powerdome VELVET - 2,500,000:1 Contrast Projector for Planetariums and Domed Theaters

[AVRevForum.com]

powerdome®VELVET from Carl Zeiss is the world's first and only video projection system with an absolutely black backdrop based on the DLP® technology of Texas Instruments. A Carl Zeiss in-house design, VELVET fascinates not only by its measured contrast ratio of 2,500,000 : 1 – a tremendous leap compared to other projectors offering up to 30,000 :1 –, but also by its expanded color spectrum thanks to the latest BrilliantColor™ technology of Texas Instruments. In the projected image, very bright and extremely dark areas are excellently resolved at the same time.

Video Projection now Compatible with Night Sky Contrast
Carl Zeiss developed the VELVET projector primarily for full-dome projection in planetariums and other domed theaters. Other fields of application such as simulators are feasible as well. For the first time, VELVET implements the capability, long hoped for by planetariums, of a video projection that can be superimposed on the optical sky without spoiling its brilliance. Thus, astronomical objects such as gaseous nebulae and galaxies for the first time appear as if embedded in the velvety black depths of the universe.

Innovative Optical Design
The leap in contrast to more than a million to one has been made possible by an innovative optical design that excludes stray light and, thus, a gray background from the start. It is with good reason that Carl Zeiss relies on Texas Instruments' DLP® technology. More than ten million units installed worldwide testify to the reliability of DLP® imagers. Image stability over many thousands of operating hours is an essential advantage for the users. Whereas competing technologies suffer from declining color saturation and contrast after a few thousand hours, DLP® chips have a defined color behavior with virtually no loss in image quality.

Tailored to Multichannel Dome Projection
Carl Zeiss has furnished its VELVET projectors with further properties that make them especially suitable for use in domed auditoriums. The lamp housing is independent of the projector. This permits users to employ projection lamps of different type and output. The projector can be installed in oblique positions without affecting lamp life. Brightness matching between the projectors in a multichannel system is effected by controlling the lamps rather than the video signals, resulting in an added gain in multichannel image quality.

The new projectors will become available at the beginning of 2009.

[The Kipnis Studios]

This great use of DLP will change the way Home Theater looks in the near future.

Originally Posted by AVRevForum.com

powerdome®VELVET from Carl Zeiss is the world's first and only video projection system with an absolutely black backdrop based on the DLP® technology of Texas Instruments. A Carl Zeiss in-house design, VELVET fascinates not only by its measured contrast ratio of 2,500,000 : 1 – a tremendous leap compared to other projectors offering up to 30,000 :1 –, but also by its expanded color spectrum thanks to the latest BrilliantColor™ technology of Texas Instruments. In the projected image, very bright and extremely dark areas are excellently resolved at the same time.

Video Projection now Compatible with Night Sky Contrast
Carl Zeiss developed the VELVET projector primarily for full-dome projection in planetariums and other domed theaters. Other fields of application such as simulators are feasible as well. For the first time, VELVET implements the capability, long hoped for by planetariums, of a video projection that can be superimposed on the optical sky without spoiling its brilliance. Thus, astronomical objects such as gaseous nebulae and galaxies for the first time appear as if embedded in the velvety black depths of the universe.

Innovative Optical Design
The leap in contrast to more than a million to one has been made possible by an innovative optical design that excludes stray light and, thus, a gray background from the start. It is with good reason that Carl Zeiss relies on Texas Instruments' DLP® technology. More than ten million units installed worldwide testify to the reliability of DLP® imagers. Image stability over many thousands of operating hours is an essential advantage for the users. Whereas competing technologies suffer from declining color saturation and contrast after a few thousand hours, DLP® chips have a defined color behavior with virtually no loss in image quality.

