Lenticular imaging prepress process

Lenticular imaging prepress process

Pitch test

Before interlacing it is necessary to determine the exact size of the lens of the lenticular material, sheet or roll. This is what we call the pitch test.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of lenticular patch solutions. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

We will distinguish the visual pitch and the mechanical (or absolute) pitch.
To determine the pitch of the lenticular sheet, it is necessary to carry out a pitch test.

We provide this test file to our customers (free).
This file will be used to output a film or a plate. Digital printers will print this file direct to the lens or on another subtsrate.

It is possible to determine the pitch by placing a lenticular clear sheet on the plate (or the film) and look at the viewing distance of the final image. We strongly recommend to print the pitch test so that you will determine the exact value. More information about pitch test in our FAQ, just click here.

One line will be totally black or invisible, it will be your visual pitch.
The result will be more precise if you print the pitch test on the lenticular sheets.

If, for example, the test shows that the optical pitch is 75,48 LPI, you will thus interlace 16 images in

75,48 X 16 = 1207,68 PPI.

The mechanical pitch will be determined using a magnifying glass.

On digital equipment we’ll propose an RGB pitch test as it is more precise.

We are emailing the pitch tests files to our customers.

What do I need to create lenticular images?

Computer

The lenticular files can become enormous, and the imposition, if it is not made in the RIP is very heavy for a workstation.

So you’ll need a powerful computer!

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Software:

1. Adobe Photoshop (see:  how to interlace in Photoshop)
2. Quark
3. Adobe After Effects
4. Adobe InDesign
5. ArtPro
6. Lenticular Software

I need lenticular software

CTP (or CTF)

A minimum of 300 lines per inch is essential for an acceptable quality, a higher quality can be obtained with 450-500 lines. Adapt linescreen to a value mathematically compatible with the pitch of the lens will produce a better result, this can also reduce or eliminate the banding caused by interpolation of the image when creating dots.

Specific screen angles must be used to avoid moiré. We can provide you this information.

The CTP (or CTF) must have a resolution of at least 2400 DPI, a higher resolution will give a better result. The majority of the current CTP have a capacity between 2400 to 4000 DPI, some can achieve higher resolution, they are mainly designed for safety printing. MicroFlex will require a very high resolution !

CTF: The standard films have a thickness of 0,01mm, whereas 0,018 mm are recommended for a better stability of measurement. Note: when using 0,018 mm films, the laser heads should be recalibrated.

In the same way, when using high resolutions, the proper laser resolution intensity values should be established and setup, also exposure curves created, to produce linear reproduction of dot values.

I need lenticular sheets

Proofing

It is possible to test the effects using a high resolution inkjet printer (min 1440 PPI) but it will be necessary to adjust the pitch to this device as the pitch will be different from your CTP. Also the number of frames and the dot size will be different.

So this system would work only to test the effect but the result will be totally different than the printed piece.
Some current CTP providers (Fuji) are proposing a direct proofing system that will give a result matching the final print.

New: we now propose a crystal clear double side adhesive to laminate your proofs. Order here

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any question about the Lenticular imaging prepress process.

Hey gang. I can now print directly from .mpo files!

I've actually been able to for awhile but have hesitated due a couple issues. No software can create data for occluded or hidden objects. Meaning if an area can't be seen in either the left or right frame then there can not be a "perfect" conversion for printing. Also if the parallax is too great then there is not a lot I can do. That being said, it all depends on the content and spacing of the images whether or not it will be a good conversion. The great news is that for now you can send me your .mpo files and I will let you know or show you how much distortion will be present in the final print before I charge you or print the image.

Cheers,
Harvey

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