Dzignlight Studios 3-D Stereoscopic Production and 3D Computer Animation

<BODY> Founded in 1995, Dzignlight Studios provides visual effects and 3D computer animation solutions for film, broadcast television, medical visualization, and stereoscopic 4D location-based entertainment ride films. Our creative and talented staff uses high-end Silicon Graphics (SGI) hardware and specialized graphics software to bring the visual power of digital special effects and computer animation to your production project.<br><br> "Beautiful communication" is the hallmark of Dzignlight Studios. <br> <a href="about.shtml">about us</a><br> <a href="contact.shtml">contact us</a><br> <a href="ourwork.shtml">our work</a><br> <a href="press.shtml">press</a><br> <a href="dz_stereoscopic.shtml">stereoscopic production and conversion</a><br> <font size="+2"><b>Stereoscopic Production at Dzignlight Studios</b></font><br> <table width=800 cellpadding=18><tr><td valign=top> <center><b>What is Stereoscopic?</b></center> <font face="Verdana" size=-1><br> Stereoscopic media, when displayed and viewed correctly, provides the visual illusion of physical depth to a three-dimensional object or scene while using a flat screen or projection surface. To display stereoscopic media, two slightly different images are displayed; one image is displayed exclusively to the left eye, and the other image is displayed exclusively to the right eye. If done correctly, the differences between these two images are interpreted by the brain and the viewer perceives the displayed media in three-dimensions in front of and behind a flat surface, when the surface itself is only two dimensions.<br><br></font> <center><b>What do we do?</b></center> <font face="Verdana" size=-1><br> Dzignlight Studios creates stereoscopic animation and visual effects (VFX) for stereoscopic feature films, 4D ride films, and stereoscopic HD video. We also do digital stereoscopic conversion of monoscopic (2D, single camera) footage -- a painstaking process that is more of an art than a science. We also shoot S3D using high-end beamsplitter mirror rigs, stereoscopic time-lapse media, S3D product shots, and high-speed Phantom 3D production. Our first company stereoscopic project was completed in 1999. </font> <img src="images/clear.gif" width=400 height=1> </td> <td valign=top> <center><b>How is it displayed?</b></center> <font face="Verdana" size=-1><br> Though the concept of stereo cinematography is over 80 years old, the technology to view stereoscopic films and animations has been changing rapidly in recent years. There have been many different display systems developed for presenting stereoscopic media. They all use their own method of presenting separate sources to each eye. Each display system has pros and cons which should be evaluated based on the audience requirements. <i>We have outlined many of the common delivery methods at the bottom of this page.</i><br><br> Dzignlight Studios specializes in having the resources and ability to produce media for any stereoscopic display system, even extremely new or custom systems, because we understand stereoscopic production and we can meet any set of specifications.<br><br> Dzignlight Studios has the experience and the tools to create comfortable, easy-to-watch stereoscopic media to enhance any audience experience!<br> </font> <img src="images/clear.gif" width=400 height=1> </td></tr></table> Stereoscopic animation is sometimes called stereoptic animation or stereoptical animation, although this is a misnomer. Stereoscopic 3-D and stereoscopic conversion are two more good words for this page. Sometimes the name 3-D animation gets confused with actual stereoscopic CGI, although this is rare. 4D films are produced for amusement park rides. We produce stereoscopic product shots for commercials, and we have done high speed photography in stereo. <table width=400><tr><td colspan=2> <center> <font size="+2"><b>Our Stereoscopic Demo Reel</b></font><br> </center><br> <font face="Verdana" size=-1> Our stereoscopic demo reel was edited at HD resolution for <a target="NEW" href="http://www.reald.com/">Real-D™</a> display technology and is in full color. Specialized viewing technology is required to see it in its full glory. We can provide sources for that technology, or in special cases, a stereoscopic demonstration can be scheduled here at our studios.<br><br> In lieu of a personal demonstration, two lower-resolution versions of the reel are available online below. Remember that our reel was designed to be viewed on screens larger than 7 feet (larger than 2 meters) wide, so if you are viewing this on a smaller screen, you can expect the stereo effect to be decreased proportionally.<br><br> </td></tr> <tr><td valign=top align=center> <a href="animations/Dzignlight_stereo_demo_reel_800.wmv"><font size="+1"> <b>Demo Reel<br>Separated Stereo version<br></font>(over-under)</b><br> <img src="images/reel_stereo_separated.jpg"></a><br> This full-color 800x900 file was designed to be <br>viewed using shutter-glasses. It can be viewed using Peter Wimmer’s “<a target="NEW" href="http://www.3dtv.at/">Stereoscopic Player</a>”<br> or by using a <a target="NEW" href="http://www.depthq.com/">DepthQ™</a> projection system.<br><br> A 1280x1440 version is available <a href="animations/Dzignlight_stereo_demo_reel.wmv">here</a>. </td> <td valign=top align=center> <a target="NEW" href="stereo_reel.html" onClick="wopen('stereo_reel.html', 'NEW', 1300, 790); return false;"><font size="+1"><b>Demo Reel<br>Anaglyph Stereo version<br></font>(red-cyan glasses)</b> <img src="images/reel_stereo_anaglyph.jpg"></a><br> Please note that many colors have been distorted and/or entirely removed during the anaglyph conversion process. For the best viewing experience, please use<br> <b>red-cyan</b> glasses with the red lens over the left eye.