As was promised earlier this year, Blu-ray Disc Association has now finalised the specifications for 3D Blu-ray, which will bring modern three-dimensional film viewing into the home. The new 3D discs will use a new Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec, which is basically an update to the MPEG-4 AVC codex already used today on most Blu-ray discs. While this takes about 50% more storage space than a normal Blu-ray film, it offers a 3D, HD version of a film.
Previously any 3D releases for the home have had to rely on the old red/green anaglyph approach, which to work most effectively relies on the colours of your TV to be properly calibrated, and even then you get a washed out, darkened image. This new system will address that by offering a full colour system more akin to what’s you get in the cinema, and is designed to be TV agnostic, so that while different manufacturers are planning different systems to turn their TVs 3D, the new Blu-ray format should work with all of them.
There is a catch though. The new 3D specs won’t work with old Blu-ray players (although the PS3 will offer an update), so while discs will be backwards compatible to offer a 2D version of a film, if you want three-dimensions, you’ll have to buy a new 3D capable player. You’ll also need a 3D-ready screen, which is currently only offered on a very few top-end models (although there are plans to bring out technology to turn older TVs 3D, using a shutter glass system). As a result of all this expense, it’s unlikely too many people will be signing up to 3D Blu-ray just yet.
3D Players are expected to be on the market soon (Panasonic’s already planning a roadshow of its offerings), with many expecting a massive push on the technology when the Blu-ray release of Avatar rols around. However it’s difficult to imagine many people going out and spending thousands on a 3D set-up, especially as a lot of people have only just bought into two-dimensional HD.