Monday, February 11, 2013

Studios still throwing cash behind 3D, Fox invests big time in new 2D to 3D conversion system

I, Robot three dimensional only to begin many

There is a backlash against three dimensional recently. Television producers - LG aside - centered on not three dimensional only at that year's CES trade event in Vegas. Greater resolutions and wise TV abilities were of the greater priority to many and stereoscopic video viewing on Televisions appears to possess been consigned to simply another feature, transporting just as much marketing weight as other former, popular terminology like screen refresh rates and virtual multichannel audio.

The format continues to be thriving in movie theaters, however. It's getting bums on seats (for the American chums, which means "bottoms" not "hobos"). And three dimensional movies are stated to earn more money at box office than their 2D alternatives.

Therefore the galleries possess a dilemma: it can make financial sense to keep three dimensional movies for that cinema, but the marketplace for three dimensional in your home hasn't really removed not surprisingly. And manufacturer indifference does not help.

The solution, then, based on some, is to buy more content onto the shelves. The greater three dimensional Blu-sun rays available, the much more likely the adoption. And whether you accept the philosophy or otherwise, which includes 2D to three dimensional conversion of back-catalogue classics.

Ian Harvey, senior vice-leader of advanced technology at twentieth century Fox

It's a part of Fox's strategy certainly. Like a lot of its peers, the studio is while transforming a number of its most widely used movies to three dimensional. However, unlike rivals, it is also taken the bold step of missing motion picture release on some and transforming them for use at home only.

So included in the discharge of the Blu-ray three dimensional of I, Robot, its first such title, Fox asked Pocket-lint to twentieth century Fox Home Theatre at Fox Galleries in Century City, La, to satisfy they behind its conversion from Alex Proyas's 2D original to full stereoscopic three dimensional.

What sets this specific project aside from the large-screen three dimensional adaptations presently being carried out or tested - for example Fox's own Titanic and Independence Day - would be that the studio has made the decision to transform a "handful" of game titles to 1080p three dimensional only.

Read:?I, Robot three dimensional Special Edition Blu-ray three dimensional Gift Set pictures and hands-on

This resolution restriction means they'll be Blu-ray three dimensional exclusives. And, as the operation is not meant to create masters for motion picture release, it's cheaper and much more accessible. Or, a minimum of, which was the first idea - it had been a procedure that eventually forced both Fox and it is partner within the project, JVC, to produce all-new devoted equipment.

With I, Robot, the Fox team chose its first candidate to endure the?procedure?well. Watching through certain moments from the Blu-ray three dimensional edition you'd swear blind it's meant for the format to begin with. You will find a lot of shots that invoke visual depth it feels layered even just in 2D. One, by which robot Sonny advances via a smashed window for the camera, is right out the three dimensional action film guide. This is an ideal sequence as one example of the way the new part-automated JVC system works.

A tough roto is planned to the frames to begin

The JVC conversion tools do not require just as much rotoscoping of every scene as others, for the reason that it'll instantly render three-dimensional depth when only a couple of forward or back elements happen to be recognized. Which saves considerable time and, therefore, money.

"Exactly why we make use of the JVC tool is we don&rsquot need just as much roto just like others,Inch Pocket-lint was relayed through Ian Harvey, senior vice-leader of advanced technology at Fox.

"We consider the movie, we glance whatsoever the moments and that we choose the way we want the film to appear. Therefore we essentially produce a depth script. We create something which describes the way we want the film to appear.

"That depth script then states, &lsquoThese products have to be moved on, these products have to be moved back.&rsquo We must find out the products in every shot that will provide depth.?Therefore the first factor we all do within the example scene is we are saying Sonny will probably be forward, that room behind your window must be back. We have to identify Sonny and we have to find out the room, the opening.Inch

Read:?I, Robot three dimensional: US Robotics NS-5 pictures and hands-on

A tough roto map is produced for every frame, then individual, detailed roto masks for each one of the different elements. The JVC system then?positions the objects right into a depth map for the entire scene, instantly creating depth in other parts of the frame, and just what would normally take lots of guy hrs of manual jobs are carried out a smaller amount time.

You will find other technological helps that may cut manual work loads too.

"To produce the left eye and also the right eye, for three dimensional, the machine changes the masks to produce two images," Harvey described. "But the moment we change that mask, there's missing information. So we must create that information.

"There's many different ways to achieve that. Such as 'painting', where somebody literally needs to use and fresh paint each frame manually to produce that extra information. But one benefit from the JVC tools is the fact that their calculations provide us with an effective way of making that data that normally needs to be produced manually.

"If this will get lower towards the efficiency from the process - the manual servings of it - we reduce the quantity of roto and also the fresh paint, where somebody gets into and literally offers, are significantly reduced."

Note the distortion around Sonny's leg that should be by hand changed

That's not saying there is not an excuse for a manual operator or digital artist. Around the next shot from the sequence, Sonny advances from the building and that we see him from behind. Which is here the new computer can introduce?anomalies?that should be remedied manually.

Once the system fills within the information it thinks ought to be within the frame for every eye, it may introduce distortion. Within the sequence, it was evidenced with a shaky line through the lead character's knee. A painter is needed to use and connect might similar mistakes.

However, this can be a far faster process than initially needing to do all of it manually, same with a tolerable side-effect.

The advantage of using this type of product is apparent. Even though it cost a lot of money to setup the very first time, the studio set-up is now able to accustomed to convert other films in the fraction from the cost. And because the output is simply 1080p, alteration does not need to endure the gaze of the IMAX crowd.

That's not saying Fox will just churn through its entire library with regard to it. I was told that it'll be utilized only on appropriate movies, for example I, Robot - ones that lend themselves well towards the process and therefore are commercial enough to become a success in retail. That translates at the moment towards the aforementioned "handful".

Sadly, neither Harvey nor other senior professionals would let on which films are actually while following I, Robot 3D's lead. But thinking about the ultimate result, who's to state there is not a proper future for three dimensional in your home yet?

I, Robot three dimensional can be obtained on Blu-ray three dimensional now.

Tags:

Movies 3D Blu-ray 3D I Robot 20th Century Fox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galleries still tossing cash behind three dimensional, Fox spends in a major way in new 2D to three dimensional conversion system initially made an appearance on http://world wide web.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 11 February 2013 15:18:00 +0000

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