lenticular lenses

Lenticular lenses

Lenticular lenses are plastic lenses consisting of an array of optical elements (lenticules). When viewed from different angles, different areas under the lens are magnified.

Different thickness lenses are suitable for different applications and printing methods. In general, thick lenses are more suitable for printing large posters using a digital printer. Thin lenses are more suitable for small handheld pictures printed with offset printers.

Thin lenses are available that are only 0.45mm thick and even thinner. These lenses are suitable for shorter viewing distances such as magazine covers, flyers, inserts, packaging etc. Thin lenses are also suitable for larger viewing distances when a higher resolution printer is used.

Understanding Pitch

Pitch is the count of lenticules per inch in a certain lenticular lens, measured in LPI. A lenticule is a single optical element, a vertical strip in the lenticular sheet.

Lenticular images

Lenticular images are those which are specially prepared images to which the lens is attached. Views are arranged under lenticules so that each eye is projected a different view. The brain then processes these views to a single coherent 3D image.

Understanding Interlacing

Interlacing is the process of creating a lenticular image from a set of 2D images. A small strip is taken from each 2D image and is combined in one image to match a specific lens pitch.

Lenticular lens durability

The lenticular lens is manufactured from various types of plastic (PETG, PVC, Acrylic). The lens's ability to withstand extreme weather depends on the type of plastic from which it is made. For an exact description of the material specifications please contact your lenticular manufacturer or a HumanEyes representative directly.

Its resistance to vandalism, scratches, breakage and fire is determined by the plastic used. For an exact description of the material specifications please contact your lenticular manufacturer or a HumanEyes representative directly.

Weight of lenticular lens

The weight of the lens varies depending on its thickness and the manufacturer. For an exact description of the material specifications please contact your lenticular sheet manufacturer or a HumanEyes representative directly.

Purchasing lenticular lens

There are several lenticular manufacturers around the world. HumanEyes has secured special pricing for its customers with some of them.
For more information please contact HumanEyes at 3d@humaneyes.com.

Sizes of lenticular sheets

There are standard sizes for lenticular sheets, however for large orders manufacturers may be willing to cut the sheets to a certain size. You should contact the manufacturers directly to further discuss this option.

Storage of lenses

To avoid any shrinking or expanding of the plastic due to humidity or temperature changes, lenses should be stored in a controlled environment. Consult the lenticular manufacturer for more details.

Viewing angles for 3D

The narrower the viewing angle, the larger the viewing distance for 3D.

Choosing a lens for an application

Different thickness lenses are suitable for different applications and printing methods. In general, thick lenses are more suitable for printing large posters. Thin lenses are more suitable for small handheld pictures. The type of lenticular effect is also relevant: thick (narrow angle) lenses are more suitable for 3D, while thinner (wide angle) lenses are better for flip and animation effects.

The following table contains more detailed specifications for use of different lenses: