June 13th, 2011
Tim Dashwood with 3D Chart
Originally published in American Cinematographer June 2011
DSC Labs has introduced the Dashwood 3D Chart. Developed with stereographer and Dashwood Cinema Solutions founder Tim Dashwood, the Dashwood 3D Chart allows 3-D crews to achieve accurate 3-D rig calibration when integrated with the new Dashwood Stereo3D CAT calibration software. The chart’s unique visual code trackers work alongside the application’s logic system to automatically track to 1/100 of a pixel for ideal stereo alignment at unprecedented speeds. The chart also offers an optional interface for live wireless feedback, with iPad support to assist camera alignment, sync testing, slating, and color and gamma calibration. For those aligning without computer assistance, the Dashwood 3D Chart offers manual pattern alignment that features DSC Lab’s distinctive FiddleHead spirals for corner-to-corner focus.
March 11th, 2011
Principal photography on a new experimental 3D documentatry from the National Film Board is underway in Toronto.
The St. Judes is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jeffrey St. Jules and produced by the NFB Ontario Centre’s Anita Lee.
The 3D production services are provided by Canadian stereographer and 3D software developer Tim Dashwood and his company Stereo3D Unlimited; John Minh Tran is director of photography.
Tim-Dashwood and John Minh Tran
February 21st, 2011
Calibrate, analyze, master, render; Dashwood’s new product line automates complex production tasks and provides an easy transition into Stereo 3D
Toronto, Canada – February 11, 2011 – Dashwood Cinema Solutions, developer of 3D solutions, has announced its plan to unveil a new line of cutting-edge Mac®-based stereoscopic 3D products at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, held in Las Vegas, NV from April 11-14, 2011, in the 3D Pavilion (booth number C10514D3). Designed to accelerate 3D productions from camera lens calibration to mastering, Dashwood’s new product line automates complex production tasks and lends continuity to 3D workflows. “Our new products address gaps in typical 3D workflows. They remove the complexities of working in 3D and significantly reduce downtime during 3D production,” comments Tim Dashwood, founder of Dashwood Cinema Solutions. “With these tools, 3D production teams can work with greater confidence, speed and efficiency.” Visitors to the NAB show can also experience some of the new Dashwood 3D solutions on the DSC Labs (C10215), Matrox (SL2515), Stereo3D Unlimited (C10514D1), and Panasonic (C3707) booths.
NEW – Stereo3D CAT™ – Fast and Flawless Camera Alignment & Analysis
Stereo3D CAT™ is an on-location software calibration and analysis system that dramatically simplifies the calibration of left and right eye cameras. Equipped with a unique eyestrain warning system, Stereo3D CAT™ scans 3D footage and calculates the correct camera alignment points. Feedback guides illustrate the depth of the 3D shot and provide directors and cinematographers with a visual aide for making convergence adjustments and proper interaxial separation. “3D camera calibration is very time-consuming and complex; Stereo3D CAT™ helps speed up the process by providing both quantified feedback and visual guides that properly and quickly set up your left and right cameras in the rig,” says Dashwood. “What used to take up to an hour, now takes only minutes to accomplish using Stereo3D CAT™. Production crews can finally make quick lens changes without the time-consuming process of re-calibration using traditional charts.”
September 10th, 2010
Tim Dashwood's production company Stereo3D Unlimited, in partnership with Arri, Stereo3D Tango, JVC and Zeiss shot Ariana Gillis' "Shake the Apple" music video with two Arri Alexa cameras.
Toronto-based production company, Stereo3D Unlimited, has just shot and released the stereoscopic 3D music video “Shake The Apple” by Ariana Gillis on YouTube 3D and Vimeo. The four minute video was shot at Stereo3D Unlimited’s studio in Toronto using two Arri Alexa cameras, Zeiss Master Prime lenses, the Stereo3D Tango beamsplitter rig, and Dashwood Cinema Solutions’s Stereo3D Live™ calibration/analysis software. Post was completed in Final Cut Pro and After Effects with Dashwood Cinema Solutions’ Stereo3D Toolbox™.
“What started as a simple stereoscopic test of the new Arri Alexa cameras turned into a full-fledged 3D music video that we are very proud of” said Tim Dashwood, owner/CTO of Stereo3D Unlimited and founder of Dashwood Cinema Solutions. “The Alexa cameras performed exactly as advertised and held perfect sync when tethered together for stereoscopic 3D.”
When the rare opportunity of two Arri Alexa cameras being available on the same day arose, Dashwood jumped on the chance.
When the rare opportunity of two Arri Alexa cameras being available on the same day arose, Dashwood jumped on the chance to shoot a 3D test. He had originally just intended to evaluate the Alexa’s ability to work in a stereoscopic configuration on the Stereo3D Tango rig and also test the camera’s latitude in various lighting setups. Zeiss provided 18mm and 35mm Master Primes, PS Toronto provided grip, electric & camera support, 3D Camera Company provided the Stereo3D Tango rig, JVC Canada provided their IF-2D3D1 stereoscopic processor, and Arri Canada sourced the two Alexas.
“We only had one afternoon available to shoot so I borrowed some random set pieces and props from other productions, whatever was available, and we set out to light each one in a different style and T-stop” says Dashwood. “It occurred to me that it would be interesting to have a model walk from set to set without changing the camera exposure and see how it reacted in LogC mode…all in one take. This meant one continuous tracking shot from a string of tiny christmas lights, to green screen, to outside. I rang up Ariana to see if she would perform a new song for us just to make our test more interesting to watch. The whole crew reacted so positively when we played back the dailies that I figured we should upload it to YouTube and Vimeo to share it with the world.”
