A New Approach to Fulldome 3D

Every Digistar 4 system has the amazing ability to process realtime graphics in our patented fulldome Spherical 3D® stereo, making the entire dome an immersive 3D environment when combined with a compatible 3D fulldome display. Other systems can only display stereo in the front of the dome. E&S' exclusive technology and partnerships provide show producers with powerful software to create pre-rendered 3D scenes that jump off the screen in every direction, for an unforgettable experience.

 

Supported 3D Display Methods

Anaglyph

This method for displaying 3D imagery on the dome uses a single set of projectors. The projected image contains a composite of left eye and right eye information overlayed together. The left eye image is tinted one color and the right eye image is tinted another color. Using inexpensive glasses with color filters, the left filter cancels the right image only allowing this eye to see the left eye information and vice versa. In this way both eyes combine to see 3D; however the color palette is greatly reduced and brightness drops by over 50%.

INFITEC 3D

This method uses two sets of projectors to display the 3D image. One set of projectors displays the left eye image and the other displays the right eye image. Using a set of filters in the projectors, the left eye image shows the lower frequencies of the RGB colors and the right eye image shows the upper frequencies of the RGB colors. Filters in the glasses cancel the right image in the left eye and vice versa. The combined images re-join both halves of the RGB colors, providing full color fidelity and the full brightness of a single set of projectors.

Active Stereo

This method uses one set of projectors to display video that runs at over twice the normal frame rate. Left and right eye imagery is either interleaved on every other frame and displayed in one video stream, or combined from two separate (left and right) video streams. Glasses with LCD shutters that are timed to the frame rate of the video, blank one eye at a time with refresh rates up to 120 Hz to produce stereo imagery. This technique offers full color fidelity at about 50% brightness. A second set of projectors can be added for even higher brightness. Glasses contain electronics and batteries but still can be machine washed.

 

Technical Considerations

• Spherical 3D® realtime processing capability is included with every Digistar 4. Digistar 4 software natively supports all listed stereo display methods.
• Anaglyph Stereo and Active Stereo require only one set of video projectors. Refresh rate of active stereo may be limited by video projectors.

• INFITEC 3D Stereo requires a second set of video projectors.
• Micoy 3D is pre-rendered into fulldome video, and must be prepared specifically for Anaglyph, INFITEC 3D, or Active Stereo presentation. Please specify the desired display system format when licensing 3D shows.
• Anaglyph glasses are available in inexpensive cardboard frames with plastic lenses, or in plastic frames that can be machine washed
• INFITEC glasses are machine washable and are available in a variety of lens sizes in plastic frames.
• Active Stereo glasses are available in plastic frames with electronic components built into the glasses themselves. These glasses are also machine washable.
• Because 3D glasses reduce image brightness, CRT projectors may be too dim for 3D effects to display properly.
• These specifications are subject to change as new technology becomes available.