Fulldome Projection
VELVET 1600
Fulldome Systems
Issue: 2012-06
The Ultimate Black for Brilliant Projections.
VELVET projector in the mounting frame
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The perfect projection system for
VELVET is a video projector Carl Zeiss
the perfect dome theater
has specially designed for use in domed
Most projection techniques suffer from
auditoriums. It is based on the DLP®
a background that is gray rather than
technology of Texas Instruments, tried
black. While this is acceptable in the
and approved a million times over.
conference room, it is extremely critical
VELVET is the only DLP projector on
in a dome projection theater: the gray
the market that delivers a contrast
background framing the imagery is a
ratio comparable with that of Carl
visible nuisance that spoils the illusion
Zeiss glass-fiber star projection. With
of an object floating in space. In a
powerdome®VELVET, Carl Zeiss offers
planetarium, the gray background of a
a first-class fulldome video system with
video projection ruins the captivating
an absolutely black backdrop – for
brilliance of the starry sky. That is, un-
convincing and exciting images.
less you use VELVET.
Breathtaking video projection plus
High definition and stability with
First-class projection lens
brilliant stars – an excellent match
DLP chip technology
Even the most advanced chip technol-
VELVET delivers much more than the
VELVET with DLP technology offers
ogy is of no use without an opti-
perfectly black backdrop. Its projec-
decisive advantages over other video
cal design that is tailored to dome
tions fascinate by their outstanding
technologies. Arguably the greatest
projection. For VELVET, only the best is
definition and brilliant colors.
one is stability. Unlike other technolo-
good enough: a Carl Zeiss lens of the
gies, which suffer a noticeable drop
DIGIGON series provides excellent im-
For your stars to shine as beauti-
of color saturation and homogeneity
aging quality. The wide-angle lens with
ful as those on the natural sky, Carl
after a few thousand operating hours,
adjustable focal length permits flex-
Zeiss recommends a combination of
­VELVET lets you enjoy superb images
ible projector configurations, so that
powerdome®VELVET with an optical-
much longer. Implementing many engi-
powerdome®VELVET can be adapted
mechanical planetarium projector. No
neering and design solutions, Carl Zeiss
to any dome.
other projector can present the stars as
has designed this projector for a work-
tiny and yet as bright and brilliant as
ing life of at least ten years, and with
their natural counterparts.
low maintenance cost at that.
With powerdome you can control your
In the VELVET projector, imaging
digital image contents and your opti-
devices with 1600 lines are at work
cal stars in perfect synchronism. And,
(WQXGA resolution). Projectors with a
thanks to the VELVET projector, noth-
single lamp provide very bright images
ing can dull the velvety black of your
in smaller domes, while projectors
star-spangled night sky.
with a dual lamp set furnish impressive
®
brightness in larger domes as well.
Automatic projector calibration
Fulldome projection is always done
On request, Carl Zeiss fulldome systems
with several projectors. VELVET Duo
come with camera-based projector cali-
is designed for domes up to 12 m in
bration, a facility for the fully automat-
diameter. It uses two projectors (chan-
ic adjustment of the image geometries
nels) installed at the dome center or at
of all channels. For further information,
the periphery. VELVET Systems with five
see our separate data sheet.
or more channels will deliver fulldome
images with resolutions of 4k or better.
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Configuration Examples
a)
b)
c)
d)
VELVET Duo fulldome projection from the
VELVET Duo, projection from the dome center, 10-m dome
dome center
VELVET Duo is a two-channel projection system
for domes 6 to 12 m in diameter. It excellently
complements the SKYMASTER ZKP 4 planetarium
projector. Projection is from the dome center,
without shadows from equipment parts.
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(a) 3D view
(b) Arrangement of projectors (top view)
(c) Projection fields, overlapping in a blending zone
(d) Projection fields, non-overlapping
a)
b)
c)
d)
VELVET Duo fulldome projection from the
VELVET Duo, projection from the periphery, 10-m dome
dome periphery
For dome theaters without a planetarium projector it is advisable to position the VELVET projectors at the dome periphery. Each of the two
(a) 3D view
(b) Arrangement of projectors (top view)
(c) Projection fields, overlapping in a blending zone
(d) Projection fields, non-overlapping
projectors projects its image to the opposite half
of the dome.