Tailored to Multichannel Dome Projection
Carl Zeiss has furnished its VELVET projectors with further properties that make them especially suitable for use in domed auditoriums. The lamp housing is independent of the projector. This permits users to employ projection lamps of different type and output. The projector can be installed in oblique positions without affecting lamp life. Brightness matching between the projectors in a multichannel system is effected by controlling the lamps rather than the video signals, resulting in an added gain in multichannel image quality.

The new projectors will become available at the beginning of 2009.

[rathnasree]

Originally Posted by AVRevForum.com

powerdome®VELVET from Carl Zeiss is the world's first and only video projection system with an absolutely black backdrop based on the DLP® technology of Texas Instruments. A Carl Zeiss in-house design, VELVET fascinates not only by its measured contrast ratio of 2,500,000 : 1 – a tremendous leap compared to other projectors offering up to 30,000 :1 –, but also by its expanded color spectrum thanks to the latest BrilliantColor™ technology of Texas Instruments. In the projected image, very bright and extremely dark areas are excellently resolved at the same time.

Video Projection now Compatible with Night Sky Contrast
Carl Zeiss developed the VELVET projector primarily for full-dome projection in planetariums and other domed theaters. Other fields of application such as simulators are feasible as well. For the first time, VELVET implements the capability, long hoped for by planetariums, of a video projection that can be superimposed on the optical sky without spoiling its brilliance. Thus, astronomical objects such as gaseous nebulae and galaxies for the first time appear as if embedded in the velvety black depths of the universe.

Innovative Optical Design
The leap in contrast to more than a million to one has been made possible by an innovative optical design that excludes stray light and, thus, a gray background from the start. It is with good reason that Carl Zeiss relies on Texas Instruments' DLP® technology. More than ten million units installed worldwide testify to the reliability of DLP® imagers. Image stability over many thousands of operating hours is an essential advantage for the users. Whereas competing technologies suffer from declining color saturation and contrast after a few thousand hours, DLP® chips have a defined color behavior with virtually no loss in image quality.

Tailored to Multichannel Dome Projection
Carl Zeiss has furnished its VELVET projectors with further properties that make them especially suitable for use in domed auditoriums. The lamp housing is independent of the projector. This permits users to employ projection lamps of different type and output. The projector can be installed in oblique positions without affecting lamp life. Brightness matching between the projectors in a multichannel system is effected by controlling the lamps rather than the video signals, resulting in an added gain in multichannel image quality.

The new projectors will become available at the beginning of 2009.

[rbinck]

@rathnasree
???

[rathnasree]

Sorry, I had clicked on the Quote button - thinking it would give me a cost estimate for the projector :-)

I am from Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi and am looking for a possible cost estimate of full dome VELVET system for a 15m dome. I am also wondering whether the Powerdome in itself would have the capability of being a full fledged digital planetarium solution in the absence of an optomechanical projector.

We have an old Carl Zeiss optomechanical projector and are wondering about combining this with a VELVET full dome - however, in case the old system fails, we would need to run the planetarium with the digital solution until more budget comes to purchase a new optomechanical projector - which we hope can at that stage be integrated with whatever digital system we purchase now - as a synchronised hybrid planetarium solution.

Rathnasree, Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi, India

[The Kipnis Studios]

Originally Posted by rathnasree

Sorry, I had clicked on the Quote button - thinking it would give me a cost estimate for the projector :-)

I am from Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi and am looking for a possible cost estimate of full dome VELVET system for a 15m dome. I am also wondering whether the Powerdome in itself would have the capability of being a full fledged digital planetarium solution in the absence of an optomechanical projector.

We have an old Carl Zeiss optomechanical projector and are wondering about combining this with a VELVET full dome - however, in case the old system fails, we would need to run the planetarium with the digital solution until more budget comes to purchase a new optomechanical projector - which we hope can at that stage be integrated with whatever digital system we purchase now - as a synchronised hybrid planetarium solution.

Rathnasree, Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi, India

Rathnasree,

The Velvet System is designed to replace your existing Carl Zeiss projector, while offering superior imaging capabilities and show possibilities. Which Zeiss model are you currently using?