Harry Potter Forbidden Journey Resolution

[jjyoung]

I can't figure out why the resolution from the projectors in the Forbidden Journey ride is so bad in this day and age. It is standard def at best...it's actually quite blurry, and the dark scenes are very dark. Is the source material this bad or is bad/cheap decision on the projectors?

If projected in high def...the ride would be much more enjoyable.

 

[nytimez]

I'd agree with that. I think if the video was sharper and cleaner it would be less likely to cause motion sickness (although I'm sure some people would get motion sickness regardless).

 

[Disnewbie_N_MO]

I was reading that the Spiderman renovation would include new High definition video. I wonder if this is a different technology than whats being used in FJ. If it is different, and it looks better, u gotta kinda wonder if they'll switch.

 

[jjyoung]

I think if they could create a realistic 3D effect without glasses, it would be less expensive to run. FJ is not 3D, that would have really slowed down the process.

I note on 1/5...the closing scene of Spiderman wasn't even running. It was audio only. I told the employee and they were aware of it.

 

[jjyoung]

I think if they could create a realistic 3D effect without glasses, it would be less expensive to run. FJ is not 3D, that would have really slowed down the process.

I note on 1/5...the closing scene of Spiderman wasn't even running. It was audio only. I told the employee and they were aware of it.

 

[kenban]

I can't figure out why the resolution from the projectors in the Forbidden Journey ride is so bad in this day and age. It is standard def at best...it's actually quite blurry, and the dark scenes are very dark. Is the source material this bad or is bad/cheap decision on the projectors?

If projected in high def...the ride would be much more enjoyable.

Everything in the ride is already high definition. The projectors they use are a mix of 2k and 4k projectors. Pretty sure the problems with the video are just that everything is moving from the projectors to the screens and yourself. Plus there is a LOT of movement in some of the scenes. You add it all up and you get a blurry mess.

 

[mesaboy2]

Everything in the ride is already high definition. The projectors they use are a mix of 2k and 4k projectors. Pretty sure the problems with the video are just that everything is moving from the projectors to the screens and yourself. Plus there is a LOT of movement in some of the scenes. You add it all up and you get a blurry mess.

Yes to all of the above. I do believe the screens themselves are not flat either, which only adds to the difficulty of keeping the video crystal-clear.

 

[nytimez]

Everything in the ride is already high definition. The projectors they use are a mix of 2k and 4k projectors. Pretty sure the problems with the video are just that everything is moving from the projectors to the screens and yourself. Plus there is a LOT of movement in some of the scenes. You add it all up and you get a blurry mess.

Yes to all of the above. I do believe the screens themselves are not flat either, which only adds to the difficulty of keeping the video crystal-clear.

I think there's more to it than that. I think that the quality of the footage itself is not as crisp as it should be. I don't think it's the same quality of video/effects they'd shoot for a theatrical release.

 

[mesaboy2]

I think there's more to it than that. I think that the quality of the footage itself is not as crisp as it should be. I don't think it's the same quality of video/effects they'd shoot for a theatrical release.

I definitely agree with you there.

But make no mistake, the points kenban and I bring up don't help either. It's a fairly complicated setup process to get projected video looking really good, and one that takes regular maintenance by a sharp maintenance dude/dudette. I have some experience with video simulation on moving platforms.

 

[nytimez]

I definitely agree with you there.

But make no mistake, the points kenban and I bring up don't help either. It's a fairly complicated setup process to get projected video looking really good, and one that takes regular maintenance by a sharp maintenance dude/dudette. I have some experience with video simulation on moving platforms.

Oh, definitely -- not denying any of that at all. I just wanted to add that I think the image itself is definitely not as sharp as it should be, along with those other factors.

And I think that lack of sharpness or deliberately not-quite-perfect focus is a major contributor to motion sickness. I think crisper video alone on that same moving platform would lead to fewer people feeling ill... but I guess that's just a theory.

 

[kenban]

I think there's more to it than that. I think that the quality of the footage itself is not as crisp as it should be. I don't think it's the same quality of video/effects they'd shoot for a theatrical release.

If I remember correctly it was shot using a red camera which means it actually was shot with a camera used for theaters. That is the same camera Peter Jackson is using for the Hobbit. I don't know for certain but I bet Universal did not go cheap on the ride editing/CGI either.

The next time you ride this attraction, pay attention to when the camera stops "moving" when the entire scene your viewing is not in constant motion. During those few seconds I think the video looks really good. It looks sharp and clear until everything starts moving again and it is back to a blurry mess.

 

[nytimez]

If I remember correctly it was shot using a red camera which means it actually was shot with a camera used for theaters. That is the same camera Peter Jackson is using for the Hobbit. I don't know for certain but I bet Universal did not go cheap on the ride editing/CGI either.

The next time you ride this attraction, pay attention to when the camera stops "moving" when the entire scene your viewing is not in constant motion. During those few seconds I think the video looks really good. It looks sharp and clear until everything starts moving again and it is back to a blurry mess.

Actually, I have -- and even then I don't think the video is as crisp and clear as it should be. In fact, that part of the ride always confirms it to me.


EDIT TO ADD: My suspicion is that it's the special effects, rather than the cameras they used to shoot it or the projection system they use. I don't think they went all the way on the special effects, and that's what makes the image less-than-perfect.

 

[damo]

I think the fact that the image is being projected into a dome has a lot to do with it and that the film has to move as you do.

Here is an image of the projection dome: