Alice in Wonderland… IN 3D!

I can’t even try to explain how excited I am about the release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (March 5). His work is so detailed, I get giddy thinking it in 3D!

I’ve been waiting with anticipation for about a year (yup thats right) and with all the hype over 3D for example Avatar (highest grossing movie of all time) my curiosity got the best of me… how are 3D movies made? Well heres the answer my fellow nerdy friends…

Filming in 3D requires the use of two cameras, barely offset, capturing all the action in tandem. Graphic artists separate shots out into layers of depth, which can number anywhere from two layers for shots with simple shots to eight for shots with more complex compositions. Then, the objects in each layer are carefully traced, creating a topographical map of the scene. Here, the computer steps in, simulating the second camera’s perspective by generating another, slightly offset image. The images in the layers closest to the viewer are offset the most, creating the illusion of things popping off the screen, while the background is only offset slightly.

Explanation provided by Gizmodo. To read about the process in more detail, head over to Slate.