3D

History

3D is the term used to describe a flat image that appears to be three-dimensional. Due to the position of our eyes, each eye sees the same image but from a slightly different perspective. When our brain combines what each eye sees, the image is given depth. The same idea is applied to making a flat image appear three-dimensional; two slightly different visuals are combined giving the illusion of depth.

Contrary to popular belief, the principles behind 3D are not new or revolutionary; in fact, 3D images in some form have been around since their invention in 1838 by Sir Charles Wheatstone. He made the discovery about how the brain interprets the image seen by each eye, and used this information to introduce the world to his pioneering stereoscope; a device that displayed slightly different images to the left and right eye, and created the illusion of a third dimension.

Despite this discovery in the 19th Century it wasn’t until the 20th Century that the technology to display 3D moving pictures became available. In the 1950s, following the success of the 3D film “Bwana Devil” in 1952, 3D cinema became very popular, with many studios and directors jumping on the 3D bandwagon including one Alfred Hitchcock with his film “Dial M for Murder”. As this was the first introduction of 3D films to large audiences, and because of its popularity with studios and audiences alike, the 1950s became known as the golden age of 3D cinema. However, due to the expense and complexity of the equipment needed to display 3D, not to mention the flimsy cardboard glasses with their poor colour reproduction, 3D fell out of favour in the 1960s and despite numerous attempts to bring it back, it wasn’t until 1986 when the Imax 3D format was invented that the technology to display 3D moving pictures finally caught up to the methods of capturing it. This revolutionised the 3D format and gradually, over the next 25 years, the technology used to display 3D visuals was fine-tuned. 

Up until recently Passive 3D, which uses two projectors fitted with polarising filters projecting onto a silver screen, has been the predominant method of displaying and viewing 3D content. Active 3D is the latest technology to be developed for both large scale and home cinema 3D viewing. Each pair of glasses has an in-built receiver which is synchronised to a transmitter. Each lens in the glasses then displays alternating images that the brain interprets into a 3D image. Outside the cinema and home environments active stereoscopic projection enables 3D to be delivered in a wider variety circumstances and at higher quality.

QED is at the forefront of active 3D projection, with all the equipment and experience to enable you to get the most of out of 3D. For more information about what we can do for you please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your 3D projection requirements.