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VR21's Tri-Vision(TM) auto stereoscopic
Displays
Technology
1. How does glasses-free 3D-viewing work?
2. Why are multiple views required?
3. Can I move in front of the screen?
4. Can several observers see a spatial image simultaneously?
Which viewing angle is preferred?
5. Which display sizes are available?
Applications
6. What can I use the VR21(TM) Tri-Vision(TM) 3D-displays
for?
7. What are the benefits when using VR21(TM) Tri-Vision(TM)
3D-displays in the field of marketing?
8. What can be shown on VR21(TM) Tri-Vision(TM)
3D-displays?
Hardware requirements
Display control
9. How are Tri-Vision(TM) 3D-displays
controlled?
10. Do Tri-Vision(TM)
3D-displays support any computer system?
11. Is there any recommended system configuration?
12. Does 3D-video footage require a special hardware?
Compatibility
13. Can I use VR21(TM) Tri-Vision(TM)
3D-displays as conventional computer monitors?
14. Can I use the Tri-Vision(TM)
3D Display as a conventional 2D-video monitor?
15. Can any DVD-footage immediately be seen in 3D
when displaying it on a Tri-Vision(TM)
3D-display?
Software
Compatibility
16. Can I use any 3D-application in conjunction with
the Tri-Vision(TM)3D-displays?
17. Which VR21(TM) software is available?
18. Can individual software be adapted?
The plugins for 3D Studio MAX
19. What's the purpose of the plugin
for 3D Studio MAX?
20. What's the difference between
the standard and the professional version?
21. How does the plugin process
my scene?
More3D-DirectX-Driver
22. What's the purpose of the
More3D-driver?
23. What are the More3D-driver's
system requirements?
24. Which applications can
be used in combination with the driver?
25. Can I use OpenGL-applications,
too?
VR21(TM) Video Package
26. What's the so called Pulfrich mode?
27. What are the requirements
for real time display of real objects (turn table)?
28. Which video compression can
be used?
Adaptation of individual software
29. How can I adapt my individual
software to achieve compatibility to Tri-Vision(TM)
3D-displays?
Hints for Content Creators
Image Formats
30. Is it possible to compress 3D
images?
31. Can I use the common JPS file
format for stereo images?
Image contents
32. How should I design impressive
3D images?
33. How should I adjust the camera
angle and the fixpoint?
34. What happens if an object cuts
the screen border?
35. How can I determinate if the
image is shown correctly or pseudoscopic?
36. What is better, eight view images
or color image + depth map?
Videos basing on eight perspective views
37. At which resolutions should
I create an Tri-Vision(TM) video
file?
38. Which compression codec should
I choose?
39. Is it a problem if I change
the pixel aspect ratio in the Tri-Vision(TM)
file?
Videos basing on color image + depth map
40. How can I simplify and improve
the manual depth map creation for 2D videos?
Video employing a horizontal camera movement (Pulfrich mode)
41. How do I create videos with
a Pulfrich-mode characteristic?
42. How can I playback a steady
cam shot at best visual results?
43. Are there some more recommendations
regarding the pulfrich file creation?
Video cut / arrangement
44. Can I cut or arrange Tri-Vision(TM)
videos?
45. How can I arrange perspective
image sequences in an efficient way?
46. How do I integrate a pulfrich
sequence into an AfterEffects project?
47. Can I use color keying?
VR21(TM) Tri-Vision(TM) auto stereoscopic
Displays
Technology
1. How does glasses-free 3D-viewing work?
VR21™ Tri-Vision™ displays are coated with a special
optics. This filter defines particular light penetration directions
for the light emitted from each coloured image element. In other
words, differently coloured image elements can be seen from different
spatial positions in front of the screen. Furthermore, the 3D image
in use contains multiple perspective views of a scene, which are
recorded from slightly different camera positions. Each of these
nine views can be seen from various positions in front of the screen.
The average eye distance of a viewer is 6, 5 cm (2, 5"). Thus,
any viewer sees substantially different views of the scene and perceives
a spatial impression.
2. Why are multiple views required?
Several views are required to largely avoid unpleasant viewing positions.
Using only two views in a system without eye tracking will give
a probability to see a correct 3D-image of only around 50 per cent.
