

Sony will unveil their new 3D movie camera at next week’s Ceatec show in Tokyo.

Photos next page..       Read the rest of this entry »

RealD, the Stereoscopic 3D heavyweight showcased the first live 3D broadcast of the college football FedEx Bowl Championship Series during CES 2009.
They also provided the technology for a special preview of Dreamworks Monsters Vs. Aliens by setting up a theatre with RealD’s stereoscopic Cinema System. RealD provided the eyewear, screen and filtering technology.
On the CES floor, RealD is working with Sony, to provide the 3D technology for Sony’s ‘Electronics booth theater’, which is using a RealD Cinema System. RealD eyewear is also being used to demonstrate the 3D video capabilities on the new Sony BRAVIA(R) screens. RealD and Sony also fit the Paris Hotel and Casino’s ‘Theatre des Arts’, where an audience viewed the college football national championship game live in RealD 3D. The game was shown using RealD’s Cinema System specifically built for Sony’s new SXRD(R)4K stereoscopic projector.
Real D showcased their 3D technology on a range of different screens to demonstrate the future applications of their stereoscopic 3D technologies.

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Check out the amazing video above of 3D projections on buildings by french company easyweb.fr (I like their website also -Ed). The video is titled ‘Nouveau Showreel 2009′ and it would appear easyweb is a new media CGI animation come Stereoscopic Projection company.

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema has beat other 3D cinema tech providers in securing the deal to present ‘Egypt 3D: Secrets of the Mummies’, the companion 3D movie experience to the National Geographic touring exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.

“The King Tut exhibit combines entertainment and educational dynamics, delivering an exciting experience to the millions of visitors expected to attend the tour,” said John Carey from Dolby. “It’s an honour to have been selected by Giant Screen Films to present the movie Egypt 3D developed to accompany the exhibit.”

Dolby will utilize Dolby Digital Cinema servers and Dolby DMA8Plus Digital Media Adapters, bringing a realistic 3D visual and 5.1 surround sound experience to Egypt 3D.

Barco (projectors) was selected to provide its amazing DP-2000, Dolby 3D equipped projectors featuring Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology.

Disney is taking the 3D experience a step further by adding special live theatre effects. Disney enhances the theatre experience by mixing 3D projection with lasers, fog, streamers and special lighting effects. They call it 4D and have already rolled it out on two of the Disney Cruise Line ships (Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder). Initial plans only involve the showing of one 4D experience per trip, so one would assume when (if) 4D makes it to mainland cinema, movie tickets will be even more expensive (but I’m willing to pay). 3D on cruise ships could also cut costs, I can imagine 3D versions of big music stars performing on virtual stages. Disney Cruise Line’s Jim Urri, the Vice President of entertainment, said workers spent nearly nine months conceptualizing and installing the technology on the company’s two ocean liners. Expect it to take a little while before you see this at your local cinema. If you not the cruising type, I guess you could always go to Disney World? -Check out disneycruise.com for details

Just came across these interesting survey results done by TV display research firm Quixel Research on the acceptance of 3D technologies by consumers. The study called ‘3D Displays for Mainstream Consumers’ saw 750 HDTV owners interviewed about 3D technology. The best bits are:

3-D product awareness: 75 percent of respondents have had a 3-D experience and 73 percent said that they would recommend 3-D to friends or family.

• 3-D interest/purchasing: Close to half of those surveyed are interested in watching 3-D at home, with younger respondents, as well as those who had seen a 3-D movie recently, even more interested than the overall sample.

• 3-D timing: More than one-third of those surveyed expect 3-D TV within one to two years. Almost half cited that they have a high preference to receive 3-D content via their cable/satellite provider while Blu-ray Disc was their most preferred method.

• 3-D opinions: 3-D is not a gimmick or fad for most surveyed. Both positive and negative opinions are provided; respondents describe 3-D as an image or experience with depth, which is realistic and lifelike. It is an immersive and improved way to experience a movie or game.

• 3-D glasses: While glasses are a distraction, it was not enough to hinder consumers’ interest in a purchase. Several sub groups will pay more for a 3-D TV without glasses, but even a 3-D experience with glasses is something consumers are interested in for the home.

• 3-D movies and games: More than half of respondents agreed that 3-D makes movies and games more enjoyable, with gamers finding the 3-D experience slightly more enjoyable than the overall sample. Read the rest of this entry »

ACTIVE 3D & PASSIVE 3D - Giz 3D Explains 3D Technology (3D Movies Tech)

ACTIVE 3D:
In Active 3D display systems only a single projector is required (with a high refresh rate). The viewer wears special eyewear consisting of two IR-controlled LCD light shutters working in synchronization with the projector. When the projector displays the left eye image, the right eye shutter of the active stereo eyewear is closed, and vice versa. The single projector used must be capable of displaying at a refresh rate to alternate high enough that the viewer does not perceive a flicker between alternate frames.

