[3D Focus]
George Lucas first started considering the idea of converting the entire Star Wars series into 3D between the production of episode II (2002) and episode III (2005). After a tender process, conversion specialists Prime Focus (The Immortals, Wrath of the Titans) were selected who leveraged the skill of thousands of artists across India, the UK and America to convert the classic to 3D frame by frame.
Supervising the conversion process was ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll who was one of the visual effects supervisors for Star Wars Episodes I, II and III.
Unlike episodes II and III, Star Wars Episode I was captured on 35 mm film. For its 1999 release, the film footage was digitised for the inclusion of 2000 visual shots before being colour timed and re-outputted to film. For the 2012 3D re-release, the artists used the original film-out tapes and re-timed the movie digital. According to ILM, the resulting picture, in both 2D and 3D, is the best it has ever been.
ILM say “George Lucas wanted to present Episode I in a naturalistic stereo style, as if the movie had been shot in 3D. He did not want to include gimmicks, …
Read the full story here: http://www.3dfocus.co.uk/3d-news-2/3d-film/survey-star-wars-3d-to-be-a-hit-plus-3d-conversion-secrets/7141