Lenticular Printing FAQ
What is a 3D Lenticular Print?
Simply, a 3D lenticular print is any image that is directly printed on or laminated on a plastic sheet which has an array of small lenses called lenticules.  It is a 3D image that can be viewed by human eyes without any special optical device.  It is also called an autostereoscopic image.

For a detailed history of Lenticular, please click History of Lenticular.

Please refer to the Glossary for all lenticular related terms.

Why 3D Lenticular?
Lenticular artwork is no longer just used in promotion. In fact, with your imagination, lenticular artwork can be applied to unlimited applications. For example:

Products Effect
Book Cover 3D
CD Jewel Case Insert Animation
DVD Case Insert Flip
Mouse Pad Morph
Postcards Zoom
Posters  

How to place an order?
Ordering is very easy. Just fill out Request for Quote Form and attach your artwork.
If you have questions, please call Toll Free: only@ok3d.com
You will receive our best quote within 24 hours. Your project will be under way once the quote is accepted.

For detailed info on OK3DI's Work Flow, please go to Work Flow

What effects are possible with lenticular printing?
3D
Animation
Flip
Morph
Zoom
For artwork requirements, please go to Artwork Preparation.

Can several effects be combined on the same Lenticular Print?
More than one effect can be combined on the same lenticular print, however, there are some constraints.

Animation, flip, morph, and zoom artwork can be printed either vertically or horizontally on a lenticular sheet. However, for 3 D artwork, the printing is only done vertically.

For details, please refer to Artwork Preparation.

What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
In order for OK3DI to offer you the most favorable pricing, the MOQ is 1000 pieces.

Are orders accepted with quantity less than the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
It will depend on the nature of project. Please note our competitive pricing is achieved by our suggested minimal order quantity. Please contact our sales team for further discussion. We will try our best to satisfy your needs.

What is LPI on a lenticular sheet?
LPI stands for "Lines per Inch" or "Lenses per Inch". Please refer to the following table:

LPI 10 15 20 30 40 60 75 100
View Angle 48 47 47 49 49 54 49 42
View Distance 10’ - 50’ 5’ - 20’ 5’ - 20’ 3’ - 15’ 1’ - 15’ 1’ - 10’ 6” - 3’ 6” - 10”

Which LPI is the most versatile?
The most versatile LPI is 75lpi which can be used for most general applications.

What is Lenticular Alignment?
It is an adjustment of a print so that the image stripes are directly below the lenticule on the lenticular sheet.

Unlike a 3D image, images for Animation, Flip, Morph, and Zoom Effect can be printed on a lenticular sheet vertically or horizontally.

What is Orientation of Change?
"Orientation of Change" refers to the direction of the lenticules on a lenticular sheet.

Images can be printed on a lenticular sheet with the lenticules running horizontally across the sheet, requiring up and down viewing, or vertically on a lenticular sheet, requiring side to side viewing.

Is the sample proofing process necessary? Can it be skipped?
Sample proofing is necessary due to the sensitivity of image alignment on a lenticular sheet, especially for the higher LPI sheets. We do not recommend skipping this step. A good process is for all our clients to sign off on the sample proof before proceeding with mass production.

How long does it take to produce a project?
Two to three weeks from the time your artwork arrives to the time we ship you the final product.

How many frames are better in a lenticular print?
What are you trying to convey with your image? We can assist you with this decision since each project is unique.

Glossary
3D Layering
A process whereby multiple images are interlaced so that an illusion of 3D is visible.

Action Proof
An intermediate proof created on an imaging device for fine-tuning image effect and interlacing.

Animation
The use of sequential images that gives a motion illusion.

Autostereoscopy
Any method of displaying stereoscopic images without the use of special glasses on the part of the viewer.

Banding
A static defect that runs in the same direction as the lens. The main cause is a slight resolution mismatch.

Binocular Disparity
The difference in image location of an object seen by the left and right eyes which allows humans to see a 3D effect.

Checkerboard Banding
A defect pattern that appears both horizontally and vertically on a lenticular print.

Color Leakage
Unwanted colors, mainly yellow and black, occurring when the image is flipped or viewed at different angles. Leakage could be due to poor color registration or by an inexperienced printer.

CMYK
Cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black).

