If you’re curious about what kind of projector do cinemas use? Cinemas use a specific projector known as a (DCP) digital cinema projectors.
We will take a closer look at what sets DCP projectors apart from other types of projectors. We will also discuss some of the benefits of using DCP in cinemas.
*side note: However, that isn’t the only type of projector a movie theater will use.
And we’ll take a look at the different types of projectors used in movie theatres and explain why they are chosen for this particular application. So, if you are interested in learning more about movie theater projectors.
What kind of projector do cinemas use?
How many types of movie theater projectors are there?
There are a few different types of projectors that are used in movie theaters. The most common type is the digital cinema projector, specifically designed for use in cinemas.
Other types of projectors that may be used include traditional movies projectors, LED screens, and even smaller projectors designed for use in home theaters.
What kind of traits do movie theater projectors have?
Bright images: Movie theaters have the ability to keep ambient light low. The projector light is essentially the only light in the room. Besides that, the projectors used in cinemas have a very large number of lumens (between 40,000 and 60,000).
Use Digital Light Processing: Digital Light Processing or DLP is a front and rear projection method made by Texas Instruments. In today’s age, digital cinema and smaller projectors make use of DLP technology.
Huge Screens: The projector used is only as good as the screen the image is projected on to. This is why cinema projectors project onto large, perfect surfaces.
What is a digital cinema projector?
A DCP is a type of projector that is specifically designed for use in cinemas. Unlike other types of projectors, DCP projectors are designed to meet the specific needs of cinema operators.
This includes providing superior image quality, brightness, and contrast. DCP projectors also offer several other benefits that make them ideal for use in movie theaters.
DCP Brightness
Digital Cinema projectors have an incredibly high brightness level, at around 27,000 lumens. This means that no matter where you’re sitting in the theater, you’ll be able to see the movie clearly.
Most other theaters use projectors with a brightness level of around 25,000 lumens. However, some theaters have projectors with a brightness level as low as 5,000 to 10,000 lumens. In general, the higher the lumen rating, the better.
DCP Resolution
Digital Projectors are the projectors that are used in movie theaters. They have a native resolution of 4K, and they use DLP Cinema chipsets. Digital cinema systems are expensive, but they offer excellent picture quality and reliability.
Some theaters use IMAX projection systems with even higher resolution than DCP projectors. IMAX projection systems use a different aspect ratio than standard DCP projectors, so not all movies can be shown in IMAX theaters.
DCP Screen Size
DCP can project images of any aspect ratio and resolution. The image’s width is almost always 2048 pixels, while the height can be anything from 1080 to 8192 pixels.
The actual screen size can be anything from 20 feet to over 100 feet. The screen size depends on the size of the cinema and the distance between the projector and the screen, and the size of the projector also depends on the size of the cinema.
For example, a small cinema might have a projector that can only project onto a screen that is 20 feet wide. On the other hand, a large cinema might have a projector that can project onto a screen that is 100 feet wide.
DCP Contrast
The minimum contrast ratio for a film to look good is 4,000:1. However, the best movies are shot on digital cameras with a contrast ratio of 12,000:1. This means that the whitest whites are 12,000 times brighter than the blackest blacks.
The average projector in a movie theater has a native contrast ratio of 1,200:1. This means that the projector can only display 1,200 different levels of brightness.
To get around this, movie theaters use a technique called “D-Cinema” or “Digital Cinema Package.” This is where the movie is compressed into a digital file and then projected using a digital projector.
movie theaters projector have a contrast ratio of 6,000:1. This means that the projector can display 6,000 different levels of brightness.
Movie theaters projectors have a higher contrast ratio because they use two images to create the final image. One image is for the black parts of the image, and the other image is for the white parts of the image.
The two images are combined using a process called “frame doubling.” This means that each frame of the movie is projected twice. The first time the black image is launched, the white image is projected on top of it.
What sets DCP projectors apart from other types of projectors?
Several key features set DCP projectors apart from other types of projectors.
First, DCP projectors are designed to provide superior image quality, including higher resolutions, better contrast ratios, and brighter images.
Second, DCP projectors offer several features that make them easier to use and maintain. This includes web-based control interfaces, automated calibration, and built-in diagnostics.
Finally, DCP projectors are designed to be scalable and expandable. This means they can be easily upgraded to support new features and technologies.
DCP is a projector that uses liquid cooling to keep its internal components cool. The system consists of a pump, radiator, and fans that work together to circulate the coolant and remove excess heat from the projector.
The pump circulates the coolant through the radiator, which is cooled by the fans. The coolant then flows back through the projector, absorbing heat from the components. The cycle repeats until the projector is turned off.
The DCP cooling system is more effective than traditional air cooling, and it helps to prolong the projector’s life by preventing the components from overheating.
The fans in the DCP cooling system are also used to cool the projector’s lamp. The lamp is a significant source of heat, and it needs to be cooled to prevent it from overloading the projector.
The DCP cooling system is designed to keep the projector’s internal temperature safe, even during extended use.
Projectors that use the DCP cooling system are more expensive than those that don’t, but they offer a significant advantage in terms of longevity and performance.
DCP Storage Medium
DCP uses DCI-compliant hard drives to store and distribute digital cinemas packages. A typical feature film can range from 20 gigabytes to 100 gigabytes. A complete 4K DCP will occupy approximately 250 gigabytes.
DCPs are encrypted and require a licensed playback device to decrypt and play the content. The encryption keys are stored on a separate security chip that is not part of the DCP. The key management system used by a particular theater dictates how these keys are stored and transferred.
DCPs can be copied from one hard drive to another, but they cannot be played back without the proper key. To play a DCP, the playback device must first contact the key management system to obtain the necessary keys. Once the keys have been retrieved, the DCP can be decrypted and played back.
DCPs are typically transferred from one hard drive to another using a physical connection, such as USB or Firewire. They can also be transmitted over a network using protocols such as FTP or HTTP.
DCP Playback Devices
DCP playback devices are specially licensed computers capable of decrypting and playing DCPs. These devices are typically integrated into commercial cinemas servers.
Digital cinema servers are purpose-built computers explicitly designed for the playback of DCPs. They usually include frame-by-frame playback, lip-sync correction, and subtitles.
Most digital cinema servers also include a media block, which is a device that allows the server to interface with the projector. The media block decrypts the DCP and sends the video and audio signals to the projector.
Digital cinema servers are typically controlled by a separate computer running cinema management software. This software is used to schedule screenings, manage equipment, and track ticket sales.
How much does a cinema projector cost?
DCP Price
Dolby Cinemas use a projector system called the Digital Cinema Package or DCP. This is a standard format that most theaters use to show the movie. A complete DCP system, which includes the projector and server, can be around $100,000.
IMAX Price
IMAX uses a different type of projector than most theaters, and their projectors are called IMAX 15/70 film projectors. These projectors cost around $600,000 each, which is a lot more expensive than the DCP projector system.
IMAX also uses a special type of larger film than average film. This film is 15 perforations wide instead of the standard 35mm film, only 4 perforations wide. This wider film gives the IMAX projector a much larger image to work with.
RealD Price
RealD uses a projector system that is similar to the IMAX system. The RealD system uses a piece of equipment called a ZScreen. The ZScreen is a circular polarizing filter that goes in front of the projector lens. This filter allows the projector to show the image in 3D.
The RealD system also uses special glasses with circular polarization lenses. These glasses allow each eye to see a different image. This is how RealD can create the illusion of 3D.
A complete RealD system, including the projector, glasses, and ZScreen, can cost around $50,000.
How much Cinemas projector Weight
DCP Weight
The Digital Cinema Package or DCP is a standard format that most theaters use to show the movie. The projector for a DCP system can weigh around 80 to 200 pounds.
IMAX Weight
The IMAX 15/70 film projector can weigh around 500 pounds, which is a lot more than the DCP projector.
RealD Weight
A complete RealD system, including the projector, glasses, and ZScreen, can weigh around 40 to 50 pounds.
