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DigiDomeTM 4.0 by Sky-Skan
Image Processing Software for Windows
The age of panorama frames that don't quite align and all-sky wedges that don't fit together is over. DigiDome processes your planetarium's digital images, adjusting for dome curvature and projection angle geometry, to make pixel-perfect all-skies, panoramas and montages, for any dome projection system that uses overlapping 35mm slides. DigiDome does all the image warping. It generates soft-edge overlap masks. It allows you to make slides precisely matched to your theater's projection array. DigiDome is an essential tool for planetarium visualization.
The 2001 release of DigiDome 4.0 incorporates the latest advancements in dome compositing, as well as a new rendering engine. Its realtime graphical user interface allows users to you to work fluidly and quickly to compose full dome images with multiple layers and text, all within DigiDome. By providing alpha channel and luminance keying for multi-layered composition, DigiDome lessens the need to transfer back and forth from other imaging software.
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DigiDome is a tool for making slides. As you can see below, it outputs rectangular frames for printing to 35mm film. If you want to make dome masters (polar-projection circles) for use in fulldome video applications instead, please check out DomeXF.
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The Ins and Outs
2D view from the pit to zenith |
The basic concept of DigiDome is relatively easy to understand.
Within your computer, you use DigiDome to create a virtual model of your planetarium dome and projection equipment. You tell it your dome size (and tilt, if any), where your slide projectors are located, where they're pointed, and what lenses they have.
You see onscreen an outline of the rectangular projection areas covered by each projector.
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3D view from outside the dome |
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Mapped to all-sky
  
Mapped to panorama
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Then, you literally place a digital image (a bitmap, Targa, or JPEG file) on the virtual dome. You can drag it, stretch it, rotate it, scale it, adjust the color and brightness, whatever. DigiDome will adjust for the curvature of the dome, and display the corrected image in real time. You can position your viewpoint around the theater, to see how the image will look to audiences seated in different sections.
When you're happy with the position of the image, you tell DigiDome to start the Transform process. Since it knows what projectors are covering what areas of the dome, it will create a properly corrected image for each projector you select -- panorama projectors, all-sky projectors, or even a combination of several different systems. Every pixel that falls onto a part of the dome covered by any projector will be placed perfectly. If the projectors overlap, DigiDome will create soft-edge masking within the image for seamless blending of the overlap areas.
If you're making masks, simply follow the same procedure using the black and white image you created in Photoshop. Advanced users may be already familiar with this technique of using the alpha channel to create keys for layered composites.
You save the resulting Targa files to disk, so they can be output to film. There are various methods for getting digital images onto film. If you have a film recorder hooked up to your computer, you're all set. If not, there are many photo labs and graphics service bureaus (such as GammaTech) that can print your images to film for reasonable prices. If you have a pin-registered camera and a calibrated height on your copystand, you can simply print your images using a photo quality inkjet printer and photograph them conventionally. Be sure to check out our Slide Workshop article posted in the Planetarium Reference Library for more about this.
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Planetarium Requirements
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Dome Diameter: any
Slide projector type: any
Focal Length of projector lens: any
Number of projectors: any
Position of projectors: any
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System Requirements (for DigiDome;
bitmap editor may require more memory)
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Processor: A Pentium PC with MMX or better
OS: Windows 98, NT, 2000 or XP
RAM: 64 MB minimum
Disk Space: 20Mb
Video: SVGA or better
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Technical Information
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Input file formats: TGA, BMP, JPG
Output file format: TARGA 24-bit uncompressed
Input resolution: unlimited
Output resolution: Maximum of 16,384 x 16,384
32 Bit image processing: 24 bit color; 8 bit alpha
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Copy Protection
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DigiDome is an encrypted piece of software, and uses a "call/response" form of copy protection.
During installation, the software generates a unique user ID code (the "call") based on the user's computer configuration. The user is prompted to enter a valid access code (the "response") based on this user ID; without it, the installation fails. To obtain the required access code, the user ID code must be provided to Sky-Skan. Sky-Skan can be contacted by e-mail, fax, or phone during normal business hours, 9:00 - 5:00 Eastern Time (GMT -05:00); they promise to respond to all access code requests within 24 hours of the next business day. After a valid access code has been entered during installation, the software will run on the identified computer without further call/response challenges. Since the call/response codes are based on a computer's unique configuration, the software is intended to be installed on only one computer. Changes to a computer's configuration or re-installation on a different computer will require another access code from Sky-Skan.
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License Agreement
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 dd_enduser.pdf (59KB)
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Need the plug-in?
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Need Photoshop?
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In preparing images for DigiDome, you'll obviously need a capable bitmap editor, as well as the computing power and memory to handle large images (dealing with 25-50MB Targa files is common). We recommend Adobe Photoshop. You can download a tryout version from the Adobe Web site, and get a good deal from Amazon.com.
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Get it here!
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DigiDome is a trademarked product of Sky-Skan, Inc. Windows, Pentium, Photoshop, et. al., are trademarks of their respective companies.
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