Tutorial: Frames 2D to 3D. Convert in 3D your movies

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The 2D to 3D conversion method used in this laboratory has been conceived by 3D Gugle and 3D Gugle is the unique owner.
The conversion to 3D is mainly based on the employment of two methods.

The first one exploits the difference among the frames in their natural sequence and the second one uses the coherent stereo deformation applied to the left or right frame or on the colour Shift if the conversion is an anaglyph.

The coherent deformation is a deformation that is applied to the separate graphic objects in a scene.

Definitions:

Natural sequence
The natural sequence is the sequence with which the original film is captured, composed or which is seen when projected.

This definition is essential for distinguishing from the resultant sequence , which is the sequence obtained after the conversion.

In other words, the natural sequence is the normal 2D sequence while the resultant sequence is that of the stereo film.

The resultant sequence is a natural sequence from which some frames have been removed.

The resultant sequence can be considered a natural sequence when it requires further changes after a new 3D conversion.
In conclusion, a resultant sequence can be modified as often as you like.

Synchronism
Synchronism is the 'frame-jump', or the difference between the natural-sequence left frame-number and right frame-number.

For instance, if you use frame 1 from the left series and frame 3 from the right series, the synchronism has the value 2 (3-1.)

The synchronism can be negative or positive and which you use depends on the dynamics of the scene. Some scenes require positive values, others negative.

Attention
The positive and negative values of the synchronism can only be inserted if the position number of the left frame (negative) and that of right (positive) are legal values.
For instance, if the left frame is number zero it is not possible to apply a negative synchronism because the frame number "minus one" does not exist.

Equally, if the left frame is the last frame of the series it will not be possible to use a positive synchronism because no frames exist with a greater number.

If you try to make such an 'illegal' insertion, the "Sync" spinbutton will not respond.

When beginning the 3D conversion with the low-numbered frames and negative synchronism is required, it is necessary to use a frame with a position number equal to or greater than the synchronism value.
For instance, if the synchronism has to be minus two, your first left frame has to have a position number equal to or greater than two.

For the spinbutton functions, see Frames from AVI

Logical deformation
This deformation is a spatial deformation of some areas in a frame to allow stereoscopic viewing.
For logical deformation, the intention is to deform a graphic object in its entirety without any concern for its detailed content.
For instance, supposes that you want to put in the foreground of a scene a 3D human figure, in this case a cylindrical deformation will be applied to the entire figure.
The rationale behind this type of deformation, is that when it is viewed during film playback it will not be perceived as a cylinder but as a perfectly-acceptable 3D figure complete with all of its interior detail.

Conversion to 3D of an ordinary film

A stereo image or frame consists of a left and right image.
Normally, the images are produced by two television cameras slightly converged to imitate the eyes vision.
In the 3D conversion of an ordinary film, a new frame that reproduces the angular image of the second camera is created from the first frame.

Two frames taken from a normal sequence can often be perceived as stereoscopic, the 3D effect depending upon the direction of the movement in the scene and the distance (synchronism) between the two frames.

Positive synchronism is used in the cross-eyed example ('Alien autopsy') that follows.

In the upper part, the three frames are in their natural sequence.
In the middle part, a stereo pair has been created by extracting the first and last frame from the natural sequence. In other words a synchronism of +2 is used.
In the lower part, the resultant anaglyph is from the assembly of the left/right images.

In the figure the three controls that are used with the synchronism (red underlined)
The spinbutton "Synch" determines the distance in frames of the synchronism.
The spinbutton "Shift" moves to the left-right the component of the colour of Shift. This spinbutton is visible only when the film is an anaglyph.

The "Alpha" function is to correct many errors of vertical alignment and to compensate for other errors of vision.

If the value of Alpha is 255 only the image imposed by the "Sync" step will be visible. For different values two overlapped images will be seen and for the "0" value the right image will be equal to that of left.

