Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cleaning and Drying IMAX 3D glasses

This is topic Cleaning and Drying IMAX 3D glasses in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bernie Anderson Jr (Member # 410) on 09-11-2009, 11:57 PM:

We opened IMAX today and I have a question. Do you guys have a quick method for drying the 3D glasses, since the washer doesn't have a dryer for that. They said to get an air compressor to blow the water off of them.

Thanks

Bernie

Posted by Patrick Watkinson (Member # 4237) on 10-14-2009, 11:21 PM:

We use a split off the main air line sent to our MPX. Routed the hose downstairs to the room with the washer.

A word of caution: Make sure management informs all staff that are going to be using the compressed air that it is NOT A TOY, and that use of compressed air should only be used by those wearing appropriate ear and eye protection.

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 10-14-2009, 11:27 PM:

In a nut shell, is there a difference in IMAX glasses than 'normal' 3D DLP glasses? I guess what I'm asking is: are IMAX glasses more expensive that they have to be reused and not recycled/thrown out.

(Side note: I've never been to an IMAX [Frown]

)

Posted by Patrick Watkinson (Member # 4237) on 10-14-2009, 11:41 PM:

Well, Thus far my cinema has IMAX 3d passive linear polarized glasses, and REAL D's XL units for the DLP3d.

My comments about the glasses themselves:

In short, IMAX glasses cost $25 USD to replace. 3 sizes fit NO ONE, uncomfortable and heavy (for the blue large size) Plus you need to keep track of them and clean them and dry them for the next show (can you tell we dislike IMAX 3d movies). They do not bend at the arms and must be placed in racks. Also, the sensorbands for anti theft magnetic bands tend to pop out after repeated cleaning

REEL D passive 3d glasses are pretty sweet. The black 1 size fits everyone even while wearing reading glasses, hinges at the arms, and are prepackaged (kinda leaves a carbon footprint of waste) but we have specific bins for them to recycle which we ship back. We don’t have to count them every show nor do we have to clean them. Thus from a theater standpoint, you don’t waste "person"power on the glasses.

I’ve been looking into Xpand and other makes, it seems they are kinda taking the wrong turn in IMO, active glasses seem much more costly.

I think I read that a downside of REEL D is that you have to sign a contract for their 3d and have to use their reel d system only in your DLP rooms. someone can confirm this for me.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-15-2009, 08:23 AM:

Is there any reason why "normal" disposable cardboard Polaroid 3D glasses would not work for Imax? Are the plastic glasses better in some way?

Posted by James. R. Deeter (Member # 837) on 10-15-2009, 11:33 AM:

With IMAX, you must use their glasses, and the digital 3-D glasses are different from the MPX 3-D glasses ??? and guess what, they cost more !

Posted by Charles Phillips (Member # 2594) on 10-15-2009, 05:03 PM:

We use one of those backpack blowers and mounted it on the wall. Than rigged the switch to only operate the low setting. I've also found that flipping one of the dish racks upside down and putting the glasses rack on top helps keep the water from blowing back onto the glasses.

Patrick. The XR glasses are actually cheaper now that they found a different manufacturer. Also they just came out with a cheaper design called the DX. Give Chris Appleton a call for prices

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 10-15-2009, 05:11 PM:

quote: Patrick Watkinson
sensorbands for anti theft

Wow, you're not messing around with those are ya. Are they embedded in the glasses themselves, or a small tag hanging off the arm?

Are patrons instructed to give back the glasses after the show or else they get the beep of death from a security system?

I'm still in awe on the fact you have to reuse those. I'm going to do a little research on the ins and outs of IMAX 3D.

Posted by Patrick Watkinson (Member # 4237) on 10-15-2009, 11:47 PM:

quote: Allison Parsons

Wow, you're not messing around with those are ya. Are they embedded in the glasses themselves, or a small tag hanging off the arm?

Are patrons instructed to give back the glasses after the show or else they get the beep of death from a security system?

I'm still in awe on the fact you have to reuse those. I'm going to do a little research on the ins and outs of IMAX 3D.

Ha well they had that in mind when they installed everything 3 years ago. Most of the stuff was previously enjoyed. The sensormatic unit didn’t even work.

There is only one. None by the emergency exits. Yes the patrons are instructed with our oldschool outdated Famous players laser preshow that staff will be present at end of the show to collect glasses

For our 80’s grandpa looking Glasses, they have sensor bands in the top center of the plastic frame of the glasses with a section bored out for the band and they are covered with a piece of plastic to make it flush with the surface, but have a tendency to pop off, and some become un-magnetized and also, if you take the glasses and pass it high enough over the sensormatic, it doesn’t go off, haha.

Its hard to find info on the Imax stuff. Doesn’t seem to matter as Imax is doing the whole digital thing along with the other giants in film

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-16-2009, 08:25 AM:

Regardless of what the contract says, will "normal" disposable cardboard Polaroid 3D glasses work with the 15/70 Imax 3D system? If so, do the proper Imax glasses have any optical or other advantages?

(I suppose that this would be easy enough to test, for the cost of a ticket, but I've not tried this yet.)

Does the Imax DLP system use linear or circular polarization?

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 10-18-2009, 09:46 AM:

Scott, whenever we go to the local 15/70 IMAX to see something in 3D, being the geeks we are, we bring our own linear polarized aviator style glasses, and they work great. So technically any linear polarizing glasses would work with that system, but the cardboard glasses' lenses are a bit smallish to take in the entire screen.

Haven't seen IMAX DLP yet.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-18-2009, 11:05 AM:

Not all linears are the same...you have vertical/horizontal as well as 45/45...it all depends on the system used.

Steve

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 10-18-2009, 11:33 AM:

Most every linear system in this country is 45/45. We took a chance and it happens to work.

In fact, I've not seen a supplier of glasses that offers 0/90 polarization unless it's a special order.

Posted by Tristan Lane (Member # 1169) on 10-20-2009, 07:37 PM:

I'm surprised to hear that a suitable dryer wasn't installed for the IMAX glasses. Most of the purpose built IMAX theaters had a washing system with a dryer.

Either way, the suggested device that was installed in many theaters was a Paxton Air Knife. A large, loud, centrifugal blower and the air knife device are used to eliminate all the water from the glasses to avoid spotting.

Linky

Posted by Patrick Watkinson (Member # 4237) on 10-30-2009, 12:22 PM:

quote: Hillary Charles
Most every linear system in this country is 45/45. We took a chance and it happens to work.

In fact, I've not seen a supplier of glasses that offers 0/90 polarization unless it's a special order.

We have 0/90 Polarization

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 11-18-2009, 05:10 AM:

quote: Hillary Charles
In fact, I've not seen a supplier of glasses that offers 0/90 polarization unless it's a special order.

Our best selling line of glasses are the 0/90 ones, we do 45 degree as well.

The IMAX digital are 0/90. The polarising filters in the new style are quite thin , probably 10 thou or less, and the frames are quite thick. I think this probably leads to problems with drying as the frames block air flow from the paxton air blower.

The glasses are cheaper than the old XR but I'm presuming give less uses.

Our glasses have 30 thou hard coat filters giving a substantial number of uses.

If anyone wants more details drop me an e-mail

Posted by Chris Aulisio (Member # 5523) on 12-01-2009, 11:06 AM:

Distilled water and a micro fiber cloth is better on weekdays when usage is low.
The new Black Frame IMAX glasses suck..

James R, get back to work!!

ca