<br><br> (Please note that cyan is neither blue nor green)<br> (if the above <a target="NEW" href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/">Quicktime</a> isn't working, click <a target="NEW" href="stereo_reel_sorenson.html" onClick="wopen('stereo_reel_sorenson.html', 'NEW', 1300, 790); return false;">here</a> instead)<br><br><br> </font> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="DDDDDD"> <i>Unfortunately, our stereoscopic demo does not include examples of our stereoscopic conversion process, as most of our 3D conversion work has been on shots from an upcoming feature film and cannot be released yet.<br> However, we can say that according to sources at Paramount Pictures and Real-D, <br>"even with exceptionally difficult shots", our stereoscopic conversions "are accurate and comfortable" to watch.</i> </td></tr> </table> <br><br><br> <font size="+2"><b>Common Stereoscopic Display Methods</b></font><br><br> <table border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=2 width=1000> <tr> <td bgcolor="333333"><font color="FFFFFF" size="+1">Stereoscopic<br>Display Type<br><img src="images/clear.gif" width=90 height=1></td> <td bgcolor="333333"><font color="FFFFFF" size="+1">Description<br> <img src="images/clear.gif" width=240 height=1></td> <td bgcolor="333333"><font color="FFFFFF" size="+1">Pros<br> <img src="images/clear.gif" width=240 height=1></td> <td bgcolor="333333"><font color="FFFFFF" size="+1">Cons<br> <img src="images/clear.gif" width=240 height=1></td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><img src="images/stereo_polarized.jpg"><br><b>Polarized</b><br> (linear or circular polarization)</td> <td>Left-eye and right-eye projectors send two different images to the same screen. Projectors have light-polarizing filters placed in front of each objective lens which correspond to the filters on the inexpensive glasses the audience wears.</td> <td>Uses inexpensive “take-away” glasses, and is very useful for large groups of people. Most venue/ride films and feature films are displayed using this technology.<br><br> Dzignlight Studios has produced media for dual-projector, linear-polarization systems, as well as for the <a target="NEW" href="http://www.reald.com/">Real-D™</a> single-projector circular-polarization systems.</td> <td>Specialized projector setup required, dual projector setups must be aligned correctly, and specialized reflective projection screens must be used regardless. Specialized media playback hardware is needed.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><img src="images/stereo_shutter.gif"><br><b>Shutter Glasses</b></td> <td>Left-eye and right-eye images are alternated rapidly on a single screen at speeds of up to 120 times per second, and the viewer wears electronic LCD glasses which are synchronized to the screen/projector and only show the left and right images to the appropriate eye.</td> <td>A special screen is not needed. Useful for small groups of people in small spaces. Projector and monitor setups are inexpensive and done with off-the-shelf hardware.</td> <td>Shutter glasses are expensive, costing upwards of $100 each, and specialized media playback hardware is needed.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><img src="images/stereo_i-glasses.jpg"><br><b>Head Mounted Display/I-glasses</b></td> <td>Left-eye and right eye images are displayed directly to each eye using separate screens placed in front of each eye.</td> <td>Although the display technology is specialized, no specialized playback hardware is needed for interlaced systems, and media playback can be done from any consumer DVD player or other video source.</td> <td>The head mounted displays are expensive, costing upwards of $400 each. Only one user can view the media at a time.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><img src="images/stereo_anaglyph_paper.jpg"><br> <img src="images/stereo_anaglyph.jpg"><br><b>Anaglyph</b><br>(red-cyan)</td> <td>Left-eye and right-eye images are tinted red and cyan, then superimposed, and the viewer wears red and cyan glasses which filter out the opposite-colored image and display the correct image to each eye.</td> <td>Anaglyph media can be (more or less) viewed on any color display, so no specialized media playback or specialized display hardware is needed. <i>This makes anaglyph, done correctly, the most appropriate solution for broadcast.</i><br><br> The glasses are very inexpensive and usually made of cardstock, which means they can be included with publications or products easily, and printed with logos or other advertisements at low cost.</td> <td>Color reproduction, if any, is poor.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><b>Lenticular</b></td> <td>A plastic screen with small vertical lenses is aligned over a screen displaying horizontally-interlaced media, refracting the media so that different images are seen from different angles.</td> <td>Viewer does not need to wear glasses.</td> <td>Requires specialized display hardware. Has several to many zones in the viewing area where the stereoscopic effect is lost.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=center><b>Side-by-Side</b></td> <td>This is a manual version of a head-mounted display. The left-eye and right-eye images are displayed side by side. The viewer aligns the images one over the other manually by either crossing or relaxing his/her eyes.</td> <td>Viewer does not need to wear glasses, although some ancient lens systems were developed to simplify the problem of manually aligning the images.</td> <td>Most viewers do not have the patience for this kind of stereoscopic display, and some find it extremely difficult to achieve satisfactory results.</td> </tr> </td></tr></table> Don't forget <a href="http://www.atlantafreeflight.com/">Atlanta Freeflight</a><br>  <script type='text/javascript' src='https://count.carrierzone.com/app/count_server/count.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> </script>  </BODY>