Dolby Laboratories and Royal Philips Electronics today announced the Dolby 3D format, a new content delivery specification for Dolby 3D. The Dolby 3D format, which attaches essential playback information to content, will be available through a licensing program. Postproduction tool provider The Foundry will be demonstrating the future integration of the Dolby 3D format into its NUKE and OCULA postproduction products.

Dolby 3D is a suite of technologies for the creation, delivery, and playback of glasses-free 3D content, producing auto-stereoscopic images. In addition to eliminating the need for glasses, Dolby 3D has no narrow "sweet spot," so viewers can enjoy the sharpest images regardless of where they sit.

Roland Vlaicu, Senior Director, Broadcast Imaging, Dolby Laboratories explained, "The Foundry's award-winning products and tools are behind the groundbreaking 3D visual effects in such films as Avatar, Tron: Legacy, and Hugo. By providing powerful tools to create Dolby 3D content, Dolby and Philips will make it easier than ever for Hollywood to create content for glasses-free 3D TVs and other devices."

According to Guido Voltolina, manager of the joint project between Dolby and Philips, the Dolby 3D format specification is a crucial milestone in clearing the hurdles to easy and customizable 3D viewing on TVs, tablets, smartphones, and laptops. "By demonstrating a brilliant 3D experience that doesn't require glasses using The Foundry's award-winning content creation tools, we will make it possible for 3D to finally succeed in the home," said Voltolina.