Lenticular
Displays
Lenticular photographs can be a cost effective alternative to holograms. A range of effects are possible including 3D, flip, zoom, animation or a combination of these. Lenticular photographs cannot contain as much depth as a true hologram, but have the benefit of using a 4 colour (CMYK) process, so are able to match corporate colours precisely.
The maximum size, single panel we can produce is 48 inches
wide by 96 inches high. This is the format in which the lenses are produced
with the lenses running vertically top to bottom. If a 3D landscape
image is required, the widest we can make the lenticular as a single
panel is 48 inches because of the limiting factor of the lens material.
We can tile 48" X 96" lenticulars to form very large panel
arrays.
Lenticular photographs can be front or back lit. No special lighting
is required for front lit lenticulars, and back-lighting requires a
simple fluorescent light box or similar.
The
production of lenticular photographs requires the interlacing of two
or more images. This is done by our Splicer program, which was written
in house. We do not sell or support this software.
With lenticular photographs it is not a case of the more the better,
though up to 24 frames can be used. The most common effect is the "flip"
from one image to another. This can occur when the final lenticular
is rotated in a vertical axis, or as the viewer walks past across the
horizontal axis. A vertical motion could for example, be used on an
escalator where the view moves vertically relative to the lenticular
photograph. A side to side flip could be used on a shop front, the images
changing as the customer walks past.
The input media for lenticular photographs are layered
Photoshop files at the final output size with a minimum resolution of
150 dpi, and ideally at 300 dpi. We cannot make an A1 size lenticular
from video - the resolution in simple not high enough. Digital Betacam
has about enough resolution to make a postcard size lenticular.
We can make one-off lenticulars as proofs in one working day up to A1
(594 mm wide by 841 mm high). There will be a reduction of approximately
50 mm all round to allow for bleed and registration marks. One off proofs
up to A4 cost £250. Proofs up to A1 cost £500.
Different screens are available for different size products and effects. For post-card size and up to about A4 (210 mm wide X 290 high) a 75 lpi screen would be used. This has the combination of clarity for small text, yet able to show good 3D, zoom and animation for smaller images. From A4 to about A1, a 40 lpi lens gives the best combination of clarity and depth. Above this size,15 lpi would be used.
For the ultimate lenticular display,
a slightly different process is used called a barrier screen lenticular.
These do not use a lens at all and must be printed as a photographic
transparency. Computer screen images cannot do justice to the visual
impact of a large format lenticular display. If you are serious about
achieving the very best in 3D lenticulars, please call to arrange a
visit to our gallery in Richmond Upon Thames, where we can show you
the different types of lenticular available.
