<-- Behind the Scenes



Riding Snowflakes is a groundbreaking production that required a number of technological innovations including omnidirectional projection systems, virtual fisheye lens, molecular simulation, and data driven animation.

Omnidirectional Projection Systems



The development of digital-dome projection systems for planetaria is a recent one. Digital "fulldome" theaters are an emerging medium that allows us to use the dome to visualize much more than space and stars. Most well known large planetaria have already installed multiple projector digital systems, but the development of single projector systems with an Omnifocus™ lens has radically reduced cost and complexity, and has created a rapidly growing number of small digital-dome systems worldwide.


Virtual Fisheye Lens



The Molecularium was developed in a digital dome with a single lens projection system. Inspired by this innovation, the Molecularium team developed its counterpart: an omnidirectional fisheye lens for a virtual camera. The omnidirectional camera captures an entire immersive world in a single frame, instead of using multiple shots from different camera angles that are later stitched together, as is commonly done. This is a radical innovation, as it allows for streamlining and ease of production in the digital-dome medium.


Molecular Simulation



The many molecular environments in Riding Snowflakes are derived from accurate theoretical simulations (circa 2005). Generating the molecular worlds described in the screenplay entailed a wide range of challenges in statistical mechanics, molecular modeling, and simulation. To create a truly immersive portal into the nanoscale universe required simulations of a massive scale and complexity - an entirely unusual request for the chemical and biological engineers and scientists involved in the project. The creation of a believable and cinematic molecular landscape to visualize the plot twists and dramatic tension of the story posed a host of new creative challenges for the collaborating scientists. Their involvement in this work has brought about insights that will hopefully spark a breakthrough in the very real worlds of energy, environment, and health.


Data Driven Animation



Translating vast amounts of scientific simulation data into exciting scenes posed unique challenges for Molecularium's CG animation team. The massive data sets generated by the incredible number of atoms in most scenes required the development of innovative procedural animation techniques to process and render an omnidirectional fisheye world-view. Atoms and molecules are rendered with reflections, refractions, texture, color, lighting, motion blur, and atmospheric volume. As a result of this new simulation and animation hybrid, we see the atomic structures of the universe as never before.