News Stories

CES: AMD’s stereo 3D graphics plan–‘3D for everyone’

1.4.2011

With 3DTVs becoming more popular and Nvidia having a multiyear head start in PC stereoscopic 3D, we were eager to find out what AMD had in store. While it’s not mainstream by any means, several laptop and desktop PCs now support 3D for both video (including 3D Blu-ray) and games–primarily through the use of Nvidia’s 3D Vision platform, which combines an Nvidia GPU with a compatible display and Nvidia-branded IR emitter and active-shutter 3D glasses.

If you expected AMD to respond with its own dedicated 3D platform, complete with branded 3D glasses, think again. The company is calling its approach AMD HD3D, and says it is “Stereo 3D for everyone,” and is “focused on enabling the 3D stereo ecosystem for the broadest choice and flexibility.”

That essentially means AMD is offering support for existing 3D standards, without producing its own 3D glasses/emitter hardware, leaving that up to OEMs to provide.

Laptops with the higher-end Radeon 6870 and 6850 GPUs will be able to play 3D Blu-ray discs, but you’ll have to have a compatible laptop with glasses, or output via HDMI to a 3DTV (and use the glasses that came with your TV). The entire new Radeon 6000M line supports 3D gaming, photos, and 2D-to-3D conversion, but again, you’ll need a laptop from a PC maker that bundles in the necessary glasses and other hardware. So far, compatible PCs include the HP Envy 17, MSI Wind Top AE2420, and Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d.

GoPro 3D kit available in January 2011

12.28.2010

Lots of people are waiting in line for the GoPro 3D kit showcased at NAB2010. GoPro Announces that the kit will be out in January for 90$.

The GoPro web site says : “Soon you’ll be able to combine two HD HERO cameras in one housing with a synchronization cable to shoot full 1080p 3D video. All 1080p HD HERO cameras will be compatible with the 3D HERO Expansion kit. Owning two 1080p HD HERO cameras makes more sense than ever before. Capture multiple angles at once using both as individual cameras or combine them with the 3D HERO Expansion Kit to shoot 1080p 3D video.” Check here.

Original story posted here: http://stereoscopynews.com/hotnews/hotnews-1/hotnews-2/1147-gopro-3d-kit-available-in-january-2011.html

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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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