What is Blu-ray 3D?

In December 2009 the Blu-ray Disc Association finalized the specification for 3D content on Blu-ray discs. BD 3D delivers Full HD 1080p resolution to each eye, regardless of whether that display uses LCD, Plasma or LED technology.

Do I have to wear glasses? What kind?

The viewer still has to wear polarized glasses, but in Blu-ray 3D the glasses have LCD active shutters that are synchronized with signals from the TV. The shutters rapidly block the right and left eye views alternately so each eye receives the correct image. This technology gives higher resolution than simpler X-Pol glasses because in active shutter technology each eye sees all the lines in the video, whereas in X-Pol each eye sees only half the lines.

Do I need a new screen to watch Blu-ray 3D?

Yes, a BD 3D compatible screen is required to view 3D content. As of NAB 2010, screens from Panasonic and Samsung are available at retail. The new screens have higher refresh rates and IR transmitters that work with the Active Shutter glasses. 3D screens can also display 2D content.

Do I need a special Blu-ray Player?

Yes. 3D - compatible Blu-ray players will be marked with the BD 3D logo. Many Profile 2.0 (BD Live) players - including the Sony PS3 – can be upgraded to 3D via firmware.

What kind of video file is used for BD 3D?

The Blu-ray Disc Association has chosen the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec to store 3D, so that even though it is now providing a full 1080p frame for each eye, it will only require about 50% more storage space compared to the 2D version, and all 3D discs will be fully backwards compatible, in 2D, on existing players.

Do I need to shoot stereoscopic video to create Blu-ray 3D?

You can create original content in stereoscopic 3D, or you can add the 3D effect to 2D video by creating an offset image in post production.

How do I author a 3D Blu-ray disc?

The basic authoring concepts for Blu-ray carry over from 2D to 3D. As of NAB 2010, NetBlender DoStudio, Sony Blu-print and Sonic Scenarist have announced support for 3D authoring.

Are Blu-ray menus in 3D?

The BDA defines a specification for 3D menus in HDMV mode and BD-J. As of NAB 2010, the PS3 will not support 3D BD-J.