Great article by Studio Daily at http://www.studiodaily.com/main/work/In-Three-on-the-Workflow-Behind-3D-Conversions_12083.html, on the 2D⇒3D conversion company In-Three http://www.in-three.com/. from this article I learnt that:
- Some new movies, not just legacy ones, are being converted from 2D to 3D (stereo). This step is being planned as part of production. Don’t know why they can’t just shoot it in stereo (cost? maturity? conservatism?) but that’s how it is.
- The method: a tech & manual rotoscoping pipeline (production line) where images are masked to create layers and artistic judgement is applied to the appearances of individual objects. As one would imagine, no simple “magic solution”. However beyond those basics they have their own patented 2D⇒3D inference algorithms operating on individual objects even at sub-pixel level.
- Not quick or cheap: “for a 100-minute or 120-minute 2D-to-3D conversion, you would need about 300 to 400 artists phasing and out of production over about four to six months.”. Clash of the Titans was so-processed in under half that time – possibly explaining some negative press (mentioned in the article) regarding the quality of its 3D.
The interviewee in the article was from In-Three. Their website http://www.in-three.com/ explains:
- Dimensionalization is a method developed by In-Three of converting 2D content to stereoscopic 3D content.
- There are various approaches to creating 3D content: capturing 3D using dual camera rigs, rendering 3D using dual virtual camera rigs within a computer graphics environment, and creating 3D by converting 2D content with processes such as Dimensionalization.
- Dimensionalization is trademarked because it describes a patented process which gives the unique, depth, shape and perspective to each individual object on a pixel or even sub-pixel level. Throughout our process, there are a multitude of special and unique techniques our experienced stereo team has and continues to develop, so that you can be confident that we bring the tools and the skill to any conversion project.
- The Dimensionalization process is covered by a number of U.S. patents. These patents make In-Three a leader in the development of intellectual property surrounding the conversion of two-dimensional films to stereoscopic experiences.