Finding or Making 3D Glasses for 3D Movies and 3D Television

3D movies and 3D television commercials are making a dramatic comeback, but the kind of 3D glasses you need depends on what you are viewing. Generally, there are two kinds of 3D glasses that will work for most 3D viewing experiences: the old red/cyan 3D glasses used for viewing Spy Kids 3D and Mars Rover 3D or circular polarized 3D glasses used for many of the new 3D movies and television. To see how 3D glasses work and the difference between the two 3D glasses, click here.

Disney World, Universal Studios and other newer 3D experiences use polarized lenses for 3D viewing. According to American Paper Optics, the world's leading manufacturer of polarized lenses for 3D viewing, more than 2 million polarized 3D glasses were distributed for viewing Andrew Lloyd Webber's 3D Starlight Express.

There are dozens of 3D movies that have released or are scheduled to release in 2009 and 2010 including, DreamWorks Monsters vs Aliens in theaters March 27, 2009 and Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience being released February 27, 2009. George Lucas is producing a 3D version of Star Wars and in March 2010, Disney will release a Disney Digital 3D version of Alice in Wonderland. For a complete list of 3D movies scheduled for release or previously released, click here.

Which 3D Glasses Do I Need and Where Can I Buy Them?

So, which kind of 3D glasses do you need to view all these different movies? The best answer to that is use the 3D glasses that are distributed at the movie theater. There are different kinds of 3D camera technology used to make these films and polarized 3D glasses have different angles and levels of polarization needed for optimal viewing. You will probably have to return them at the movie theater after the movie because they are expensive.

RealD is the most popular technology for filming in 3D now. Some of the 3D movies released with RealD 3D technology are My Bloody Valentine, Coraline, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, Bolt, Monsters vs. Aliens, Up, and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Click here to read more about RealD. RealD 3D glasses can be used to view some cool 3D images at the NASA web site also. RealD 3D glasses are made to fit over prescription glasses and will work with any movie that used RealD Original or XL Cinema System filming technology.

Where to Buy RealD 3D Glasses Circular Polarized

Ultimate 3D Heaven
RealD Circular Polarized 3D Glasses $1.95 each
http://www.ultimate3dheaven.com/re3dglpo.html

eBay
RealD Circular Polarized 3D Glases $9.95 each
http://cgi.ebay.com/REAL-D-3-D-Polarized-3D-Glasses-Disney-Digital-2-Pair!!_W0QQitemZ270316690787QQcmdZViewItem

For 3D movies you want to view at home on your television like the Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert, you can make your own red/cyan 3D glasses. It will be a while before RealD technology reaches mainstream television, so you might want to keep both kinds of 3D glasses on hand just in case.

Make Your Own Red/Cyan 3D Glasses With These Instructions

You can make your own 3D glasses with just a few craft supplies and these instructions from the NASA web site. Visit: Build Your Own 3D Glasses at the NASA web site.

Here's another video from MetaCafe showing how to make your own 3D glasses that is cheap and fast. Visit: How to Make Your Own 3D Glasses

Sources:

NASA: Build Your Own 3D Glasses

http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/classroom/glasses.shtml

How to Make Your Own 3D Glasses

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/807306/make_3d_picture_glasses_fast_and_easy/

How 3D Glasses Work
http://science.howstuffworks.com/3-d-glasses2.htm

3D Polarized Glasses
http://www.3dglassesonline.com/3d-polarized-glasses/

MarketSaw 3D Movie Blog
http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2007/04/list-of-upcoming-3d-movies.html

RealD 3D Movie List
http://www.reald.com/Content/Pages.aspx?pageID=5