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A sequence of images representing different viewpoints on
a subject are encoded and revealed to the viewer at carefully
calculated angles by a Lenticular display. Each eye perceives
a different viewpoint, this creates an illusion of depth with
the image floating above and below the flat surface of the
display.
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The Aim Point is the depth plane lying at the surface of the
display. Important elements such as type or logos are usually
composed on this plane.
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The alignment bar is a specially encoded area around the image
that helps the press operator register the printing precisely
on the lens.
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A bitmap is a graphic image described in computer file form
as as a mosaic of dots or pixels (picture elements). Each
pixel is described by a number which specifies the intensity
of colour inks or illuminants used by the printer or monitor
to represent the original image. Web graphics are often bitmap
images. A bitmap graphic is also known as a raster graphic.
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Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and black (Key) are the base colours
used in some printing processes. They are the primary colors
of the Subtractive Colour Model.
RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) are the primary
colours of the Additive Colour Model. When added together
by the illuminants in colour monitors or photographic output
devices they can display vitually all the visible colours
of nature.
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Combination Effect
is the term used to describe the use of two or more effects
such as a zoom with full motion, or a 3D image with a flip
background.
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Dots Per Inch (DPI) is the number of distinguishable dots
per inch printable on a halftone screen, or the number of
drops of ink deposited by an Inkjet printer. Photographic
output devices are described as "continuos tone"
as they have no visible dot on the finished print. On these
devices the quoted DPI refers to the number of pixels per
inch of final print that are be used by the printer to create
the image.
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"Fine gauge" is one of the two basic groups of lenticular
screens types. Fine gauge lenticular screens are thin enough
to go through special offset printing presses. This allows
large numbers of pieces to be printed economically. Fine gauge
is most often used for items such as Lenticular Postcards
, Lenticular Coasters and Lenticular CD or DVD Covers.
"Heavy Gauge" is a thicker lenticular
screen, generally with wider individual lenticules.
It cannot be printed using a high volume printing press and
therefore the print is created separately using high resolution
photographic or digital printers and is then registered and
laminated to the lenticular screen by hand. Heavy Gauge is
most often used for Backlit Signs, Vending Machine Panels,
Posters, Billboards, Exhibition pieces and Point of Sale Advertising
.
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The lenticular Flip
Effect is the simplest of all lenticular effects. Up to
three separate images are combined in one piece and can be
viewed independently from different angles while moving the
lenticular screen.
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A frame is a single image which forms part of a sequence.
A two-image flip is called a 2 frame animation. 12 frames
of video is described as a 12 frame animation.
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File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a way of transferring files
over the Internet from one computer to another. The Lenticular
FTP Guide will explain how to FTP your artwork to us.
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The lenticular Full
Motion Effect uses multiple frames of an action sequence
to show movement from the beginning to the end. It is like
watching a short movie or video clip on a simple printed medium.
Full Motion from video requires the highest quality source
material available ie: Digital Beta, HD video, film, or a
sequence of digital stills.
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If the Lenticular Screen does not clearly differentiate between
all frames or images, a "ghost" of other frames
may be visible. This can occur with very high contrast images,
attempting to use too many images or exceeding the resolution
capabilities of your output device and lenticular screen.
Another common cause is poor registration of the print.
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Interleaving is the process of encoding image data from two
or more graphics into a configuration compatible with Lenticular
Screen, (sometimes confused with "interlacing" -
a video technique for smoothing the transition between frames).
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Lamination is the process of registering and adhering a suitably
interlaced photographic or digital print to Lenticular Screen.
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Lenticular (meaning lens like) is the term used to describe
printing which uses a special optical screen to create various
effects. The screen consists of a thousands of fine elongated
lenses or lenticules extruded or
moulded into the surface of an optically clear plastic sheet.
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A lenticule is a single lens element in a lenticular lens
array characterized by curvature along one axis only.
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The lenticular Morph
Effect is the metamorphosis or gradual change of one image
into another through the use of sophisticated image algorithms.
Although any two objects can be morphed, the effect works
best when the two images are similar in shape and on a common
background.
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Parallax is the relative displacement of distant objects due
to movement on behalf of the observer or the difference in
position of the viewers eyes. The greater the parallax shift
the greater the apparent depth in a Lenticular Image.
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Photoshop
is an image editing program by Adobe
used for editing images, retouching, and creating composite
images or special effects. It can also be used for creating
other forms of art. Adobe
Illustrator or Macromedia
Freehand are other image editing programs that use vector
(shape and position) based algorithms instead of raster
(pixel) based algorithms like Photoshop.
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Pitch is the width of individual lenticules or lenses it is
usually expressed in "lenses per inch of screen".
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POP is an acronym for Point of Purchase. Lenticular shop counter
displays are often used at the point of purchase.
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PSD is the name often given to Photoshop's
native file format (the file extension is .psd). This format
is often preferred in lenticular imaging as it stores images
in layer form. It can also store selection data, effects,
colour adjustments and other image data in a way which is
not destructive of the original image. This allows further
adjustment or editing of the image with a minimum of quality
loss.
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A scanning pattern of parallel lines that form the display
of an image projected on a cathode-ray tube of a television
set or display screen.
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Registration is the name given to alignment and/or placement
of the individual printing colours relative to each other
and to the lenses of the Lenticular Screen.
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Resolution refers to the number of pixels (picture elements)
or printing dots used to describe or represent the original
image or scene. Resolution is usually expressed as DPI meaning
Dots Per Inch of image size.
When a digital file is created from an
image the image is described in the file by a matrix or mosaic
of separate picture elements (pixels). Each pixel is stored
with a numeric code representing it's colour and brightness.
If each pixel accurately represents a tiny part of the original
image, the higher the resolution, the greater the clarity
and definition (and the larger the file size). Increasing
the size of a file on the computer (interpolation) does not
increase the resolution of an image as it can not add any
detail which was not present in the original file. On the
contrary interpolation invariably destroys detail as the computer
is forced to interpret the data to express the detail in a
different number and pattern of pixels. Unnecessary interpolation
should therefore be avoided. Final sizing of a file for printing
is best done by our technicians using a specially designed
RIP (Raster image Processor) which reinterprets the data appropriately
for the final output device.
Monitor Resolution
Most computer monitors have 72 dots or pixels per inch so
an image of 72 dpi will appear at the correct physical size
on any monitor and will be referred to as "Monitor Resolution".
Low Resolution (Low Res) and High
Resolution (High Res)
Low resolution derivatives of image files are often used for
convenience during the layout or client approval stages of
production. The files are smaller and have less data so are
more easily viewed, stored and transmitted. They are replaced
by the High Resolution files prior to final editing and printing
of the job.
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For 3 D images the Lenticules of a screen must run vertically
so that each eye is directed to a different image or perspective
printed under the lens.
Image flips or animations intended to be
viewed by passers by will also be printed Side to Side. Care
must be taken in the design of non 3D effects for Side to
Side viewing as the viewer will see a different Frame with
each eye and this may be confusing.
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When effects other than 3D are to be hand held the Lenticules
are arranged to run horizontally across the piece which is
then tilted from Top to Bottom to observe the changing image.
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Vector images are produced using mathematically generated
points, lines and shapes. Vector files can be resized and
manipulated without losing resolution.
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The viewing angle is the degree of movement required to see
all the images on a particular lens type. This determines
how fast or slow an animation can be viewed.
Lenses designed for 3D generally have a
smaller Viewing angle and are thicker than lenses designed
for animation based effects.
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A sequence of images makes the subject appear to move closer
or farther away from the viewer. This effect
works best when the background is common throughout the sequence,
and the image loops with no obvious start or finish.
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