Re: PHOTO-3D digest 2053

[P3D Andrew Woods <andrew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric J Fleischer wrote:
>   Does anyone have any hints on how to put together interlaced images
> to create a field-sequential stereo video? Photoshop doesn't seem to
> know how to do this. I used to do this on my Amiga with ADPro, but I
> mostly work on a Pentium system now.

It appears we have a slight problem with terminology here...

There are three possible answers which I will describe "sequentially"  ;-)

(1) Field-sequential COMPUTER video (i.e. shown on the computer's own screen)
can be generated using the multitude of 3D-PC systems currently available.
I described how these systems work about a week back.
  see:  http://info.curtin.edu.au/~iwoodsa/3D-PC/
Several Systems are: VREX VR Surfer, 3DTV corp, NEOTEK, NuVision 3D-SPEX, 
                     Kasan 3DMAX, SimuleyesVR, ...
The format required for your images will depend upon which system you are using.
Several image formats are: 3D interlaced, JPS, separate left and right files, etc.
The format to use will depend upon the system you have installed - many come
with the appropriate software.

(2) Field-sequential NTSC (or PAL) video (i.e. shown on your home TV screen) 
is created using a pair of genlocked video cameras and a device commonly 
called a multiplexer (basically a fast video switch which selects alternate 
fields from left and right cameras).  The output from the multiplexer is in 
field-sequential format. 

(3) Field-sequential NTSC (or PAL) video generated from a computer source is
a completely different kettle of fish.  As you suggest, this is easy with Amigas
because they work natively in NTSC (or PAL) but PC systems output in RGB format
at frequencies much different from NTSC or PAL.  It is usually necessary to 
use an external device (which plugs into a PC's VGA port) to convert the
PC's output to NTSC or PAL.  There will be no general compatability between 
the various brands of external devices (VGA->NTSC converters) and the 3D-PC systems
listed in (1) - It would be up to you to find a combination that works.

Hopefully, I've addressed your question sufficiently.

If anyone knows of any solutions to (3), I'd be interested to know.

Andrew Woods.                        http://info.curtin.edu.au/~iwoodsa


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