21 December 2005

15 November 2005

16 August 2005

7 May 2005

5 April 2005

27 March 2005

8 March 2005

While the Fulldome Video section of our Web site has been here a while, we've now added a navigation button on all our pages to make getting there a bit easier.

We'll also be augmenting these pages in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

22 February 2005

INTRODUCING: The LNP Dome Theater Compendium

Well, okay, it's not entirely new. We've replaced the venerable LNP Planetarium Compendium in our product catalog, using the expanded definition "Dome Theater". This allows us to include the new digital fulldome theaters that may or may not have traditional planetarium star projectors. Check it out!

We've also modified the structure of our database so we can track more data items. For individual institutions, we can now list multiple domes, each with their own dome manufacturer, year of installation, audience capacity and configuration, attendance figure, and projector complement. Portable planetaria are now considered "full-fledged" theaters with their bigger fixed-dome counterparts, and they're indicated with a colored highlight (as are fulldome projector systems).

You can see all the improvements in the subset we publish as the LNP Dome Theater Compendium ONLINE! In fact, there are so many new additions, we've added a LISTINGS KEY to the ONLINE! pages to help you sort out everything!

While you're there, be sure to fill out a Compendium Update Form, so we can add the most current stats about your facility, and include the new data items!

15 February 2005

LARRY CAT MAKES THE LEAP TO FULLDOME VIDEO!

Larry Cat In Space, one of our most popular shows, is now available in fulldome video. This playful, imaginative cartoon story — about an adventurous cat who follows his human friend to the Moon — has long been a favorite in classic planetarium domes, delighting school children and family audiences around the world. Primarily targeted at grades K-3, the show teaches about the Moon and observing the sky. The newly released version has been transformed and enhanced from its original slide-based format to play in the next generation of fulldome theaters.

Larry Cat in Space is just the latest in our series of fulldome show releases. We are currently transforming our complete catalog of eleven "classic" (slide projector-based) planetarium shows into fulldome video to meet the growing demand for this new form of theater media.

GO HERE for trailers, previews, ordering information, and much more!

5 February 2005

Our classic planetarium show Oceans In Space may be less expensive for you.

Previously, you needed to obtain a license for Sky-Skan's Special FX Disc #6 (if you didn't already have one), in order to be authorized to use two of the clips from the disc in our show. Since their license was provided only when the disc is purchased, that meant you had to buy the disc.

And that's no longer the case. If you have the disc, great. If not, we can now provide the clips you need on our show's DVD, and you are authorized to use them in our show.

13 January 2005

New articles in the Planetarium Reference Library:

Adventures In The Dome Trade — a poster paper we presented at the 2005 American Astronomical Society meeting in San Diego, California. It's subtitled: "Bringing the Beauty of Astronomy to Planetarium Audiences through Images, Art, Music, and Storytelling". It's reproduced in PDF form.

Also here you'll find "What The Heck Is A Planetarium Anymore?" — Mark's musings on the essence of our chosen profession.

And we've added a page about The LarryDome to our Fulldome Video section, illustrating what we use here in our studios.

2 January 2005

Happy New Year, everyone!

This isn't exactly news, but it bears repeating. HUBBLE Vision 2 in fulldome form is the first of a new line of products: our popular, classic planetarium shows remastered for fulldome video. You'll find online previews of the entire show here.

To differentiate between the two formats, we've formalized the use of the term "classic" when referring to slide projector-based shows on their appropriate pages.

If you're one of our classic planetarium theater clients, don't worry. Loch Ness Productions has been producing slide-based shows for more than 20 years; we intend to continue as long as it's economically viable for us to do so! We're building on our heritage, in the fulldome digital video realm.

We've been fielding queries from colleagues who are considering fulldome video systems for their theaters, wanting to know about the availability of our popular shows in this new form. In some cases, that's been one of the prime considerations! We know that many upgrading facilities will want to continue using our tried-and-true programs, particularly those tightly integrated into curricula and schedules.

We can respond affirmatively! We're converting all our shows to fulldome video in the coming months, incorporating the images and soundtracks from the classic show packages, and using digital video production techniques to enhance the presentations. As anyone who has been to recent conferences can attest, with every major manufacturer demoing their digital theater products (or discussing plans for them), this is not where the planetarium industry is headed, it's where it is already.

We've posted our thoughts and philosophy about fulldome and the changes facing the planetarium community in a dedicated fulldome video section we've added to the Planetarium Reference Library.

Here's last year's news, in case you haven't been here for a while and want to catch up.

Mark C. Petersen, webmaster