The Deep Space exhibition immerses the visitor in a three-dimensional experience in 8K

Christie Mirage 304K 3DLP equipment is responsible for providing this spectacular 16-inch immersive projection.×9 meters with 8K resolution of wall and floor, frame rate 120 Hz and 3D stereo technology. A simulation that can be seen in the Deep Space exhibition at the Austrian museum Ars Electronica Center.

The mission of the Ars Electronica Center (AEC) was established at the very moment of its inauguration in 1996. The so-called 'Museum of the Future' prioritized visitor interaction and participation, aspiring to bridge the distance that separates art and science, and to become a workshop and laboratory of experimental creation.

After a first modernization and expansion process, on the occasion of the appointment of Linz (Austria) as European Capital of Culture in 2009, Deep Space, museum's main exhibition, has undergone a complete remodel.

The renovation sought to transform the pre-existing projections, of 16×9 meters on wall and floor, and incorporate 8K resolution into these 3D visualizations (8.192 x 4.320 pixels), frame rate 120 Hz and 3D stereo technology.

After the remodel, The exhibition allows the visitor to be immersed in spectacular 3D simulations that transport them to the ancient Mayan city of Tikal., in Guatemala, to the Invisible City of Rome and other places. to get it, Ars Electronica has worked with various organizations, including BBC or CyArk, a company that documents cultural spaces with modern 3D laser scanning technology.

With the upgrade to 8K resolution, 3D images are displayed with greater precision and detail. Besides, in Linz they can also be seen, in world premiere, three scans of Scottish Ten, a Scottish Government funded project which aims to scan and document UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

As Andreas Bauer explains, director of the Ars Electronica Center, “visitors to the center move through the exhibitions following their own impulses. Unlike what happens in the usual film projection, “Here the viewing distance is very short and that makes the spaces between pixels much more visible”. Therefore, it was not only advisable to replace the projectors, but also upgrade existing technology to next-generation 8K resolution.

Sound+image media technology, Christie partner located in Traunkirchen (Austria), was in charge of planning, supply and installation. “We already knew the Ars Electronica Center from previous collaborations in temporary installations, so we were familiar with both the architectural limitations and the uniqueness of Deep Space. “This allowed us to plan the project and make decisions about the products to use in a relatively short period of time.”, explains Robert Cicek, CEO of Ton+Bild.

Ability, reliability and security

The company decided to install eight projectors Christie Mirage 304K 3DLP. “In a facility as particular as this, projectors had to have 3D capability, High-performance lighting and 4K resolution. But also, The continuous influx of visitors and the frequent temporary exhibitions forced certain security requirements in the facility.. Christie projectors guarantee all this”, explica Cicek.

For 3D stereo projection it was especially important that the equipment had the capacity to reproduce frequencies of 120 Hz using the Christie TruLife Electronics platform.

“In stereo 3D projectors, Images are directed to each eye at high speed to ensure consistent image quality, rich in colors and great clarity. In this case, "The short distance between the viewer and the projection surfaces increased the importance of this factor.", clarifies the executive director of To+Bild. The systems were equipped with short throw targets (0.9:1) and a fixed focal length.

Another determining factor in choosing the Christie Mirage 304K model was its reliability., thanks to its six lamp system. The failure of a lamp does not affect the continuity of the projection.

“On a normal day our projectors are used for hours. That's why we need products designed for uninterrupted operation, Energy efficient and low maintenance. We also liked that they were relatively compact and quiet, because we did not want the technical team to overshadow the projected content, but rather it would remain in the background”, Bauer points out..

Custom software

For the new 8K montage of Deep Space, the company did not want to limit itself to updating the hardware, considering a total redesign of its content and software long before the reopening date. Horst Hörtner, Senior Director of Ars Electronica Future Lab, points out how a custom tool had to be made. “The scarcity of applications and videos designed for 8K resolution led us to create our own content at Future Lab adaptable to high-resolution video”.

To visualize the new point clouds for 8K, the Future Lab developed a new point cloud renderer that would make the content even more realistic in the eyes of visitors..

The combination of high-performance hardware with newly developed software made it possible to achieve a point density that makes the visitor unable to distinguish individual points..

To this we must add the implementation of different algorithms and technologies that allowed the company to present content in real time to 120 Hz and at even higher resolutions. New technology was also used to simplify additional aspects, such as virtual camera tours or navigation within displayed objects.

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