The annual Consumer Electronics Show takes place in Las Vegas in January and if you thought 3D was hot in 2011, just wait and see what 2012 has in store. One company we’re already excited about it LO3D, manufacturer of the word’s first HD digital 3D photographic system.
Allen Lo (inventor of the Nimslo 3D camera in 1980) and company partners who pioneered 3D photo imaging – Nimslo 3D film cameras, Kodak & Konica 3D single-use film cameras – have been working together on this technology for nine years. Those attending CES will get to see the end result – the first commercial 3D Digital Printer, 3D Digital Paper for prints, 3D Digital Cameras & glassless 3D Digital Photo Frames.
Just one look and you can tell that LO3D’s 3-lens consumer camera (pictured above) is different from your typical 3D camera. All other 3D cameras have only two lenses – which is fine taking video for TV viewing but not ideal for 3D photos because of a narrow viewing angle (approximately 10º). The LO3D 3-lens camera extends the viewing angle of a 3D photo to 50º.
The LO3D 3-lens camera is able to produce 3D photos from a sequence of 2D images taken by any 2D camera with a sliding track, and 4D photos can be produced from a sequence of action photo or video frames ranging from 2 to 30 frames.
LO3D also has a 6-lens LO3D camera (pictured below) that will be unveiled at the show. It is designed for bridal and professional 3D photography.
Also at CES will be the company’s Digital 3D Photographic Printer. It operates similar to a standard digital 2D photo printer, yet is capable of producing HD 3D/4D/2D photos from digital images taken by any single-lens and multi-lens digital camera.
Several printer models are in development for different applications (consumer, professional, bridal, advertising and all types of commercial 3D images) and offer different 3D photo sizes ranging from 8″ x 10″ to 1M². As far as output is concerned, the G1 printer is capable of producing approx. 60 4″ x 6″ finished 3D photos per hour.
The 3D photo that the printer produces is printed on a HD Optical 3D lenticular Paper developed by LO3D (pictured below), utilizing an optical image compression and interlace technique. During processing, the chemical penetrates through the permeable Tio2 reflective layer coated on the back side of the emulsion to develop the image. The 3D photo is then ready for viewing, without laminating of a lenticular screen to the interlaced 3D image sheet, similar to conventional 2D photofinishing.
The LO3D product line – with its patented 3D printer processor and a one step process – will bring 3D photo imaging to the masses, making it economical for consumers at both the amateur and professional levels.
More detailed information on LO3D’s new products will be available at CES. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on this innovative technology.
In the meantime, you can go to www.fototec.com for information on additional cameras and equipment.
