Sonic Solutions today announced 3DAccess, a program that provides professional authoring facilities with the tools and knowledge required to prepare 3D premium video entertainment for distribution on Blu-ray 3D and electronically over the web to 3D-enabled consumer electronic devices.

The program is part of a broader, company-wide initiative that is focused on enabling 3D access in the home and driving consumer adoption with a range of 3D-capable applications and services.

The 3DAccess program enables motion picture studios and professional authoring facilities to meet the initial demand for 3D title creation by providing early access to new 3D-capable, add-on modules for Sonic's Hollywood-standard compression and authoring suites. Officially launching later this year, the new modules add 3D capabilities and controls to Sonic Scenarist, Sonic CineVision, Lemony and Scenarist QC and allow professionals to produce optimized 3D titles for distribution in the Blu-ray 3D format, as well as electronically via online movie services.

Sonic's professional encoding and authoring tools are used by more facilities than any other solution. With 3DAccess, Sonic hopes to jump-start 3D title creation in the same way the company ignited the market for entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The 3DAccess program not only offers the complete add-on toolkit for 3D title creation, but also the training required to address the design challenges facilities will face producing 3D titles.

The new 3D-capable modules add 3D controls and capabilities to Sonic's professional line:

- Sonic Scenarist ? High-definition authoring system incorporates support for 3D video, menu graphics and new z-based subtitles.
- Sonic CineVision ? Exacting professional encoder adds intensive Multiview Video Coding (MVC) parameter controls to deliver master-quality 3D video streams.
- Scenarist QC ? Professional quality-control application provides real-time Blu-ray 3D emulation and title de-bugging.
- Lemony ? Extensive subtitling application for professional content release on disc and electronically, provides comprehensive control of stereoscopic subtitles, z-depth and collision avoidance.