A revolutionary LED Dome Display for Planetariums & Giant Screen Domes

Evans & Sutherland (E&S), the inventor of computer graphics and the digital planetarium, announces DomeX: a revolution in full-dome display technology. DomeX incorporates LEDs directly into the dome surface, turning it into an active video display that outperforms projector-based solutions in contrast, brightness, reliability, and lifespan.

“The extreme contrast and brightness of the DomeX LED Dome cannot be achieved with even the best and brightest projection equipment,” explains Dennis Elkins, E&S Director of Advanced Displays. “A black, matte finished, dome emitting the image creates a level of contrast that is orders of magnitude better than what is possible with a projector on a reflective dome.”

E&S engineers worked with industry leaders in LED technology over the past two years to develop the LED dome for planetariums and giant screen domes. Together with E&S subsidiary Spitz Inc., the world leader in projection domes, E&S brings decades of engineering experience to the LED dome display – ensuring the ability to retrofit existing theaters and optimize performance in new facilities.

 

“This product has been in development for a few years. We’ve been through several prototypes, and now we’re ready to bring this amazing technology to our most demanding customers,” says Kevin Scott, Digistar Product Manager. “DomeX provides a rich black sky. LED brightness gives us the dynamic range we need to produce single pixels stars. Bring your binoculars! Digistar’s starfield is spectacular in DomeX – with an amazing feeling of depth given by the black background of the dome surface.”

DomeX takes the dome theater experience to the next level. It empowers theaters to present engaging content and stunning imagery with superior brightness and contrast, and eliminates the distractions and limitations of projection. With DomeX, audiences are so immersed that they’re transported to another place entirely,” says Kirk Johnson, E&S President and COO.

DomeX offers a new level of simplicity over multi-projector systems. The LED dome provides fixed alignment, no drift, no sightline issues, no warm-up time, and an extremely long, low-maintenance lifespan.

Jean-Francois Delorme, a life-long planetarian and giant screen theater integrator, adds, “When I saw DomeX in person the image was so close to perfection – with very high resolution and contrast. It was so real. I was looking at the next generation of planetarium technology. E&S and Spitz have a long history of breakthrough innovation with decades of experience in design and engineering. This new technology is a giant leap forward, and I’m happy to see E&S bringing it to market.”

The DomeX LED dome is a turn-key display solution for planetarium and giant screen cinema needs. A 20-meter demonstration dome is available for viewing today. Please contact E&S to make an appointment.

  • Single, Unified Display
  • Ultra-High Contrast
  • Ultra-High Brightness
  • Uniform Illumination
  • Unparalleled Dark State
  • High Resolution – 8K+
  • Uniform Pixel Density
  • Excellent Longevity
  • Spitz Dome Structure