How to watch 3D on Acer "3D Ready" projector?

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We have here a Acer P1200 DLP projector which is "3D Ready" (using the BrilliantColor™ DarkChip™ 3) and documentation was not included in the packaging. We don't have a Blu-ray player and have no intention of purchasing one in the near future so I'm looking for a way to view encoded or streamed content.

My question is: How is it possible to watch 3D content? What extra hardware/software will I need?

EDIT: Found this information in the user manual:

DLP 3D function:

Choose while using DLP 3D glasses, quad buffer (NVIDIA/ATI…) graphic card and HQFS format file or DVD with corresponding SW player.

3D Sync L/R:

If you see a discrete or overlapping image while wearing DLP 3D glasses, you may need to execute "Invert" to get best match of left/ right image sequence to get the correct image (for DLP 3D).

...but I'm still at a loss. What is a quad buffer graphics card?

glenneroo

Posted 2011-01-29T22:21:14.830

Reputation: 1 800

1Are you planning to use this in conjunction with a computer? If you aren't, then this question is off topic. – Wuffers – 2011-01-29T22:23:04.687

1Yes. I'll update my question. – glenneroo – 2011-01-29T22:25:15.997

I've updated my answer based on your edit. – ChrisF – 2011-01-29T23:22:45.527

Answers

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It all depends on how the content is encoded.

  1. Using two projectors. The left and right eye images are sent to different projectors which have been aligned to perfectly overlap and projected through polarised or tinted filters. The user wears the appropriate glasses and sees a 3d effect. With these you get perfect or near perfect colours. This is what you'll be seeing when you go to the cinema to see the latest block buster in 3D.

  2. The separate left and right eye streams are encoded in the same image. This is how Google street view does its 3d. This will be the "classic" red/green filtering. You only need one projector, but you will need the old red/green glasses. The colours won't be perfect. This is what you'll be seeing when you rent/buy the latest blockbuster for your home DVD viewing.

As you only have one projector you need to go for option 2. So you need to find such encoded content. The only other hardware you'll need are the glasses.

Google Maps 3D mode on and off

As you can see from this screen shot of Google Maps 3D mode, I can see the separate red and green images (on the left) despite only having one "projector".

UPDATE

From the updated question you may have another means of getting the 3d effect at your disposal. This is where the left and right eye images are displayed alternately and you wear special "shutter" glasses which blank out the left and right eyes in sync with the images. For this you need an emitter which will be linked to the projector and in your field of view and the special glasses. A search for "DLP 3d glasses" will show you some shopping results and more information. This requires that the image can be displayed at at least 120Hz so each eye sees a 60Hz image to avoid flickering.

This is how the new breed of 3D televisions work.

Quad Buffer Graphics cards

Normally you have double buffered displays. The next frame is written to the back buffer which is then swapped with the front buffer so you get a smooth display. With four buffers you can display the separate left and right eye images "independently" as you have two front and two back buffers. This Wikipedia entry is basic but has links to more information.

ChrisF

Posted 2011-01-29T22:21:14.830

Reputation: 39 650

Red/green would be awesome as we have quite a few lying around. Do you know what codecs support this? – glenneroo – 2011-01-29T22:37:04.670

Also I guess this isn't an "Acer 3D Ready" specific answer i.e. I could do this with any projector? – glenneroo – 2011-01-29T22:38:36.667

1@glenneroo - the codec doesn't matter. The left and right eye streams are combined into one image that's projected using any codec. – ChrisF – 2011-01-29T22:39:03.960

@ChrisF - are there any codecs which are better suited (and/or optimized) for this? – glenneroo – 2011-01-29T22:40:44.633

@glenneroo - yes you could do it with any projector. No idea which codec are better for this. – ChrisF – 2011-01-29T22:45:03.700

1Google Maps 3D mode? I must have been sleeping... – Tamara Wijsman – 2011-01-29T23:16:42.780

Although it's a good answer, I haven't marked this as the answer because the specifics are still rather projector-agnostic. Your update is a good start but someone who has actually used this "3D Ready" technology in their own home would be my preferred expert. – glenneroo – 2011-01-30T11:10:46.973

@glenneroo - of course. However, in a previous job I did 3D graphics and stereo displays were my speciality - both the projector and LCD shutter glasses. – ChrisF – 2011-01-30T11:12:40.870

I would also presume that you were using more "professional" equipment than some cheap-o Acer? Or are this a standard now? Do you know what Acer means by "quad buffer graphics card" requirement? And do your comments about left/green "any codec" apply to this "shutter" technique as well? – glenneroo – 2011-01-30T11:22:29.750

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@glenneroo - nope. We used the cheapest equipment we could find as our customers didn't want to spend any money ;). See my update on quad buffering. The red/green anaglyph and shutter glasses are completely separate techniques.

– ChrisF – 2011-01-30T11:26:40.733

Asked: 2011-01-29T22:21:14.830

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