IMAX Switches to Barco Projectors for Laser Upgrades
Barco and IMAX Corporation announced the expansion of their international partnership to continue providing audiences with the next level of awe-inspiring, immersive cinematic experiences. The companies collaborated to launch IMAX’s new ground-breaking laser experience for commercial multiplexes, IMAX with Laser.
IMAX and Barco’s partnership began in 2012 and together the companies have achieved remarkable results in delivering large-format, immersive experiences using lamp-based projection and more recently laser projection technology. In an effort to push the boundaries of cinema, the IMAX with Laser projection system was set-up as a collaboration with Barco over several years.
Ney Corsino, SVP Barco Americas, says, “IMAX demands the best of us, challenges our knowledge and capabilities toward new levels and brighter outcomes for the cinema industry.”
Mark Welton, president of IMAX Theaters stated, “IMAX makes no compromises when it comes to delivering the world’s most immersive movie experience. Incorporating Barco’s industry-leading laser light source technology with IMAX’s image quality know-how and digital laser IP enabled us to launch IMAX’s most advanced commercial projection system to date designed to transform the premium blockbuster moviegoing experience.”
Nicolas Vanden Abeele, SVP for Barco Entertainment, adds: “We are honored to extend this partnership with IMAX and to have been selected again as their worldwide projection technology partner. This is a strong endorsement of Barco’s leadership in the projection cinema business and provider of state-of-the-art cinema technologies to redefine cinema experiences.”
IMAX with Laser provides audiences with better colorimetry and uniformity of images to suspend disbelief when experiencing today’s biggest blockbusters. The next-generation 4K laser projection system features a new optical engine and suite of proprietary IMAX technologies that delivers increased resolution, sharper and brighter images, deeper contrast as well as the widest range of colors available to filmmakers to present more distinct, exotic colors than ever before. The new system will also feature IMAX’s 12-channel sound technology that incorporates new side and overhead channels to deliver greater dynamic range and precision for ultimate audio immersion and sound you can feel.
To date, IMAX has signed agreements for more than 200 of its new IMAX with Laser systems worldwide.