How To: Upgrade Your 2D Movies to 3D
Posted 03/02/10 at 09:01:53 PM by Alex Castle
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last year, you know that 3D is this year’s entertainment buzzword. With 3D blockbusters like Avatar scoring megabucks in the theaters, 3D cinema’s jump to the living room is all but a foregone conclusion. But where does that leave all your old 2D files and DVDs?
Thanks to a couple of very cool programs and some clever scripting, there’s hope for them yet. In this article, we’re going to show you how to use AviSynth and VirtualDub, along with a script from the 3D Vision Blog to give any 2D film the 3D treatment.
Convert to 3D with AviSynth
To convert our movies to 3D, we’re going to start with a program called AviSynth, so point your browser at bit.ly/2EO5A2 and download the newest version, then run the installer. You’re probably used to running most new programs after you install them, but don’t bother trying with AviSynth—it doesn’t have a user interface. Instead, it functions as a codec, allowing media viewers such as Windows Media Player to understand AviSynth scripts, in the form of AVS files.
As you may have guessed, we’re going to use one such AVS script to upconvert our 2D file to 3D. It’s not magic—the script simply exploits some common visual cues to take a decent stab at applying a 3D effect to a 2D movie, but it’s certainly better than nothing. The script was written by the author at the 3D Vision Blog, and is available here. Go to the site, copy the script (it’s the first big chunk of code) and paste it into notepad.
Before we can use the script it needs a little customization. First, change the filename at the beginning of the script from “Avatar_Trailer_HD.avi” to the filename of the video you want to upconvert.
Save the script with a .AVS filename extension to the same directory as the video file.
At this point, you’re all set to view your movie in 3D. To do so, simply open a media player that works with AVS scripts (such as Windows Media Player) and tell it to open your freshly created .AVS file. Assuming you’ve done everything right so far, you should see an extra-wide version of your video, with two slightly different frames playing side by side. This is the 3D file, formatted to play with Nvidia’s 3D Vision technology. If you would prefer anaglyph (red/cyan) 3D, for use with a pair of filter glasses, you need to make a quick modification to your script. Comment out (by adding a # to the beginning of the line) the line that says StackHorizontal(f2, f1). Then, uncomment (by removing the #) the line that says # MergeRGB(f2.ShowRed, f1.ShowGreen, f1.ShowBlue).
Save Your 3D Video with VirtualDub
So, we’re looking at our video in 3D. Now we’re done, right? Not quite. AviSynth works in real-time, synthesizing an AVI (get it?) from a source file and a script, frame by frame, as the media player requests those frames. This is hard on your CPU, and means that if you want to view the file on any other computer, you’ll need to install AviSynth first. Instead, we’ll now show you how to permanently save the 3D video to your hard drive.
To save the movie, you’ll need a program called VirtualDub. VirtualDub is a lightweight, open source video editor which is especially good at quickly reencoding videos. Go to the VirtualDub site and download and extract the program.
The next step of the process is to make sure that VirtualDub has the tools it needs to make a high quality copy of the 3D movie. More specifically, it needs codecs—one for video and one for audio. The Xvid MP4 and LAME MP3 codecs are excellent, open source examples of each. If you don’t already have these codecs installed for use with some other media program, you’ll need to get them now. The Xvid codec can be found here, and the LAME codec can be downloaded here. Once you’ve downloaded both, run the installers to registers the Codecs in Windows.
Set VirtualDub to use Xvid by clicking Video -> Compression… and then selecting Xvid MPEG-4 Codec. Set it up for audio by first clicking Audio -> Full processing mode and then clicking Audio -> Compression… and selecting MPEG Layer 3.
Finally, open the .AVS file for your 3D video, and click File -> Save as AVI. Give your file a name, and you’re done.
The next step of the process
Submitted by slavemaster on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 1:45pm
The next step of the process is to make sure that VirtualDub has the tools it needs to make a high quality copy of the 3D movie. More specifically, it needs codecs—one for video and one for audio. The Xvid MP4 and LAME MP3 codecs are excellent
Submitted by digicjm on Tue, 05/11/2010 - 8:30am
First of all let me just say that I love the 3D effect produced during stills. I started gaming with NVidia's 3D Vision kit and a 120Hz CRT about a year ago and loved it so much that I recently bought a 3D Ready 720p projector for about $800. The larger 120" projector screen definately produces much more imersive 3D than the CRT while maintaining vivid colors and decent contrast.
I used this method to convert a 720p BluRay rip of Avatar and was blown away by the accuracy of this script in the still scenes, but the fast motion scenes just didn't look right so I opened the AVI in side-by-side mode to see both eye images simultaneously. To my dismay, the motion scenes are obviously out of sync, the left eye is one or two frames ahead of the right eye. The effect is most noticible during scene transitions and running or camera shake sequencenes, but not at all during stills.
As the conversion process took over 8 hours to complete, I haven't had time to play with different settings too much but if anyone has any ideas as to the source of the problem, the AVI script, encoding settings or suggestions on how to fix it please post and I'll give it a shot with the shorter HD trailer.
Submitted by FanaticWS on Sun, 04/25/2010 - 3:07pm
Anybody can tell me what you need to watch this way converted 3D movie? What kind of glasses? Anything else - 3D monitor? I'm not sure what to get.
