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Author Topic: Are there any Imax projectors out there? Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 06-17-2004 01:48 AM                     RPG can go fly a kite. Most of the prints I've received from them have had one problem or another, most of which involved me spending hours upon hours replacing every splice in any given print. Eventually, we told them to stop assembling new prints for us since I was doing the work all over again anyway. As far as tape splices go, I've had prints run thousands of passes with no tearing or stretching. It's all in the details of making the splice properly: No bubbles or gaps, the edge of the splice falls between perfs and not on them, etc. But ultrasonic splices on 1570 do kick ass.  |  IP: Logged Stewart Anderson Expert Film Handler Posts: 105 From: Sandy, Utah /United States of America Registered: Aug 2003 posted 06-17-2004 01:53 AM                        Thank you Adam! I think our stretching problem is coming from rewinding the films on our CDC knock offs of the MK 1. Especially since 99% of the splices that stretch seem to always be near the beginning of the film (where the most tension is present on rewind).  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 06-17-2004 02:30 AM                        I'll second Adam on the tape splices. We ran thousands and thousands of them through the old IMAX Classic projector and reel unit at Caesars and never had a problem with them. It's true that properly made ultrasonic splices are great, but we never had any issues with "pinking shear" tape splices either. [ 06-17-2004, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: Paul Mayer ]  |  IP: Logged Brian Michael Weidemann Expert cat molester Posts: 944 From: Costa Mesa, CA United States Registered: Feb 2004 posted 06-17-2004 04:20 AM                        Same here. Never a problem with the zig-zag tape splice, properly done, of course. Only the one connecting the academy leader to junk stock tends to stretch slightly on the one side, but that likely comes from the projector saying threaded up over hours of no-tickets-sold no-shows; constantly taut on the same stretch of film. Not getting those with Potter, though ... not yet, anyway.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-17-2004 12:00 PM                     The MK1 design of reel unit puts a lot of stress on tape splices at the head and tail of the reels. I always assemble my own prints and use the ultrasonic splicer for the print and tape for the trailors The zigzag can also have issues with the grade of tape used and some places seem to use poorer quality than others  |  IP: Logged Stewart Anderson Expert Film Handler Posts: 105 From: Sandy, Utah /United States of America Registered: Aug 2003 posted 06-17-2004 01:56 PM                        I think I might show my bosses this thread, because even after telling them all of the problems we will have with tape splices even when I'm checking them constantly we still get used/pre-built prints that are usually tape-spliced. Then after receiving a tape-spliced/pre-built print, I'm prohibited from changing those splices (to ultrasonic). They tell me that they are cheaper and they don't have a choice W T F!!!  |  IP: Logged Bob Brown Expert Film Handler Posts: 146 From: Grand Rapids, MI Registered: Apr 2002 posted 06-17-2004 02:34 PM                        Just my two cents here: I am running prints that Adam made up when he was at Grand Rapids. I did check the splices and did not need to change any splice. The zig-zag tape splice is, in my opinion, a great splice that will give you a long run before any problems arise. OH, as far as RPG goes, I totally agree with Adam here, I received a print from them that had ultrasonic with Tape over the ultrasonic splice, ON BOTH SIDES!! it ran kinda hard through the SR's, had to readjust the stator clearance. Adam taught me how to splice, as with anything, it is all in the person whom is operating the equipment. The better trained the better results.  |  IP: Logged Stewart Anderson Expert Film Handler Posts: 105 From: Sandy, Utah /United States of America Registered: Aug 2003 posted 06-17-2004 03:32 PM                        Bob, I COMPLETELY AGREE. But I also think that there is a little more to it; I think if you rate the quality of these four things (listed below) and then average those four ratings you will have a pretty accurate rating of your theaters presentation. 1. Good Equipment 2. Good Operators 3. Good Service 4. Good Prints For example on a 1 - 10 scale: 1. Equipment 7 2. Operators 9 3. Service 7 4. Prints 5 ------- 28 / 4 = 7 (70%) And I'm sure some of these factors should pull more weight then others, but its just a simple stupid theory of mine P.S. The numbers were not my theater, I was just pulling numbers out of thin air to make a point.  |  IP: Logged Jesse August Film Handler Posts: 58 From: Vancouver British Columbia Registered: Jul 2003 posted 06-17-2004 03:51 PM                     Tape splices are good for trailers, but I would never assemble a 1570 print with a tape splicer. Ultrasonic is the only way to go.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 06-17-2004 05:55 PM                     First to change a splice from tape to ultrasonic or vice versa requires the insertion of 2 frames of black to replace the lost frames of the splice and maintain sync  |  IP: Logged Jesse August Film Handler Posts: 58 From: Vancouver British Columbia Registered: Jul 2003 posted 06-17-2004 06:54 PM                     That is why I think tape splices are good for add and removing trailers, you don't have to worry about adding black frames because you don't loose any frames.  |  IP: Logged Rob Butler Film Handler Posts: 91 From: Westford, MA, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 06-18-2004 10:27 AM                     If the time to break down a print ever comes, you'll seriously regret using ultrasonic splices. quote: Stewart Anderson I'm prohibited from changing those splices (to ultrasonic). They tell me that they are cheaper and they don't have a choice So they're saying that using up your splice tape is somehow cheaper than using a splicer that doesn't use tape to begin with?  |  IP: Logged Jesse August Film Handler Posts: 58 From: Vancouver British Columbia Registered: Jul 2003 posted 06-18-2004 02:13 PM                     I guess I'm lucky I've never had to break down a 15/70 print.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 06-18-2004 04:47 PM                        I've never heard of breaking down an IMAX print. At least in my experience, once they're made, they're made for good and they get shipped that way, in big and heavy cases.  |  IP: Logged Jesse August Film Handler Posts: 58 From: Vancouver British Columbia Registered: Jul 2003 posted 06-18-2004 07:06 PM                     Come to think of it I have broken down 15/70 prints, but only in half so they would fit into two shipping cases. For example Star Wars AOTC, Apollo 13, Matrix, but these movies are longer then the ordinary 15/70 running times of 40 to 50 minutes. Other than that reason I don't see a need to break down.  |  IP: Logged

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