Re: [AMIA-L] IMAX 3-D Conversion

[Dinosaur Interplanetary Gazette <dinosaur@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are actually several processes for accomplishing this, and it was
discussed at some length in this list last year in the wake of the
ShoWest presentation of the Star Wars material which is, as we putter
about here, being converted into S3D by InThree.  (They call it
"dimensionalization." Cute.)

http://www.worldenteractive.com/lucas.htm

This Superman announcement is deceptive in it's claim to
"firstness" because "Chicken Little" was also
converted from flat to stereoscopic S3D, but not from live-action
material and not using the patented IMAX 3D process which, I'm assuming
is a variation on IMAX's proprietary digitalization process (IMAX
DMR).

There is, for those not obsessed with this topic, a legal dispute between
In-Three and IMAX over the bone fides of this S3D conversion
process, so the processes are probably nearly identical with the main
difference being one of resolution (and interpolation of pixels)
necessary for the two dramatically different screen sizes. In-Three, so
far, is only focussed on "normal" screens.

The conversion process involves both computer scanning and manual work.
It's proprietary, so not all the details are known, but it resembles in
principal the process of converting black and white to color in terms of
pattern and density recognition combined with the type of CG processing
involved in "wire removal."  Nonetheless, some
considerable amount of hand-work is involved, and it's no where near
automatic.

In Three has a website, too, which I notice has just been upgraded. 
www.in-three.com
  You can read as much as they want you to know there.

Let me also define what I mean by S3D.

The graphics world hijacked the term 3D or 3-D (three-dimensions) to
indicated "rendered" or rounded computer graphic images as
contrasted with flat, two-dimensional ones (2D or 2-D).  In 1952,
the term 3D would have only meant one thing: "House of Wax" and
stuff being thrown out of the screen.  Today, it's not so.

What we're obviously talking about here is Stereoscopic (binocular)
three-dimensional images (ala View Master). Since the term 3D has been so
compromised by modern usage, I've started to use S3D to indicate 
STEREOSCOPIC 3D as contrasted with 3D which means "rounded
images" to any kid with some kind of CG software and also to pros
who use MAYA or HOUDINI or the flavor-of-the-month software.

I think it's sort of catchy, but we'll see how many people start to copy
me.


At 06:37 PM 3/30/2006, you wrote:

> "LOS ANGELES, CA, March 30
> /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation  
> and Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that Superman Returns, 
> directed by Bryan Singer, will become the world's first live-action 
> Hollywood feature to be converted from 2D to IMAX® 3D. IMAX  
> Corporation will use its proprietary 2D to 3D conversion technology 
> to convert approximately 20 minutes of the film into An IMAX 3D 
> Experience®, the most immersive cinematic 3D in the world."
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> This came as a surprise to me, as I had no idea there was a process 
> for turning existing 2-D motion pictures into a 3-D version. 
> Can  
> anyone say anything about the underlying concept / process for
> doing  
> this?
>
> Albert
> Make Mine Marvel!
> (except Batman is cool)

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