Presentation guidelines

For authors: Authors Presentation Proposal Form in DOC and PDF form.

Shows should send to the ISU Technical Team (tech.isu2013@gmail.com) before 30th of June 2013 (before 30th of May 2013 for checking – see under point 4 of Instructions and limitations below) by using file sharing sites like WeTransfer, Send Space, YouSendIt, etc. If a file is too large, it can be sent by ordinary mail on a CD, DVD, BluRay or USB key to the address:

Damir Vrancic
J. Stefan Institute
Jamova 39
SI – 1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia (Europe)

When sending the file, please, state the author’s name(s), show title, duration of the show, and the type of presentation (program used to produce the executable or video codec used). An official form for submitting the files will be available soon. Before sending a file, please, make sure that it conforms to instructions and limitations, given below.

 

GUIDELINES AND LIMITATIONS

1. Maximum length of the shows should be 15 minutes for one author. If author’s cumulative length of the shows is more than 15 minutes, the author should provide priority list of his/her shows. Namely, if projection slots will be filled up, the shows with lower priority will have to be cancelled. If the author can choose between video file or exe show, video file is preferred.

2. Executable shows (MyAlbum, Wings, Proshow, Picture To Exe, M.objects etc.) should be prepared in 3840×1200 or 3840×1080 format (stereo pair). Please, make sure that horizontal resolution is exactly 3840 pixels. Executable shows with different sizes cannot be projected easily on our system (except for MyAlbum files, which can be of arbitrary format). Exe shows should start and terminate automatically without any user interaction (without ESC keys). The authors can add (but it is not necessary) black picture at the beginning and at the end of the show. However, duration of the black screen should be lower than 4 seconds.

3. Preferred resolution of video files is 3840×1080 or 3840x1200. We will accept other resolutions as well if video quality is appropriate. Preferred video codec is XviD, but some other codecs can be used as well (mpeg2, mpeg4, h264, wmv,…). Video bit-rate depends on content (average bit-rates are usually between 20-40Mbits/s).

4. Shows with excessive stereo parallax (guideline values are positive parallax up to about 1/30 of picture width and negative parallax up to about 1/60 of picture width), vertical misalignment, non-synchronous clips and similar problems will have to be corrected by the author before submitting. Our technical team can help the authors to correct the shows if they send them for check up to about three months before the Congress. The authors can also send individual pictures or video clips for our inspection (contact e-mail: tech.isu2013@gmail.com) before submitting the show.

5. There are no particular restrictions on subject of the show. However, the technical committee reserves rights to reject a show if it finds it inappropriate for broader audience.

Authors should fill in and send Authors Presentation Proposal Form.
Choose from two versions: in DOC and PDF form.

 

SUBMITTING ANALOG FILM PRESENTATIONS

Due to very low interest in analog film presentations (up to 15. June there were no proposals received), analog slots were cancelled out.

Due to request from several national clubs, the ISU 2013 Congress if also offering analog film projections. However, due to the limited equipment, only RBT frames are allowed. Additionally, all analog shows should be synchronised by Stumpfl/Wings programme only.

Points 1, 4 and 5 from guidelines and limitations given above are valid for analog presentations as well.

More information can be get by contacting the organizers: tech.isu2013@gmail.com

Authors of ANALOG FILM shows should fill in and send Analog Presentation Proposal Form. Choose from two versions: in DOC or PDF form.

 

WHY THE GUIDELINES?

At the ISU 2013 we try to set such projection parameters (size of projected picture and amount of projection floating window) that everybody would enjoy the shows wherever he/she sits within the projection hall. However, we are limited by projection hall dimensions, size of the screen and position of the first row of seats. The sizes are a little more restrictive than at some previous congresses.

This was the main reason for introducing the guidelines for authors for preparing the shows (see above). More detailed explanation is following below in the form of questions and answers.

 

Q: Why some shows, which were successfully showed previously on different occasions, are not “perfect” for projection at ISU 2013?

A: The suitability of the show depends on the size of the screen, amount of projection floating window and distance of the first row of seats to the screen. The picture could be almost “perfect” in some conditions, while in other conditions it’s not. Note that stereoscopic images are not holographic images. While we always focus on the screen level, our eyes must converge to different depths. This is not natural (and not perfect as well) and in some cases it may cause discomfort or even pain in the eyes (also for experienced stereoscopists!).

In order to enjoy 3D pictures entirely, the projected picture:

– should not cause divergence of eyes (a tiny bit is still tolerable),
– there should not be any vertical errors (again “tiny bit” is still OK),
– vertical sides of stereoscopic window should not be violated (if possible), and
– the angle from the closest to the farthest part of the picture should be below about 1.8 degrees (in translation: overall depth of the picture should not be too high).

The problem concerning positive parallax and divergence is partially described here (read text below the last figure):
http://3dfilmtutorials.com/the-flip-flop-of-negative-and-positive-parallax

It is hard to optimise all the parameters at once, but if all the authors would obey 1/30 positive parallax, even the participants in the first row would certainly enjoy the shows without any adverse effects.

The problem starts when the authors would like to show some of their pictures with positive parallax with, let’s say, higher than 1/25 of projection width. In this case, due to the overall depth of the picture (the difference of angle between the closest and the farthest point), we cannot enjoy pictures without additional effort, since the eyes should adapt convergence too much. Moreover, positive parallax is increasing and causing eye divergence. Both are either uncomfortable or painful. Note that participants siting in the middle of projection hall or further away might enjoy the show without noticing any problems, since divergence and overall angle difference between the closest and the furthest object is reduced. However, we have to take care about all the participants. What can be done to decrease the mentioned problems? Floating window can be increased during projection in order to reduce eye divergence (although, when exaggerated, it causes some other problems). However, overall depth of the picture could be reduced only by additionally decreasing projected size of the picture. This is not ideal, but solves the mentioned problems.

It is not possible to adapt projection parameters for each show, so we asked the authors to try to obey the guidelines given on the Congress page. If there are some shows with some deeper pictures, we will try to show them together with adapted projection parameters. However, due to time limits and available time slots for projection we cannot guarantee that we will be able to put all such shows into those special slots. More authors are taking into account the guidelines, easier is for the organizers to arrange projections.

If there are pictures with large positive parallax, the authors should remove them from the show or show such pictures in reduced size (simply by adding some border around them). This can be done very simply by using StereoPhoto Maker or similar software.

 

Q: Only some smaller part of my picture is very deep. Is it really necessary to decrease positive parallax?

A: The difference between 2D and 3D picture is in additional dimension – depth. When a person watches 3D pictures he/she is enjoying them entirely. The depth difference is that “magic” which makes 3D so beautiful and rich when compared to 2D pictures. There is no chance that majority of people would be able to pursue themselves to be concentrated to the main subject only and not to “wander around” the static picture. We usually want to explore all of its depth in entire picture (at least it holds for many of our club members).