Conversion can fulfil the public’s appetite for 3D
Ray Snoddy’s article on 3D TV (MW 18 March) raised some very interesting points. Standards and lack of content are certainly problems but as Ray states, issues with standards tend to get sorted out over time – it’s the lack of content that’s an immediate issue.
One solution Ray didn’t mention is 2D to 3D conversion. Conversion is a great way of creating 3D content quickly and efficiently – which is what the broadcasters need – especially with the manufacturers introducing 3D screens to the market.
It’s clear there are still some conversion techniques, particularly the automated ones, that don’t produce a good result, but there are other viable alternatives.
Our artists, for example, have spent many years calculating 3D space for the post production and visual effects projects they’ve completed for 2D films, TV programmes and commercials. They’ve used these skills to develop View-D, a proprietary 2D-3D conversion process that sits as part of our stereoscopic 3D pipeline.
Some people may be sceptical about conversion, and consumers aren’t going to invest in 3D TV’s and 3D channels if they don’t feel the content is of the highest quality. But as they say the proof is in the pudding and when people see Clash of the Titans in 3D, they’ll see what conversion can do and the quality that they could have on their own TVs at home.
Martin Hobbs, Prime Focus