Direct printing
A process that prints an image directly onto the flat side of a lenticular sheet.

DPI
Dots per Inch on a printer.

Filler Space
A stripe of image used to separate multiple frames of images from each other. This technique is used to minimize a ghosting effect.

Flip
A lenticular effect that displays a different image when the viewing angle is changed.

Gauge
The thickness of a lenticular sheet.

Ghosting
An undesirable result of lenticular printing which happens when more than one image is visible at the same time when seen from a single viewing angle. Possible causes are: poor registration, mismatched pitch, or too many frames.

Hologram
A form of photograph that records an image in three dimensions.

Interlacing
A process that strips and aligns frames of images based on the pitch of a given lenticular sheet.

Keyplane
The plane or layer in a lenticular print where its objects are the sharpest..

Lamination
The process whereby an image is applied to the flat side of a lenticular sheet by means of either glue or double-sided adhesive.

Lenticular
Refers to a series of convex lenses on a lenticular sheet.

Lenticular effects
Visual effects made possible by printing images on a lenticular sheet. These effects fall into three major categories:

Animatic:
Flip - Images flip from one to another when the viewing angle changes.
Zoom - The focal point of the image advances toward the viewer when the viewing angle changes.
Animation - Image appears to be in motion when the viewing angle changes.
Morph - Image changes gradually from one to another when the viewing angle changes.
Non-Animatic
3D (Layered) - 3 D with the illusion of depth; objects seen in separate layers.
3D (real) - 3 D with the illusion of depth; objects appears more realistic with rounded contours.
Combined Effects
3D + Flip - 3 D with parts of picture showing side to side flipping.

Lenticule:
A small convex lens on a lenticular sheet.

LPI
Lenticules per Inch or Lines per Inch.

Morph
A lenticular effect that shows an image gradually transforming to a different image.

Motion
See: Animation.

Narrow-angle Lens
The viewing angle of a lenticular sheet that is between 15-30 degrees. This type of lens is suitable for 3D effects.

Parallax
Parallax is an apparent displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight, and is measured by the angle or semi-angle of inclination between those two lines. Source: Wikipedia_Parallax.

PET
An acronym for Poly Ethylene Terephthalate, the most popular material for current lenticular sheets due to its clarify and durability.

Pitch
The exact number of lenticules per inch (LPI.) on a lenticular sheet.

Pitchtest
The exact number of lenticules per inch (LPI.) on a lenticular sheet.

Pixel
Also known as picture-element. It is the smallest unit of picture that can be manipulated.

PPI
Pixels Per Inch.

Printer's Proof
The proof made by the printing company for checking the iamge quality.

PVC
An acronym for Poly Vinyl Chloride. In the past most lenticular sheets were made of PVC.

Radius
A measure of lens curvature.

Refractive Index
A measurement of the speed at which light reflects off the lenticule.

Registration
The alignment of an image strip on the lenticule.

RGB
An acronym for Red, Green and Blue.

Screen Angle
In offset printing, the screen angle is the angle at which the halftones of a separated color are outputted to a lithographic film, hence, printed on final product media. Source: Wikipedia_Screen_Angle.

Slicing
Same as Interlacing.

Target Resolution
The resolution of a printer that is used to make lenticular prints, for example, 2400, 1200, or 600 dpi. Frame = (DPI/LPI) is the formula to determine the number of views or frames which will be used to interlace the artwork.

Viewing Angle
Viewing angle is a v-shaped region within which lenticular images can be seen clearly. In general, the viewing angle is a guideline to determine the type of lenticular effect. A narrow viewing angle is good for 3D effect. It can also be used for animatic effect, for example Flip or Morph.

Viewing Distance
The distance between you and the lenticular image is called viewing distance. This is an important factor to consider when choosing a correct lenticular sheet for your application. The number of LPI and the optimal viewing distance is inverse, meaning, the higher the LPI, the shorter the optimal viewing distance.

Please refer to What is LPI on a lenticular sheet? in FAQ.

View Frames
A series of images of the same object which are taken from different positions.

Wide Angle Lens
A wide angle lens is defined as having a viewing angle of 40 to 55 degrees.

Zoom
The focal point of the image advances toward the viewer when the viewing angle changes.

Disclaimer: Above definitions shall be used for reference only.

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