1. Lenticular
An Introduction

2. What is Lenticular?
Lenticular graphics can be described as specialized images which when
viewed under a lenticular lens will produce a desired effect. This can
include 3d, flip, morph, motion, zoom, or combinations thereof.
There are two main elements when producing lenticular.
1. An interlaced image:
• Specialized software takes small “slices” of different images and combines them into one file.
These different images can be frames of animation/motion or multiple angles of a 3d image.
The total number of frames varies, depending on the lens to which it will be printed on. The more
lenses per inch the finer the detail but fewer amount of frames that can be supported under it.
2. Lenticular Lens:
• An extruded sheet of clear plastic, smooth on one side and lenses on the other. The interlaced
file gets printed, in reverse, on the smooth side so that when you look through the lens side you
see the effect/s.
• Isolates, magnifies, and displays a single graphic image according to the angle of observation.
• The grooves of the extruded sheet of plastic are called lenticules. The lenticules align the “splices”
in such a way that your brain sees the specific effect. For a 3d piece, for instance, your left and
right eye are seeing slightly different angles of a scene, tricking your brain into seeing it in stereo.
There are a variety of lenses to choose from, with varying thicknesses and lenticules per inch.
1 | What is Lenticular? 2

3. Interlacing
Proprietary software creates the interlaced images, which are in perfect harmony with the
lens structure. This allows us to achieve a very high quality lenticular image. 3

4. The Printing Process
Lenticular is printed in much the same way as other synthetic substrates, although the
tolerances are far more precise. Not only do the colors have to be in registration, but the
interlaced image must be in alignment with the lenticules as well. It is printed four color
process (in reverse on the smooth side of the sheet) with a white aqueous coating over all.
After drying it goes to finishing, where it can be square trimmed, die-cut, foil stamped, or
tipped onto other substrates. 4

5. Effects: Flip The fast transition between distinct elements.
The simplest effect can often be the most dramatic. You can flip between completely
different images or simply flip from one color to another, open to closed, old to young, etc. 5

6. Effects: 3D The illusion of depth and distance between elements from
the foreground to the background.
The dazzling depth and detail will propel your marketing message into the next dimension. 6

7. Effects: Zoom Image moves back and forth, getting smaller or larger.
A great way to draw attention to a specific element, focus on a detail, or stand out from a group. 7

8. Effects: Morph The fluid transformation between two elements,
normally of similar size and shape.
A great way to demonstrate change. 8

9. Effects: Motion The recreation of a moving effect from video,
animation, or a series of stills.
A great way to demonstrate a product in use or video action sequences. 9

10. Lens Options
Red indicates our house stock. The more lenses per inch the fewer number of frames can
fit behind the lenticules. More lenses per inch means you can see finer detail and use
smaller font sizes. Our house stock is fine enough for most images while supporting more
frames, allowing for greater design flexibility and smooth effects.
10 mil • 150 lenticules per inch (lpi)
• 8 Frames
• Supports smaller detail and fonts
• Works well for roll labels, dot whacks,
and packaging.
14 mil • 100 lenticules per inch (lpi)
• 12 Frames
• Great detail and 3D
• Works well for the majority of our work.
10 mil Flexo Label • 150 lenticules per inch (lpi)
• 8 Frames – 3D only
• On a roll, not sheets
• For high volume work, like packaging.
18 mil • 75 lenticules per inch (lpi)
• 16 Frames for motion, 12 frames for 3D
• Great 3D and hand-held motion
• Not as fine detail, works great for walk-by pieces. 10

11. Press Sheet
Lens direction is critical for the way a lenticular effect works. Lens direction on press is
always horizontal. Our common sheet size is 28” width x 20” height. Which means the
maximum image size for a top to bottom effect is 26.75” width x 18.75” height. For a 3D
effect we need to rotate the image 90 degrees on the sheet, so it is in alignment with the
lenticules. 11

12. Lens Direction: Left to Right
How a finished piece will be used determines lens direction as well. For a walk-by piece
the lens needs to be running vertically, like a picket fence, so you see the effect as you
walk by. For 3D the lens also needs to be running vertically so that your left and right eye
are seeing slightly different angles of a 3D image, giving you the stereoscopic illusion. 12

13. Lens Direction: Top to Bottom
With the exception of 3D and walk-by pieces, the effects work best when running horizontally,
like Venetian Blinds, so you see the effect as you tilt it towards you and away from you. With
the lens running in this direction your eyes are in alignment with the lenticules so you see a
more distinct “snap” from one frame to the next. For this reason it works great for hand-held
motion effects, where you want to see frame by frame action taking place. 13

14. Product Applications • Indoor signage • Security
• Bilingual/trilingual
• Premiums
• Collectible
• Coaster
• CD/DVD/Blu-ray Cover
• Easel/POP display
• Counter mat
• Packaging
• Shelf talker/dangler/strip
• Product tip in/on
• Magnet
• Unsecured Card
• Label
• Postcard/mailer
• Sticker
• Lanyard card
• Luggage Tag 14

15. Estimating:
David Mueller
Phone: Ext.167
Product Specialist:
Pamela Edmondson
Phone: Ext.112
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