Lenticular imagery

The lenticular process of imagery is a technology of high-resolution developed in order to create visual effects such as the relief (3D), the images changeantes (Flip) or animations.

These effects are obtained while following four stages key of production.

  1. the choice of the lenticular sheet

  2. the digital image
  3. Left: films or CTP
  4. the
impression

Stages of the production

The lenticular sheet

The lenticular sheet is made up of parallel lenses and same optical characteristics: duckweeds. Each duckweed enlarges and projects a micro band of image printed with the back of the sheet, so that these bands are seen sequentially on the basis of angle of vision of the duckweeds. By using the lenses vertically, it is then possible to project stereoscopic images for each eye. By using the lenses horizontally, it is also possible to project sequences of images changeantes, the image seen by the eyes will be according to the angle of vision of the lenses.

In all the cases, the image must be perfectly aligned with the lenses. The lenticular sheet is a optically transparent and stable substrate, with a smooth surface back which makes it possible to apply the image by the direct impression (offset) or on the other hand joining and this in perfect alignment with the lenses. The image must be made to correspond perfectly with the measurement of the lenses.

The digital image

Origin

Any lenticular effect is composed of at least two of the same images cuts. For example; a flip 2 positions (clown which laughs, clown which cries) is composed of two images which has the same size exactly. An animation can include/understand more sequential images, a such video sequence or images up to 64 catches covering desired animation.

A stereoscopic image gives a better result with at least seven sequences of sights in parallax, those can be photographed by moving the apparatus laterally or by using an apparatus with several objectives. Another process consists in creating elements of copies in Adobe Photoshop, which are then moved in such way that one obtains an artificial effect of parallax on the images. More than seven images produce a softer relief (less jumps between the images) and moreover high-quality. It is possible to use 24 images or more for spectacular results.

Entrelacage

The work must be divided precisely by the number of lenses used by the final image. The images of origins will be cut out then interlaced, in such way that each band of image has a frequency corresponding to that of the lenses. For example; an image two flip would be made with a half of all the lenses containing of information of image 1, whereas other half of these lenses would contain information of image 2.

The process of entrelacage of the original images in a main file, which will correspond precisely to the “pitch” (size of the duckweeds - many lenses per inch/millimetres) of the lenses is made by a program especially conceived for this spot. There exist many programs for this (see the page “Softwares” of this site to see some of them).

Some of these programs are conceived only for Windows (Windows is a name and a mark register by Microsoft Corp.), whereas others are intended for the Macintosh system (Macintosh is a name and a mark register by Appel Computer Inc.)

Effects

3D

The effect 3D offers an effect of depth always suprenant. The elements of visual are positioned on several spaciaux levels in order to create the illusion of the third dimension. The perception of the right eye differs from that of the left eye, which makes it possible the brain to recompose a three-dimensional image.

ANIMATION

Animation proposes a movement of the image which, according to the number of sequences, can appear continuous. Starting from successive images or video sequences, one tries to reproduce the fluidity of a cartoon film. Of 15 to 64 images can compose visual lenticular animated

VISUAL CHANGE (Flip)

The visual change consists of two images or more which are interchanged according to the angle of vision. This effect, most usually used, produces an unavoidable impact.

MORPHOLOGY

Morphology allows the successive transformation of a visual element into another. It simulates a metamorphosis or the evolution of the subject.

ZOOM

The zoom effect allows a bringing together or a distance of a subject by a succession of plans successive. It is the average ideal to draw the attention to a product, a character, a logo or a message

Exit: films or CTP

  • In lithography the image is directly printed on the lenticular sheet. This requires films via dull-edged or of the plates via CTP in very high-resolution. Certain systems are limited to nival program or even of the machine, which will determine the quality of the final lenticular image. An adequate selection of the material and RIP are paramount to obtain a higher quality. The CTP or dull-edged require a use and a perfect calibration.

  • the other methods of productions which can be used to produce lenticular images are the jet impression of ink or photography. In this case the final image is applied to the back of the lenticular sheet on the other hand joining.

Lenticular impression

The most current method, (more than 90% of the lenticular images in the world) is the lithography offset. Films or plates CTP of very high-resolution. The plates will have to allow a perfect registration of the four colors being printed. The press offset will preferably have 6 colors to be able to apply the covering white on the only one way. The mechanical condition of the presses to print the lenticular one is paramount. The registration of the colors must be maintained about the 1/500 of mm for certain work, and the alignment of the image with the lenses must be maintained with the most critical tolerance to arrive at the best possible result. The new presses of the various manufacturers are able to provide a result of higher quality.

Usually a more opaque white is necessary once dry inks; there are several methods for this: Inks UV, Serigraphy, rolling with a film polypropylene or paper. When the white is printed it lithographs some is recommended to apply several benches to obtain a better opacity. The use of driers UV will increase opacity, the cover and resistance to the scratches. It is also possible to print another visual with the lenticular backs of the image, over the covering white, in this case opacity is paramount not to have phantoms of dimensioned like other.

Principal defects

  • Defects with the design:

The doubling of the images on the relief and the depth. The remanence of the images (images known as phantom).
  • Defects with the prepress:
The synchronization of the impression (master) to the pitch. Unmatched harmonics.
  • Defects with the impression:
The synchronization of the colors. The synchronization of the parallelism of the impression to the duckweeds. The phasage.

External bonds

  • lenticular Sheets
  • the effects
  • Description of the Software effects
  • allowing to carry out lenticular images
  • lenticular Glossary

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