IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio and steep stadium seating. Developed in Canada in the 1970s, IMAX seeks to give the viewer an immersive movie-watching experience with its large screens. IMAX theaters have a large circular dome and a flat screen, and the screens can be 18 by 24 meters in size, with the largest screen in Leonberg, Germany, measuring 38.8 meters by 21 meters. The IMAX cinema process increases the image resolution by using a larger film frame, and a frame of IMAX format film has three times the theoretical horizontal resolution of a frame of 35 mm film. IMAX theaters create a more immersive viewing experience with the massive screen, which delivers up to 40% more imagery due to its high-resolution 3D technology.
IMAX is different from regular cinema experience in the following ways:
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Screen size: IMAX screens are much larger than regular cinema screens, and they can be up to eight stories tall.
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Aspect ratio: IMAX screens have a tall aspect ratio of 1.43:1 or 1.9:1, which is different from the standard 16:9 aspect ratio of most cinema screens.
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Film format: IMAX uses a proprietary film format that is larger than standard film formats, resulting in higher image resolution.
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Sound quality: IMAX theaters use a specialized sound system that delivers high-quality, immersive sound.
IMAX cameras are specially made to capture footage for IMAX movies, and they use a film format called "15/70" film, which has 15 sprocket holes or perforations per frame. Hollywood has long taken advantage of these cameras and theaters, having movies with footage shot with these cameras, where the only way to see the complete image is to watch them in a certified theater.
In summary, IMAX is a proprietary system of high-resolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio and steep stadium seating. IMAX theaters create a more immersive viewing experience with the massive screen, which delivers up to 40% more imagery due to its high-resolution 3D technology. IMAX is different from regular cinema experience in terms of screen size, aspect ratio, film format, and sound quality.
