[by Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter]

The “Avatar” director and his producing partner are exploring shooting and projecting digital movies at a higher frame rate in the hopes of achieving brighter images and improved 3D.

James Cameron and his producing partner Jon Landau are exploring shooting and projecting digital movies at a higher frame rate than the standard 24 frames per second. By moving to rates of 48 or 60 frames per second, they hope to achieve brighter images and improved 3D

Cameron is slated to offer a presentation on the subject Thursday at CinemaCom in Los Vegas, and Landau spoke about the issue, which is becoming a hot topic, at a Christie customer event at the confab Tuesday.

“It improves (3D),” Landau said. “An artifact in 3D (creates) strobing that goes away at higher frame rates. (Strobing) is more noticeable in 3D (than 2D).”

Landau suggested that higher frame rates also means that the shutter is closed for less time, resulting in a brighter image. That is a topic that is particularly noteworthy in 3D, as the glasses can reduce the amount of light that the viewer sees.

Also on quality issues, he commented: “We are taking (currently used) 24 frames per second to 30 for all ancillary markets. You are degrading the master image to do that.”

These higher frame rates are not a common feature in digital cinema technology today, though Landau told The Hollywood Reporter that development is being explored. “We are working with (projector) companies like Christie, we are working with server companies, we are really exploring how to do it,” Landau said.

Landau related that the capabilities are already available in today’s digital cameras. “We have done tests ourselves with different digital cameras and proven that they can all shoot at the higher frame rates. They all could, but they alway utilize it for slow motion. They will record something at 48 or 60 frames per second, but when they play it back at 24, they are doing slow motion. Now we want to do it, but play it back at those same rates.”

He said of higher frame rates: “We think it will make a big difference to the audience experience — not just for 3D movies, but for all movies.”

Landau was introduced at the reception with a string of credits including Titanic, Avatar and “soon Avatar 2 and 3.”

“Soon is a relative term,” Landau responded, as the audience chuckled.

Titanic will be released in 3D next year, marking 100 years since the ship’s voyage.

“We are working with a number of different vendors,” Landau said of the Titanic conversion.

He emphasized the importance of the director’s involvement in the process: “Jim is a part of the process. You have to engage the filmmaker,” he said.

On the general topic of 2D-to-3D conversion, Landau said: “We don’t believe in (converting) except with library titles.”

He said of moviemaking: “We have to make good products that captivate the audience, and bring innovation into our products. … Innovation is tricky; you can’t be afraid to fail.”

See the original post here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/avatar-producer-jon-landau-addresses-172438

DSC Labs, an eco-friendly developer of innovative products for image quality improvement, is pleased to introduce its new 3D camera test chart — the 3-DZ. Initially announced as the prototype “Pilot 3D Chart,” the 3-DZ is engineered to quickly pinpoint imprecision in subjective and inefficient setup procedures, resulting in the possible reduction of “3D headaches.” “3D viewing can be an exciting and pleasurable experience when cameras and projection systems are set up accurately. However, misaligned rigs could be responsible not only for contributing to health issues, but also for giving 3D a bad image,” comments DSC Labs President David Corley. “While DSC’s ChromaDuMonde and other charts enable precision alignment of color, grayscale and resolution in the X/Y coordinates, the 3-DZ adds the missing third, or Z, dimension that is so vital in stereo imaging. We believe that setting up accurately with the 3-DZ at the start of each scene could save hours in reshoots and salvaging scenes in post. It could be the ‘ounce of prevention’ that provides a ‘pound of cure.'”

The 3-DZ consists of five LED lights with adjustable brightness for daylight and studio settings to help simplify the adjustment of virtually any 3D rig. The four corner LEDs provide basic frame alignment and “The Schnoz,” a central, adjustable LED, is used to set interocular distance and convergence. Horizontal and vertical indices in 100th (image width) increments also assist in precise and repeatable alignment. “The Schnoz” is adjustable from chart plane to 305 mm (12″) in front of the chart surface, and the 3-DZ’s graduated set-square, along with X/Y axis adjustment, helps ensure that “The Schnoz’s” LED is centered and positioned at the desired distance in the Z plane.

3-DZ Features

Developed through numerous hours of research, testing and collaboration with industry engineers and DP’s, the 3-DZ includes:

• DSC’s easy-to-use “put ’em in the boxes” color chips

• 11-step patented crossed grayscale for efficient gamma adjustment

• Corner resolution wedges up to 800 LLPH

• Black/white horizontal scale to simplify setting interocular and convergence

• “The Schnoz,” a central three-axis adjustable LED, to be used in conjunction with B/W scale

• Corner LEDs adjustable to daylight and studio brightness levels

• Quadrant markers for immediate identification of flipped images

• Central circular “zoom ring” to assist with camera matching

Availability and Pricing

The 3-DZ will be on display at NAB (April 11–14). Attendees will be able to see its unique capabilities demonstrated at the DSC booth (C10215).

For more information about DSC Labs, please visit: www.dsclabs.com.

DSC Labs has been dedicated to image integrity in visual communications for more than 48 years. The company’s pioneering engineering achievements include patented image processes and the development of standardized industry-wide test patterns, earning DSC the Fuji Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to television. Using ground source heat/cool technology at the lab, DSC is known for its environmentally friendly production processes and materials, and whenever possible, for designing recyclable products. “Better Images through Research” articulates the company’s continuing commitment to making innovative products for image quality improvement.

See the original post here: http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/headlines/New-Camera-3D-Test-Chart-from-DSC-Labs-Sets-to-Reduce-3D-Headaches_13041.html