A method of encoding free viewpoint video content comprising: preprocessing video content captured using sparse-view 3D video camera devices to produce preprocessed free viewpoint video content for encoding, the sparse-view 3D video camera devices comprising a plurality of video cameras spaced apart to provide a separation of at least 30 degrees from each other for capturing video from a plurality of different angles from which 3D video can be generated, said preprocessing comprising mesh generation, in which a mesh is generated based on shapes of 2D sub-images within the captured video content using multiple views from the plurality of different angles of the plurality of camera devices to form a 3D model from which the free viewpoint video content can be generated, mesh tracking, in which the mesh of the 3D model is temporally tracked for encoding, UV atlas generation, in which a UV mapping is generated to represent the 3D model, the UV mapping comprising generating a 2D multilayer texture atlas which contains for each of the 2D sub-images within the captured video content and for each camera view a layer of a texture map for a part of the 3D model, and texture mapping in which a texture component is applied from the captured video content to the generated mesh of the 3D model using the 2D multilayer texture atlas to form the texture map of the 3D model, and encoding the temporally tracked mesh using a geometry encoder to produce encoded shape information, and encoding the 2D multi-layer UV texture atlas and the texture map of the 3D model using a multilayer UV texture encoder to produce encoded texture information, each layer of texture of the 2D multi-layer UV textures recording a texture from a different one of the plurality of camera devices; and streaming the encoded shape information and the encoded texture information as the encoded free viewpoint video content, wherein the encoding the encoded text information comprises decoding the encoded shape information, by a geometry decoder to generate decoded shape information, the UV atlas generation utilizing decoded shape information to generate the 2D multi-layer texture atlas, and the texture mapping utilizing the decoded shape information to apply the texture component from the captured video content to the generated mesh, so that a decoder can decode the encoded shape information and the encoded texture information by generating camera identification information, for each of the plurality of camera devices, from said decoded shape information and rendering decoded free viewpoint video content by utilizing said decoded shape information, decoded texture information and said camera identification information. preprocessing video content captured using sparse-view 3D video camera devices to produce preprocessed free viewpoint video content for encoding, the sparse-view 3D video camera devices comprising a plurality of video cameras spaced apart to provide a separation of at least 30 degrees from each other for capturing video from a plurality of different angles from which 3D video can be generated, said preprocessing comprising mesh generation, in which a mesh is generated based on shapes of 2D sub-images within the captured video content using multiple views from the plurality of different angles of the plurality of camera devices to form a 3D model from which the free viewpoint video content can be generated, mesh tracking, in which the mesh of the 3D model is temporally tracked for encoding, UV atlas generation, in which a UV mapping is generated to represent the 3D model, the UV mapping comprising generating a 2D multilayer texture atlas which contains for each of the 2D sub-images within the captured video content and for each camera view a layer of a texture map for a part of the 3D model, and texture mapping in which a texture component is applied from the captured video content to the generated mesh of the 3D model using the 2D multilayer texture atlas to form the texture map of the 3D model, and encoding the temporally tracked mesh using a geometry encoder to produce encoded shape information, and encoding the 2D multi-layer UV texture atlas and the texture map of the 3D model using a multilayer UV texture encoder to produce encoded texture information, each layer of texture of the 2D multi-layer UV textures recording a texture from a different one of the plurality of camera devices; and streaming the encoded shape information and the encoded texture information as the encoded free viewpoint video content, wherein the encoding the encoded text information comprises decoding the encoded shape information, by a geometry decoder to generate decoded shape information, the UV atlas generation utilizing decoded shape information to generate the 2D multi-layer texture atlas, and the texture mapping utilizing the decoded shape information to apply the texture component from the captured video content to the generated mesh, so that a decoder can decode the encoded shape information and the encoded texture information by generating camera identification information, for each of the plurality of camera devices, from said decoded shape information and rendering decoded free viewpoint video content by utilizing said decoded shape information, decoded texture information and said camera identification information.