3D Filmmaking Course

Lesson 1 • 3D Display Technologies Overview

Surveys passive polarised, active shutter, autostereoscopic, and VR displays. Learners match display type to production requirements.

Lesson 2 • Core Stereoscopic Terminology

Defines interaxial distance, convergence point, positive and negative parallax, and the screen plane. Provides shared vocabulary for the entire course.

Lesson 3 • How Human Depth Perception Works

Covers binocular disparity, convergence, and parallax as the biological basis of 3D. Grounds all later technical decisions in perceptual science.

Lesson 1 • Integrated 3D Camera Systems

Reviews purpose-built stereoscopic cameras with fixed baselines. Learners evaluate when integrated systems outperform custom rigs.

Lesson 2 • On-Set Rig Troubleshooting

Identifies common alignment failures, sync drops, and mirror contamination. Builds rapid diagnostic habits before rolling camera.

Lesson 3 • Beam-Splitter Mirror Rig Design

Details the half-silvered mirror that enables near-zero interaxial distances. Learners learn alignment, cleaning, and optical path calibration.

Lesson 4 • Matched Camera Calibration

Covers sensor synchronisation, matched lenses, colour balance, and exposure parity between left and right cameras. Mismatches cause viewer discomfort.

Lesson 1 • Depth Continuity Across Cuts

Addresses depth matching between shots to prevent jarring parallax jumps at edits. Learners create depth continuity scripts.

Lesson 2 • Floating Window Techniques

Explains how masking the frame edges prevents edge violations that break the stereo illusion. Learners apply floating windows in post.

Lesson 3 • Convergence and Screen Plane Staging

Teaches placing the convergence point to control where subjects sit relative to the screen. Connects to audience comfort and narrative focus.

Lesson 4 • Depth Budget Planning

Defines the comfortable range between maximum negative and positive parallax for a given screen size. Learners calculate depth budgets before shooting.

Lesson 1 • Lighting Consistency Across Both Cameras

Ensures identical exposure and colour temperature reach both sensors. Inconsistent lighting is a primary cause of viewer eye strain.

Lesson 2 • How Lighting Affects Depth Perception

Examines how shadows, gradients, and specular highlights reinforce or contradict stereoscopic depth cues. Builds on Chapter 1 perceptual science.

Lesson 3 • Practical Lighting Setups for 3D

Demonstrates three-point, motivated, and high-contrast setups optimised for stereoscopic capture. Learners adapt each setup to a depth budget.

Lesson 1 • Data Management and Dual-Stream Recording

Addresses synchronised dual-stream recording, file naming, and metadata tagging for left and right channels. Prevents sync errors in post.

Lesson 2 • Depth Monitoring with Anaglyph Preview

Uses anaglyph glasses on set to evaluate depth composition in real time. Learners identify edge violations and excessive parallax before moving on.

Lesson 3 • Stereo Monitoring Hardware

Covers field monitors, polarised glasses, and anaglyph preview tools used on set. Learners select appropriate monitoring for budget and environment.

Lesson 1 • Parallax Adjustment in Post

Demonstrates horizontal image translation to shift the convergence point and reshape the depth budget after shooting. Expands creative options.

Lesson 2 • Colour Grading Stereo Pairs

Ensures identical colour, contrast, and saturation between left and right eyes. Differential grading causes stereo rivalry and viewer fatigue.

Lesson 3 • Geometric Correction and Alignment

Applies vertical, rotational, zoom, and keystone corrections to eliminate camera misalignment. Builds on on-set monitoring from Chapter 5.

Lesson 4 • Stereo Quality Control and Delivery

Runs a final QC pass checking alignment, parallax, colour, and floating windows before mastering. Learners produce a delivery-ready stereo master.

Lesson 1 • Rendering CGI in Stereo

Configures 3D software cameras to match the physical rig's interaxial and convergence. Learners render a stereo CGI asset with correct depth.

Lesson 2 • Stereo VFX Pipeline Overview

Maps the stereo VFX pipeline from on-set data capture through render and composite. Connects to the post workflow established in Chapter 6.

Lesson 3 • Compositing VFX into Stereo Footage

Integrates rendered CGI into live-action stereo plates, maintaining depth consistency and edge integrity. Applies floating window fixes where needed.

Lesson 4 • Stereo Conversion of 2D Elements

Teaches depth-grading and rotoscope-based 2D-to-3D conversion for titles, graphics, and archival footage. Maintains depth budget consistency.

Lesson 1 • Audience Comfort and Ethical Responsibility

Addresses photosensitivity, motion sickness triggers, and viewer fatigue as ethical obligations. Learners apply comfort guidelines to their depth scripts.

Lesson 2 • Editing Rhythm and Depth Pacing

Connects cut timing to depth transitions so edits feel motivated rather than jarring. Builds on depth continuity from Chapter 3.

Lesson 3 • Genre-Specific Depth Strategies

Examines how horror, action, documentary, and drama each demand different depth approaches. Learners adapt depth scripts to genre conventions.

Lesson 4 • Depth as Narrative Language

Analyses how depth placement communicates character psychology, power dynamics, and emotional tone. Elevates stereo from spectacle to storytelling.