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A new
lenticular lens technology patented by
National Graphics of Brookfield, WI
reduces materials costs by 40 percent, improves resolution, and enables very
fine print and barcodes to be legible under the lens. The surface of the lens
can accept ink jet printing for additional printing. The flexibility and
thinness of the material permit use of plastic processes such as in-mold
decorating. A cup submitted to
Design News' judges shows an animation
of a boy kicking and then chasing a soccer ball. The technology also permits
use of flashing arrows or changing colors to point out a hazard on a safety
sign. The high-definition offers superior quality of detail. When used as
part of an in-mold system, the material is only 0.007-inch thick, reducing
materials costs. Materials typically used in the system, as cited in the
patent, are one or more of: polyester, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and amorphous polyethylene terephthalate
(APET). "National can place almost twice the amount of information under this
lens than others outside of the patent boundaries resulting in a photographic
like presentation of animated information," says Donald Krause, president of
National graphics.
Lenticular technology was
created in the 1940s but has evolved to show more motion and increased depth.
Lenses are a transparent plastic sheet or web, typically including an array of
identical curved or ribbed surfaces that are formed on the front surface. The
back surface of the lens is typically flat. www.extremevision.com