This is a guest post from Harvey Jewett. Read his full bio below.
Some experts are trying to say that this current 3D bubble is already starting to burst. But the facts say differently. Close to 25% of all TVs in homes are 3D capable and by 2014 almost all sets sold will be. On top of that, manufacturers have already sold millions of 3D capable smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktop displays. It seems that nearly every manufacturer on the planet has developed some kind of 3D capable device with many filling new patents at a staggering rate.
These manufacturers are constantly improving display performance, reducing eye-strain and minimizing other negative effects associated with viewing images in Stereoscopic 3D. It’s obvious that they don’t see this trend ending anytime soon.
So, what is the real slow down within the 3D industry? Most experts put the blame almost entirely on the lack of quality content. Movies and video games are coming out at a faster rate, but 3D content for advertisers and digital display manufacturers or other commercial entities continues to be all but nonexistent. For most of these purposes all 3D campaigns have to be fully custom created.
To help fill this void ZPartners Inc. has launched www.Stock3DPhotos.com, the world’s first fully featured stock photography site based on stereoscopic, multi-view and lenticular 3D imagery. This stock agency is built on a rights-managed image model designed to offer top notch stereoscopic, multi-view and lenticular 3D sequences for commercial use in advertising and commercial promotions. They’ll be marketed for use in print and digital advertising, as postcards, greeting cards and other novelty products and everywhere else you can imagine 2D images being replaced by more dynamic 3D versions.
In my opinion, there’s no more optimal time than now to launch 3D stock photography; technology is changing at a rapid pace and glasses-free displays are becoming more common. By using a rights-managed licensing model combined with the relatively low volume of 3D images (compared to 2D), investors and contributors will have more revenue opportunities in an emerging market. 3D is a new avenue for income for most artists in addition to offering an escape from the “race to the bottom” issues facing the 2D stock industry.
The days are still early for the emerging application of this century-old technology, but growth is already in bloom. Assimilation into consumer devices and their inclusion in marketing campaigns have only just begun.
A graphic designer and photographer for the more than 20 years, Harvey Jewett has spent the better part of the last decade researching and producing stereoscopic & multi-view 3D imagery. Founder of Z-axis Prints, Co-Founder of Stock3DPhotos and managing his own photography studio. He has produced lenticular prints for novelty sports products, advertising and fine art exhibitions.