3D imax technology

I really can't recall the first time I saw a regular 3D film, it probably wasn't that memorable. I hardly ever go to the movies; I did recently go to see Avatar and I must say, it caused me to react with the movie. I found myself swatting flies and blinking when projectiles were thrown, I left the theater wondering what the different was in regular 3D films compared to IMAX 3D and here's what I found.


Since the earliest days of cinema, film makers have realised that the bigger the image the greater the impact on the viewer.Imagine the difference between watching a film at home on video and the same film at a 35 mm cinema. The film might be the same, but the experience couldn't be more different. Well consider the jump from traditional cinema to the giant screen IMAX film experience as a similar dramatic leap. The giant 15 perforation/70mm film frames enable an image of such size due to its incredibly high resolution (up to 8 times more image resolution that the current 2K digital cinema systems) far surpassing any other current projection systems (including IMAX's own digital multiplex cinema systems).With IMAX® 3D we then add, quite literally, a new dimension to the whole electrifying experience. Using state-of-the-art polarised glasses, the IMAX® 3D experience has brought 3D enjoyment a long way form the cardboard glasses of the 1950s. Bigger images. Better sound. Sharper 3D. The IMAX experience is the future of film entertainment.


Screen and Sound System
The IMAX Theatre Sydney in Darling Harbour is home to the world's largest cinema screen at 29.42m high by 35.73m wide – covering an area of more than 1,015 square metres. They just don't come any bigger IMAX film based giant screen theatres boast some of the world's largest cinema screens. It is made possible by the projection of such large film frames and it will be some time before it can be replicated with digital projection systems. Up to eight storeys high, they are ten times larger than a traditional cinema screen and fills the whole field of human vision. Made of stretched vinyl, coated with a reflective silver paint they are stretched taut over a scaffold frame. With thousands of small perforations they allow sound from speakers positioned behind the screen to play their key role in the total surround sound system. Sound is critical to the IMAX film experience. The film soundtracks are delivered through a mighty 15,000 watt digital surround sound system manufactured by Sonics Associates Inc, one of the world leaders in sound system design. The IMAX six channel, high fidelity, motion picture sound system with sub bass plays off three separate CDs each carrying two tracks.


Film Size & Projector
To project such large films IMAX have built the most advanced, high precision and powerful projectors. IMAX films are shot and projected on 15 perforation/70mm film - the largest film format in existence. It is only possible to project these onto the huge screen because of the remarkable high definition and clarity of these film frames.And it is these huge film frames that are at the heart of the giant screen IMAX film experience. Three times larger than the traditional 70 mm CinemaScope frames they have pushed the quality of motion picture images to new heights (quite literally). The key to their superior performance and reliability is the unique 'Rolling Loop' film movement. The Rolling Loop advances the film horizontally in a smooth, wave-like motion. During projection, each frame is positioned on a fixed registration point and the film is held firmly against the rear element of the lens by a vacuum. As a result, the picture and focus steadiness are far above normal standards and provide outstanding image clarity. The powerful 3D projector uses two 15,000 watt bulbs (the average 35mm projector uses a bulb between 2,000 and 4,000 watts). The huge heat generated requires a dedicated cooling system that pumps 1,600 cubic metres of air and 36 litres of distilled water through the lamp housing every minute to keep the projector cool.


How IMAX 3D Works
If your idea of a 3D film is a pair of cheap cardboard glasses with green and red cellophane for lenses it's time to think again. IMAX® 3D is state-of-the-art technology to take the 3D film experience in a whole new direction.3D technology is based on human vision. It mimics the way we see the real world. When you look at an object each eye sees a slightly different view and our brain fuses these together into a single 3D image. The two lenses on the IMAX® 3D camera roughly match the distance between our eyes and so each lens 'sees' a slightly different view. The images are photographed onto two separate rolls of film - corresponding to a right eye and left eye image - which run simultaneously through the camera. These two films are then alternately projected in the theatre. The shutters on the projector alternating between left and right images 96 times per second.If the technology sounds impressive it is the experience which is truly awesome.