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IMAX is a projection system which utilizes much larger film than most traditional film display systems. This gives IMAX the ability to display images of greater size and far greater resolution. It is regarded as the largest and most successful large-format special-venue film presentation system in the world (Wikipedia 2005). IMAX is intended to create a completely unique and spectacular visual impact that regular 35mm films cannot duplicate.
IMAX has three separate projection formats: Normal, Dome, and 3D. All of these formats utilize an untraditional 70 mm film that is fed sideways through the camera, due to the immense size of the film required to fill such large screens. IMAX film is over 10 times the size of regular 35 mm film (Brain, 2) the standard format for most films. In order to achieve the standard film speed of 24 frames per second, over 3 times as much film must move through the camera each second. The film is “vacuum pulled�? through the camera to inhibit film shakiness. Because of many technical issues associated with projecting films on such large screens, an IMAX camera can be quite large, often weighing in at over 1.8 tonnes.
IMAX film does not allot room for a sound track to exist on the film that contains the image. Early developers solved this problem by synchronizing a 35mm tape that contained soundtrack information to run during projection. Due to the significant increase in digital technologies over the past 10 years, digital tracks are now utilized and synchronized using a time code generator, allowing for more precise dubbing and multi-channel sound systems, such as Dolby digital.
A typical IMAX screen is over 16 meters high and 22 meters long. The largest IMAX screen is over 30 meters high, approximately the size of an eight-story apartment.
Due to the increased resolution IMAX films offer, the audiences can comfortably sit closer to the screen. Also most theatres rows of seats are at set at a steep angle (23 degrees in a dome) so all individuals are looking directly at the screen.
IMAX was developed in the late 1960’s by Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, and Robert Kerr. This small group of Canadian film makers were experimenting with a system that uses a large, single projector rather than the multi-projection systems that were popular for large, multi-screen presentations during the time. IMAX premiered at the Fugi Pavilion in Osaka, Japan during the World Exposition of 1970. The first permanent IMAX projector was installed in Toronto at Ontario Place’s Cinesphere in 1971.
In 1973, an IMAX projector was successfully incorporated into a dome-shaped planetarium in San Diego California. The IMAX projector had to be redesigned to incorporate its bulky physique inside a dome. Also, a fish-eye lens was fitted to the camera, allowing the film to be projected on a distorted, 180 degree field of view. When viewing IMAX’s 70mm film in a dome, the camera is tilted to an angle that matches the dimensions of the dome. When filming, the part of the image that would fall below the edge of the dome is masked off. This new system of projection became known as OMNIMAX. Today, IMAX has since renamed the system IMAX dome, while some theatres still retain the moniker of “Omnimax�?
The first permanent IMAX 3D theatre is located in Vancouver, Canada. This format is relatively new, and premiered during Expo ’86 in Vancouver at Canada Place, one of the world’s most recognized structures. This theatre is still in use to this day. In total, there are over 230 IMAX theatres in over 34 countries (as of May 2003). Over half of these theatres are commercial theatres, open to the public on most days of the week.
• Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA - has the biggest IMAX dome in the world.
• Futuroscope, France (theme park) - contains all versions of IMAX theatres (normal, dome, 3D, 3D dome, and IMAX magic carpet)
• The Reuben H. Fleet Center, San Diego, California, USA - First IMAX dome
• The Cinesphere, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - First permanent IMAX theatre
• Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - First Permanent IMAX 3D Theatre
• Tiger Child-first IMAX film (1970)
• Garden Isle-first IMAX dome/OMNIMAX film (1973)
• Everest- top grossing IMAX film of all time, with a box office total of 120.6 million dollars (1998)
• To Fly!- second highest grossing IMAX film of all time, with a box office of 82,500,000 (1976)
• Dolphins- Oscar nominated (2000)
• NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience (2004)
Recently, IMAX has been criticized for their lack of feature films released onto IMAX screens. The popularity of the format has been generally limited due to the expense to make a film, shorter running times of films (40 minutes avg.) and the majority of films being documentaries suited for a very limited target audience. With the advent of the “DMR�? process, which allows for conventional films to be converted onto IMAX films, the potential target audience has greatly increased. Most viewers and critics have praised the remastering process, grabbing the attention of noted Hollywood directors, such as James Cameron, to direct IMAX films.
• Robots
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Brian, M (2005) "How IMAX Works"," retrieved October 4, 2005, from, http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/imax.htm
The University of San Diego (2003) "IMAX film format," retrieved October 3, 2005, from, http://history.acusd.edu/gen/filmnotes/.miad.html
Wikipedia (2005)"IMAX," retrieved October 3, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imax
Wise,R. (2000) Multimedia: A Critical Introduction, London: Routeledge. ISBN 0415121515.
Jared Ault 21:07, 26 Oct 2005 (EST)
