Digital 3D facts for kids

Digital 3D is a cool way to watch movies, TV shows, and play video games where the pictures look like they have real depth, just like in the real world! Instead of a flat image, you feel like you can almost reach out and touch what's on the screen. This special effect is created using digital technology, either when the content is made or added later.

One of the first studios to use digital 3D was Walt Disney Pictures. The 2008 animated movie Bolt was one of the first films animated and made especially for digital 3D.

What is Digital 3D?

Digital 3D is a type of stereoscopy. This is a fancy word for how our eyes see the world. Each of your eyes sees things from a slightly different angle. Your brain then puts these two pictures together to create one image that has depth. This is how you know if something is close or far away.

Digital 3D technology works in a similar way. It shows two slightly different images on a screen. When you wear special 3D glasses, each eye sees only one of these images. Your brain then combines them, making the flat screen look like it has real depth and objects popping out!

How Digital 3D Works

Digital 3D uses special methods to send a different picture to each of your eyes. This tricks your brain into seeing depth.

Creating the 3D Effect

• Two Cameras: When a movie is filmed in digital 3D, two cameras are often used. They are placed side-by-side, just like your eyes. Each camera records a slightly different view of the scene.
• Computer Graphics: For animated movies or video games, artists create two separate images from slightly different viewpoints using computers.
• Post-Production: Sometimes, regular 2D movies are changed into 3D after they are filmed. This is called post-production. Computers add the depth effect to the original flat images.

The Role of 3D Glasses

After the two images are created, special glasses help your eyes see them separately.

• Polarized Glasses: These are common in movie theaters. They use different light filters for each lens. The screen sends out two types of light, and each lens only lets one type through.
• Active Shutter Glasses: These glasses have tiny electronic shutters that open and close very quickly. They flash open for one eye while the screen shows its image, then close and open for the other eye when its image is shown. This happens so fast you don't even notice it!

Where You See Digital 3D

Digital 3D technology is used in many places to make entertainment more exciting.

In Movies

Many movies today are released in digital 3D. This makes action scenes feel more intense and animated worlds feel more immersive. Going to a 3D movie theater gives you a unique experience where you feel like you're part of the story.

On Television

For a while, some TV channels and shows were broadcast in 3D. You needed a special 3D TV and glasses to watch them at home. While less common now, it showed how 3D could come right into your living room.

In Video Games

Many video games also offer a 3D mode. Playing a game in 3D can make the characters and environments feel more real. It can even help you judge distances better in the game, like when you're aiming or jumping.

The Future of 3D

Scientists and engineers are always working on new ways to experience 3D. Some new technologies are trying to create 3D effects without needing special glasses. Imagine watching a movie where the characters seem to float in front of your screen, all without wearing anything on your face! This kind of technology is still being developed, but it shows how exciting the future of digital 3D could be.