Abstract: A method for rendering stereoscopic images with non-linear depth variation. The method includes storing content in memory that is ready for rendering, e.g., computer animated images including animated objects or models. A processor is operated to position stereo or horizontally offset cameras and to render the images based on a non-linear relationship between disparity assigned to one or more of the animated objects and a distance between the cameras and the objects. The non-linear relationship is defined by a function or algorithm callable by the processor such as a function that defines a curved depth variation for the computer animated scene. In other cases, the non-linear relationship is defined by stored table, and the rendering includes using the distance between the cameras and an object to retrieve the disparity value to assign to that object. More than one non-linear relationship may be used to render objects with differing depth variations.

Abstract: A method for generating stereoscopic images with retinal rivalry effects. The method includes retrieving primary eye images and alternate eye images from memory. These images are filmed from horizontally offset cameras but include the same content. The method continues with processing the alternate eye images to introduce retinal rivalry such as by including a set of frames that have differing content from a corresponding set of frames from the primary eye images. The differing content, for example, may include an object rendered for the alternate eye that was not rendered in the primary eye images. The method may further include editing the primary eye images by inserting a transition and then editing the alternate eye images to perform the transition (e.g., a dissolve or cut) at a temporally offset transition point such as several frames later to introduce frames that differ in content from one eye stream to the other.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention involve methods and systems for converting a 2-D image to a stereoscopic 3-D image and displaying the depth of one or more pixels of the 3-D image through an output image of a user interface. The pixels of the output image display the perceived depth of the corresponding 3-D image such that the user may determine the relative depth of the pixels of the image. In addition, one or more x-offset values or z-axis positions may be individually selected such that any pixel of the output image that correspond to the selected values is indicated in the output image. By providing the user with a visualization tool to quickly determine the perceived position of any pixel of a stereoscopic image, the user may confirm the proper alignment of the objects of the image in relation to the image as a whole.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure include an interface that provides display and management of depth and volume information for a stereoscopic 3-D image. More particularly, the interface provides information for the one or more layers that comprise the stereoscopic 3-D image. Depth information for the one or more layers of the stereoscopic image may include aspects of a pixel offset, z-axis position and virtual camera positions. The adjustment of one aspect of the depth information may affect the values for the other aspects of depth information for the layers. This information may be used by an animator to confirm the proper alignment of the objects and layers of the image in relation to the image as a whole. In addition, the interface may maintain such depth information for several stereoscopic 3-D images such that the information and adjustment to any number of 3-D images may be obtained through the interface.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention involve methods and systems for creating depth and volume in a 2-D planar image to create an associated 3-D image by utilizing a plurality of layers of the 2-D image, where each layer comprises one or more portions of the 2-D image. Each layer may be reproduced into a corresponding left eye and right eye layers, with one or both layers including a pixel offset corresponding to a perceived depth. Further, a depth model may be created for one or more objects of the 2-D image to provide a template upon which the pixel offset for one or more pixels of the 2-D image may be adjusted to provide the 2-D image with a more nuanced 3-D effect. In this manner, the 2-D image may be converted to a corresponding 3-D image with a perceived depth.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention involve methods and systems for converting a 2-D multimedia image to a 3-D multimedia image by utilizing a plurality of layers of the 2-D image. The layers may comprise one or more portions of the 2-D image and may be digitized and stored in a computer-readable database. The layers may be reproduced as a corresponding left eye and right eye version of the layer, including a pixel offset corresponding to a desired 3-D effect for each layer of the image. The combined left eye layers and right eye layers may form the composite right eye and composite left eye images for a single 3-D multimedia image. Further, this process may be applied to each frame of a animated feature film to convert the film from 2-D to 3-D.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention involve methods and systems for converting a 2-D image to a stereoscopic 3-D image by segmenting one or more portions of the 2-D image based on one or more pixel color ranges. Further, a matte may be created that takes the shape of the segmented region such that several stereoscopic effects may be applied to the segmented region. In addition, ink lines that are contained within the segmented region may be removed to further define the corresponding matte. Implementations of the present disclosure also include a interface that provides the above functionality to a user for ease of segmentation and region selection. By utilizing the segmentation process, a 2-D image may be converted to a corresponding stereoscopic 3-D image with a perceived depth. Further, this process may be applied to each image of an animated feature film to convert the film from 2-D to 3-D.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure involve methods and systems for creating depth and volume in a 2-D image by utilizing a plurality of layers of the 2-D image, where each layer comprises one or more portions of the 2-D image. Each layer may be reproduced into a corresponding left eye and right eye layers that include a depth pixel offset corresponding to a perceived depth. Further, a volume effect may also be applied to one or more objects of the 2-D image by associating a volume pixel offset to one or more pixels of the image. Thus, any pixel of the 2-D image may have a depth pixel offset to provide a perceived depth as well as a volume pixel offset to provide a stereoscopic 3-D volume effect. In this manner, the 2-D image may be converted to a corresponding stereoscopic 3-D image with perceived depth and volume effects applied.

Abstract: A method for rendering stereoscopic images with non-linear depth variation The method includes storing content in memory that is ready for rendering, e.g., computer animated images including animated objects or models. A processor is operated to position stereo or horizontally offset cameras and to render the images based on a non-linear relationship between disparity assigned to one or more of the animated objects and a distance between the cameras and the objects. The non-linear relationship is defined by a function or algorithm callable by the processor such as a function that defines a curved depth variation for the computer animated scene. In other cases, the non-linear relationship is defined by stored table, and the rendering includes using the distance between the cameras and an object to retrieve the disparity value to assign to that object. More than one non-linear relationship may be used to render objects with differing depth variations.

Abstract: A computer-based method for generating a stereoscopic image from a two dimensional (2D) image such as a 2D cell animation. An object is selected in the 2D image, such as an animated character, and is stored in memory as the base image. With an erosion engine, the selected object is eroded to generate a set of eroded versions of the base image corresponding to a number of erosion levels. Each erosion level image may be formed by eroding or removing a set of outer or edge pixels from the image on the prior level. The method continues with calculating a parallax shift value for each of the eroded versions of the base image. An alternate eye image is then generated by compositing the set of eroded versions along with the base image. The eroded versions are horizontally offset from the base image by the level-specific parallax shift values.

Abstract: A method for generating stereoscopic images with retinal rivalry effects. The method includes retrieving primary eye images and alternate eye images from memory. These images are filmed from horizontally offset cameras but include the same content. The method continues with processing the alternate eye images to introduce retinal rivalry such as by including a set of frames that have differing content from a corresponding set of frames from the primary eye images. The differing content, for example, may include an object rendered for the alternate eye that was not rendered in the primary eye images. The method may further include editing the primary eye images by inserting a transition and then editing the alternate eye images to perform the transition (e.g., a dissolve or cut) at a temporally offset transition point such as several frames later to introduce frames that differ in content from one eye stream to the other.