PASSIVE 3D:
In Passive 3D display systems the viewer wears a pair of glasses containing two oppositely polarized filters -one for the left and one for the right eye. The light from each of two projected images is polarized and can only pass through its corresponding filter.
Projecting 3D (Passive):
With a single projector..
The projector alternates the left eye information with the right eye information at double refresh rate.
A ‘Z-screen’ in front of the projector’s lenses alternates the polarization of the projected image in such a way that the image of each eye will pass through the corresponding polarizing filter of the pair of passive stereo glasses.
With two projectors..
One projector displays the left eye information, the other displays the right eye information, both at standard refresh rate.
A polarizing filter mounted in the optical light path of each projector ensures that the correct information passes though its corresponding filter in the pair of passive stereo glasses.
This two-projector approach has the added value of providing higher brightness.

So you want to find a 3D Cinema near you? Well Currently there are three main competing 3D technology vendors. IMAX, REALD & Dolby Digital 3D:

CLICK HERE FOR THE DOLBY DIGITAL 3D THEATRE LOCATIONS

CLICK HERE FOR THE REALD THEATRE LOCATIONS

CLICK HERE FOR THE IMAX 3D THEATRE LOCATIONS

The above links will help you find your nearest 3D theatre / 3D movie cinema locations (worldwide).

An interesting history of 3D Movies as collated by Stereoscopic Cinematographer Peter Anderson.

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A few days ago I posted a review of how Dolby’s 3D technology works. It wouldn’t be right to not do the same courtesy to ‘RealD’ the current 3-D Cinema Technology Market Leader. RealD 3D like all 3D movies is shot using two cameras (giving a left and right perspective) but it is nothing like the old 3-D (with Red and Blue glasses). REAL D uses special polarized glasses so even color blind people can enjoy 3D. RealD also projects the frames of the movie at three times the usual rate, this allows a flicker free image that doesn’t cause a headache. Unlike Dolby 3D, RealD requires a special reflective silver screen to be installed in cinemas along with a special projector. REAL D corporate claims that “98% of digital 3D theaters are RealD theaters”, Find your local REALD Cinema using our 3D Cinema Locator Page.

CLICK THE BELOW IMAGE TO ENLARGE:

RED Digital Cinema have been getting a lot of media attention lately with their range of super high resolution cameras. But for us 3D fans the great news is their cameras have the capabilty of shooting mega high quality 3D movies. RED call their 3D format ‘R3D’ and the footage can be edited in RED’s proprietry software apps ‘REDCINE’ & ‘RED Alert’. Alternatively ‘Scratch’ and ‘Final Cut Pro’ (6.02 or above) are also able to edit the native RAW R3D. Other than the fact that these cameras shoot from 3K right up to 28K (261 megapixels @ 25 fps), they are extremely reasonably priced (considering the technology used). Several movies have previously been shot using previous models of RED 3D cameras and the results are impressive but the news coming from RED PR suggest this is only the tip of the iceberg (in terms of 3D technology) and RED has some big plans for 3D cinema technology in the future. Watch this space!

I just came across this great video from CNN’s ‘The Screening Room’. It explains 3D cinema technology and how to create a 3D movie effect. Great interviews with many leading 3D experts including Dolby 3D Digital Cinema.

While there are many competing vendors offering 3D technology solutions to cinemas, one option that seems to be snowballing in popularity lately is the Dolby™ 3D Digital Cinema technologies. With a cinema tech power house like Dolby™ behind the push, this technology is giving ‘Real D’ (the market leader) some serious competition. Unlike most other 3D technologies, Dolby™ 3D version utilises the same white screen that standard 2D movies use (many others require a silver screen). Also, while other 3D technologies require two projectors, Dolby™ 3D use just one standard 2D projector (like what cinemas are already using). The way it works is by flashing a frame with a left eye perspective, then right, then left and so on. It switches between these two perspectives at 144 times per second (super fast) and the result is your brain is fooled into seeing a 3D perspective. Dolby™ 3D Digital Cinema was the technology employed during the 2007 screening of Beowulf and Meet the Robinsons. A great feature of the Dolby™ 3D is that both 2D and 3D films can be projected so cinema owners are not forced to invest in two technologies for each theatre. Unfortunately, the technology still requires the use of 3D glasses. Luckily the glasses are passive glasses and do not require batteries or power to operate. With more and more cinemas rolling out Dolby 3D everyday REALD (the market leader) has some competiton.

USE OUR GLOBAL 3D THEATRE LOCATOR PAGE TO FIND YOUR NEAREST 3D CINEMA