The Tektronix Monitoring Support for SDI Stereoscopic 3D Video features camera alignment and production/post-production applications. A 3D image consists of a left eye and right eye image to be fed as two separate HD-SDI signals or combined within a 3G level B format. Alternatively, the 3D signal can be carried in a single HD-SDI signal as a side by side image for the left and right images. A variety of different 3D monitoring modes is available within the instrument to assist the user in determining the difference between the left eye and right eye views. From this disparity difference between the two left and right images, the depth of an object within the image can be determined.

For measurement of the depth of an object within the image (S3D), a disparity grid can be overlaid over the picture with a horizontal disparity between 1 to 15% of screen width and a vertical disparity of 50%, 25%, or 10% that can be selected by the user. The horizontal and vertical position controls allow the disparity grid to be moved around within the picture display to gauge the depth of objects within the image. A set of disparity cursors is also sold separately for precise measurement of horizontal disparity of an object between the left and right eye images. The readout is given of the pixel difference between the cursors and the percentage of disparity of an object.

The Tektronix-patented Quad Diamond display (S3D) simplifies stereoscopic camera alignment by showing a disparity histogram of the left and right signal from a signal level of 0 to 100% vertically for each of the components: luma, red, green, and blue. If the two cameras are well balanced, then the trace will form a vertical trace for each of the diamonds. A deviation in the trace indicates an imbalance between the left and right eye images that should be corrected using the various camera controls until the trace becomes vertical. This display can also be used in post-production for aiding the editor and perform color correction on the left and right images.

For monitoring purposes a variety of displays, such as Difference Map, Red/Cyan Anaglyph, Green/Magenta Anaglyph, and Checkerboard Displays, can be set up within the picture mode. These modes help the user compare the disparity between the left and right images and can assist in interpreting the depth of the objects within the image.