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a)
b)
c)
d)
Five-channel VELVET fulldome projection
VELVET, 5 channels, projection from the periphery, 15-m dome
from the dome periphery
For multichannel VELVET fulldome projection, the
projectors are positioned at the periphery. Five
channels are sufficient for domes up to 18 m in
diameter with no planetarium projector installed.
Four projectors deliver the 360° panorama, while
the fifth one projects the zenith field.
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(a) 3D view
(b) Arrangement of projectors (top view)
(c) Projection fields, overlapping in a blending zone
(d) Projection fields, non-overlapping
a)
b)
c)
d)
Eight-channel VELVET fulldome projection
VELVET, 8 channels, projection from the periphery, 20-m dome
from the dome periphery
If the theater features a planetarium projector
(e.g., UNIVERSARIUM M IX), VELVET projectors are
installed so that projection is from the periphery
(a) 3D view
(b) Arrangement of projectors (top view)
(c) Projection fields, overlapping in a blending zone
(d) Projection fields, non-overlapping
but not to the exactly opposite direction but at
an angle past the planetarium projector. In a configuration for a 20-m dome, six projectors do the
panorama and two do the zenith field.
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Technical Data
VELVET projector
WQXGA
Resolution
2560 x 1600
Brightness
1300 lm (single lamp)
Contrast ratio
2,500,000 : 1
1900 lm (dual lamp)
Configuration examples1
8 m to 12 m
Dome diameter
up to 10 m
up to 10 m
up to 12 m
up to 12 m
(26 ft to 40 ft)
Star projector2
yes
no
yes
no
Number of projectors
2
2
2
2
Projector arrangement
center
periphery
center
periphery
Projector version
SL
SL
DL
DL
Dome tilt
0°
0° - 30°
0°
0° - 30°
Resolution dome master (approx.)
2.6 k
2.6 k
2.6 k
2.6 k
Pixel size in arcmin (approx.)
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
12 m to 18 m
Dome diameter
up to 15 m
up to 15 m
up to 18 m
up to 18 m
(40 ft to 60 ft)
Star projector3
no
yes
no
yes
Number of projectors
5
6
5
6
Projector arrangement
periphery
periphery
periphery
periphery
Projector version
SL
SL
DL
DL
Dome tilt
0° - 30°
0° - 30°
0° - 30°
0° - 30°
Resolution dome master (approx.)
4k
4.2 k
4k
4.2 k
Pixel size in arcmin (approx.)
2.3
2.2
2.3
2.2
18 m to 25 m
Dome diameter
up to 23 m
up to 23 m
up to 25 m
up to 25 m
(60 ft to 82 ft)
Star projector
no
yes
no
yes
Number of projectors
7
8
9
10
Projector arrangement
periphery
periphery
periphery
periphery
3
Projector version
DL
DL
DL
DL
Dome tilt
0° - 30°
0° - 30°
0° - 30°
0° - 30°
Resolution dome master (approx.)
4.5 k
4.5 k
5k
5.2 k
Pixel size in arcmin (approx.)
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.9
SL – single lamp, DL – dual lamp
1. Recommendations, other configurations in coordination with Carl Zeiss possible.
2. If VELVET Duo is intended to be combined with a planetarium projector (i.e. an optical-mechanical star projector), the VELVET projectors will be
installed at the dome center rather than at the periphery.
3. For a combination of a multichannel VELVET system with a star projector, the number of VELVET projectors needed increases (as a rule, by one
more projector).
Carl Zeiss AG
Planetarium Division
07740 JENA, GERMANY
Phone: Fax: +49 3641 642406
+49 3641 643023
E-mail: [email protected]
www.zeiss.de/planetariums
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EN_58_010_374III Printed in Germany
The product described herein is subject to upgrading and other changes in design and/or scope of delivery.
Dome diameter
Image format