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February 18, 2005
Projection Systems for Special Venues & Theme Parks:
The majority of special venue and theme park projection systems are designed to enhance the viewer’s sense of immersion. This is typically done through the use of broader and brighter imagery. Visual impact is further enhanced by quality sound systems that create a “larger than life” sound. Other enhancers include seating movement, ultra low frequency speakers, smoke, smells, lasers, and other physical effects.
Filling the viewers’ field of view can greatly enhance the sense of visual immersion. A human’s maximum limits of color discrimination are approximately 60 degrees vertically and horizontally. This “cone of vision” varies with hue, saturation, light intensity, age of viewer, etc. Field of view can be increased with comfortable head movements of approximately 30 degrees vertically and 45 degrees horizontally (see diagram below).
The most common specialty venue projection system is IMAX®. These specialized theaters are characterized by steeply raked seating and large (up to 100’x74’), and slightly curved, vertical screens. They can seat up to 1000 people and are often attached to Museums to increase membership and ticket sales. Visuals occupy approximately 100% of the viewer’s field of view. These theaters also have a proprietary “rolling loop” vacuum projector system that moves a 70mm horizontal film stock through the gate at 24 frames/sec. The new IMAX®HD system increases the frame rate to 48 frames/sec. for an even more realistic image quality.
IMAX® “Magic Carpet” theaters experimented with a second screen positioned below the audience and viewed through sections of glazed floor. This was most effective for aerial, aerospace, or underwater content. However, the cost of building such theaters was prohibitive. OMNIMAX® theaters use a similar system as IMAX® with a 75’ hemispherical-dome screen. A fisheye projector lens is situated at the center of a 30 degree sloped, 350 seat theater. These are well suited for planetarium and laser shows. Both OMNIMAX® and IMAX® can feature an optional 3D SOLIDO® dual synchronized projection system with IR signal, polarized viewer goggles.
Showscan® is another large format projection system used in special venues like theme parks and World’s Fairs. These theaters tend to be a little smaller than IMAX® but offer a standard 60 fps (frames per second) flickerless high definition image. Showscan screens are a wide aspect ratio, closer to the wide-angle projector, and curved to produce a brighter image than most theaters. Films typically last 20 minutes and many offer Dynamic Motion ® moving seating for synchronized motion simulation.
Showscan also offers a 3-D system utilizing Twin left and right 70mm projectors @ 60 f.p.s. Some say this is the most effective 3-D system on the market. Additional 3-D venues host Omni Films’ ESI-3D® (a good polarized 3D system for standard theater screens) and Stereovision 70 (split 70mm frames off one negative).
Another popular special venue and theme park projection is Disney Circle-Vision 360. This proprietary system capitalizes on a cylindrical 360-degree image. 9 curved screens are placed side by side with synchronized projectors placed at the opposite seams. Content is shot utilizing specially constructed rigs with nine 35mm cameras. Most of these theaters have the audience stand so they are free to turn completely around during the films. Handrails are essential as the slightest tilt in horizon convincingly suggest the entire theater is tilting. Other similar systems include Vision 360, Superscan Cinesystem, Cirkinovision, and Ultra Toruscope 3 and 5 screen systems.
Iwerks Imagine 360 and Swissorama 360 are similar from the audience’s perspective. However, both of these systems have a seamless projection. Shooting 70mm film with a specialized fisheye lens through a doughnut shaped mask provides each image frame. Utilizing a matching fisheye projector, mounted in the center of the round theater, completes the illusion. Although the image is less vibrant that 9 separate projectors, the camera itself is much less clumsy to use than the previous 360 rigs.
Other less common special venue projection systems include Cinema 180 featuring a quadrispherical screen, Motion Master with its hydraulically activated seats, and motion based simulators with standard projectors housed on the moving platform.
Disney’s California Adventure hosts a unique set of theaters in the “Soarin’ Over California” attraction. Two OMNIMAX domes are set on their sides and the viewers are lifted in bench-like seats to a four-tier vertical stack theater. Each bench tilts and pitches in conjunction with the scenic fly-over of California’s greatest landscapes. A grandiose score by Jerry Goldsmith and familiar smells pumped into the theater, like pine and citrus, enhance the epic dangling foot journey.
On a completely different scale, Disneyland’s “Haunted Mansion” showcases several specialty projection systems. These include Flying ghosts projected on three story scrims, singing faces projected on gravestone busts, and a proprietary gypsy’s head fiber optic projection on the interior of a floating crystal ball. These and more Imagineering tricks make the Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion one of the best collections of specialized projection systems.
Sources/Bibliography:
BKSTS - The Moving Image Society (http://www.bksts.com/)
IMAX Corporation (http://www.imax.com)
iWerks Entertainment (http://www.iwerks.com)
Building A Dream – the Art of Disney Architecture by Beth Dunlop
http://www.doombuggies.com/
(I was not able to upload related images to this page)
Posted by andrew at February 18, 2005 06:20 PM
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