Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 10, 2005. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Operators of conventional 3D and Imax cinemas project high-quality images onto curved surfaces that give viewers the feeling they are standing at the center of the action. However, this requires expensive special projectors weighing tons, and elaborate and expensive shooting and playback techniques must be used for recording and presentation.
As a cost-effective alternative, Fraunhofer FIRST is now presenting an easy-to-operate solution for digital dome projections at IBC in Amsterdam (Hall 8, stand 221). It is intended to enable the display of digital images and videos on the inside of a hemisphere while making do with standard projectors and standard PCs. According to Fraunhofer, the resolution of the dome videos reaches 3,072 x 3,072 pixels, thus exceeding that of digital cinema (2,048 x 4,096 pixels).
In the digital dome projection developed by FIRST, the distortion correction is carried out in real time with special self-calibrating software. This makes it possible to react immediately to the current technical conditions in the dome. Because the image is generated with six projectors, each of which handles a part of the overall image, the auto-calibration software simultaneously ensures seamless blending. The partial images therefore fit together precisely and without a visible seam.
Thanks to an integrated Show Player, the technology can also be used for multimedia presentations that integrate other media in addition to films. Similar to a video editing program, individual components – such as graphics, text, films and sound – can be edited together with the Show Player. Because the player also controls the synchronous playback of all individual components, the need to render a complete video in full before the presentation, which is still required with conventional editing programs, is eliminated.
In principle, the technology can be used for projection surfaces of any shape and a wide variety of projector combinations, Fraunhofer FIRST emphasizes: In addition to use in digital cinemas or product presentations, use in a planetarium is also possible.
#Bild1