Furthermore, the quantity of nine views yielded overwhelming results
in 3D viewing experiments and it can be suitably dealt with in software
algorithms.
3. Can I move in front of the screen?
Yes, you can. Due to the multiple views in use, there is always
a certain freedom of movement, which even increases when departing
from the display. However, in addition to the large panorama zones
with auto stereoscopic 3D vision, there are small zones, where there
is not a correct 3D image. These are called the transitional areas,
in which one sees duplicate images. If an observer is located in
a transitional area, a slight head movement will find the auto stereoscopic
area again. A further positive effect of the nine views is a "look-around"
effect, which can be perceived when moving the observer's head in
front of the display.
4. Can several observers see a spatial image simultaneously?
Which viewing angle is preferred?
There an umpteen 3D panorama zones in front of the display, each
of which contains all different views. The transitional areas separate
the 3D panorama zones. As long as any observer is located within
such a panorama zone, he will see a correct 3D image. Hence, several
observers can see a spatial image simultaneously.
5. Which display sizes are available?
VR21™ provides several display sizes. Sizes are available
on request. Furthermore, customer screens can be modified as 3D-displays.
This modification is subject to certain constraints, such as a minimal
brightness and minimal resolution of the customer screen.
Applications
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6. What can I use the VR21™ Tri-Vision™
3D-displays for?
VR21(TM) Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays can be used for any application,
which benefits from offering a spatial impression to one or more
viewers. No viewing aids are required. Typical applications are:
" Product presentation, advertisement, marketing " Visualization
in design, architecture, medicine " Computer games " 3D-videos,
3D-television
7. What are the benefits when using VR21™
Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays in the field of marketing?
VR21™ Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays offer an overwhelming
viewing experience based upon the 3D-impression. Thus, 3D-displays
stop audiences in their tracks. In particular the 50"-display
(1,27m diagonal screen size) is perfectly suited to attract people.
VR21™ Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays create highest attention
at exhibition stands, shop windows or other most frequented places.
8. What can be shown on Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays?
Interactive applications such as games or 3D-viewers can be
shown as well as specifically edited 3D-footage. Computer animations
can be edited, too. Any existing 2D-Video footage can be processed.
VR21™ offers all related services. Special software can be
used to present a real object placed on a turntable in real-time
on the screen by using just a regular camera.
Hardware requirements
Display control
9. How is Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays
controlled?
VR21™ Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays are base upon conventional
DVI-flat panel displays. Hence, they can be connected to any DVI
graphics card. The computer must only meet particular resolution
requirements (depending on the 3D-display in use). You should pay
attention to this fact when buying a new graphics card.
10. Do Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays support
any computer system?
In general: yes, they do support any computer system (PC, MAC,
SGI ...). The VR21™ software which is currently available
has been developed for the use with Windows-PC's. Substantial algorithms
for image generation and representation can be implemented for substantially
any computer type and any operating system.
11. Is there any recommended system configuration?
The system configuration strongly depends on the application.
VR21™ software is optimized for current versions of NVIDIA-graphics
cards. Depending on the application (game driver, video player),
GeForce2, GeForce3 (ti) or also GeForce4 (ti!) graphics cards are
required. Increased processor power will result in increased graphics
and video playback performance.
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12. Does 3D-video footage require a special
hardware?
There are two types of 3D-video footage: A first one developed
by VR21™ especially for 3D image compression and a second
one comprising frames, wherein each frame is a mixture of eight
views already. The first format, which is strongly advised by us,
requires a very fast PC with GeForce3- or GeForce4 (ti)-Graphics
card and at least a 2 GHz processor. The second format cannot be
compressed currently. Thus, the 2nd format must be stored uncompressed
and requires a video RAID array. This RAID array is required to
achieve a sufficient video replay rate. To represent still 3D-images
and to run interactive Applications (games, CAD-viewer etc.), no
special hardware but a powerful NVIDIA graphics card is required.
Compatibility
13. Can I use Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays
as conventional computer monitors?
In general: yes, you can. But the optics reduces the perceived
resolution. Thus, standard Windows text is not easily legible anymore.
