Lenticular Printing Overview
Useing lenticular sheet to create an animation or 3D effect when viewed from varying angles
Why Choose Lenticular Printing
What Is Lenticular Printing
Lenticular printing is a printing technique that uses a lenticular sheet to create an animation or 3D effect on a flat surface. The lens sheet consists of a series of parallel, convex lenses that are embossed onto a transparent plastic sheet. The image is printed onto the back of the sheet, and when viewed through the lenses, it appears to have depth and motion.
The lenses on the lenticular sheet act as a series of tiny magnifying glasses, creating an illusion of depth by showing different parts of the image depending on the viewing angle.
How does lenticular 3D work
Lenticular lenses called lenticules (a technology also used for 3D displays) are used to produce printed images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as they are viewed from different angles.
Lenticular printing is a multi-step process which consists of creating a lenticular image from at least two images, and placing it behind a lenticular lens. It can be used to create frames of animation, for a motion effect; offsetting the various layers at different increments, for a 3D effect; or simply to show sets of alternative images that appear to transform into each other. Once the images are collected, they are arranged in individual frame files, then digitally combined into a single file in a process called interlacing.
The interlaced image may be printed directly on the back (smooth side) of the lenticular sheet, or on a substrate (ideally a synthetic paper) which is laminated to the lenticular sheet. When printing on the backside of the lens, the critical registration of the fine “slices” of interlaced images must be absolutely correct during the lithographic or screen printing process to avoid “ghosting” and poor image definition.
The combined lenticular print shows two or more images by changing the angle from which the print is viewed. If a sequence of images is used, it can even show a short animation.
Though normally produced in sheet form by interlacing simple images or colors throughout the artwork, lenticular images can also be created in roll form with 3D effects or multi-color changes. Alternatively, several images of the same object, taken from slightly different angles, can be used to create a lenticular print with a stereoscopic 3D effect. 3D effects can be achieved only in a lateral (side-by-side) orientation, as each of the viewer’s eyes must see them from a slightly different angle to achieve the stereoscopic effect. Other effects, like morphs, motion, and zooms work better (with less ghosting or latent effects) in top-to-bottom orientation, but can be achieved in both orientations.
There are many commercial processes in the manufacture of lenticular images, which can be made from PVC, PET and PS, as well as other materials. While PET and PVC are the most common, other materials are becoming popular to accommodate outdoor use and special forming due to the increasing use of lenticular images on items such as gift cards. Lithographic lenticular printing allows for the flat side of the lenticular sheet to have ink placed directly onto the lens, while high-resolution photographic lenticular typically have the image laminated to the lens.
Lenticular 3D printing technology has endless possibilities, and it is used in various industries such as advertising, packaging, art, and photography. It can create an attention-grabbing display that captures the viewer’s attention and conveys a message in a unique and memorable way.
Advantages
The best thing about lenticular printing is its high degree of customization. The images can be created in different shapes and sizes, and the lenses can be adjusted to create different effects, making it a highly flexible and creative printing process. With its high degree of customization and versatility, lenticular 3D is a highly flexible and creative printing process that offers many advantages over traditional printing methods.
The versatility of lenticular 3D printing makes it ideal for use in different industries. For example, it can be used for advertising and packaging to create eye-catching displays that stand out from the competition. Lenticular displays can be used to create unique product packaging, point-of-sale displays, and billboards that capture the attention of viewers and convey a message in a memorable way. Lenticular printing is also used in art and photography to create unique and engaging pieces that capture the viewer’s attention. Lenticular art and photography can be used to create a sense of depth and motion, adding an extra dimension to the work.
Lenticular printing is also used in the gaming industry to create digital games that provide a 3D and motion effect on the screen.
Cost
However, there are some limitations to consider such as the cost, the limited viewing angle, and the complexity of the process that requires specialized equipment and expertise. Lenticular printing can be expensive, especially for large-scale projects or custom designs. The cost of the lenses and printing process can add up quickly, making it a less viable option for some budgets. Additionally, lenticular displays have a limited viewing angle, which means that the 3D and animation effects are only visible from certain angles. This can be problematic for displays that are meant to be viewed from multiple angles or by large crowds of people. Also, lenticular printing is a complex process that requires specialized equipment and expertise. This can make it difficult for some businesses or individuals to create their own lenticular displays.
Customization
One of the most significant advantages of lenticular 3D printing is the ability to create customized and personalized prints. This customization allows businesses to create unique and engaging displays that stand out from the competition. It also allows individuals to create one-of-a-kind prints that express their individuality and creativity. The high degree of customization also allows for the creation of prints in different shapes and sizes, making it possible to create a variety of objects such as keychains, magnets, and bookmarks.
In conclusion, lenticular 3D printing is a versatile and innovative printing technology that has revolutionized the way businesses and individuals present information. Its ability to create immersive and interactive displays has made it a popular choice for advertising, packaging, art, photography, education, and entertainment. Despite its costs and limitations, lenticular 3D printing continues to be an effective way to capture the attention of viewers and convey a message in a unique and memorable way. With advancements in technology and increased demand, the future of lenticular 3D printing looks promising.
3D is a stereoscopic technology that gives the effect of depth by isolating the left and right eye perspective views. The 3D effect gives the appearance of full-depth or dimension within the image. Objects appear on different planes and can virtually ‘float’ above and below the printed surface. This effect can be created from existing 2D art and ‘layered’, from a series of images shot with a camera, or from a 3D rendered computer generated file.
The lenticules is always vertical oriented to provide stereo views to the eye, and can only be viewed in a side-to-side motion.
This is a dramatic effect where an image can graphically transform from one subject to a completely different subject as you move the card, or move past the display. Many source images are combined and transformed over a series of views, such as a cheetah ‘morphing’ to a sports car.This is an especially great effect for products that come in a variety of shapes, styles or colors, for products that change or cause changes, or to show “mutation,” “evolution” or the passing of time. Horizontal lens yields the best reproduction for this effect.
This is an combination of 3D and animation effect, it was made by a series of photos, or frames from a movie, that create the illusion of animated images on a lenticular print similar to what is seen in a video or movie clip. You would see the animation by changing the viewing angles.
The flip effect shows a quick transition between two or more images. Images or text can vanish into a background and then reappear. Flips are highly effective in communicating before-and-after messages, cause-and-effect relationships or for the novelty of “storing” more than one photo on a single print.
The picture looks like zoom in or out when you viewing from different angles. The zoom effect creates a rapid size change from small to large of specific elements in the image. Originating from a still image, a wide perspective “zooms” to a close-up view. Zooms are a novel way to catch and “focus” attention on a highlight or detail of a product or activity, such as a logo or product increasing in size as the image is viewed.
References
- Wikipedia – Lenticular Printing