About lenticular printing
Modern lenticular printing has been around since the 1940s, with roots going back to Charles Wheatstone’s invention of the Stereoscope in the early 1800s. Some of the most well-known examples of lenticular printing are the prizes given in Cracker Jack snack boxes showing flip and animation effects such as winking eyes. Modern examples include advertising graphics (like the kind often seen in airports) that change their message depending on the viewing angle. Originally used mostly as novelty items, lenticular prints are now being used as a powerful marketing tool.
Recent advances in lenticular printing technology have greatly improved the quality of the prints and reduced the cost, making lenticular a more affordable option for advertising, direct-mail, and even fine art. Lenticular turns any printed piece into a captivating keep-sake.
How it works
A lenticular image is actually made from two or more images that are electronically sliced into narrow strips and re-assembled in alternating order. This is called interlacing.
This interlaced image is then printed (in reverse) on the back of a clear plastic sheet. The front of the sheet has many long, thin ridges running along the surface, which are actually lenses – as few as ten and as many as 200 per inch – called lenticules. These lenticules act as miniature magnifying glasses, magnifying only one set of the strips at a time (depending on the viewing angle) and effectively blocking out the other set(s). When the viewer moves, or if the picture is turned, a different set of strips is visible, and the printed image appears to change.
In the case of 3-D lenticular, the interlaced file is composed from a sequence of images of objects passing in front or behind each other. The stereoscopic effect is achieved because the lens shows a slightly different view to your right eye and your left eye, tricking your brain into seeing depth. This 3-D illusion can be used along with flipping, animation, or other effects for some truly spectacular imagery.
Lenticular is a fast-growing industry, with Beyond 3-D at the forefront. Take a look at our portfolio to see some of the pieces we’ve created for clients over the years.