Avatar 3D content from Modo?

[brianod]

This is what the glasses look like for an Imax3D showing of Avatar. They seem to be of the Left/Right Circular Polarizing type from RealD. I read that these cost about 65 cents to manufacture. The Imax theater was trying to get customers to turn them back in where I guess they would be sterilized and used again.

Is it possible that Avatar is being released in more than one type of 3D projection? Has anyone seen Avatar in 3D that was not an Imax theater? If so, can you post a picture of the glasses used?

It does appear that considerable hardware is needed to project in RealD to prevent flicker but it still seems that we could generate some interesting polarized stills in Modo.

It also appears that there's not a lot of interest in this thread so I won't beat it to death but while this technology is interesting, I don't see this as the future of filmmaking, just for certain special effects films. While Avatar was an amazing experience that's what it felt like, an experience rather than a movie. An hour could have easily been edited out of the picture and I think the story would have been better told. Just my opinion.

[LNT]

...while this technology is interesting, I don't see this as the future of filmmaking, just for certain special effects films. While Avatar was an amazing experience that's what it felt like, an experience rather than a movie...

no cg or cg/live action movie has a particularly strong story,and none of them has any real depth...they're just an expensive form of cheap entertainment,ironically

you can go and see Up In The Air (if you havent) or High Life,and realise how depth of characters can be achieved with just a few words of dialogue,and no fx at all

on the other hand,technology itself is bound to become obsolete rather quickly,be it anaglyph,RealD or any other form of 3D...anyways,in 10 years time it will all look pretty much like Polar Express does now,and in 50 years time Once Upon a Time In The West will still be a classic,whilst,I suspect,Avatar probably won't

[brianod]

I did some more looking online and it appears that RealD is the only form of 3D showing Avatar, although the design and size of the glasses given out may vary.

Here’s what Wiki has to say about RealD technology:

RealD 3D cinema technology uses circularly polarized light to produce stereoscopic images. Circular polarization differs from linear polarization in that viewers are able to tilt their head and look about the theater naturally with no loss of 3D perception whereas linear polarization requires viewers to keep their head within a certain degree of tilt for effective 3D perception; otherwise they may see double or darkened images.
The projector alternately projects the right-eye frame and left-eye frame 144 times per second, and circularly polarizes these frames, clockwise for the right eye and counterclockwise for the left eye. A push-pull electro-optical modulator called a ZScreen is placed immediately in front of the projector lens to switch polarization. The audience wears recyclable circularly polarized glasses to make sure each eye sees only "its own" picture, even if the head is tilted. In RealD Cinema, each frame is projected three times to reduce flicker, a system called triple flash. The source video is usually only (2x) 24 frames per second (which can result in a subtle ghosting and stuttering on horizontal camera movements). A silver screen is used to keep the light polarized and to reflect back as much light as possible to counter polarization losses. The result is a 3D picture that seems to extend behind and in front of the screen itself.

So, I’m guessing if we wanted to make RealD type images in Modo or Maya we would need a post effect to polarize each image (right, left) so the effect would be similar when wearing the glasses. Perhaps there is a After Effects type plug in that would do this (or any other post software package).

While I think 3D is a fad it’s not the first time around. We went through this in the 50’s and it didn’t last more than a few years. I think 3D will arrive and stay around when the wearing of the glasses is eliminated, perhaps using 2 projectors and a special screen.

As for Mr. Cameron, I am continually amazed at his rolling of the dice on these 2 hugely expensive gambles, Titanic and Avatar, both of which are paying off nicely. His ego may be large but he backs it up. I do agree that Avatar will not be remembered as a classic in years to come. Mr. Cameron reminds me of Stanley Kubrick who made fewer and fewer movies as he got older. If you only make a movie every decade or so it limits your legacy. Clint Eastwood is in his 70’s and he is a very prolific and high quality filmmaker.

[geoffb]

I actually just read an article in the newspaper today about this.

They said that ESPN is beginning to broadcast in 3D. And a lot of other stuff. But the gist is that you can't view 3D unless you have a 3D TV or Monitor. I do know that there are 3D LCDs out there, but I don't know why you'd buy one. Way over priced at this point, IMHO.

But unfortunately, RealD thing only works if you have a screen that projects the correct image...and I don't think that a regular LCD will work even if you render it out in Modo. Anyone else know any more than me?

[vreb]

It certainly all sounds interesting stuff, but personally I think we are way off having any regular use for it just yet.

I will definitely keep my eye on it though, just in case!

vreb

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