The information on this page is very important and results from more than 15 years experience in lenticular printing.
Before starting to print on lenticular sheets, we recommend you to buy some “non lenticular” PET sheets (ideally same size and thickness as the lenticular sheets). These PET sheets will allow you to check the adherence of the inks and will also be used for the make ready on press.
Today our partner Finze in Austria, selling small quantities, is proposing a starter pack of 250 sheets 711x508mm, PET, with a thickness of 457 micron, similar to our 75LPI; more information on our “small quantities” page.
The choice of the inks will depend on your drying system; ideally a UV curing system using high quality UV inks is the best method for printing lenticular sheets. Links to some ink suppliers can be found on our links page.
The second step would be to create a new specific color curve to print with high lines screening. Lenticular requires high lines screening (about 400LPI) so you will need to create a specific color curve otherwise the colors might be too dark.
You will also need to put some hard blankets in the press. Links to some of the blanket suppliers can be found on our links page.
An overview of the different types of lenticulars and sheet sizes can be found on our products page.
New customers usually start with 75LPI. We don’t have small quantities in stock and we know by experience that starting will require a pallet. We propose to start with simple test files that you can download from our website. These tests will allow you to gain experience.
An important element in printing is the pressure: we call it “kiss printing”. The “Migration or Pressure test” will help you to determine the optimal pressure.
The second test will be the pitch test (see prepress process).
Once these first tests are completed, we propose our training program.
The training starts with the prepress process. We will show you how to create the images, how interlacing is done, and give you an overview of the various lenticular softwares available. We finish with printing the first lenticular images on the press.
In detail:
- the theory of the different types of lenticular effects
- flip, 3D, Morph, zoom etc…
- a full explanation of lenticular prepress techniques
- interlacing in Photoshop
- an explanation of line screening and angle sets
- practice and execution in the workflow and RIP
- imposition method theory
- practice on effects and image creation
- imposition practice and printing on press
We only work with very experienced specialists in lenticular technology. Usually we start with a 2-day training. From experience we know that the printer will be able to print good samples after that.
Please contact us if you have any questions about the above.
You’ll find QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS about lenticular by clicking here.
