imcube showcasing new 3D camera for glasses free 3D content

imcube to showcase new 3D camera designed for glasses free 3D content

While existing 3D content can be converted to a multi-view format, imcube will be showcasing a new camera that will generate reliable depth maps on set.

The Trifocal Depth Capture system (pictured above) has been created by researchers at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute and 2D to 3D specialists imcube, which will be showcased at NAB.

During post-production, depth maps are estimated allowing to render additional virtual views with an individual virtual camera baseline optimally adjusted for the planned screening scenario (cinema, TV or mobile devices). This is required to display 3D content on existing lenticular displays which require between 5 (Tridelity) and 28 viewpoints (Dimenco) rather than the 2 required for glasses required 3D displays.

The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute offer the captured data to imcube who utilise the extra information to adjust and improve the automatically estimated depth maps. When rendering virtual stereo or multi-views from the center camera, holes occur due to shifting pixels differently according to their depth information. These holes can be filled with the additional information from the satellite cameras.

imcube‘s Managing Director Dr. Sebastian Knorr says, “When we saw the results of HHI’s trifocal depth capture, we knew that this is the method of capture for the future. We also knew that the automati¬cally estimated depth maps are not perfect but we have the tools to improve them. Thus, we started to develop a software framework and workflow that minimizes the manual workload of rotoscoping, depth assignment and in-painting which normally occurs in a conventional 2D-to-3D conversion process.”

He continued to say “Native S3D productions still have to deal with binocular rivalry issues between the left and right eye views that need to be fixed in post. Furthermore, in a native S3D production, the optimal stereo basis needs to be determined directly on set and it is hard to adjust in post-production. Thus, this new workflow avoids the negative aspects of native 3D shooting and reduces the labour-intensive work of 2D-to- 3D conversion. It’s fantastic to work together with HHI on technologies of the future. And it’s great that we are neighbours which simplifies the knowledge transfer between the researchers dramatically.”

3D Focus recently reported that imcube have created a new 2D to 3D television conversion tool designed for lower cost television and mobile productions.

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