RealD Inc. has developed and begun deploying to large format movie venues the XLW Cinema System, an extension of RealD’s XL Cinema System that can accommodate a throw ratio as wide as 1.0 (projection distance divided by screen width).
XLW is designed for use in premium large screen motion picture auditoriums, theme parks and specialty theatres with stadium seating. It is capable of delivering crisp, clear 3D images on screens up to 82 feet (25 meters) wide while maintaining the performance of the XL Cinema System. RealD claims that it delivers to a screen twice the light of competing 3D projection technologies while utilizing a single DLP digital cinema projector.
The company plans to demonstrate the XLW Cinema System at the Digital Cinema Symposium Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 24-25) at Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX.
“Many exhibitors are rolling out their own premium large screen auditoriums equipped with RealD 3D so they can give moviegoers a big screen experience across the full slate of 3D movie releases,” said Joseph Peixoto, President of Worldwide Cinema at RealD. “The XLW Cinema System, with its 1.0 throw ratio and industry-leading light levels, is designed for these premium auditoriums’ stadium seating configuration. The XLW will assure that exhibitors have optimal 3D projection so moviegoers experience crisp, clear images for a fully immersive RealD 3D experience.”
RealD 3D technology is currently deployed in premium large screen auditoriums with a number of motion picture exhibitors including Regal (RPX), AMC (ETX), Cinemark (XD), Carmike (BigD), Marcus (UltraScreen), Cineplex (UltraAVX) and Essex Cinemas (T-Rex).
The XLW Cinema System utilizes light efficiency technology introduced with the XL Cinema System, which captures light lost by other 3D projection technologies and recycles it back onto the screen for a brighter and more immersive 3D experience. By utilizing a single digital cinema projector, XLW Cinema Systems do not suffer from the imbalance and misalignment issues of dual projector systems and offer exhibitors cost savings on power usage and equipment such as projectors and lamps.
— By Scott Hettrick