Ymagis Group and Samsung Partner for ‘Best Cinema Experience’

Ymagis Group and Samsung Electronics have announced the completion of a successful integration of EclairColor HDR tech with Samsung’s Cinema LED Screen to provide an ‘optimal’ cinematic experience to movie-goers, and will form one of the centre-pieces of the CinemCon tradeshow currently running in Las Vegas this week.

Engineers and technicians from Seoul-based Samsung Electronics and Parisian company, Ymagis Group, have worked together to develop a component that allows the projector-less Samsung LED Screen to showcase movies and other content with the exceptional EclairColor picture quality. According to both companies, the combination of both technologies means that HDR images will be shown in participating theaters with a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, and deliver ‘more detailed and resonating’ imagery.

“We are delighted that the Samsung Cinema LED Screen has been fully-certified with EclairColor HDR technology, and that CinemaCon attendees will be able to enjoy this next-generation movie-going experience,” comments Jean Mizrahi, President and co-founder of Ymagis Group. “This evolution marks a significant milestone, confirming the ability of EclairColor technology to bring a highly-flexible HDR solution to not only existing high contrast projection systems but also to Samsung’s Cinema Screen, which delivers the highest levels of visual quality and technical performance.”

“Compatibility with EclairColor HDR technology further empowers the Samsung Cinema LED screen to produce a brilliant, detailed and realistic cinema viewing experience that makes viewers feel as if they are a part of every scene,” said Seog-gi Kim, Executive Vice President, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “This combination produces ultra-sharp 4K resolution and peak brightness levels that make content come alive. The resulting high contrast showcases bright colors, pristine whites and deep blacks accurately and without distortion, creating a perfect arena for both 2D and 3D movies.”

Ymagis Group is proving to be quite the newsmaker in the professional cinema services industry, and is a relative newcomer, having only formed in 2007. Its three business divisions include exhibitor services and sales (CinemaNext), post-production services and theatrical delivery (Eclair), and financial services (Ymagis). It’s EclairColor technology created quite a stir at the CinemaCon show in Barcelona last summer.

As many of you will already know, Samsung has developed its LED cinema technology, effectively fabricating a massive TV screen for theaters, and obviating the need for exhibitor customers to install a projector and associated booth. This, and other similar screen technologies, could overhaul the cinema industry both economically, and in terms of performance. Not only does the Cinema LED Screen from Samsung include 4K resolution (4,096 x 2,160), it also has peak brightness levels of 146fL, nearly ten times greater than that achieved with a standard projector, according to the company.

It’s useful to see what’s happening over on the theatrical side of the business to evaluate what might be trickling down to the home. If any of you have had a chance to witness Samsung’s Cinema LED Screen, or Ymagis’s EclairColor at any of its reported 127 sites in Europe, please let us know in the comments below.

Martin Dew

Martin, a seasoned journalist and AV expert, has written for several notable print magazines. He’s served in key roles at Lucasfilm’s THX Division, NEC’s digital cinema division, and has even consulted for DreamWorks. Despite his illustrious career, Martin remains rooted in his passion for cinema and acting, with notable appearances in several Spielberg films, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He currently resides in San Francisco.