Remedy can be found in choosing a larger Windows font. When running
conventional applications, a second conventional 2D screen is highly
recommended. This 2D screen can be run for instance in a split-screen-mode.
Such a mode is supported by a GeForce4 graphics card with dualhead-multimonitor-support
(as an example). Furthermore the 50" screen offers a VGA output
as a standard where additional screens can be driven.
14. Can I use the Tri-Vision™ 3D Display
as a conventional 2D-video monitor?
Yes, you can. There is a video box available for the 50"-display,
which offers a Scart-Interface. The perceived resolution is decreased
here, too. But when displaying conventional video footage, this
reduction does not preponderate.
15. Can any DVD-footage immediately be seen
in 3D when displaying it on a Tri-Vision™ 3D-display?
No, because conventional 2D-footage does not contain 3D information.
Specifically edited video footage is required, which enables 3D
viewing in combination with VR21(TM) software.
Software
Compatibility
16. Can I use any 3D-application in conjunction
with the Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays?
To run Tri-Vision™ displays adapted software is always
required. This is because the 3D-content must be formatted with
regard to the 3D-display in use. VR21™ offers this adapted
software, with which one can represent individual 3D-data and partially
existing applications directly on the Tri-Vision™ 3D-displays.
17. Which VR21™ software is available?
There a several software packages depending on the field of
application: " Plug-in for 3DS MAX; standard version included
in the scope of supply of any Tri-Vision 3D-display; professional
version available on request " More3D-DirectX-; Game driver,
available on request " 3DVideo Package; 3D-video player and
3D-video creation tool, available on request
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18. Can individual software be adapted?
If the software bases on DirectX 9.0 and if it can be run under
Windows 2000/XP in full screen mode, it can be used immediately
utilizing the DirectX-driver. Any other popular software application
can be modified subject to the availability of its source code.
Respective instructions how to adapt OpenGL- and/or DirectX-applications
can be obtained from the VR21™.
19. What's the purpose of the plug-in for 3D
Studio MAX?
The Plug-in for 3D Studio MAX offers a rendering function to
achieve 3DD-images. The required nine views are generated and combined
automatically. Still images as well as image sequences can be created.
To use the plug-in, 3D scenes need no particular modification.
20. What's the difference between the standard
and the professional version?
The standard plug-in can be used in combination with a single
computer. It is available in versions for 3DS MAX 5 and 3DS MAX
6. It is free of charge and is in the scope of supply of any 3D
screen. The professional plug-in is implemented inside 3DS MAX as
a camera effect and enables any additional features like network
rendering, different renderers, effects etc. Especially the network
rendering capability lowers the necessary computation time. The
professional plug-in is compatible with 3DS MAX 5 and 3DS MAX 6.
It is sold separately by VR21™.
21. How does the plug-in process my scene?
To render the nine views (partial images), the camera is slightly
rotated. The rotation is centred by the camera target and includes
a defined angle. Objects in front of the target seem to hang out
of the 3D-display, while objects behind the target are perceived
as laying behind the 3D-display's surface. The rotation angle can
be set either manually or automatically. The automatic calculation
only requires the manual selection of a close and a remote object.
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More3D-DirectX-Driver
22. What's the purpose of the More3D-driver?
This driver affects 3D-applications and 3D-games in a way, that
they automatically create images compatible with the Tri-Vision
3D-displays. The utilization is similar to drivers for shutter glasses
such as VR21™ EYEFORCE™.
23. What are the More3D-driver's system requirements?
The computer must comprise a graphics card with NVIDIA-chip
set to run the More3D-DirectX-driver (e.g. GeForce2, GeForce3 or
GeForce4) etc. The driver can be run under Windows 2000/XP.
24. Which applications can be used in combination
with the driver?
The 3D-application needs to be executable basing on DirectX
9.0
25. Can I use OpenGL-applications, too?
No, because the driver needs to be executable basing on DirectX.
But each existing OpenGL application can be modified to be compatible,
if the source code can be modified.
26. What's the so called Pulfrich mode?
2D videos, in which a camera is moved on a horizontal track
with regard to the scene or in which the camera is rotated around
a centre point in scene or in which the depicted object itself is
rotating in front of the camera can be represented immediately in
a spatially perceivable manner by means of the Tri-Vision™-Player.
