LENTICULAR ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS

3-D:

The following tips will help your 3-D lenticular art to produce realistic depth. Good 3D produces a visual ocean for the viewer to explore bringing a new dimension to your promotional product.

 

Tips for 3D

*All images submitted for 3D printing must be layered files with all elements editable — no placed images. Submit art as a layered Photoshop® .psd file when possible. Layered Illustrator® or Freehand® files can be used but will be converted to a Photoshop® layered file before processing.

* Image resolution should be 300ppi or higher.

* Avoid solid color, black, and white backgrounds. Black or very dark backgrounds reduce the sense of depth.

* The background in a 3D print must contain some sort of image or texture in order for your eyes to register a difference in position for the rest of the elements in the picture.

* Create as much "visual" 3D and perspective in the original picture as possible. The more 3D the image looks to start with, the better the 3D lenticular effect.

* In general, foreground elements are larger and lighter and background items are smaller and darker. Good color contrast between elements also helps.

* If elements have their own perspective, shaped with shadows and highlights, exaggerating these properties will add depth.

* Overlap elements when possible. Image elements that overlap even slightly provide additional position reference points for the images printed in front of or behind them increasing the sense of depth.

* In 3D prints there is one special layer called the "zero layer" or "key plane". This is a layer in the print that is shown in the same position to both eyes so it doesn't shift or change position when the printed piece is moved. This zero layer is always the clearest printing layer in the print. Art elements, such as logos or type that you need to be very clear and not affected by the image shifts required to generate the 3D effect, should be positioned on the zero layer or close to it.

* In 3D space, items printing closer to the zero-layer are clearer and become less sharp as they move into the foreground and background of the picture.

* Custom shapes can be interesting but keep in mind that the foreground and background images will shift right to left as the printed piece is moved. Custom shapes that try to capture a floating foreground or background element will not work as the printed image will move in relation to the die cut edge and may appear cut off in certain views.

* 3D products are always printed using vertically oriented lens material which is viewed by moving the piece side-to-side Add 1" of horizontal width beyond the standard bleed size to 3D files.

 

Animations:

Tell your story with animation that entertains and communicates. The following guidelines will help you prepare art for successful animations.

 

Tips for Animations

* In the case of motion or morph effects, use the minimum number of pictures or frames required to create the effect.

* Animations can be submitted as a sequence of images(recommended), or as a movie clip file such as a high res .mov, .avi. Low resolution movie files will not work.

* For zoom effects please send the image at it's smallest, and largest state. Zoom effects work best on a common background using layered files so that the zooming element is editable.

* Morph effects can be generated with two images, or sending a sequence of images. These products are usually printed using horizontally oriented lens material.

 

Combinations:

Lenticular pieces involving more than one effect are designed best by knowing about each effect you plan to use and designing for it. If you plan to use 3-D and a flipping effect, or motion with a zoom effect, reading tips for both types of effects along with the general tips for all artwork is the best way to plan.