Versatile 3-D picture format

A three dimensional picture provision system comprising:

• an arrangement including first and second cameras for producing a two dimensional picture pair comprising a first picture captured for a first eye of a viewer, and a second picture comprising a full image captured for a second eye of the viewer;
• a depth scanner configured to determine a depth map including only depth indication values relating to a portion of the first picture and indicating a distance between an object at least partially represented by the portion of the first picture and the viewer;
• and
• a processor configured to produce rendering guidance data for rendering the two dimensional picture pair and specifying first and second parameters for generating a shifted viewpoint picture from the first picture and the depth map, the processor being further configured to provide a background picture specifically dedicated to the first picture and an alpha-map that contains a set of gross weighting coefficients which determine a degree of contribution from the first picture and a degree of contribution from the background picture for a portion of the shifted viewpoint picture,
• wherein the first parameters define a first stereo mode having the shifted viewpoint picture that constitutes a rendered first picture and the second picture that constitutes a rendered second picture, and the second parameters define a second stereo mode having the first picture that constitutes the rendered first picture and the shifted viewpoint picture that constitutes the rendered second picture.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform a method of providing a three dimensional picture, the method comprising acts of:

• receiving a two dimensional picture pair comprising a first picture captured for a first eye of a viewer, and a second picture comprising a full image captured for a second eye of the viewer;
• receiving a depth map including only depth indication values relating to a portion of only the first picture and indicating a distance between an object at least partially represented by the portion and the viewer;
• producing rendering guidance data for rendering the two dimensional picture pair and specifying first and second parameters relating to generating a shifted viewpoint picture from the first picture and the depth map;
• providing a background picture that is specifically dedicated to the first picture;
• and
• providing an alpha-map that contains a set of gross weighting coefficients which determine a degree of contribution from the first picture and a degree of contribution from the background picture for a portion of the shifted viewpoint picture,
• wherein the first parameters define a first stereo mode having the shifted viewpoint picture that constitutes a rendered first picture and the second picture that constitutes a rendered second picture, and the second parameters define a second stereo mode having the first picture that constitutes the rendered first picture and the shifted viewpoint picture that constitutes the rendered second picture.