What Is IMAX? And What Is the Difference Between IMAX and Standard?

 

Though you've watched an IMAX film, are you aware of the full viewing experience?  

What is the pinnacle of theater-going? Going to an IMAX theatre to watch a movie you adore is what it means to me. You become completely engrossed once more by the rich hues, thrilling sound, and engaging visuals. Last week, I saw Jaws in a real IMAX theatre, and it was a memorable experience.

There's just something more enchanting about these films, but what distinguishes these projection technologies from others? Is IMAX worth the price and how does it differ from the norm? 

We're going to learn everything there is to know about these theatres, cameras, and what makes them so unique today. We'll define IMAX before delving into its particulars. 

What Is IMAX? And What Is the Difference Between IMAX and Standard? 

Which IMAX movie experience was your favorite? Do any stand out more than others? When The Dark Knight's teaser trailer was aired, I first became aware of the format. I had never witnessed something that clear. And it motivated me to attend the premiere of the movie. 

I wasn't sure how to put a number on what was unique about the presentation at the time. 

What Is IMAX? The IMAX Definition

A proprietary system of extremely large screens that are taller than those used in traditional theatres, high-tech cameras with great clarity, and film formats are all part of the IMAX system. They either have a 1.43:1 or a 1.90:1 aspect ratio. 

What Does IMAX Mean? 

It's thought that the term comes from "Maximum Image." Graeme Ferguson, a co-founder, narrated the history of the name IMAX, saying: 

Multiscreen Corporation was the name we initially gave the business because that is exactly how most people knew of us. The technology was given the name Multivision because, in our minds, it could be used to display multi-image films on a wide screen. We had the most success with multi-image, therefore we considered that to be the most important thing to do. Though not the only factor, it is the main factor. Our lawyer advised us that we would never be able to copyright or trademark Multivision after roughly a year. It was overly cliched. The word was evocative. terms like Kleenex, Xerox, or Coca-Cola are examples of terms that are protected by copyright. You must invent a word if the name is descriptive in order to trademark it. So, while having lunch in a Hungarian restaurant in Montreal, we brainstormed ideas on a place mat. We put down every name we could think of. We persisted in pursuing the notion of maximum image. We took it backward and developed IMAX.

who Founded IMAX? 

The company was co-founded by Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr, and William C. Shaw. It was first known as the Multiscreen Corporation, Limited when it was created in September 1967. In Canada in the late 1960s, this group attempted to create the first IMAX movie projection standards. 

The Difference Between IMAX and Standard Theaters

The differences between IMAX theatres and regular theatres are numerous. Let's explore each of them individually to see how great the experience is and what it means for moviegoers. 

What Makes It an IMAX Movie Theater? 

An IMAX theatre is what? Well, when you visit a typical theatre, you sit and view a print that a studio has provided. But when you watch something in an IMAX theatre, you can be confident that the print and the sound have been carefully crafted with the help of the company and the director, ensuring that the exact image is projected on the screen. The audio of each movie is completely reworked first, under the direction of the director of the respective movie. 

The image has to be worked on after that. They employ a remastering technique known as DMR or Digital Media Remastering. It completely alters each frame of a movie to create the most accurate representation of the filmmaker's intent. The ideal image with a balance of colors is produced by two projectors operating concurrently.

Each component of these theatres is meticulously planned, created, and positioned. Even theatre geometry has been studied scientifically to ensure that every seat has excellent vision and sound quality. Additionally, it has changed how the chairs are set up, which is in a sloping stadium so that the viewer is completely immersed in the movie. 

How Are IMAX Movies Projected? 

Although we spoke extensively about the quality, IMAX stands out for its exceptional projection. The industry standard makes use of 70 mm film that is projected horizontally. This method creates an area that is roughly 8.3 times larger than a 35mm film and roughly 3.4 times larger than a 70mm film that is projected vertically. These films are now frequently broadcast digitally. 

A more affordable method that employs two 2K digital projectors to project on a screen with a 1.90:1 aspect ratio was introduced by IMAX in 2008 as Digital IMAX. 

What Aspect Ratio Does IMAX 70mm Film Deliver? 

Since Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Paul Thomas Anderson all chose to have their films seen in the enormous format, 70mm has recently become popular again. The aspect ratio of a 70mm film is 2.76:1, which is twice as large as that of a 35mm film. Ben-Hur was released in 70mm in 1959, and filmmakers are still using it to draw audiences to the spectacle today. IMAX formats are frequently mixed with 70mm. 

The present IMAX design employs 70mm film that has a whopping 15 perforations per frame and is exhibited horizontally, giving it roughly six times the resolution of 35mm film. 

How Big Is an IMAX Screen?

IMAX screens typically measure 72' x 50' (22m × 16m), which is a major increase above conventional cinema screens, which measure roughly 50' x 20' (16m x 6.1m).

Is IMAX worth it? Yes, it is absolutely worth the price of admission. It's the biggest screen with the best quality. 

Learn About IMAX Cameras 

How is the footage for IMAX films captured? So, using specifically designed cameras. Due to the size of the film they use, they must be custom produced. "15/70" film is the general name for the IMAX format. Its 15 sprocket holes or perforations per frame are how it gained its name. Instead of the more traditional vertically mounted film reels, horizontal platters are required due to the weight and bulk of the film. 

