Flexo Market News (N.V Business Publishers, August 4, 2003)
—New Lenticular Lens Designs Open Fresh Markets For Flexo Printers

LentiClear Lens, Inc., Itasca, Ilinois, has introduced a new series of lenticular lens designs said to provide superior viewing qualities and optimized printing results for sheetfed, roll-fed flexographic, offset, gravure and digital printing processes.

Developed in conjunction with a leading optical scientist, the patent pending, "LentiClear Lens 2004", features an elliptical, optically correct lens configuration. It offers 3D depth imaging, multi-phase flip action, full motion and zoom/morphing qualities the company said are superior to much thicker and heavier standard spherical lenticular lens materials currently on the market.

Gary A. Jacobsen, President of LentiClear Lens, Inc, stated, "We carefully analyzed all of the lenticular lens designs and materials on the market and determined that an elliptically shaped lens using our precise optical formula would offer much better viewing properties with lesser aberrations, than the standard prior art spherical lens designs currently available.We invested a great deal of time and capital to create a completely new lens design formula that provides enhanced optical properties for a wide range of lens thicknesses. For instance, the viewing performance characteristics of our newest 0.0102 mil LentiClear Lens (2004) design are comparable to much thicker and more costly lenticular materials."

The newest line of LentiClear Lens designs also offers a higher line resolution than other lens designs. This accurate thin gauge 0.0102 mil features a fine pitch resolution of 138 lines-per-inch (LPI) with a 60-degree field of viewing angle, and joins the LentiClear Lens lineup, which soon will include a 0.014 mil (100,105, or 125 LPI) and 0.018 mil (75 or 95 LPI) lens. Other designs are in planning for thicker lenses used in the POP markets.

"Our new 0.0102 mil (138 LPI) is a major breakthrough in the evolution of thin gauge lens designs because it allows for a much wider application of inexpensive, high quality decorative lenticular products such as: full or segmented box packaging, tags, pressure sensitive labels, flexible packaging, in-packs and on-packs and cup-wraps. In addition, thin gauge lenticular can be used on large volume advertising materials like magazine covers, magazine inserts, FSIís, mini catalogs, postcards, brochures, direct mail and novelties," said Jacobsen.

The LentiClear Lens (2004) is designed for imaging to be printed and proofed directly onto the back of the lens. This provides for much sharper print viewing, proper registration and more precise flip action versus the traditional two step approach of printing an image on paper and then laminating it to a lenticular lens.The two step approach is also much more costly to produce, creates an array of press registration issues and displaces the proper focal distance of the lens to the printed area, often creating a finished image that ghosts and is out of focus, said the company.

Printers who have press tested the 0.0102 mils LentiClear Lens are impressed with its overall qualities. "Itís a great lens.The printed product looks stellar for such a thin gauge lenticular material.There is less make ready and less running waste, but higher print productivity. Plus, it has good structural stability and press feeding traits which results in more consistent press registration," said Tim Traub, Lenticular Business Unit Manager, Outlook Group Corporation, Neenah,Wisconsin.

For roll-fed web printing, the 10.2 mil LentiClear Lens is also available in rolls in almost any roll width for flexographic, offset, gravure and digital printing.

LentiClear Lens (2004) is currently available in APET resin 0.0102 mil, 138 LPI design. LentiClear Lens designs can also be individually adjusted for using PETG and Rigid PVC resins.

Jacobsen is also interested in licensing his multi-patented, all in-line press finished, double roll fed lenticular web printing processes and products. The company welcomes calls from interested flexo web printers seeking new market penetration into the growing lenticular printing industry. To inquire, phone (630) 467-0900.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LentiClear Lens, Inc. Introduces a New 0.0102 mil Thin Gauge
Lenticular Lens Design with Superior Viewing Qualities
For Sheet Fed and Web Offset Lenticular Printers.
U.S. Patented Web Fed Lenticular Printing
Licensing Opportunities Available.

Itasca, Illinois: April 20, 2004 ‚ LentiClear Lens, Inc., is introducing a new series of lenticular lens designs that provide superior viewing qualities and optimized printing results for sheet-fed, roll-fed flexographic, offset, gravure and digital printing processes.

Developed in conjunction with a NASA optical scientist, the patent pending, "LentiClear Lens 2004", features an elliptical, optically correct lens configuration. It offers the 3D depth imaging, multi-phase flip action and zoom/morphing qualities that are superior to much thicker and heavier standard spherical lenticular lens materials currently on the market.

Gary A. Jacobsen, president of LentiClear Lens, Inc, states, "We carefully analyzed all of the lenticular lens designs and materials on the market and determined that an elliptically shaped lens using our precise optical formula would offer much better viewing properties with lesser aberrations, than the standard prior art cylindrical lens designs currently available. We invested a great deal of time and capital to create a completely new lens design formula that provides enhanced optical properties for a wide range of lens thicknesses. For instance, the viewing performance character istics of our newest 0.0102 mil LentiClear Lens (2004) design are comparable to thicker and more costly lenticular materials."

