News Stories

Sony’s Big (NAB Show) Reveal

3.18.2011

Part I [by David E. Williams, Digital Video]

[Excerpt] Finally, we were introduced to the twin-lens NXCAM Compact Size 3D Camcorder, which is priced at under $3,500 and features a bright, very effective 3.5” glasses-less 3D screen.

During dinner that evening, we were able to shoot with the Compact Size 3D Camcorder in a casual setting, and I found it to be very easy to use, with the 3D screen allowing the operator to easily set up effective stereo compositions sans glasses. The screen is bright and sharp and the stereo effect is quite remarkable.

The screen can be re-configured for 2D with the press of a button, and a switch on the back panel above its very small battery pack quickly reverts the camera itself into a capable 2D unit (using only the left lens/sensor). It also has a still-shot capability with flash.

One could easily see how this 3D cam could easily be used in conjunction with Sony’s other two interesting 3D camera solutions that will be at the NAB Show. Yes, two others — and more on them later.

See the rest of Part I of the article here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/114740

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Part II [by David E. Williams, Digital Video]

[Excerpt]

Working under the banner of “3D from the lens to the living room,” Sony will be bringing a comprehensive 3D production/post solution to the upcoming NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 9-11).

During the company’s recent  demo for U.S. trade press at their R&D-heavy Atsugi Technology Center located outside Tokyo, Sony executive project managers touted a number of interesting offerings.

First up were three new camera offerings: the twin-lens XDCAM EX 3D Shoulder Camcorder (designed for studio and doc shooting), compact NXCAM Handy Camcorder (intended for wedding and low-cost content creation; available details here; photo unavailable until March 23) and a side-by-side twin-cam rig showcasing the ease with which the 3D-link enabled PMW-F3 can be used in stereo shoots (primarily feature film and high-end television, alongside similar setups using the F35 or F23):

See the full story with many pictures here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/115354

Thor and Captain America to avenge in 3D on PS3, Xbox and (of course) 3DS

3.18.2011

[By: Joystiq, www.gamedaily.com]

Sega is showing the Thor and Captain America games at an event for both Marvel properties, and is also tweeting news snippets out of said event. First off, games based on both Marvel movies will be released on 3DS.

Second — and this dovetails nicely — the Xbox and PS3 versions will also be playable in 3D. No word yet about whether this will require a 3D television or if it’ll be something like TriOviz that works on everything. Thor is currently slated for a May 11 release, with Captain America following sometime this summer.

See the original post here: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/thor-and-captain-america-to-avenge-in-3d-on-ps3-xbox-and-of-course-3ds/

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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