IMAX® Motion Picture Systems
All the information you want on the world's best motion picture format!
Note: This electronic document was not created by or in association with Imax® Limited.
All opinions expressed or inferred are those of the author, James Neihouse.
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Information about the author, 15/70 Cinematographer - James Neihouse.
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Index to the IMAX® Page:
General Information The IMAX Experience
IMAX Sound System The IMAX Projector
Awards History
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The IMAX Experience
* IMAX motion picture systems, invented and developed by IMAX Limited (Imax), are the finest motion picture systems in the world. Images of unsurpassed size, clarity and impact, enhanced by a superb specially-designed six-channel, multi-speaker sound system, are projected onto giant rectangular screens, up to eight storeys high, in the case of IMAX, and in the case of IMAX® Dome (OMNIMAX®) onto domes as large as 27m (88'-5") in diameter.
Comparison of Screen Size to Michael JordanTypical IMAX® Screen Size
* The IMAX image is ten times larger than a conventional 35mm frame and three times bigger than a standard 70mm frame. The sheer size of an IMAX film frame, combined with the unique IMAX projection technology, is the key to the extraordinary sharpness and clarity of an IMAX film.
* Frame Size Comparison:
Frame Size Comparison
STANDARD 16mm, 1 perforation per frame - .284" x .380", Area = .11 square inch, (7.21 mm x 9.65 mm, Area = 69.5 sq. mm).
STANDARD 35mm, 4 perforations per frame - .825" x .600", Area = .50 sq. in., (21.0mm x 15.2mm, Area = 319 sq. mm).
STANDARD 70mm, 5 perforations per frame - .870" x 1.91", Area = 1.66 sq. in., (22.1mm x 48.5mm, Area = 1072 sq. mm).
IMAX 70mm, 15 perforations per frame - 1.91" x 2.74", Area = 5.23 sq. in., (48.5mm x 69.6mm, Area = 3376 sq. mm).
IMAX Dome 70mm, 15 perforations per frame - 1.98" x 2.74" Ovoid, Area = 4.13 sq. in., (50.29mm x 69.6mm Ovoid, Area = 2665 sq. mm).
* The Screens
This large image is projected on giant screen which extend beyond your peripheral vision -- so big, in fact, that a whale can appear life-size. IMAX screens can be up to 100' high, currently the largest screen is in Sydney, Australia. Because these screens fill your peripheral vision, you have the sense of being right in the action.
* Theater Design
Large-format films are shown in specially-designed theaters where the seating decks are steeply raked, so that even a child's view is unobstructed and people can look up and down, as in real life.
IMAX Dome Theater LayoutIMAX Dome Theater Layout
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Sound
* Sound is critical to the IMAX experience. The IMAX six-channel, high-fidelity motion picture sound system, with sub-bass, is manufactured by Imax subsidiary Sonics Associates Inc., a world leader in sound system design.
* Developed by Sonics, the IMAX Personal Sound Environment® (IMAX PSE) provides the audio complement for the strong visual effects of IMAX® 3D and IMAX Solido® films.
* The Sonics Proportional Point Sourcetm Loudspeaker system specifically designed for IMAX theatres, eliminates variations in volume and sound quality over the theatre seating area. This allows all members of the audience to experience superb sound quality regardless of where they may be seated.
* IMAX Personal Sound Environment (IMAX PSE)
The IMAX PSE system is an innovative advancement i sound imaging allowing film makers to effectively place sound with the images on screen to create a situation of drama and suspense.
IMAX PSE provides an additional pair of sound channels that augments the theater's existing six-channel digital sound system capabilities. This sound enhancement is presented via a unique, high-performance headset equipped with IMAX PSE sound transducers. These are designed to complement and expand the sound experience from the main speaker system. IMAX PSE provides aural cues and special effects using two full high-fidelity audio channels.
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The Projectors
* IMAX projectors are the most advanced, highest-precision and most powerful projectors ever built. The key to their superior performance and reliability is the unique "Rolling Loop" film movement. The Rolling Loop, originally invented by Ron Jones, an Australian, adapted and enhanced by Imax, advances the film horizontally through the projector in a smooth, wavelike motion. During projection, each frame is positioned on fixed registration pins, 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. The 68 per cent shutter transmits one-third more light than does the 50 per cent shutter in conventional projectors.
* The popular success of Imax's 3D systems, IMAX® 3D and IMAX® 3D Dome, led to the development of IMAX® HD, which is shot and projected at 48 frames-per-second, twice the normal motion picture standard frame rate, providing even greater depth of field, clarity of detail and steadiness to the already spectacular IMAX image.
* In 1997, Imax introduced a 3D projection system (IMAX 3D SR) designed for smaller markets which can be integrated into an existing multiplex theater system.
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Awards
* In 1986, the system was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with an Academy Scientific and Engineering Award for technological innovation and excellence.
* Imax received a 1988 Canada Export Award for superior export performance from the Canadian Government's Department of External Affairs.
* In 1991, Imax received an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Government's Department of Communications, for its contributions and achievements in the field of communications and culture.