The newest line of LentiClear Lens designs also offers a higher line resolution than other lens designs. This accurate thin gauge 0.0102 mil features a fine pitch resolution of 138 lines-per-inch (LPI) with a generous 60-degree field of viewing angle, and joins the LentiClear Lens lineup, which soon will include a 0.014 mil (100,105, or 125 LPI) and 0.018 mil (75 or 95 LPI) lens. Other designs are in planning for thicker lenses used in the POP and display markets.

"Our new 0.0102 mil (138 LPI) is a major breakthrough in the evolution of thin gauge lens designs because it allows for a much wider application of inexpensive, high quality decorative lenticular products such as: full or segmented wrap packaging, pressure sensitive labels, flexible packaging, in-packs and on-packs and cup-wraps. In addition, thin gauge lenticular can be used on large volume advertising materials like magazine covers, magazine inserts, FSIís, mini catalogs, postcards, brochures, direct mail, and consumer novelty items."

The LentiClear Lens (2004) is designed for imaging to be printed and proofed directly onto the back of the lens. This provides for much sharper print viewing, proper registration and more precise flip action versus the traditional two step approach of printing an image on paper and then laminating it to a lenticular lens. The two step approach is also much more costly to produce, creates an array of press registration issues and displaces the proper focal distance of the lens to the printed area, often creating a finished image that ghosts and is out of focus.

Printers who have press tested the 0.0102 mils LentiClear Lens are impressed with its overall qualities. "It's a great lens. The printed product looks stellar for such a thin gauge lenticular material. There is less make ready and less running waste, but higher print productivity. Plus, it has good structural stability and press feeding traits which results in more consistent press registration," says Tim Traub, Lenticular Business Unit Manager, Outlook Group Corporation, Neenah, WI.

For sheet-fed printing, the 10.2 mil LentiClear Lens is available in standard sheets sizes, including a 28 x 20" (1/2 sheet) or 40 x 28" (full sheet). Custom sheet sizes will also be available when ordered by printers in excess of 10,000 LBS. For roll-fed web printing, it is also available in rolls in almost any roll width for flexographic, offset, gravure and digital printing.

LentiClear Lens (2004) is currently available in APET resin 0.0102 mil, 138 LPI design. LentiClear Lens designs can also be individually adjusted for using PETG and Rigid PVC resins.

Using its patent pending lens design; LentiClear Lens, Inc. can also develop custom lens materials with (varying thicknesses and resolutions and choice resins) to meet a customer's specific lenticular needs for a particular end use, including printable advertising products; or non-printable applications such as: lenticular computer screens, projection TV screens, etc.

Jacobsen is also interested in licensing his multi-patented, all in-line press finished, double roll fed lenticular web printing processes and products. The company welcomes calls from interested web printers seeking new market penetration into the growing lenticular printing industry.

LentiClear Lens, Inc. is a full service lenticular lens company. From the custom precision diamond tooling and engraved cylinders to the extrusion/casting of the finished sheets and rolls, the company has developed a complete production program for its new lens designs, including: in-house lenticular creative art design/direction; animation and dimensionalizing of art objects, interlacing, prep for film or computer to plate, and lenticular proofing to its licensed web printers. With APAPís complete turnkey lenticular print production system available to licensed web offset printers, this system enables new web printers the opportunity to enter the lenticular market with a minimal learning curve, while also helping to guarantee turn key print production success.

The new LentiClear Lens Inc. is owned by Gary A. Jacobsen, who also owns The Web Communications Group, Inc. (founded in 1984), and recently formed Animated Printing & Packaging, Inc. Jacobsen, a second-generation printer with over 25 years of direct print industry experience and researcher/inventor, has invented and co-invented over 10 U.S. and foreign printing processes and product patents, including patent pending multiple lenticular optical lens designs and lenticular lens material technologies. He also provides lenticular engineering and print consultations for both sheet-fed and web printing plants, including Fortune 100 direct end user companies, ad agency, promotional and packaging clients. Jacobsen is also a research affiliate of Rochester Institute of Technologyís (RIT), Printing Industry Center, of Rochester, NY. Jacobsen received a doctorate degree in the engineering management discipline for his extensive research, applied inventions and dissertation within the field of lenticular optical lens designs, lenticular lens array substrates, and for web fed lenticular printing technologies.

Contact: LentiClear Lens, Inc. • Gary A. Jacobsen, President
              630-467-0900 • GJ@LentiClearLens.com

Prior provisional and current non-provisional US & PCT foreign patent applications are now US patented, with additional patent applications pending. Web Communications Group, Inc. (WCG), Animated Printing & Packaging (APAP), LentiClear Lenticular Lens, Inc., (LLL) and Jacobsen Lenticular Tool & Cylinder Engraving Technologies Co. (JacoTech), are fully insured with worldwide patent infringement abatement and intellectual property insurance policies. LentiClear Lenticular Lens, Inc. (LentiClear) and (JacoTech) are pending registered trademarks. All legal rights and copyrights reserved. (2006)