3ality Digital is today unveiling cost-reducing 3D camera software that automatically aligns two cameras at the push of a button, and automatically controls convergence and interaxial spacing.
The announcement by the high-profile digital stereoscopic company (3ality Digital is responsible for most of the first live 3D sports events and its technology is being used on “The Hobbit” and “The Amazing Spider-Man”) , comes as the industry is heading to Las Vegas for the annual NAB in Las Vegas April 9-14.
3ality’s IntelleCal and IntelleCam solutions will be demonstrated as part of the company’s “3space“ suite of products at the company’s booth #OE 1275.
IntelleCal automatically aligns the two cameras on a rig, which enables a very fast and precise set up without the intervention of a technician. It does this by profiling and matching lenses and performing alignment on five axes through the entire zoom range.
IntelleCam automatically controls the convergence and the interaxial spacing of the cameras without the need for a separate convergence puller at each rig, cutting the number of personnel needed by half or more – dramatically reducing costs.
Both solutions are integrated software solutions, used in conjunction with 3ality Digital’s processing units and 3flex S3D camera rigs. IntelleCal uses the SIP and an additional processing unit, which is yet to be named.
“Since we started in this business IntelleCam is the one tool that every broadcaster has asked us to develop,” said Steve Schklair, CEO and founder of 3ality Digital. “IntelleCal speeds up the alignment process, which traditionally takes up to an hour to set, to five minutes and it does it automatically. These new products represent a quantum leap in how broadcasters and filmmakers are going to be able to capture S3D.”
“One of the biggest challenges for S3D has been the amount of technical equipment and expertise required to make it work and ensure it does not induce headaches and detract from the story. All the tests of the last few years have proven that there are no technical barriers to live 3D television. The issue is now much more of a business case, and these two new technologies will dramatically reduce and revolutionize the economics of 3D broadcasting.”
3ality Digital captured the first live college football S3D BCS Championship — January 8th, 2009, the first live S3D NHL broadcast – Islanders vs. Rangers, March 24, 2010, and the first live NFL S3D broadcast to homes – FiOS, Patriots vs. Giants, Sept. 2nd, 2010.
— By Scott Hettrick