Such features of 2D videos are normally used in conjunction with
the so called "Pulfrich-Effect" to create a three-dimensional
impression by showing different perspectives to the observer's eyes.
A typical application of this approach is the "turn table".
Real objects can thus be recorded three-dimensionally using only
one single camera. It is also possible to employ a 2D-AVI-file,
a DVD-Player, a video recorder and even a live camera as the image
source.
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27. What are the requirements for
real time display of real objects (turn table)?
The object has to do a horizontal turn movement. The size of the
object doesn't matter. This rotation can be recorded before as a
2D video sequence. For real time use you need a FALCON frame grabber
delivered by IDS-Imaging and a PAL video camera.
28. Which video compression can be used?
The player has been tested using different DivX-Codecs. The
current version DivX 5.0.2 is highly recommended. It goes without
saying that other Windows video Codec’s are applicable also,
but these may yield slower motion and worse image quality.
Adaptation of individual software
29. How can I adapt my individual software
to achieve compatibility to the Tr-Vision™ 3D-displays?
Generally, just the rendering function has to be modified.
This function has to render the scene nine times (preferably in
background) and to combine these nine views into one 3D-image. Common
software functions need not to be modified in most cases.
30. Is it possible to compress 3D images?
Rastered 3D imaged shall not be compressed, because due to
a compression the 3D impression is blurred. To enable an efficient
compression.
31. Can I use the common JPS file format for
stereo images?
Partially, this format can be used. But because stereo content
only contains two images, you will see a 3D image only at a few
spots in front of the Tri-Vision™ display.
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32. How should I design impressive 3D images?
The human brain can perceive 3D information better if the image
offers clearly different depth structures. If a 3D object is positioned
in front of a structured background, the depth impression will be
much better. You will always see a depth difference between the
object and the background, which supports the 3D perception. Sure,
objects on a black background will be 3D, but a good structured
background will support the viewer. Also, the images should have
visible contrasts. A very bright background disturbs the depth perception,
because structures in the surface are worse recognizable. When rendering
geometric objects with a 3D programme, pay attention that you use
well structured textures.
33. How should I adjust the camera angle and
the fix point?
The camera angle defines "how deep" the 3D image
will be. The fix point defines the reference layer of the scene
related to the screen glass. Objects between camera and fix point
will come "out of the screen", while objects behind the
fix point can be seen "inside the screen". Wrong camera
angle and fix point values will result in blurred, ghosting images.
Your eyes will not be able to perceive a sharp 3D image if the angle
is too large.
34. What happens if an object cuts the screen
border?
If the object is located "inside" the screen (behind
the screen glass), it will even enhance the depth perception. But
it is bad if an "out screen" object cuts the screen border.
In this case the 3D perception will be completely destroyed, because
the brain sees an unnatural image. If you want to use out screen
effects, place the object in the middle of the screen.
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35. How can I determinate if the image is shown
correctly or pseudo-scopic?
Pay attention to the moving parallax: during slightly observer
movements, the object should "move" analogue to the nature
inside the screen. Off screen image contents should move the opposite
direction to the observer. Content inside the screen should move
the same direction like the observer. To reverse the views, press
the "*" button on the num block.
36. What is better, nine view images or colour
image + depth map?
When using a 3D render software, you should always use the
eight views approach. This will result in best possible images.
A 3D image, made of colour image + depth map, doesn't contain information
about object edges and will always result in a "relief"
of a 2D image. But it can be a suitable way if you are short in
time to render a 2D image and save its depth buffer.
Hints for Content Creators
Image Formats
37. At which resolutions should I create a Tri-Vision™
video file?
There is no general recommendation. The possible resolution
strongly depends on the computation power of the playback computer
system. A Pentium III, 1 GHz, plays videos with a resolution of
256x168 pixels at 25 frames per second. If you take a more powerful
computer, > 2 GHz, it will be able to handle sizes of 512x192
pixels already. The possible sub image resolution and the image
quality will increase by using faster CPUs. The 3D Creator enables
the free choice of the sub image resolution. You only should pay
attention that the sub image resolution as well as the complete
video resolution is a number divisible by eight. Otherwise the Div
X codec will cause trouble.