How do movie theater projectors work?
Movie theater projectors work by projecting light onto a screen. This is done using a series of lenses and mirrors. The light is then passed through a series of color filters before being projected onto the screen.
The movie projectors also contain a sound system that is used to play audio tracks along with the movie. The sound system is typically separate from the projector and is located in the back of the theater.
For more detail look below:
Movie projectors work by continuously moving film along a path, so each film frame stops for a fraction of a second in front of a designated light source. Said light source casts light on the image that is then projected onto the screen.
Movie projectors are made up of 4 major parts;
- Audio assembly (digital and audio readers, infrared LED)
- Lamp assembly (bulb, fan, condenser, mirror)
- Lens assembly (lens, aperture gate, shutter)
- Spool assembly (sprockets, motor, platter, claw, cambers)
Spooling film: It takes a long time to actually make a movie. Movies are usually filmed on 35mm film stock. One can get 16 frames on a foot of film. Movie projectors them move the film at 24 fps (frames per second) so it’ll take 1.5 feet of film to make a single second in a movie.
At the rate mentioned above, one will end up using their film pretty quickly. For a better understanding consider the following calculations:
- 1 second: 1.5 ft (24 fps / 16 frames per foot)
- 1 minute: 90 ft (1.5 ft per second * 60 seconds)
- 1 hour: 5,400 ft (90 ft per minute * 60 minutes)
- 2 hours with 5 minutes of previews: 2.13 miles (11,250 ft / 5,280)
One can use the following formula to get an understanding of just how much film it took to make the movie you’re going to see. All you have to do is multiply the number of minutes in a movie by 90 to get the number of feet of film.
Because feature length films are so long, distributors often divide it into segments called reels. A 2 hour movie will be divided into 5 or 6 reels. In the early days of the cinema, movies were shown using 2 projectors. One of the projectors was threaded with one reel and the other projector, with the other reel. The projectionist would start the film being shown on the first projector and 11 seconds before the end of the reel, a small circle would flash in the corner of the screen. This circle would alert the projectionist that it was it was almost time to change to the other projector.
Another small circle would then flash when there was one second left and the projectionist was required to press a changeover pedal to start the second projector and end the first one. While the second reel started rolling, the projectionist would then remove the first reel and thread the third wheel – this swapping would continue throughout the movie.
In the 1960s there was a such thing as a platter, which started to show up in theaters. The platter is made up of 2 – 4 large discs, each about 4 to 5 feet in diameter, each stacked vertically 1 to 2 feet apart. The payout assembly on one side of the platter feeds film from one disc to the projector and brings the film back from the projector to the spool onto a second disc. The discs are big enough to hold one large spool of the entire film, which the projectionist puts together by splicing together all the film lengths from different reels. The term splicing refers to the process of cutting an end of one strip of film, so it carefully matches the beginning of the next strip of film, it’s then taped together.
At one time projectionists could place all of the movie film on one spool, however, this resulted in a few things happening:
- One projectionist could run the movies in a number of auditoriums at one time.
- One projector could be used to show the entire film.
The factors mentioned above made it less expensive to show movies because few projectors and manpower were needed. The multiplex was then born where there were several auditoriums in one theater. Since they were first introduced, multiplexes grew to 15 to 20 auditoriums from 2 to 4. These huge theaters were called megaplexes.
Moving film: Once film is spliced and loaded onto the feed platter, the projectionist will thread it through the platter’s payout assembly and through the top of the projector. A single strip of film is given square holes on each side titled sprocket holes. These sprocket holes fit over the teeth of sprockets, special gear-like wheels. The gears are then driven by an electric motor that pulls the film through the projector. Small spring-loaded rollers, cambers, provide tension to keep the film from slipping off or bunching up on the sprockets.