* In 1997, Imax received the sole Oscar® for Scientific and Technical Achievement. The award recognizes Imax's innovations in creating and developing a method of filming and exhibiting large-format motion pictures.
* In 1999 Imax Corporation and its pioneering giant-screen technology received Cinema Expo International's first Technical Achievement Award at ceremonies on June 24th, 1999 in Amsterdam. This is the first time that this award has been bestowed and, in the future, it will be given out when deemed merited. The award recognizes Imax's commercialization of the medium and the Company's pre-eminent position in that medium.
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History
* The IMAX system has its roots in EXPO '67 in Montreal, Canada where multi-screen films were the hit of the fair. A small group of Canadian filmmakers/entrepreneurs (Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr), who had made some of those popular films, decided to design a new system using a single, powerful projector, rather than the cumbersome multiple projectors used at that time. The result: the IMAX motion picture projection system which would revolutionize the giant-screen cinema.
* IMAX premiered at the Fuji Pavilion, EXPO '70 in Osaka, Japan. The first permanent IMAX projection system was installed at Ontario Place's Cinesphere in Toronto in 1971. IMAX Dome (OMNIMAX) debuted at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre in San Diego, CA in 1973.
* Building on the success of these initial two configurations, Imax has continued the evolution of the IMAX experience: OMNIMAX 3D premiered at the Fujitsu Pavilion, EXPO '85 Tsukuba, Japan; IMAX 3D premiered at the Canada Pavilion, EXPO '86 Vancouver, Canada; and both IMAX Solido and IMAX Magic Carpet® premiered at EXPO '90 Osaka, Japan in the Fujitsu and Sanwa Midori-Kai Pavilions respectively. EXPO '92 in Seville continued Imax's World's Fair tradition with the premiere of IMAX HD at the Canada Pavilion.
* IMAX Limited also offers extensive customer support services to filmmakers who use the IMAX medium. The company's camera rental inventory offers 23 cameras including two compact dual-strip IMAX 3D cameras and three lightweight IMAX MARK II cameras for Steadicam® work.
The specially designed IMAX cameras photographs the largest frame ever used in motion pictures on horizontally moving 65mm film. Because of the increased information carrying capacity of this huge frame, the camera records images with much greater detail than does any other motion picture camera.
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General Information
* Imax leases IMAX motion picture projection systems to specially-designed theatres worldwide. There are currently more than 130 permanent theatres in operation in 20 countries. There is a backlog of more than 40 theatres scheduled to open during the next few years.
* There are over 110 films in the diverse IMAX film library. Educational and entertaining, these films take viewers where they are unable to go: to explore the hidden secrets of natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, the inside of an atom, or the magic of space. The first IMAX space film, The Dream Is Alive, has been seen by more than 40 million people in 12 language versions. Rolling Stones "At The Max", the first IMAX concert film and the first feature-length film in the format, opened to rave reviews worldwide. The much-acclaimed Fires of Kuwait was nominated for an Academy Award in the Feature Documentary category in 1993. Destiny In Space, an inspiring look into the future of space exploration, premiered at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in June '94 and Into The Deep, an IMAX 3D film, premiered in Japan and New York in November '94.
* IMAX Limited, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is the pioneer and leader of giant-screen, large-format film and motion simulator entertainment. Imax is involved in a wide variety of out-of-home entertainment business activities, including: the design, leasing, marketing, maintenance and operation of IMAX theatre systems; film development, production, post-production and distribution of IMAX films; camera and projector design and manufacturing; as well as ongoing research and development. Imax has advanced its strategic goals of diversifying its core educational business while expanding internationally through new commercial relationships with leading global entertainment organizations. These include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Capital Cities/ABC, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Sega Enterprises Ltd., Discovery Communications Inc., ITT and Italy's Olivetti Telemedia S.P.A.. Since its opening in November 1994, the Sony IMAX Theater at Lincoln Square in New York City has become one of the highest grossing single movie screens in the United States. To date more than 510 million people have experienced an IMAX film since it premiered in 1970 with more than 60 million customers worldwide in 1995 alone. Imax subsidiaries include Ridefilm Corporation, manufacturers and producers of motion simulation theaters or movie rides; Sonics Associates Inc., world leaders in sound design; and David Keighley Productions/70MM Inc., award-winning specialists in image quality control and laboratory production and post-production.
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LINKS, This page some related pages you might find interesting.
http://www.1570films.com
IMAX®, IMAX® Dome, IMAX® 3D, IMAX® 3D Dome, IMAX® Magic Carpet, IMAX® Simulator Ride, IMAX® HD and The IMAX® Experience are trademarks of IMAX Limited, Mississauga, Canada.
Trademark names used in this publication are to the benefit of their owner, and not intended to infringe or exploit such trademarks.
I am not speaking in any capacity for IMAX Limited, its customers, subsidiaries or other affiliated organizations in publishing these pages. I have tried to the best of my ability to make this list complete and accurate, errors and/or omissions are unintentional.