IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio (approximately 1.43:1 & 1.90:1) and steep stadium seating . I like IMAX so much that I visited IMAX theatres at Shanghai, Dubai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bangkok, Stockholm, Delhi and observed the film playing procedures in 70MM FILM, DIGITAL & LASER formats. IMAX experience is simply fantastic and spectacular ! Nothing to describe the IMAX experience
IMAX Theatre : Timelapse of installing IMAX Screen with laser
IMAX Theatre : Standing behind an IMAX Screen !
IMAX : Custom sound systems
IMAX : Screen sizes & film formats
IMAX
How big is an IMAX 70 screen
- Classic IMAX screen – 75 feet tall
- Tallest – 117 feet – Sydney IMAX
How is the Geometry of an IMAX screen
- IMAX geometry puts one closer & higher to the screeen
- Because the viewer is closer to the screen – The viewer is less aware of the edges of the set screen allowing the viewer to forget that it is a movie and immersive experience
- IMAX does not just change the seating – they also change the shape – The screen is slightly curved inward top give the immersion feeling and immersive experience
- So being closer not only allows the feeling of loud but also make the image look better because the projector is also closer to the screen
- why does it matter if the projector is closer to the screen ?
- If the projector is closer to the screen it does not lose as much light in travel from projector to screen giving a brighter image for the audience
How is the Sound system of an IMAX Theatre ?
- The sound in IMAX theatre is as impressive as the screen size
- Common practice is to put front speakers behind the projection screen
- IMAX has more real estate – they can put more and bigger speakers in a theatre
- IMAX is so obsessed with the sound quality that if anyone manually adjusts the speakers on the side then IMAX technician can reset them remotely from an IMAX network control centre
- IMAX speaker systems also customly designed for each specific IMAX location
- Each IMAX theatre is built differently and IMAX understand this – so designs tailored sound systems for each individual IMAX location
- IMAX theatres can use upto 12k watts of electricity – 10 times more than a regular one
- IMAX theatres have small holes in them to allow audio sound to travel easier
- While Dolby Atmos, DTS X and aura are a quantum leap in sound systems – they are still poor of the shelf and calibrated for a theatre and there is so much a calibration can do
- Also these systems also do not take into account the accoustic design of location either
- IMAX creates its own custom sound system as well as its own environment
- Walls lined with fabrics in weird looking curves for sound installation in walls and prevent spreading to adjacent rooms
- IMAX has no sweet spots wrt sound – anywhere is awesome
IMAX Cameras
- IMAX cameras are heavy, loud, expensive
- They take long time to reload film
- No hollywood film sht entirely on IMAX
- Christopher Nolan
- Dark Knight rises – 2/3 in 35MM, 1/3 in IMAX 70MM FILM
- Dunkirk – majority 70MM – 2/3 in IMAX 70MM
- Marvels Averngers – shot in IMAX Digital camera
IMAX : DIGITAL MEDIA REMASTERING – The Digital Intermediate process to upscale conventional 35MM & 70 MM films into IMAX format
- Conventional 35 MM film has 6000 lines of horizontal resolution
- IMAX 70 MM Film format has 18000 lines of horizontal resolution
- Most 35MM films goto 2k or 4k resolution intermediate and gets scaled up and film for projection
- IMAX proprietary Digital Intermediate process called DI procedure is called DMR Digital Media Remastering
- This is how 35 MM gets up converedto IMAX format
- The vast majority of films one sees in an IMAX are DMR films –
- Image quality is low – they went through IMAX DMR process
- so non IMAX movie getting upscaled to an IMAX screen
IMAX with Laser
- Completely redesigned thermal stability, enhancing contrast
- Removing prism – common to every xenon and laser projector ever built – replaced with ingvar frame – most thermally stable materials sharper and brighter images
- High contrast – difference between the highest black and white –
- More detail in the image – realism
- Laser light source allows to light up really large screens in a dim environment
