Projection domes are a popular choice for immersive experiences at trade shows, museums, brand activations, corporate events, and educational exhibits, and can turn any event space into a 360° storytelling space that exemplifies the intersection of engagement, technology, and entertainment.

With domes spanning from 6 meters to more than 27 meters wide, it can be challenging to decide what size and structure will work best, especially as a B2B decision-maker with consideration for audience capacity, budget, and technical requirements.

Here’s your comprehensive guide.

Understanding Your Audience and Capacity Needs

The first step in selecting a dome is to determine who will use it and how many people do you want inside it, at the same time.

• Small Domes (6 m – 10 m):
  Best for personal presentations, VIP activations or presentations to small groups. Ideal for 10–30 people who need an immersive experience. They take up very little setup space.
• Medium Domes (12 m – 18 m):
  Best for corporate events, exhibitions, or small trade shows. Would suit events with 50–150 participants. A good balance between an immersive experience and numbers, good pricing to use for multiple events.
• Large Domes (20 m – 27 m+):
  Best suited for public shows, museums, and large brand activations. These domes can accommodate 200+ people, making them suitable for high-profile launches or education programs where the scale elevates the experience.

Always consider the expected dwell time and flow of your attendees. A dome that is too small for a high-traffic exhibit will create congestion, while a dome that is too large will feel empty and less immersive.

Consider Your Venue and Spatial Constraints

When using projection domes, it is important to think about floor space, ceiling height, and access.

• Consider the footprint of the event and if there’s adequate room for entry/exit points, AV equipment, and movement of the audience.
• Outdoor setups will call for leveling the ground and addressing weather conditions, while indoor venues may need height clearance and ventilation.
• Assess for ancillary spaces: control rooms, equipment storage, and seating space.

Medium domes (12 m–18 m) typically represent an ideal balance for most B2B venues—large enough to wow, but small enough to consider in lots of different locations.

Projection and Technical Setup

The dome size shifts the entire projection system, including the projection resolution and audiovisual capabilities.

• Small Domes (6 m–10 m):Generally, a single projector system is fine. Higher pixel density allows for brilliant visuals at close distances.
• Medium Domes (12 m–18 m):A multi-projector blended solution is recommended for full dome coverage. Edge blending and color calibration should be considered to ensure a seamless projection image for immersive viewing.
• Large Domes (20 m–27 m+):Requires a multi-projector array with advanced mapping software. Distribution audio systems, lighting, and even interaction controls are all critical components for larger audiences.

Partnering with a provider like FullDome India ensures technical precision—blending multiple projectors and managing latency for smooth immersive experiences.

Purpose and Content Type

Your content drives the decision. Consider:

• Educational/Museum Exhibits: Larger domes are better for visually telling stories such as simulated science, space journeys, or reenacting history.
• Brand Activations/Trade Shows: Medium domes work better for product launches, VR demonstrations, or interactive storytelling. The audience size is expected to be medium, typically 40+ (for example, Panda, or Harris Pye).
• Corporate Town Halls: Small domes facilitate a focused (intimate) experience; this works well for C-suite briefings or VIP experiences.

Think about the dome you need to select for the resolutions of the content and experience, not just the total number (size) of the audience. A high-end immersive story in a 10 m dome will be better than a poorly developed 20 m dome experience.

Budget Considerations

Budget affects not only the dome size but also the specs and quality of the equipment, setup, staffing, and maintenance.

• Rental vs Purchase: If you are planning a short-term campaign, renting is usually the most cost-effective option. If you are planning a recurring event, and if you can swing the purchase, you may see ROI over time with a dome purchase.
• Technical Extras: Costs will increase if you need a projection system with surround sound, interactivity modules, additional lighting, etc. Add all of those costs to your overall budget.
• Transportation and Setup: Everyone needs more space and logistical planning with larger domes and on-site staff to set up equipment.

Create a total cost estimate, including setup, operation, and content production, to avoid surprises.

Flexibility and Multi-Event Use

Numerous B2B clients look for domes that can work with different events. Modular designs enable:

• Easy re-sizing or modules for a venue.
• The possibility of changing from corporate content to educational or exhibition-based content with very little downtime.
• Use of infrastructure in multiple locations to maximize ROI.

For example, a 12 m dome can host a corporate launch one week, and become a small trade show experience the next week, utilizing the same structure and projection system.

Choosing the Right Partner

Partnering with a trusted provider is essential. FullDome India provides:

• A comprehensive selection of dome sizes from 6 m to 27 m+
• A turnkey technical solution with AV integration and content mapping in your sphere
• Options for adaptability for branding, interactivity, and audience experience
• Experience with multi-city and multi-event activations for seamless B2B delivery

Partnering with an experienced provider ensures your dome experience is technically flawless, visually stunning, and audience-ready.

Final Thoughts

When selecting a projection dome, the decision is not solely about the dome’s dimensions; it’s more about the perception of the audience in conjunction with venue restrictions, content parameters, and ROI.

By balancing all of these factors, B2B brands and institutions can develop immersive experiences to fascinate audiences, enhance brand equity and impact into audience’s memories.

From something intimate at 6 m up to vast experiences beyond 27 m, FullDome India has got you covered and can provide you with a tailored solution for every specification and/or requirement, to ensure your next event is unforgettable.

Ready to select the perfect projection dome for your next event?
Contact FullDome India today to explore dome sizes, technical setups, and immersive solutions.