These cameras were exceedingly heavy and challenging to operate for a very long time. They were utilized to film largely action moments where sound would be added afterward because they were so loud you couldn't use sync sound on set. But recently, such cameras have improved in agility. 

IMAX (15/70)

• spherical lenses
• 70 mm film, 15 perforations per frame
• horizontal rolling loop movement, from right to left (viewed from the emulsion side)
• 24 frames per second
• camera aperture: 70.41 mm × 52.63 mm (2.772 in × 2.072 in)
• projection aperture: at least 2 mm (0.079 in) less than the camera aperture on the vertical axis and at least 0.41 mm (0.016 in) less on the horizontal axis
• aspect ratio: 1.43:1
• DMR aspect ratio: 1.90:1, 2.39:1

IMAX Dome/Omnimax

Same as IMAX, plus: 

• fisheye lenses
• lens optically centered 9.4 mm (0.37 in) above film's horizontal center line
• projected elliptically on a dome screen, 20° below and 110° above perfectly centered viewers

IMAX Digital Cameras 

The company introduced the "Filmed In IMAX" program in September 2020. Working with Hollywood, which was filming significantly more digitally than on film, was the plan. They sought to accredit superior digital cameras capable of producing IMAX-format movies. An expanded reach would enable a wide range of filmmakers to use this format more frequently. 

Digital cameras with IMAX certification: ARRI Alexa LF (4K camera)

Camera model: ARRI Alexa Mini LF (4K)

(8K camera) Panavision Millennium DXL2

8K camera for the Red Ranger Monstro

The VENICE cameras from Sony (6K camera)

(6.5K camera) ARRI Alexa 65 IMAX

Shot with IMAX

Simply put, "Shot with IMAX" denotes that the movie was shot with IMAX 65mm cameras. There aren't many "real" IMAX cameras around. According to Y.M. Cinema Magazine, the goal of IMAX's "Filmed in IMAX" program is to increase the number of productions that use its theatres, which boosts revenue while recognizing the advanced cameras that IMAX certifies. 

A very small number of IMAX 65mm film cameras were utilized in the making of IMAX films up until this point. For instance, the ARRI Alexa Mini was the camera that was used the most on IMAX films in 2021. The MSM 9802, which was utilized in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight and Jordan Peele's NOPE, was near the bottom of Y.M. Cinema's list, demonstrating the logic's justification.

We are enthusiastic to see the impending new release of IMAX cameras expand and offer a quieter and simpler camera for filmmakers, even though Peele did not employ the newest generation of IMAX cameras for NOPE. This does not imply that stunning visuals cannot be produced with the IMAX 65mm. 

Hoyte van Hoytema, a frequent collaborator with Nolan on his films, used Kodak film, including 65mm film in IMAX format, to shoot NOPE. Hoytema is recognized as a specialist in 65mm film cameras and has amassed some respectable shooting time with them. 

According to IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond at the Screen International in Cannes, Nolan will use the IMAX 65mm in "new, novel ways" for Oppenheimer because he is "obsessed" with the quality of IMAX cameras. Oppenheimer is the first movie to include portions shot in analog black and white IMAX photography, giving viewers a fresh viewing experience. 

Filmed for IMAX

Top Gun: Maverick, in contrast, was shot with a Sony VENICE camera that is IMAX approved, which is why the movie's poster specifies that it was made for IMAX. VENICE is a premier high-end cinema camera that has been given the go-ahead by IMAX to be used when filming in an IMAX theatre. 

The Alexa LF, Alexa Mini, Alexa 65, Panavision DXL2, and the RED Ranger Monstro are additional cameras that are housed in the same area as the Sony VENICE. 

The production is overseen by IMAX, which establishes the protocol, best practices, and methodology for shooting the format for the IMAX "Film for IMAX" program, which specifies the cinema cameras that can film for its theatres. 

IMAX Movie Examples 

What types of films were produced today with IMAX in mind? You have 3D IMAX films like Avatar, which transformed how audiences experienced IMAX theatres. Additionally, you have films that have had segments shot in IMAX, such as Nolan's The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and Dunkirk. 

Disney created Fantasia 2000 in 2000, which was the first animated film to be released in its entirety just in the IMAX format. That was a big success that enthralled viewers who could immerse themselves in the pictures.

Hollywood has long taken use of these cameras and theatres, producing films featuring material recorded with them that can only be seen in a certified theatre. What screen you watch a movie on can alter the prolonged frames in films like First Man and Top Gun: Maverick. In IMAX, you get to see a lot more and truly construct the world. 

Of course, these theatres show films from throughout the world in addition to Hollywood productions. The use of IMAX cameras has The incredible movie Roving Mars, which is about the Mars Exploration Rovers, was made while they were orbiting the Earth. Additionally, shorter 3D films like T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous and Haunted Castle are shown in museums.

Summing Up "What Is IMAX? And What is the Difference Between IMAX and Standard?"

Dolby Cinema, which offers incredibly vivid images mostly in High Dynamic Range with shadow, is their only genuine rival, thus it appears that IMAX will be around for a while. Therefore, you should educate yourself on how it functions and why it is crucial. 

What movies made using these cameras are some of your favorites? Which director, in your opinion, best utilizes the medium?