Abstract: A stereoscopic image supplier acquires stereoscopic image data in a side-by-side layout format. Visual information supplier acquires visual information to be added to a stereoscopic image. Based on a 3D display for displaying a stereoscopic image, a 3D display information supplier acquires the coordinates of portions that are not used for 3D display representation as the coordinates of the pixels with which visual information is combined. An image synthesizer combines visual information obtained at Step S2 with the pixel at the coordinates set at Step S3. Visual information is combined with all the portions at the coordinates to be processed, and the image with visual information synthesized is stored in a stereo image storage. In this way, if additional information is added to the stereoscopic image, no uncomfortable feeling will occur when the image is viewed in stereoscopic vision.

Abstract: An image signal composed of sequential frames is input to a 3-dimensional image creating apparatus, frame by frame. A controller (102) designates the presence/absence of reduction, the presence/absence of joining and 2D select. An image converter (101) creates image data in the format designated by the presence/absence of reduction and the presence/absence of joining. A 3D information creator (103) creates 3D information necessary for displaying the image as a 3-dimensional image by formatting the presence/absence of reduction, the presence/absence of joining and 2D select. A multiplexer (104) converts image data and 3D information in a predetermined format and outputs them to the outside. In this way, it is possible to make the image data for 3-dimensional display versatile and select an arbitrary viewpoint image efficiently.

Abstract: An image data recording apparatus includes a three-dimensional display control information generation unit receiving a parameter indicating a condition for picking up a three-dimensional image, and encoding the parameter so as to generate image pick-up condition information, and a file generation unit generating a multimedia information file including both of the image pick-up condition information and three-dimensional image data or at least one of the three-dimensional image data and two-dimensional image data.

Abstract: An image signal composed of sequential frames is input to a 3-dimensional image creating apparatus, frame by frame. A controller (102) designates the presence/absence of reduction, the presence/absence of joining and 2D select. An image converter (101) creates image data in the format designated by the presence/absence of reduction and the presence/absence of joining. A 3D information creator (103) creates 3D information necessary for displaying the image as a 3-dimensional image by formatting the presence/absence of reduction, the presence/absence of joining and 2D select. A multiplexer (104) converts image data and 3D information in a predetermined format and outputs them to the outside. In this way, it is possible to make the image data for 3-dimensional display versatile and select an arbitrary viewpoint image efficiently.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image supplier acquires stereoscopic image data in a side-by-side layout format. Visual information supplier acquires visual information to be added to a stereoscopic image. Based on a 3D display for displaying a stereoscopic image, a 3D display information supplier acquires the coordinates of portions that are not used for 3D display representation as the coordinates of the pixels with which visual information is combined. An image synthesizer combines visual information obtained at Step S2 with the pixel at the coordinates set at Step S3. Visual information is combined with all the portions at the coordinates to be processed, and the image with visual information synthesized is stored in a stereo image storage. In this way, if additional information is added to the stereoscopic image, no uncomfortable feeling will occur when the image is viewed in stereoscopic vision.

Abstract: An image signal composed of sequential frames is input to a 3-dimensional image creating apparatus, frame by frame. A controller (102) designates the presence/absence of reduction, the presence/absence of joining and 2D select. An image converter (101) creates image data in the format designated by the presence/absence of reduction and the presence/absence of joining. A 3D information creator (103) creates 3D information necessary for displaying the image as a 3-dimensional image by formatting the presence/absence of reduction, the presence/absence of joining and 2D select. A multiplexer (104) converts image data and 3D information in a predetermined format and outputs them to the outside. In this way, it is possible to make the image data for 3-dimensional display versatile and select an arbitrary viewpoint image efficiently.

Abstract: To a multimedia information file including three-dimensional image data, three-dimensional display control information is added that indicates an intended three-dimensional display method for the three-dimensional image data or a data format in which the data is recorded. A three-dimensional image reproduction apparatus performs conversion appropriate for data characteristics derived from the three-dimensional display control information and then provides display. Recorded three-dimensional image data is thus given versatility so that the same three-dimensional image data can be used commonly to different three-dimensional display schemes.

Abstract: An image data recording apparatus includes a three-dimensional display control information generation unit receiving a parameter indicating a condition for picking up a three-dimensional image, and encoding the parameter so as to generate image pick-up condition information, and a file generation unit generating a multimedia information file including both of the image pick-up condition information and three-dimensional image data or at least one of the three-dimensional image data and two-dimensional image data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image rendering portion, based on image data, performs geometric transformation, projection transformation, etc. and further applies texture data from the texture memory onto polygons, to thereby generate graphic data of a 3-D image. This graphic data is used as pixel data for a frame of image and written into the frame memory. A 3-D texture modeling value generating circuit performs arithmetic operations on 3-D texture modeling values of asperities of the textures, using coordinate data given from the 3-D image rendering portion, bump data stored in the texture memory and parameters stored in the register. These 3-D texture modeling values are provided to 3-D texture modeling circuit where, based on these values, the data from the frame memory is formed into a 3-dimensional form, which in turn is displayed on the display unit.