LENTICULAR FOIL

Desired effect is generated by transition of ‘coded’ image through lenticular foil, which is basic component of lenticular image and creates its final effect.
Lenticular foil is clear plastic foil that is completely unruffled from one side. On this side is put (glue or print) specially created image.
From the other-outer-side the foil consists of system of parallel lenses, which focus angle of sight of a viewer to particular part of the image.
Lenticular lenses can be set verticaly or horizontaly.
Better result (smaller inclination to fuzzy images and cleaner view) are when horizontal lenses are used-picture is tiped from the front to the back which is more natural for holding in hand.
Vertical lenses are used mostly for posters and displays when viewer walks round about along them from one side to another.

TYPES OF LENTICULAR FOILS REVIEW which are used by Prestige Photo s.r.o.

počet LPI * na palec	Thickness of Lent. Foil **	*Foil Size*	*Relative Distance of View*	*Aplication*	*Remarks*
100	0,34 mm	50x70 cm	30 - 75 cm	labels, etiquette
75	0,45 mm	50x70 cm	30 cm – 2 m	business cards, postcard, ad pictures, calendars	most frequent
50	0,80 mm	50x70 cm	40 cm – 3 m	eye-catchers	up to 4 flips
25 (3D)	2,50 mm	120x240 cm	od 1 m	eye-catchers	best effects (only our company provides this in the CzechRepublic
20	3,00 mm	120x240 cm	od 1,5 m	big eye-catchers, city-lights billboards	bigger than A2
15	3,40 mm	120x240 cm	od 2,5 m
10	4,50 mm	120x240 cm	od 4 m

* LPI=number of lenticular lenses per inch
** the thicker the foil is, the deeper 3D effect can be achieved

Standard size of lenses are from 22 x 28" to 36 x 48" a 48 x 96".
Majority of lenticular lens is made of APET (Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthalate), PETG, acryl, styrene, polycarbonate and PVC by punching or injection. The most usual is extrusion of plain sheets.
For outdoor use is more suitable polycarbonate and acryl, that are UV and wheather resistant. Other materials got breakable and yellow outside if not protected by inhibitor.
Temperature Extensibility is also crucial for choosing the right material. Polypropylene is not stable in machine neither sufficiently transparent and needs preliminary treatment by coroning.