The newest version of Shira Universe (v3.2) presentation software has just been released and brings along many new features:

Manual calibration with precision settings for opposite cave mounting a 2 multi-projection system. Shira Universe supports either 2x 4K projectors (4096x2160 each) mounting wide angle lenses to provide a 4K output; or 2x 2K projectors (2560 x 1600) to provide a 2K output on the dome using a single computer. Distortion and blend calibration settings are also very simple to to the simple 2-projector system.

This solution does not require any another calibration software and only require basic hardware specifications.

A single computer with 2 external display output.
Cpu: I7 core
Ram: 8 gb
Disk drive : SSD 500gb ( ssd is important)
Display drive : Nvidia quadro or geforce series min 2GB ram
Two cave mounted with approprate lens projectors.

Windows 10 motitor settings Two projector location image at the dome edges.

4K result image (Image courtesy "Lochness productions")

   

- Shira Universe v3.2 delivers new Colored Hevelius constellation images.

- Added APOD (NASA Astronomy Picture Of The Day) JSON link to Data2Dome and capability to download youtube videos. Bug fixes

- Support to the Russian language both on the GUI and the sky.

Now, the Shira Universe 3.1 version has new technique for 4K playing.

In this technique 4K image sequence files are encoded two part of video file by using new Shira Encoder 1.0.1 version. Each part of video file has 4096x2048 resolution.
The Shira Universe plays them at the same time as syncronized and show on projector screens with appropriate warping.

Added to the Shira Encoder two encode profiles :
- 4K High Quality that produces single 4Kx4K dome master movie file like old profiles
- 4K 2-pieces High Quality produces two 4K HD movie files.


It can be tested as single file and two pieces file.
The end result of the experiments shows that the two-piece playback is working at high performance without any frame dropping with below hardware specifications.
CPU : Core I7
RAM: 8GB
Disk: SSD
Display Card: NVIDIA GeForce 940MX

Shira Universe 2.3 version has published with new visualition differences.

New Earth Atmosphere and Sun style on landing mode, Sunrise and Sunset transitions became more realistic.

 

The 3D Models, spacecraft and asteroids( 67p, Itokawa) imaging speed became much more faster.

 

And others,

 Shira Universe 3.0 is published with new fantastic features.

  • * Shader Dome Library Feature

GLSL stands for openGL Shading Language, which is the specific standard of shader programs. Now Shira Universe can interpreter shader codes, fastly. About 130 shader in different catageries codes are added to the "ShaderDome" feature. Users can add own shader code or change existings in this directory and watch them on the dome. These shader codes were converted for dome projection from "https://www.shadertoy.com/" site which includes many shader codes have "Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial" licensees.
Warning: The shader dome feature requires 3.0 and over OpenGL support so display cards have to be high level. 

  • * Artificial Satellites

Now, Shira Universe has capability to show "Artificial Satellites" with their orbits on landing and space flight mode. Also it can show their 3D models on the space flight mode.

  •  * Messier Catalog

 110 Messiers images taken high resolution photos from "Hubble Space Telescope" were added in "Messier Catalog" window. Shira Universe can show objects on the dome with animated effects. In addition "Point on Sky" button lets to show each object real position on the sky.  "Mix with background" checkbox lets object image to mix sky image. "HideAll" button lets remove all shown objects.

  • * Shira Colored 3D Constellations

Added Colorized Shira constellation image packages to Shira Universe.

  • * Show Pointer on the Dome

  • * User interface style is updated.

New visual changes were started on the Shira Universe at this version. Initially the following innovations were developed.

- Textured 3D constellations

Added shows textured constellations capability. Now there ar two textured constellation types that "kids_colored" and "hevelius".

 

- Color Animated constellations

To show more artistic constellation developed color animated style. This feature is available only on Landing mode. 

- New Planet orbit styles

Now planet orbits are more artistic. 

- New line styles

Now line styles are more artistic.

Fixed some performance issue. 

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