Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: IMAX makes their first DLP machine sale

This is topic IMAX makes their first DLP machine sale in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-12-2000, 01:19 PM:

Canada News Wire is reporting that IMAX has made their first DLP machine sale to Japanese multiplex operator T-Joy. First machines are going to T-Joy's 'plex in Hiroshima.

Funny, the article says the transfer medium is either by satellite link *or DVD*. Haven't heard of any available DVD format that can handle the current resolution requirements for DLP--I think they meant some sort of transportable hard or RAID drive.

The article also mentions use of TI's latest DLP chips with improved "higher" black levels... More is better, right?

Posted by Alan Gouger (Member # 543) on 12-12-2000, 01:56 PM:

Dvd storage capacity is improving. With dvd 18 technology which contains 4 stackable layers on one disc they are able to store one complete 1080I hdtv. Id be interested in the compression ratio they are using. That is the killer.

Regarding better blacks with DLP Projectors
They are now realizing controling the stray light in the optical path not only improves contrast ratio but also gives better blacks.
They also now have a new lens with a measured 800:1 contrast ratio.

I heard Imax was having trouble internally!
Is this true. I heard it was restructuring
and as the parent co of digital projectors this was causing some miss orginization
within DP which I have experienced.
Anyone know of any truth to this!

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-12-2000, 02:05 PM:

So...umm...why didn't they just buy the 15-perf 70 IMAX machine from the Tokyo Science Museum (see the thread in the "Ground Level" forum)??!!?!?!

I assume that by "DVD" they mean DVD-ROM and not MPEG-compressed NTSC television.

If IMAX contines along this path of allowing its name to be associated with something other than the highest possible level of picture and sound quality, I don't expect that they will last much longer. Let's hope that this isn't the case...

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-12-2000, 02:21 PM:

DVDs have been used to distribute the data --- multiple DVDs are used to load the 40 gigabytes or so currently being used into the QVis server. AFAIK, the data is not securely encrypted yet, so physical security needed to protect the DVDs is very tight, lest the movie fall into the wrong hands.

Boeing/Hughes demonstrated satellite distribution of the data by tranmitting the movie "Bounce" to the AMC Empire Theatre in NYC just before Thanksgiving. Last summer, Cisco transmitted "Titan A.E." to the SuperComm tradeshow in Atlanta, using a secure broadband cross-country link. AFAIK, an equivalent T-3 line (45 megabits per second) would lease for about $30,000 per month -- a detail not mentioned in the hype. Data transmission is NOT free!

The latest "DLP Cinema" chips have reduced the flare level that plagued earlier versions, giving "smoky" blacks. AFAIK only Christie, Barco and Digital Projection (IMAX) are licensed to use the DLP Cinema grade chips. The current versions have only 1280 x 1024 pixels, which is less than many laptop computer displays.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-12-2000, 10:45 PM:

Imax theaters with the DTAC version of the sound system currently receive their soundtracks on 3.5GB DVD-ROM discs. The files are usually copied to the hard drive and played from there, but can also be played directly from the DVD-ROM.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-15-2000, 08:47 AM:

I seriously doubt that Imax will disappear. They have at least a couple of years backlog to construct new 15/70 theaters. Although DLP may progress fast it will certainly be quite some time before it will ever approach the definition of a 15/70 print. I doubt that the system they sold would have a recognizable image on a 70 by 90 foot screen so one must assume it's a smaller size theater.
Mark

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-15-2000, 09:40 AM:

AFAIK, the deal announced was for one of the 1280 x 1024 pixel DLP-Cinema projectors that IMAX subsidiary Digital Projection is licensed by TI to sell. It is similar to the equipment used in the thirty or so test sites being subsidized by Disney, TI, Technicolor and others. T-Joy is a new Japanese theatre circuit that just started this summer with backing from Toei.