P3D Re: GAP ad

[TimMaf <TimMaf@xxxxxxx>]

     The GAP ad is wonderful for its' pseudo 3d effect which doesn't 
require special glasses. My employer has had its' own version for many
years called "Circle Cam". When I can get a hold of some of the 
frames and stick them in a viewer you get a very good 3d image.
Because of the camera placement, depending on which frames I
grab, you can get some very strange hyper effects.
     
     While there is a camera which uses a single strip of film (The
Virtual Cam), the GAP ad used a rig by PAWS & Co. which more
closely resembles an array of still cameras (ala' Muybridge). The
individual cameras each use their own roll of film.

>Yes, but don't assume that everything winds up digital. The film to tape
>transfer process (flying spot scanner) is an analogue process, and there
>are still viable analogue tape formats, such as beta sp, in which the
>final conform is sometimes done.

     A high end commercial like this would work in a digital 
environment. Yes, the conversion of light shining through film to
an electronic signal in a telecine (any telecine) is analog but 
then so is any other camera which doesn't use film. The conversion 
of light into an electronic signal that can be digitized is an 
analog process. This is true of telecines, video cameras, or digital
still cameras.

     This question might be why use film? The answer is that film
is considered far superior in image quality to anything that doesn't
use film (80% of what you see on network TV in the U.S., that isn't 
sports or news, is shot on film). Digital post, however, is far superior 
to the old analog or chemical based work. That's why I remain 
skeptical that digital still cameras will replace film except for 
Polaroids. 

Timothy Maffia


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