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Author Topic: Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 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?  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 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.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA 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.  |  IP: Logged Charles Phillips Film Handler Posts: 39 From: St. Charles, IL Registered: Jul 2004 posted 10-07-2008 06:53 PM                     I heard they put in 2 Sony 4K digital projectors  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 10-07-2008 08:17 PM                     quote: Mike Blakesley check out "Soarin'" at Epcot. Aw...they dumped 'Captain Eo'? 'We're going in!'  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 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.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea 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.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 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.  |  IP: Logged Andres Briano Expert Film Handler Posts: 162 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???  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-09-2008 01:41 AM                        Gone? No. Papered-over? Yes.  |  IP: Logged Cameron Glendinning Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 845 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.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 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.  |  IP: Logged Scott Jentsch Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061 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.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 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.  |  IP: Logged Dan Reiter Film Handler Posts: 74 From: Easton PA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 05-14-2009 08:17 AM                     I've been in the booth. 4 Sony 4K's. Three that do the whole screen, and one that does the details in the center of the screen where most of your attention is focused. And, yes, it seems dim.  |  IP: Logged

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