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Topic: Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida

Lyle Romer
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 712
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-07-2008 10:20 AM

I guess this is the right forum for the question since the ride uses a huge screen and used to use IMAX or 70mm when it was Back to the Future.

I rode this a few days ago and it was clearly some type of digital projection. It didn't look horrible but it certainly didn't look outstanding either. When I peaked back it looked like there were 4 projectors in use. Does anybody know what projectors they are using? Are they "stitching" the screen together for higher resolution or are they just quadrouple projecting the whole screen for brightness?

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 5578
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-07-2008 10:27 AM

That ride was recently re-modeled from the BAck to the Future ride. I wonder if they used the same projection system. I remember BTTF as being kind of dull-looking.

If you really want to see an impressive large-screen presentation in FLorida, check out "Soarin'" at Epcot. (AKA "Soarin' Over California" at California Adventure.) It is just great - picture bright and clear. I don't know what they're using for projection there - Phil might chime in here.

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Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug

Posts: 6710
From: Hollywood, California USA, 1465 miles west of Rockwall, TX
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 10-07-2008 02:32 PM

Each screen of the "Soarin'" simulator ride attractions has an IMAX 15kW 1570 projector running at 48fps and Loop Cabinets for the film.

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Charles Phillips
Film Handler

Posts: 37
From: Noblesville, IN
Registered: Jul 2004

posted 10-07-2008 06:53 PM

I heard they put in 2 Sony 4K digital projectors

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 2631
From: Sydney, Australia. 8602 m (13844 km) SW of Rockwall. Don't forget your swimmers!
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 10-07-2008 08:17 PM

quote: Mike Blakesley
check out "Soarin'" at Epcot.

Aw...they dumped 'Captain Eo'? [Wink]

'We're going in!' [thumbsup]

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Lyle Romer
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 712
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-08-2008 07:53 AM

quote: Charles Phillips
I heard they put in 2 Sony 4K digital projectors

There were definitely 4 projectors when I looked up at the booth.

It is hard to tell the on-screen resolution because of the source material. It didn't look bad and I didn't notice too many jaggies (ecept a split second of Bart's hair outline). Even with 4 projectors (whether they are stiched or overlayed or some combination) the image seemed a little dim.

'Soarin at Epcot and (over California) in Disney's California Adventure absolutely blow it away as far as image quality. To get that type of quality with digital I'd say you'd need a minimum 8k image and probably more. It looks incredibly realistic.

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Chris Slycord
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1100
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 10-08-2008 10:17 AM

Just to be clear, did you see the 4 projectors all being used? They could have several and only be using 1 or 2.

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Lyle Romer
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 712
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-08-2008 10:55 AM

There were 4 distinct beams of light in the port glass shining towards the screen and all had the same shape and size.

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Andres Briano
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 121
From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 10-08-2008 10:11 PM

Hold on a second! Is Back to the Future The Ride GONE??? [Frown]

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 5578
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 10-09-2008 01:41 AM

Gone? No. Papered-over? Yes.

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Cameron Glendinning
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 529
From: West Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia
Registered: Dec 2005

posted 10-10-2008 04:47 PM

quote: Lyle Romer
To get that type of quality with digital I'd say you'd need a minimum 8k image and probably more. It looks incredibly realistic.

The realism comes from increasing the frame rate, no 24 frame per second system would match. Digital can easly do higher frame rates. Showscan (my favorite) is 5/70mm @ 60 frames per second. Done properly the footage is amazing.. as if you were there.

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Lyle Romer
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 712
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-13-2008 08:09 AM

quote: Cameron Glendinning
The realism comes from increasing the frame rate, no 24 frame per second system would match. Digital can easly do higher frame rates. Showscan (my favorite) is 5/70mm @ 60 frames per second. Done properly the footage is amazing.. as if you were there.

That's why the 'Soarin ride uses IMAX at 48 fps. But....on a screen that big and as close as the viewer is to is, you need high resolution for it to look real. NTSC video at 1000 fps isn't going to look real at all on an 80 foot screen viewed 20-30 feet away.

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Scott Jentsch
Master Film Handler

Posts: 436
From: New Berlin, WI, USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 11-05-2008 10:53 AM

I just got back from Epcot, and I wasn't as impressed with Soarin' as I expected to be.

It was a fun ride, but I found the picture quality to be a little low in the clarity department. It's probably a result of the close viewing distance to the screen, but the lack of clarity in the small details surprised me.

It didn't strike me as a focus problem, but rather just a limitation of resolution. When I got home and checked out the specs of the equipment and the source, I was surprised that it didn't look better than it did.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 5578
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-05-2008 11:59 AM

Supposedly they are going to replace the Soarin' film with a new one next year. The new film will cover more of the world than just California. Considering the current film is about 8 years old, maybe resolution will be improved.

I went into that attraction knowing nothing about it at all, except it was a simulated hang glider ride. As such, I was blown away by how cool the whole experience was. I don't remember a whole lot of small picture details - the thing goes by so fast!

We'll be back in Fla next fall and hope to experience the Simpsons Ride at that time.

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