The film has a need to advance one frame, pause for a part of a second, and move on to the next frame. 2 mechanisms are used to do this. The first is done through the use of a claw, which one mounts on a bar next to the path of the film. The claw has connections on the outermost edge of the wheel that acts as the crank. The crank’s circular motion causes the claw to lift up and come out of the sprocket hole and then move down and inwards to catch on to the next sprocket hole. This results in the film advancing one frame. The sprocket’s speed is in sync with the level action of the claw to ensure the claw is consistently moving forward at a rate of 24 fps (frames per second).
Another type makes use of another sprocket wheel that’s mounted just below the aperture gate. The intermittent sprocket rotates just far enough to pull the film down a single frame, pause, and rotate it again. These intermittent sprockets give a more reliable performance and don’t wear the sprocket holes down as quickly as the claw.
The film is then stretched over a few bars as it is passed in front of the lens. The bars used act as a holder to keep the film properly aligned and tight. Varying on the projector’s configuration and the format of the sound used, the film will pass through optical audio decoders that are mounted after or before the lens assembly. Digital sound requires the film to move through a special digital decoder that is attached to the projector’s top. Once the film leaves either the digital-audio decoder or the projector, it’s carried on to a series of rollers back out to the platter’s payout assembly and spooled to the take-up platter.
Film projection: One of the key elements in a projector is the light source used. Back in the early 1900s carbon art lamps were used, the only issue was that they have a very short life. Xenon bulbs are some of the most common lamp types used today. Xenon is especially suited for use in a projector.
Properties of Xenon gas are:
- It glows brightly as a conductor
- If the quantity is dense enough, it will conduct electricity
- It provides bright illumination for substantial amounts of time
It is a tricky process to make a xenon bulb. The bulbs need to have a quartz envelope rather than a glass one since the bulbs can heat up quite a bit. The shell contains an anode and a cathode. Because the xenon is conductive, the bulb doesn’t require filament. Instead of filament, when the bulb receives current, the charge arcs between the anode and cathode. The xenon must be pure and the quartz envelope must be vacuum sealed for the bulb to shine bright enough. Due to how rare xenon is, and how complicated the bulb production process is it costs $700+ for a bulb.
Xenon bulbs are mounted in the center of parabolic mirrors that are located in the lamphouse. The parabolic mirror is made to reflect light and focus it on the condenser. This condenser is made up of a pair of lenses that are used together to intensify the light and focus it on the main lens assembly. This light produces a heat that is nothing short of awe worthy.
Once the focused light leaves the lamphouse and enters the projector, the shutter intercepts it. The projector’s shutter is a propeller-like, small device that rotates 24 times per second. The shutter’s blades block the light’s path as it reaches a certain point in its revolution. The blacking out this causes is synchronized with the forward motion of the film so light doesn’t come out for the fraction of a second the film takes to move to the next frame. If this didn’t happen, the film would flicker or one would see impressions of images being out of sync. A lot of projectors make use of double shutters that have opposite rotations. This results in the light being cut off from the bottom and top of the frames, which further reduce the possibility of flicker.
At the aperture gate, light passes through the film and into the main lens. This lens is removable and can change depending on the film’s format. Two common types of lens are CinemaScope and flat. A lot of projectors have a turret that allow both lens type to be used, with the projector rotating the needed lens into place.
Light goes through a viewport, from the projector, at the projection booth’s front and moves to the front of the auditorium until it reaches the screen. Then, and only then, does the film show on the screen.
Process automation: There have been many techniques made to make sure that shows go on as they should. One of these is cue tape. Cue tape is a short metal strip that’s fastened to film edges at specific locations.. At appropriate times, the film moves past 2 electrical contacts and the cue tape finishes a circuit between said contacts. The circuit functions like a switch and can serve a number of functions.
Cut tape switches can:
- dim the house lights
- change the lens setting
- turn off the house lights
- switch projectors
- change the sound format
- change the screen masking (masking is the use of curtains to frame the screen)
Which companies manufacture DCP projectors?
Several companies manufacture DCP projectors. Some of the most popular brands include Christie, Dolby, and Barco.
What projectors do AMC theaters use?
AMC and their Laser at AMC experience uses Cinionic projectors.