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LENTICULAR ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
General Information for all Artwork:
general design guidelines. The information listed below is helpful for all projects.
Tips for all Effects
Since the lenticular lens only shows your eyes a small portion of the underlying print at any one time, very small elements such as thin lines, small text, and some portions of smaller text may actually disappear from the visible image as the finished print is moved. Avoid thin lines, especially going the same direction as the lens.
* Avoid type smaller than 14 points.
* Avoid solid color, black, and white backgrounds. Use a busy or textured background or a common background when practical.
* Make sure all art files are editable whenever possible, this is especially true for 3-D and zoom effects where layered files are used to create the effect.
* Avoid flipping from one high-contrast element to another.
Specification Checklist for all Art
Art files should be a minimum of 300ppi in resolution at 100% or more of the print size. Images from the web are often low in resolution, and when blown up to 300dpi they become blurry, and contain too much noise to print well. All images are converted to layered Photoshop® files before processing; so, submit art as a CMYK Photoshop® .psd file when possible.
* Make sure to have a minimum 3/8" bleed. (1" horizontal bleed if using a 3-D effect)
* Submit color targets printed from final files.
Flips:
A good flip is one of the most basic and rewarding lenticular effects produced. Here are some helpful hints that will make your flip effect a huge success.
Tips for Flip Effects
Avoid solid color, black, and white backgrounds — photographs or busy, noisy images work best. Unlike turning a page to reveal a second image, flip images become visible when the image under the lens comes into view as you tilt the print up & down. Since both images are present under the lens, some bleed through or "ghosting" of one image into the other is usually present. The effect of this ghosting is minimized when busier images and backgrounds are used which mask or hide the ghosting.
* Avoid flipping from one high contrast element to another. Flipping from a red ball to a white square, for example, would not work well as the red ball will surely ghost into the white square. Flips work best when the general color, shape of elements, and contrast of the
from and to pictures are similar.
* Keep the backgrounds design / colors the same when possible while flipping individual images or text of similar shape and color.
* Flips work best when they are printed using horizontally oriented lens material which focuses on one image or the other image as the view shifts from top to bottom.
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.
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