Best 3D Video Converter to Convert Video to 3D and 2D Format

Since the movie Avatar shot and played in 3D hit the bull's eye, 3D technology has been more and more popular in video making. It enriches audiences' visual experiences compared to common 2D videos. However, to enjoy a 3D video at home is not a fantasy without 3D glasses or 3D players.

You may have noticed that it does not look right when played normally. Instead of a single picture, you might see two squeezed images side-by-side, two stacked frames, or even strange color shadows. These videos were designed to be viewed with special 3D displays or glasses, so when you watch them on a regular screen, the result can look confusing.

Additionally, some people want to create 3D videos from 2D like professionals. Take both situations into consideration, we picked up the best video converters that can convert either 3D to 2D or 2D to 3D. Read this post and surely you'll find more.

What is 3D Video

A 3D video (stereoscopic video) is a type of video designed to create the illusion of depth, so objects appear to pop out of the screen or extend into the distance.

The most common way to produce a 3D video originates from stereoscopic photography. During production, filmmakers use two cameras placed side-by-side to capture the same scene from two slightly different perspectives: one for the left eye, and the other for the right eye. This mimics how your eyes see the real world.

When these two videos are played back and delivered separately to each eye, your brain compares the two images and uses the difference to understand distance and depth. Then a stereoscopic image turns up.

3D Video Layout Types, Display Methods & 3D Converting

Before converting 3D video to 2D video, let's clarify two key concepts: layout types and display methods.

Display technology, such as anaglyph 3D glasses, polarized projection systems, active shutter glasses, or VR headsets, describes how a device ensures each eye sees the correct image. They do not change how the video is stored.

Layout types describe how the left-eye and right-eye images are arranged or packed inside the video. If you watch them without any 3D processing, they literally look like that. In practice, most videos you encounter fall into just a few common layouts: side-by-side, top-bottom, anaglyph, and VR stereoscopic.

We've created a simple diagram for these layout types. Once you know how the two views are arranged, the conversion becomes much easier.

3D Layout / Packing Types (how the two views are arranged)
   ├─ Spatial layouts
   │   ├─ Side-by-Side (SBS)
   │   ├─ Top-Bottom (Over/Under)
   │   ├─ Interlaced
   │   ├─ Channel multiplex
   │   │   └─ Anaglyph (color-coded stereo)
   │   └─ VR stereoscopic
   ├─ Temporal layouts
   │   └─ Frame-sequential
   │        └─ Alternating frames
   └─ Multi-stream layouts
↓
Display Technology (how each eye receives the correct image)
   ├─ Anaglyph 3D glasses
   ├─ Polarized 3D systems
   ├─ Active shutter displays
   ├─ Autostereoscopic displays (no glasses)
   └─ VR headsets

In the process of a 3D video conversion, the biggest challenge is to separate the frames shot from two perspectives without any distortion. Some layouts are easy to convert because the two views are clearly separated in the frame, while others require more advanced processing. Different tools handle different layouts better, which is what we'll be discussing next.

1. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player can transform certain 3D videos into a normal 2D view. It includes a basic 3D video filter. VLC works best with spatial layouts where the two views are clearly separated in the frame, such as side-by-side (SBS), top-bottom (over/under), and anaglyph 3D.

It's ideal if you simply want to watch the video in 2D quickly, without saving them or installing complicated software.

Step 1. Open your 3D movie with VLC.

Step 2. Go to Tools > Effects and Filters.

Step 3. Enable the 3D filter.

• For side-by-side and top-bottom videos, use the Crop tab to crop the image in the corresponding direction.
• For anaglyph 3D videos, enable the Anaglyph 3D option in the Advanced settings.

Step 4. Save the changes and close the window. Now you can watch the 3D video in a 2D format.

2. VideoProc Converter AI

While VLC is convenient for quick viewing, it is limited to only a few simple layouts. If you want a more complete solution that can convert and save a proper 2D video file, a dedicated converter such as VideoProc Converter AI is a much better choice.

VideoProc Converter AI supports more common stereoscopic layouts. Besides spatial layouts like SBS and Top-Bottom 3D, it can also convert 3D videos in temporal layouts to 2D with just a few clicks. Unlike VLC, this program can also export the converted video, process multiple videos simultaneously, and take advantage of hardware acceleration for faster conversions. It is a good choice when you need a simple but powerful tool to convert and save 3D videos as 2D files.

Check the steps to convert 3D to 2D video with VideoProc Converter AI.

Step 1. Free download and launch VideoProc Converter AI, and click Video on the main interface.

Free Download For Win 7 or later

Free Download For macOS 10.13 or later

For mobile users, click here >

Step 2. Click +Video on the top bar to import the 3D video (or multiple 3D videos) you want to convert.

Tips: You can import several 3D videos by clicking +Video Folder or loading videos from different folders to batch convert 3D videos.

Step 3. After loading the video, click Toolbox on the bottom, then select 3D→2D.

Step 4. Hit the Option icon, then another window will pop up. You can specify a certain clip of the video to convert by dragging the green knob, and choose the input format of the original video then choose output format. Finally, click Done below to finish the settings.

Step 5. Click Run in the lower right corner to start the 3D to 2D conversion.

Quick video tutorial: how to convert 3D video to 2D with the best 3D video converter.

Other Functions of the 3D Converter VideoProc Converter AI

You may sometimes do some changes on the video to be converted beforehand. Or you prefer downloading a video directly with VideoProc Converter AI to bothering to loading one form elsewhere. VideoProc Converter AI undertakes all of these tasks and provides you with the simplest operation.

