Making a 3D movie
shouldn’t set you back a fortune, so we wanted to create a way to
do it cheaply. How cheaply? Less than 80 bucks is a good place to
start considering that a regular video cam will set you back $300 or
more!
What will you need to make a 3D movie? Just a few pieces of hardware and quite a bit of software. (We've provided links for you) You will need two CVS one-use video cams, you will need to modify them, here's how to do that.
What will you need to make a 3D movie? Just a few pieces of hardware and quite a bit of software. (We've provided links for you) You will need two CVS one-use video cams, you will need to modify them, here's how to do that.
Here's what you'll need to make your 3D movie:
2 C.V.S. disposable video cams ($25-$35, eBay)
1 1” Wide metal bar (about $2-$3)
Any kind of wooden handle
A few nuts and bolts (about $3)
1 N/O (normally closed) switch $1.50 Circuit City
12 inches of stripped-down cat5 cable (regular coax tv cable) ($2)
Total: About $70-$80 bucks
2 C.V.S. disposable video cams ($25-$35, eBay)
1 1” Wide metal bar (about $2-$3)
Any kind of wooden handle
A few nuts and bolts (about $3)
1 N/O (normally closed) switch $1.50 Circuit City
12 inches of stripped-down cat5 cable (regular coax tv cable) ($2)
Total: About $70-$80 bucks
We will
need to solder on some wire and run them to one switch so that we can
record on both cameras at the same time. If you look at the
circuit board around the "record button" , you will notice four
small solder points around the "button". We want to solder wire
leads from the top left point and the bottom right point. We won't use
the other two. We recommend that you use solid-core wire (cat 5
is the best, just strip it down) since it is easier to use.
Using a
drill, make a hole on the side of the cam, run your wire out, and
reassemble. Remember which wire went to which point on the
switch! When we solder the wires later, we need to make sure that the
top left contacts on both cameras are on the same side and the bottom
right contacts are on the other side. Don't get them backwards,
or one camera will start recording while the other camera stops
recording.
When you
finish with the cams, you will still need to stick a bolt through
the bottom, in order to make a mount for both cameras. Take
the batteries out, and drill two holes large enough for a small
bolt. Be sure to use glue on the bolt, so it doesn't
spin. You should now have a stable mount for your cam.
Use any
kind of device with a wooden handle to use as a camera mount. You
will also need any kind of metal strip about 6 inches long, 1 inch
wide, and flat. Drill three holes in in the metal strip at 1
½” apart so that you have a hole in the middle of the
strip, and a holes on both sides 1 ½” away from each
other. (We need to have the lenses of the cams about 3 inches apart) We
will use the centre hole for the handle.
Notice that we have mounted a "normally opened" switch in the handle, and glued it onto place after we ran the wires to it.
Notice that we have mounted a "normally opened" switch in the handle, and glued it onto place after we ran the wires to it.
About the software you'll need:
You will need certain software and drivers to download your movies from the cams. See this article to set this up.
In addition, you will need two more software programs. The 1st converts AVI files into other file types. You need this to use the editing software. (You need to have a QuickTime-compatible MOV or AVI file. Since the cam produces "xVid" format AVI movies, it will not import into your editing program. You can get the program from www.movietoolbox.com. (This shareware will convert the AVI files with the "xVid" codec into an AVI file with the "Microsoft Video 1" codec).
You will need certain software and drivers to download your movies from the cams. See this article to set this up.
In addition, you will need two more software programs. The 1st converts AVI files into other file types. You need this to use the editing software. (You need to have a QuickTime-compatible MOV or AVI file. Since the cam produces "xVid" format AVI movies, it will not import into your editing program. You can get the program from www.movietoolbox.com. (This shareware will convert the AVI files with the "xVid" codec into an AVI file with the "Microsoft Video 1" codec).
Now, the second program: Avid Free DV. Get the free version at: www.avid.com/freedv
After you install and launch Avid Free DV and "create a new project", you need to make two "bins", (one for the left cam, one for the right) and import the converted movies into their respective "bins".
After you install and launch Avid Free DV and "create a new project", you need to make two "bins", (one for the left cam, one for the right) and import the converted movies into their respective "bins".
Now the fun
part! " Avid Free DV" allows only 2 video tracks and 1 effect for each
clip. This is a little hard, because we need to make a color
effect on the left cam to make it red, and then "super impose" it over
the right cam that we put a blue effect on. So, place the left
cam on the "sequence" and drop a colour effect on it. Then, open
the "effects editor" and set the "Red" to 150 % and
"Blue/Green" to 0 %. Then, export the clip to a MOV file. Now,
import that file that you just exported, and you will have a clip with
the "red filter" applied already, and you can apply the "super
impose" to this new clip.
Now, create
a new "sequence" and lay down your right camera image on video track
1. Use the color effect on it, and adjust the "red" to 0%
and the "blue/green" to 100 %.
Create a
new video track and drop the red clip you just imported on the second
video track. Make sure you line up the 2 clips to the same starting
point. Since we used the same button to start and stop the
camera, all of the clips will be the same length. To make sure
you drop it exactly at the start of the other clip, you can hold
down the control key to make your clip "lock" to the closest edit point.
To combine
the two images, use a "superimpose" effect on the 2nd track and set the
level to 45 %. Be sure you are watching the 2nd track by clicking
on the little monitor beside the V2, and watch your amazing 3D
creation!
If you need help with the avid software, check out the forums at: http://www.avid.com/freedv/tutorials/index.asp
Oh, and if you need 3D glasses, you can find them at most comic book shops, or go to: www.rainbowsymphony.com
Have fun!
Oh, and if you need 3D glasses, you can find them at most comic book shops, or go to: www.rainbowsymphony.com
Have fun!
Copyright 2007 your3dsource.com
Make A 3D Movie At Home, For Next To No Cost
