About lenticular imaging

The autostereoscopic image appeared in the 17th century and, after many evolutions, we can say that lenticular imaging was discovered around 1940 by Maurice Bonnet. You’ll find an interesting article on “Lenticular History” at Lenstar.org.

It is based on a technology in which a lenticular lens is used to separate the left and right eye images, creating depth in printed images without special glasses. This lenticular effect is activated by moving the image and viewing it from different angles. A lenticular lens is in fact an array of lenses that act like tiny looking glasses.

Lenticular prints are made from at least two images combined (we use to say “interlaced”) into a lenticular image. This lenticular process is used to create various frames of animation or to show a set of images that appear to flow into each other. The lenticular interlacing technique used to create these images is now readily available in lenticular software.

Modern lenticular technology

Printing presses need to be able to print on thermoplastic materials. This is typically lithographic offset printing, because this gives good quality results. Today, the evolution in digital printing allows to produce lenticular using this new revolutionary methods.

To print lenticulars, presses must be capable of adjusting image with a very high precision.

During the last decade lenticular marketing became more and more important. Next to lenticular playing cards or business cards, lenticular rulers and lenticular postcards, also lenticular posters, lenticular billboards or lenticular magazine covers are being used now. More pragmatic uses include lenticular conversion cards, promotion cards and attractive lenticular packaging. Lenticular lenses are delivered as lenticular plastic sheets which come in many sizes and different gauges. Browse our site to find out what lenticular products we have available for you.