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How It's Normally Done: State-of-the-Art
in Existing Products
The basic principle is to merge
multiple images by cutting them into tiny strips which are interleaved,
and then overlaid with a clear screen of hundreds of very thin, linear
lenses (they look like fine grooves), which correspond to the tiny
strips beneath them. As one’s viewing angle changes, one sequentially
sees different strips of the printed image underneath the lenses,
changing the image. To see 3D, the lenses are oriented vertically, so
that each eye sees a slightly different image, and to see motion, the
lenses are horizontal, so that both eyes see the same image, and that
whole image must be tipped vertically toward or away from the viewer to
see motion. Therefore, these motion images are usually printed at
card size, so the card can be tipped easily.
The manufacturing process commonly used
for these types of images is to print directly onto the back of large,
thin, flexible plastic lens sheets, which can go through presses at high
speed in large print runs for economy of scale. Then the sheets are cut
up into smaller images, usually postcard-sized. The downside to this is the high cost of
printing on special stock with severe technical constraints, which can
affect the quality as well, often ending up with a not-so-perfect, yet
comparatively expensive product.
The Motion Picture Card Difference:
Beyond State-of-the-Art
The Motion Picture Card viewer system
takes a different approach to the technology described above, by using one thick, rigid,
high-quality lens screen to view
any number of postcard-sized images printed on ordinary, but good
quality, printer's stock. The 4” x 5 ½” cards are inserted under the
"lens", and, rather than changing viewing angle by tipping, as in existing card
products, the image itself moves
slightly, imperceptibly (as the cover is opened) under the lens, which
"scans" the printed image beneath it, and
creates the surprising effect of “automatic” animation. The larger
lenses allow more frames in each animated clip, and display, clearer,
more lifelike images. The effect, then, is to insert what looks like a
blurry image, and have it come to life in film-like motion.
Motion Picture Cards and Motion Viewers
bring you a product which is beyond state-of-the-art. A natural premium
or promotional item with endless applications, Motion Viewers and Cards are also
destined to become the first, widely successful consumer product of its
kind.
History
Integrated Imaging, also called
“lenticular” technology has been around commercially for five decades.
It was invented in 1908 by Gabriel Lippman, an early photographer, and
developed more practically by Herbert Ives, of the US. As plastics
improved, lenticular images became feasible for commercial use. Some
people will remember the little plastic, winking eye or other “surprise
inside” boxes of Cracker Jacks, or “3D Postcards”, which were sold in
the 1950’s and 60’s. Since the 1980’s, Eastman plastics have greatly
increased lenticular quality and commercial feasibility with their
“Lenstar” plastic lens sheets. Marketers have used the visual impact of
this improved technology to enliven post cards and other direct mail
campaigns, posters, and magazine covers. By far the largest application
of lenticular images is for marketing.
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