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38. Which compression codec should I choose?
We recommend the use of a current Div X codec (currently 5.0.2,
http://www.divx.com). You should select the "quality-based
compression mode" and adjust the compression rate between 80-90%.
You should experiment here to get the best compromise between file
size and image quality. The older Cinepak codec is twice as fast
as DivX, but has visible compression artefacts. But for slow playback
devices it can be used if you can accept a worse colour quality.
MPEG2 is currently not supported, because it can't be used with
the AVI format.
39. Is it a problem if I change the pixel aspect
ratio in the 3D file?
No, the original aspect ratio is saved separately in the 3D
file. So you can save images, created at a 4:3 resolution, also
as 512x192 without any problems. The player recognizes the original
aspect ratio and stretches the image accordingly.
40. How can I simplify and improve the manual
depth map creation for 2D videos?
Therefore you can use existing video compositing software (like
Chalice, Combustion, After effects). Motion Tracking capabilities,
mask layers and the possibility to modify the mask shapes over a
couple of frames enable an easy and effective video conversion.
Video employing a horizontal camera movement (Pulfrich mode)
41. How do I create videos with
a Pulfrich-mode characteristic?
If a 2D video image sequence depicts slightly different views of
an object, and if these views are just a horizontal movement or
rotation, then we have an image sequence that is suitable for the
pulfrich mode. It doesn't matter if an object rotates in front of
a fixed camera (e.g. turn table), or if a camera rotates around
a fixed object (e.g. helicopter flight around a castle). Even a
parallel camera movement ("steady cam") of a static scene
delivers suitable video sequences.
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42. How can I playback a steady cam shot at
best visual results?
In the case of a parallel camera movement, you have to adjust
a proper fix point value within the 3D player. You will see that
the 3D scene moves between out screen and inside the screen by modifying
the fix point. A good fix point is found if the 3D scene lies half
inside and outside the screen. Also you should pay attention that
off screen objects avoid to cut the screen borders.
43. Are there some more recommendations regarding
the pulfrich file creation?
In general a pulfrich file is a regular 2D AVI video. The resolution
if the video images shouldn't be too large (max. 720x576) to achieve
a reasonable playback performance. If the video sequence is recorded
by a video camera, the images should be de-interlaced prior to display.
Also strong vertical movements will be a disadvantage for the observer.
If it is possible, you should avoid vertical movement or try to
equalize the motion (e.g. with motion tracking in a suitable video
effect software). Video cut / arrangement
44. Can I cut or arrange Tri-Vision™
3D videos?
No, currently we have no possibility to read images from created
3D video files. The compilation of a 3D file should always be the
last step in the content creation process. The best case is if you
work with sequences of still images, separated by perspective views,
until the end of the content creation work.
45. How can I arrange perspective image sequences
in an efficient way?
We made good experiences with Adobe After-effects. This software
supports a parallel work with perspective image sequences. All you
have to do is to create a separate composition for each perspective
view (nine compositions for nine cameras). Now you insert the perspective
image sequences parallel into the respective compositions. After
effects enables image size modifications, cut of image sequences
and the use of all the available video effects. The output from
the render queue can be saved into distinct JPG image sequences,
and these are combined into a 3D file using the 4D Creator as the
last step. Even some special 3D effects like 3D compilation or shatter
can be integrated three-dimensionally by adjusting the virtual camera
position of the 3D effect accordingly to the respective composition.
46. How do I integrate a pulfrich sequence
into an After Effects project?
You import the image sequence once as footage and insert this
video sequence into each distinct composition, shifted between each
composition by one frame. You only have to pay attention to the
direction of this time shift to avoid pseudo scopy (just experiment
with it).
47. Can I use colour keying?
Yes, you can. It is e.g. suitable to insert a background afterwards
into a turn table video (hint: the background should be "behind"
the object to get a good depth distance impression). Also a combination
made of real world images (taken by nine cameras) and virtual rendered
objects is possible. You just use the standard colour keying functions
of After Effects separately for each distinct composition.
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rights reserved. VR21, Eyeforce™ are trademarks of VR21 Pty
Ltd.
All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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