News Stories

BMW X3 uses 3D commercial technology developed by emotion3D

3.31.2011

emotion3D provides BMW with a high-quality service for retargeting existing stereoscopic 3D content for viewing on glasses-free 3D screens. The BMW X3 is the first automotive commercial to use the technology.

[by Frank Sherosky, www.torquenews.com]

emotion3d, a Viennese start-up in Austria, won the tender for the prestigious BMW deal with an efficient software solution for editing 3D films.

3D commercials is now added as one of many next waves in automotive marketing and communication.

Using the software solution, BMW literally enabled emotion3D to land its first commercial success by editing its new commercial for the BMW X3.

At the core is a powerful software engine that automatically generates depth maps from stereo 3D material. Content creators can then edit in the 3rd dimension and render virtual cameras.

The revolutionary tools in emotion3D’s Stereoscopic Suite X1, for example, facilitate compositing shot material, editing the depth script, and finishing for different targets (e.g. cinema, home theater, laptops and glasses-free 3D displays).

Benefits

1. Depth manipulation: Perform depth grading, comfort zone control, continuity across scene cuts, compression & expansion of the depth range. Stretch, clamp and scale effortlessly.

2. Finishing for target display: Re-render your shot content with the correct perspectives.

3. “Fix it in post”: Adjust interocular and convergence independently.

4. Depth keying: Use powerful depth-based segmentation in your post.

Expect More 3D Commercials from Automotive?

The 3D commercial will be shown by BMW at numerous car dealerships around the world and in a few selected showrooms in auto stereoscopy. This is the generic name for three-dimensional imaging technology that negates the use of special glasses and similar headgear.

Question is, will this start a new trend in automotive marketing?

emotion3D edited the BMW X3 commercial in a highly qualitative, inexpensive and efficient way, creating these 3D displays. As a result, viewers are taken into a new, groundbreaking dimension of 3D entertainment and are offered a variety of different perspectives.

emotion3D has been funded and supported by INiTS Universitäres Gründerservice Wien GmbH. This consulting service of the Centre for Innovation and Technology of the City of Vienna, the University of Vienna and the Vienna University of Technology supports and advises graduates, employees and students at universities and universities of applied sciences on putting their business ideas into practice and founding start-ups.

About the Author: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks and writes articles, books and ebooks via authorfrank.com, but may be contacted here by email: FrankS@TorqueNews.com

See the original post here: http://www.torquenews.com/119/bmw-x3-uses-3d-commercial-technology-developed-emotion3d

 

XPAND 3D Introduces 3D Plug-In for Microsoft PowerPoint

3.31.2011

[Press Release]

New Application Gives Users Opportunity To Create Their Own Interactive 3D Content to Show in Conference Rooms and XPAND 3D Cinemas

In a development that allows anyone to create interactive 3D content, XPAND 3D today introduced its new PowerPoint 3D plug-in, an application that lets users easily add 3D images, graphics and objects to PowerPoint presentations.

“Our new plug-in literally brings a new dimension to PowerPoint,” said Ami Dror, Chief Strategy Officer of XPAND 3D. “We have proven in various case studies that 3D improves viewer retention by more than 30 percent. 3D PowerPoint presentations are now more interesting and deliver much more impact.”

The XPAND PowerPoint application is a simple, intuitive way to create 3D content. It allows users to set the amount of depth to every element in a slideshow and to embed 3D objects like 3D movies, 3D pictures and graphics. The plug-in is compatible with MS Office 2010, 32-bit or 64-bit.

The 3D content can be viewed on a computer, compatible 3D TV or a video projector that supports HDMI 1.4 3D formats, using XPAND Universal 3D glasses.

“The XPAND PowerPoint application is ideal for business applications, event companies and AV rental companies looking to broaden their range of services, and for cinemas that host these events. In addition, this is perfect for education, as it enables students to design 3D projects and educators to design 3D lessons,” Dror added.

The full version of the XPAND PowerPoint 3D plug-in is available at the XPAND website, www.xpand.me

See the original press release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110329006214/en/XPAND-3D-Introduces-3D-Plug-In-Microsoft-PowerPoint

 

 

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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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