The History of Lenticular

The History of Lenticular

Written by Jerry Giuseffi

Origins of Technique

As far back as the late 1600’s, artists have been experimenting with various techniques to create the optical illusion of 3D on a flat surface. In 1692, French painter Gois-Clair discovered he could achieve a multi-dimensional effect on canvas by interposing a grid of vertical laths between the viewer and the painting.

First Lenticular Images

The first images to be described as "lenticular" were produced in the 1930s by Victor Anderson. By the late 1940s, Mr. Anderson's company was producing millions of simple lenticular images a year for everything from postcards of women winking at the viewer to Cracker Jack prizes, political campaign buttons and magazine inserts.

The basic process used to produce these lenticular images was quite simple: the printer first printed the image on paper, then laminated that paper to thick vinyl lens material. Unfortunately, these early methods and materials were incapable of delivering complex images in crisp detail.

Major Change in Technology

In 1994, National Graphics began work on a revolutionary new method to produce lithographic lenticular images. Rather than printing on paper and then laminating the paper to the lens material, they pioneered the method of printing directly on the reverse side of the lens material, providing accurate registration of the printed image to the lens material and making it possible to deliver images with significantly greater detail and clarity. They also developed highly specialized interlacing software capable of generating more sophisticated imagery. In 1996, National Graphics was awarded a patent for developing this new method of producing multi-dimensional lithographic separations called Extreme Vision.

In 2002, National Graphics was awarded a patent for a much thinner, higher-definition lens material specifically designed to meet the needs of publishers and packagers. This new material, called Crystal lens, is a 200-line material capable of delivering enough detail to accurately convey bar code information when scanned at the point of purchase. The Crystal lens is only .007 inches thick, making it practical for either books or magazines.

Lenticular vs. Holographic Images

People often confuse lenticular images with holograms. While both are capable of delivering the illusion of depth and motion, they look quite different, have differing lighting needs, and being used for different purposes.

Commercial holographic imagery generally requires the help of a professionally-equipped holographic laboratory to create the original image before real production can begin. Lasers create a diffracting pattern that is recorded on holographic film. Unfortunately, special color matches are not possible, only the iridescent tones that are inherent in holography. Holograms also must be viewed in proper lighting.

Lenticular images are typically a little thicker than holograms. There are no real limitations to the range of possible colors, and they require no special lighting. Images are cleaner and brighter than holograms. Unlike holography, there is no need to create the image in a specialized laboratory environment. The image is generated directly from the art. File preparation is similar to conventional offset printing, giving the designers direct control of their image.