Understanding the Video Formats for Active Shutter 3D Glasses
Active shutter 3D glasses are a popular choice for enhancing the viewing experience while watching 3D movies at home or in theaters. These glasses work in conjunction with specific video formats to create the 3D effect. Typically, the video formats that are required for viewing 3D movies with active shutter 3D glasses are Side-by-Side SBS and Top-and-Bottom TB.
Common Video Formats Supporting 3D
These formats present two separate images for each eye, one in the left and one in the right, within a single frame. This is achieved by alternating the images at high speed, which the active shutter glasses then filter to create the illusion of depth. Some common video formats that support 3D are as follows:
Side-by-Side SBS
In this format, two images are placed side by side, one for the left eye and one for the right eye, within a single frame. The active shutter glasses then alternate between the two images, one eye at a time, to create the 3D effect. This format is often used in Blu-ray 3D discs.
Top-and-Bottom TB
The Top-and-Bottom format places one image on top of the other, with the same principle of having separate images for each eye. This format is used in displays where the two images are stacked vertically, and the active shutter glasses alternate between the upper and lower images to create the 3D effect.
Frame Packing - High-Resolution 3D Video
Another format that supports 3D is Frame Packing. This format is particularly useful in high-resolution 3D video, such as Blu-ray 3D discs, where both left and right eye images are transmitted with full resolution. This results in a more immersive and detailed 3D experience. Frame packing can also be used in other 3D video formats to ensure each eye receives a full high-resolution image.
Supporting Your Playback Device and Display
To ensure proper 3D playback, it is crucial that your playback device and display support the video formats mentioned above. Whether you are using a 3D Blu-ray player, a 3D TV, or another 3D display, the device will convert the incoming video signal into the format required by the active shutter glasses. For example, a TV can handle Side-by-Side or Top-and-Bottom formats, and the glasses will then synchronize with the signal to present the 3D effect.
Different 3D Technologies and Formats
It's important to note that different 3D technologies and formats can be used, such as Anaglyph 3D, which uses red and blue or cyan glasses. However, this format lacks the depth and clarity of active shutter 3D technology. Instead, you should opt for a source that requires a true 3D TV, which can use either active or passive glasses. Active glasses work by sending a signal to the TV to alternate between the left and right eye images, while passive systems use polarized glasses to filter the displayed images appropriately.
Additional Considerations for 3D Video Quality
When it comes to 3D video quality, Blu-Ray 3D offers the most advantages because it processes each frame separately for each eye at full resolution. This ensures that the effective resolution for each eye is maintained, even though the visible resolution might not be 1080p. Other methods may squeeze the left and right eye images into a single frame, resulting in lower effective resolution for each eye.
If you observe two separate images on your TV, ensure that your TV's resolution is set to 1080i or 1080p. Additionally, you may need to press the "3D" button on your remote control if your TV does not automatically recognize the video as 3D.
Conclusion
By understanding the different video formats required for active shutter 3D glasses, you can ensure an optimal 3D viewing experience. Whether you prefer Side-by-Side, Top-and-Bottom, or Frame Packing formats, the key is to have a compatible playback device and display to convert and present the video correctly to the glasses.