Two Ukrainian companies, Front Pictures and EKTA have jointly developed a convenient way of making an immersive sphere LED screen based on triangular LED modules. This technology is called the “Lego set” of spherical LED screens, which makes the construction of spherical LED screens much easier and faster than before.

Ukrainian companies jointly developed easy access to sphere LED screen with triangular LED modules

It is reported that the spherical LED screen construction technology jointly developed by Ukrainian company Front Pictures and LED manufacturer EKTA is called the “Lego set” of immersive spherical LED screens because it uses a set of standardized triangular LED modules and adopts a Lego-like method to quickly build spherical LED screens of various shapes and sizes.

The new method of creating spherical LED displays is named as SFERiX. Front Pictures said that currently, trapezoidal LED modules are generally used to build spherical LED screens, while SFERiX technology uses standardized triangular LED screen modules to build spherical LED screens, which can not only effectively reduce the difficulty of building spherical LED screens and increase the speed of building, but also greatly reduce the overall cost of producing spherical LED screens.

Report also says that Front Pictures and EKTA started to work together as early as 2015 to jointly develop a spherical screen based on LED technology rather than traditional projection technology. They believe that although projection technology has always been the mainstream way to realize spherical screens, LED is a technology based on the future, which is not only energy-efficient, has a long service life, but also has a better display effect.

Front Pictures has more than 20 years of expertise in creating multimedia programs and has equipped more than 150 planetariums and immersive theaters around the world with solutions.

Front Pictures claims that the spherical screens created by traditional projection technology have certain problems in contrast, image clarity, edge fusion areas, etc., and are prone to color difference. The use of LED technology can solve similar problems, bring an immersive visual experience to the audience, achieve seamless splicing of images in all directions, and easily build hemispherical or spherical screens.

“While projection-driven dome screens are common in planetariums, flight simulators and theme parks, they are 50 times less popular worldwide than traditional cinema screens,” said Maryna Kalashnykova, the company’s chief marketing officer.

The most fundamental reason is that the spherical screen created based on traditional projection technology still has great limitations in the visual effects it brings.

EKTA, which co-developed the SFERix technology, has always believed that the future of immersive spherical screens lies in LED technology. After testing various construction methods to create screens that approximate spherical shapes, it was found that triangular LED modules are a very effective solution.

SFERiX technology not only delivers high contrast and brightness, but also consistent color accuracy across the entire tonal range at peak or near-peak brightness levels, regardless of viewing angle.

In addition, another advantage of using LED technology to build a spherical screen is the audio transparency of the LED module, which allows an immersive sound system to be installed behind the LED screen.

Kinglight 4093 4-in-1 LED Sample Plate – Kinglight provides various LEDs for sphere LED screen manufacturing

SFERiX offers full interoperability with the Screenberry Media Server, which integrates with Unreal Engine, TouchDesigner, Unity and Notch. The LED modules can also be deployed with a range of other media technologies and real-time engines.

The modules are optimized for mass production, paving the way for the rapid introduction of high-end immersive LED screens in a variety of diameters and shapes.

Front Pictures Chief Marketing Officer Maryna Kalashnykova also said that SFERiX technology will not only revolutionize the industry status quo of spherical screens, but will also pave the way for shared immersive experiences that once seemed impossible to use.

“We see our technology as the key to making shared immersive experiences more affordable and accessible. Our goal is to transform the viewing experience for moviegoers, amusement park and planetarium visitors, race car drivers in training simulators, pilots and astronauts, and directors shooting new blockbusters.”

Previously, there has been debate about the use of LED technology to achieve immersive spherical screens. In 2023, with the official opening of the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, the witty visual impact brought by its huge spherical LED screen has proved to the most staunch spherical LED screen skeptics that this technology has great potential.

It is clear that with LED technology it is possible to create screens of unprecedented scale, with astonishing contrast and stunning immersive effects.

“Any project of this scale like the MSG Sphere is unique. However, we want the LED sphere to appear everywhere, not just in Las Vegas – as a city landmark, amusement park attraction, virtual production studio and next-generation cinema.

MSG Sphere, the largest sphere LED display in the world.

Front Pictures said that the spherical LED screen built with SFERiX technology has high contrast, DCI-P3, and supports HDR mode, which is crucial for places such as cinemas and planetariums. Its uncompromising color accuracy is crucial for virtual production. In addition, SFERiX technology also supports 3D stereo effects and can be integrated with various real-time engines, which is equally important for applications such as immersive attractions and scientific simulators.