Thanks
Submitted by scabbynacker on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 4:29pm
I hope this 3D thing is just a short-term craze. Unfortunately content providers are pushing it hard, because they know they can charge a premium for it without doing much more work.
The reason is that 3D doesn't work for me. My eyes don't work together. I don't have depth perception normally, so 3D movies can't work. Thankfully Avatar used a polarizing strategy instead of red/cyan, because then at least I can sit there with the dumb glasses to watch a regular 2D movie (though not as bright as it should be). But I still have to wear the dumb glasses. And pay more for the ticket.
I'm not the only person for who 3D doesn't work, I've seen estimates in some articles that range from 10% at the low end to closer to 30%.
Submitted by transformerfan227 on Wed, 04/14/2010 - 3:04pm
can someone tell me how to install the codecs for virtualdub?
Submitted by williezzy on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 2:01pm
I just got my 3D glasses in the mail. the 3d conversion may show the red and cyan but it doesn't work at all with the glasses, the videos dont look 3d at all. i watched a video at "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RKI0mtedZw" which works very well with the glasses. i may need to adjust the settings in the avs file to work. is anyone else having problems with it not looking 3d. fyi, i used the Pixar BURN-E mini film and it doesn't look 3D, i guess i'll try some other videos, if that dont work then i'll be recoding the avs.
Submitted by Danielt876 on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 7:12pm
If the video on Youtube worked and looked 3D then it is most likely the method you are using to play back your own videos. Check the settings section and look around for the color setting. Try out different color combinations until it works. The most common is red/cyan, but all glasses are different.
Submitted by jazzgrenade on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 9:13pm
This is awesome. Gonna try this later. I haven't tested my 3D Vision with any Stereoscopic 3D movies yet. Although a true S3D movie would be awesome. I think so far only Transformers and the upcoming Avatar on blu-ray will be in full stereoscopic 3D.
Submitted by phoenix.lk337 on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 5:06pm
May this script above work with MKV file? Anybody try it? :))
Submitted by JohnP on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 2:32pm
The news is not good. When sitting closely to a 3D image on a small screen, a researcher found eye strain and nausea on about 50% of the users with GOOD quality 3D (7-10% in movies). Only NOW are all these 3D Maniac companies sponsoring his research.
The uptake of this will be the, err, upchuck of a lot of 3D wannabe watchers. Sounds like big TVs and long distance seating will be the best way to enjoy it for now. Forget about 3D on the computer screen.
BTW, both ATI and NVidia have a free way to display World of Warcraft, say, in 3D using red/blue glasses ( tried both cards, ATI is a bit better than NVidia). I dare you to try using them for more than 20 minutes though!
Submitted by williezzy on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 8:18am
The "LAME" link is messed up. It leads to "http://www.maximumpc.com/bit.ly/8VHgfr", it should lead to "bit.ly/8VHgfr". I blame Murphy just like the "Page Not Found!!!" says. I'm just joking, but seriuosly Alex could you fix this, or maybe someone else that has the ability to edit these pages. Also, nice article, I can now watch all of my videos in 3d. But I need to get some 3d glasses. cya
Submitted by thematejka on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 12:55am
I don't understand how people could have disliked or walked out on Avatar. Not only were the effects and CGI awesome, but the whole story, message, plot was just wonderful! I am a CG artist by hobby, and after doing it for 2 years, I usually really notice what is CG in a movie, and the slight imperfections in some CGI. After watching Avatar I walked away amazed. Barely a flaw in it at all! It was freaking amazing!
Took the wife and kids to
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 10:54pm
Took the wife and kids to see Avatar in 3d and the local IMAX theater and this was our very first ever IMAX visit and after seeing Avatar in 2D and then seeing it in 3D at IMAX I have to say I don't want to ever go to any other theater then IMAX.
Avatar in IMAX 3D is just plain amazing. I was reaching out to grab at the bugs that were buzzing around just inches from my face. It was just wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cool.
Also I think people are just taking the story and message way too seriously and personally. Come on it's just a movie. In fact I've seen this movie before. This is like alot of those old Cavalry and Indian wars movies. Dances with Wolves comes to mind when I think of this movie. This is science fiction and nothing else. It's just a story and has nothing to do with real life. Hell it's set in the distant future like 2154 for starters.
People are getting entirely too worked up over the story and plot of this film. It's not anti White. It's just a great story. If you get upset with this story you will probably take Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back personally as well. Get out of here already.
And unfortunately it's people from my party (the republican party) that are getting all upset. But here is one republican that just loves the movie. Hell I even cried at the end. LOL..
Submitted by thesmilies on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 10:53pm
I would rather be able to see the lint on somebody's jacket than see the fuzzy garbage that is (most) 3D.
Avatar pulled it off well, but if 3D isn't done well its just terrible.
Submitted by ahroogahh on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 8:42pm
Now someone just needs to write an article explaining WHY someone would want to convert their movies into 3D...
Submitted by szore on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 8:10pm
3D sucks. I walked out on Avatar.
I Disagree, Avatar was
Submitted by Digital-Storm on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 9:54pm
I Disagree, Avatar was amazing, and looked very real. You must have had a bad experience.
Submitted by Neufeldt2002 on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 7:34pm
I really hope this 3D craze is just that. 3D gives me an instant headache. When they can do the 3D without the glasses I might try it again, but until then, I'll take 2D video please.
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