Video Format Converting: As an all-round video converter, it supports 420+ audio and video formats that capable of converting any formats seldom available on most platforms to a common format, e.g. MKV to MP4, FLAC to MP3, DAT to MP4, etc.

Video Editing: VideoProc Converter AI is able to perfectly rotate, cut, crop, resize, clip, denoise, deshake a video. On top of that, you can add effects and watermarks to a video with VideoProc Converter AI.

Video Compressing: VideoProc Converter AI also aids you to compress the video without quality loss, if you find it too large to edit on an old and slow computer, share online, or send through emails.

Video Downloading: With a powerful built-in downloader engine, it can easily download a video from a video website. What you need to do is just pasting the URL of the video to this utility.

3. VSDC Free Video Editor

Some 3D videos use VR stereoscopic layouts. Instead of normal rectangular images, VR videos contain 360° panoramic scenes. When played in a normal player, these videos often look like two wide "world map" panoramas placed side-by-side or stacked vertically. They are commonly found in 360° travel videos, VR camera footage, immersive VR content, etc.

VSDC Free Video Editor supports converting VR and 360° video to 2D format. It allows you to choose a viewing direction inside the 360° scene and export that view as a normal flat video. VSDC Free Video Editor is the best option when you want to convert a VR stereoscopic video into a normal flat video.

Step 1. Open VSDC and import your 3D or 360-degree video file.

Step 2. Go to the Video Effects tab > 360 and 3D > 360 to 2D effect.

Step 3. In the Properties window, adjust the viewing angle and zoom level to select the specific 2D perspective.

Step 4. Go to the Export project tab to save your new 2D video file.

Choosing the Right Way to Convert 3D Video to 2D

Although 3D video technology once gained significant attention, most modern devices and platforms now focus on standard 2D playback. Once you understand how the video stores the left-eye and right-eye images, converting a 3D video to 2D becomes much easier.

Here is a brief recap of the solutions to convert 3D to 2D video.

Best 2D to 3D Video Converter

There are many 3D video converters (2D to 3D) out there that you can easily get to convert 2D videos to 3D. Here, we have collected a list of some best sellers for you. Check the list below:

#1. Wondershare UniConverter

Price: $69.95

This converter is developed by Wondershare, and you can download it on both Windows and Mac. There are two 3D MP4 options for you to choose from: Red-Blue 3D MP4 and Left-Right 3D MP4.

Note: If you already got a pair of red and cyan 3D glasses, you can choose the Red-Blue 3D MP4 option; if you are with other 3D technologies, you can choose the Left-Right 3D MP4 option.

#2. DVDFab Video Converter

Price: $44.9

DVDFab Video Converter allows you to convert your 2D videos to 3D videos. With it, you can choose a 3D video format you desire, eg. 3D MKV, 3D MP4, 3D AVI, 3D M2TS, etc.. After pick up your favored 3D format, you can customize it a bit before you export it.

Note: you are allowed to change the 3D type in its Advanced Settings panel where Anaglyph, split screen, two separate files and two videos streams in one file are listed in the 3D Format drop-down menu.

#3. Xilisoft 3D Video Converter

Price: $35.95

Xilisoft 3D Video Converter can convert 2D video to 3D video among different types. You can get various types of 3D video, namely 3D AVI, 3D WMV, 3D MP4, 3D MKV and many more. It is capable of converting 2D video up to five 3D formats: Anaglyph 3D, Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, Top and Bottom (half-height) where you can find the one format you like.

Note: you can adjust parameter settings for your output video, adjustable parameters include: bitrate, frame rate, video codec, audio codec, video size, etc.

3D Video Converter FAQ

1. How to convert 3D video to 2D video?

To convert a 3D video to 2D, first identify the video’s layout, such as Side-by-Side, Top-Bottom, Anaglyph, or VR stereoscopic. Then use a suitable tool to extract one of the two eye views. For example, VLC can quickly display simple layouts in 2D, VideoProc Converter AI can convert and export many formats, and VSDC Free Video Editor can flatten VR stereoscopic videos into a normal 2D perspective.

2. Can VLC play 3D videos?

Yes, VLC Media Player can play some 3D videos, especially common spatial layouts like Side-by-Side, Top-Bottom, and Anaglyph. With its built-in video effects and filters, VLC can combine or display one eye view so the video appears as a normal 2D image during playback. However, VLC mainly supports simple layouts and is not designed to process more complex 3D formats such as interlaced or VR stereoscopic videos.

3. Can I convert a 3D video to 2D without losing quality?

In most cases, yes. Converting a 3D video to 2D usually means keeping one of the two eye views and removing the other. Since each eye view is already a complete video frame, the image quality can remain very close to the original. The final quality mainly depends on the export settings and compression used when saving the new 2D video.

4. Why are 3D videos less common today?

3D video technology once gained attention in cinemas and early 3D televisions. Many viewers found the glasses uncomfortable, and producing 3D content required additional equipment and effort. At the same time, improvements in 4K, HDR, and streaming technology shifted the focus toward higher resolution and convenience. As a result, most modern devices and platforms now prioritize standard 2D video playback.

5. Can VideoProc Converter AI play 3D videos?

Yes, VideoProc Converter AI can play 3D videos and support the 3D to 2D conversion.

What VideoProc Converter AI can do is much more than what's mentioned above. All in all, it is the most capable video processing software that integrates speed, efficiency, easy operation and powerful functions. And it pushes the boundary of video converting and editing in every possible way!

Free Download For Win 7 or later

Free Download For macOS 10.13 or later

For mobile users, click here >