Alien3DAVI (Mpeg 2,2 Mb) (Right mouse button and then "Save object with name")

In the example film which has been converted to 3D anaglyph the abrupt vertical movement and the rapid horizontal swinging of the camcorder are compensated for by setting the function "Alpha" to the value 100
Please consider also that the general quality of the original film was extremely low.

The "Auto 3D" function serves to emphasise the relief of small details.
Auto 3D's algorithm operates on the luminance value. In other words, it tries to imitate the human eye by putting greater relief into the lighter objects.
In the example film which has been converted to 3D anaglyph using only the "Auto3D" function.

Using the logical deformation:

When a logical stereo deformation is applied to a series of frames, the graphic objects in the scene are perceived as having real depth.
For further information on the differences between an ordinary graphic deformation and a stereo deformation click here and click here.

As an example, if a cylindrical uniform deformation is applied to a human body, in the playback you will not see a cylinder but a 'normal' 3D body correct in all its parts.

A logical deformation is a stereo deformation that exploits and essentially follows the outline of the figure to turn it into 3D,

In the image below, a deformation is applied in the right frame to the body and to the perspective of the room.
The deformation is entirely acceptable in its 3D effect when the scene is observed in movement.

After activating the control, it is necessary to load the frames that are to be converted to 3D.
To load the frames, use the button: "Load Frames".

You can open the frames to be converted in three different ways.

"Load single frames"
With this method you can create a 2D to 3D anaglyph movie or you can apply a simple stereo deformation to the frames.
To create an anaglyph movie you first have to select the colour shift that you wish to use. If you select "All colours", as in this case, you can only apply a stereo deformation to the frames.

When you select a single shift colour, for example "Red" , the buttons for 2D to 3D anaglyph conversion are displayed.

The "Sync" button allows you to insert into the 'base' frame the red(shift) colour from a frame with a distance in the frame series equal to the synchro value.
The "Shift" button moves the shift colour left or right.

If the "Prev" button has been selected, a realtime preview allows you to immediately see the effect of the actions.
Pressing "Play" displays the whole sequence between "Start" and "End".

To check the resulting three-dimensional effect requires the use of the proper glasses.

"Load single frames as side-by-side"
With this method, you create a new 2D to 3D movie with the left and right frames arranged side-by-side.
When you select this mode, 3D Gugle automatically creates a copy of your frames and saves them in a chosen directory.

If it is desired to change the freeviewing from crosseyed to parallel, you simply reverse the sense of the three-dimensional effect that is applied.

To convert a film from cross-eyed to parallel, you can use "Stereo or Anaglyph Frames from left and right frames" for the stereo assembly of the frames.
In this same laboratory, it is also possible to convert your stereo pairs frames into anaglyph.

"Load Left-Right frames as side-by-side"
This option is the same as "Load single frames as side-by-side" with the difference that this option continues an already existing work.
In other words, with "Load single frames as side-by-side" you begin a new job and with this option you continue the job already existing.

"Buttons"
"Apply" applies the setting on the frames between "start" and "End" value.

"Play" applies the setting on the frames between "start" and "End" and then shows a preview sequence but does not save.

The check button "Exlude" excludes the deformations from the preview to speed-up playback.

For the use and functionality of the deformation tool please see: Free Deformation
For the use of the single spin buttons in the input box see: Frames from AVI

On completing the conversion, it is possible to improve the appearance of your frames by using the different LAB's of 3D Gugle.

For instance:

"Frame Utility"
To cut out, to add your logo or text, to insert scenes from another film or dynamic text, to resize.

"AVI from frames"
The moviola to create an AVI film from your frames

"Graphic operation on the frames"
To apply graphic functions such as Brightness, contrast, saturation, etc. and to remove ghosts from anaglyphs

"Save/Resize Batch"
In this LAB you have many important functions and a function to reverse the sequence order of the Frames which allows a continuously cycling animation to be created.