Makemedia's 3D guys break out the specs appeal

For me, Mon 11th October 2010 heralded a mini conference on 3D run by BTV Post and Lighthouse, in partnership with Decode Broadcast Hire. With great excitement I picked up my ticket from the office, put on my best trainspotting Parker and in the name of multi dimensional exploration I went to see what it is that makes the magic! I knew I was going to be in for a treat after all it’s 3D right!

Well I wasn’t disappointed, this time it was ‘Stereoscopic 3D’ as opposed to the 3D for which Makemedia are rapidly making ourselves a name. Long gone are those days buried deep in the collective conscious of red and green lenses sat in an ungainly white card frame. Now it’s all about High Technology with major name players taking 3D and running wild with it. I learnt there are three competing forms of glasses (including a pair with electronic shutters), that light travels in circles, that 3D was very popular with the Third Reich (or is that the 3D Reich) and that because it’s all in your mind it can really hurt!!!

Yes Stereoscopic 3D is as old as photography and has been very popular in the past, but these waves came and went and now on the lessons they generated, we’re in the 3rd age. This time it’s definitely here to stay and this is so widely accepted that glasses manufacturers are even working on prescription 3D glasses to allow a wider audience the joy of the super real.

Obviously as mentioned we here at Makemedia have been making 3D for some time now, but with polygons not lenses, a distinction that has not gone unnoticed in the world of stereoscopy and they are very keen that a distinction of terms is adhered to. Theirs and our world are by no means mutually exclusive though, in fact, on the contrary with the likes of Pixar leading the charge and James Cameron with Avatar it would seem our disciplines are very much entwined.

A world of CGI and 3D is ahead of us, we are on the cusp and cutting edge once again! Many paths will be dead ends, many will fall by the wayside, but the incredible pearl in this oyster really is ours, and any dragon guarding it will come right out of your screen and singe your fingers if you don’t keep ahead of your game!