Editing 3D video in X5 (SP2)

[ckbrewery]

Can it actually be done? If I so much as drop 3D file onto the timeline and tag it as 3D (SBS L-R in my case), I get the "... lost 3D attributes..." message when I try to create a 3D file. I tried tagging a 2D file as 3D for S&Gs and got the same result. In case it matters, the files are in .avi format (and even rendering a 2D version of these makes a jumpy video, but I digress...).

[ckbrewery]

Ouch. I'll take no response as a "no, it can't be done". Perhaps somebody can recommend a platform that actually allows 3D editing without breaking the bank?

[RobertOZ]

As X5 has been removed from this computer I can't check, but there is no problem using MPEG-4 3D with X6

Robert

[ckbrewery]

THX! I'll try the preview version. It does make me sad to think of upgrading less than a year after buying X5, but such is life. My Samsung W300 turned out to not be so waterproof (But the brief underwater video looked great) so I am starting to get used to such things...

[ckbrewery]

Nevermind... the download won't install... says it is not compatible with my system... odd since I have X5 on here now.

[canuck]

If it won't install then I would think that you have a problem in your system. I have both X5 and X6 installed and they bother run fine. Others have the same installs with no problem

Of course you may have a corrupt downloaded file.

[ckbrewery]

Third time was a charm with the download. Sadly, the 3D result was the same.

Here is what I have determined. Tagging a file as 3D just tells the program how to convert it to 2D, and the 3D selection in the Share section is purely for fake 3D. Apparently the "... lost 3D attributes..." message is referring to the act of tagging the files. The documentation doesn't say any of this, but that's what it is... I have no idea what happens with the formats which Corel auto-identifies.

In my case, editing SBS files, I have found a temporary solution. After pre-converting the .avi files to .mp4's out-of-program (because Corel can't handle them at about 2 Mb/sec, at least not on my system) I set them up in order and with cuts, then copy the files to the next overlay track and tag the copies as 3D. Next, I add (pseudo) 3D transitions as desired to the new track. I render this track as fake SBS using the 3D selection (after eliminating doubled sound, etc.). I then replace that track with the new render and eliminate all but the transitions, realigning the original clips as necessary to compensate for the odd behavior of the transitions. This gives me my original 3D clips, with the exception of the fake 3D transitions, and is fairly passable if aligned well. After final tweaking, I render just like a 2D file and view with a device that plays SBS, such as my Panny Blu-Ray.

For now, this meets my needs but it is not what I thought editing 3D meant.

[rwernyei]

CK,
Please read below. Your problem is that VSP is not recognizing your files as 3D files.

Corel VSPX6 User Guide

Page 30
Tagging Files as 3D
3D media clips are supported in Corel VideoStudio Pro. Tagged 3D
media clips are marked with 3D for easy identification and to enable
the 3D media clip for 3D editing.
Pages 31-32
To tag video and photo clips as 3D
1 Right-click 3D files imported into the Library or the Timeline and
choose Tag as 3D from the right-click menu. The 3D Settings
dialog box is displayed.
2 Choose one of the following options to set the correct format for
3D content:
• 2D — the default setting if the selected clip is not recognized as
3D.
• Side-by-side — delivers 3D content by splitting the horizontal
resolution of each frame for the left and right eye. Side-by-side
3D is widely used by cable channels for delivering content for 3D
ready TV sets because of lower bandwidth usage. Choose
between the Left-Right and Right-Left formats.
• Over-Under — delivers 3D content by splitting the vertical
resolution of each frame for the left and right eye. The higher
count of horizontal pixels makes this option more suitable for
displaying panning motion. Choose between the Left-Right and
Right-Left formats.
• Multiview Video Coding (MVC) — generates a high-definition
two-view (stereoscopic) video or a multi-view 3D video.
• Multi-view image — delivers high-quality stereoscopic images
such as Multi-Picture Object (MPO) files that are shot using 3D
cameras.
3 Click OK.
The thumbnail of the media clip in the Library and Timeline now
has the 3D tag.
In Corel VideoStudio Pro, MVC and MPO clips are automatically
detected and tagged as 3D during import.
The Left-Right format for side-by-side 3D is a popular choice for
delivering content and is used mostly in media clips imported
or captured from 3D video cameras. The Right-Left option is
used mostly in media clips acquired from the Web.
Tagging video and photo clips as 3D is required for editing in
3D mode.
To preserve 3D attributes, make sure you only split or trim 3D
media clips. Applying 2D effects or filters to a 3D clip converts
the 3D clip to 2D.
Page 175
Creating 3D video files
Corel VideoStudio Pro lets you create 3D movies or convert regular 2D
video into 3D video files. With the help of this feature and compatible
3D gadgets, you can enjoy 3D video popping out of your screen in just
a few easy steps.
To create 3D video files
1 In the Share Step Options Panel, click the Create Video File button
and select 3D.
2 Choose the video format from the submenu.
The Create Video File dialog box appears.
3 Click Options to specify additional video file settings.
4 Depending on the properties of the media clips used in the 3D
project, enable one of the following options:
• Create 3D File — This option is available when you use tagged
3D media clips and no 2D filters or effects have been applied.
• 3D Simulator — This option is available when you have 2D
media clips in the Timeline that you can simulate as 3D. Enter a
value in Depth to adjust the depth of the 3D video file.
5 Choose a mode of 3D conversion from the following options:
• Anaglyph — Requires only the red and blue generic anaglyph
3D glasses to view 3D video without the need for special display
monitors.
• Side-by-side — Requires polarized 3D glasses and a compatible
polarized display monitor to view 3D video.
Note: You need a playback software that supports Side-by-side
3D video playback to view your 3D video files. For 3D TVs, 3D
equipment and glasses are required.
6 Enter a file name and click Save.
The movie file is saved in the current library.

[Ken Berry]

... the 3D selection in the Share section is purely for fake 3D.

I have kept out of this thread till now since I did not want to trash this aspect of the product. But my own experiments with 3D and VS started in X4 when it was first introduced. I thought then -- and have not really changed my mind -- that it was really only a gimmick added to make the product more attractive. True 3D is a very complex format, and I doubt that a consumer level product like VS could really cope well with that complexity. Mind you, I would be happy if I were proved to be wrong -- but currently I have no equipment which can play 3D video, apart from the glasses which came with X4!! So the matter tends to be moot for me anyway...

[rwernyei]

Ken,

I have the Panasonic HDC-SDT750 camera which can be equipped with a 3D lens converting a 3MOS 2D camera into a 3D camera. These raw 3D files play nicely on my 3D TV. One problem is that when using this 3D lens, you lose 2 full stops of light bringing it down to F/3.2. I would be interested in shooting pristine 2D footage and apply all the 2D effects I want in VSPX6 and then create a 3D file using the 3D Simulator with selective 3D Depth value to create pseudo 3D file to be played on my 3D TV. Today's smart 3D TVs like Samsung and LG allow for 2D>3D conversion and relatively do a good job at it. Tricky part is finding the sweet spot by changing depth values via TV remote. Too strong of a 3D effect can create dizziness and headaches. Sounds like this would be the same process with VSPX6's 3D Simulator feature, unfortunately one would have to render several files with different depth values to find which one is best. Once satisfied with the result, create Blu ray disc or put files on a flash drive and play directly as media files via 3D TV's USB input. I plan on experimenting with this in the near future.