THIN LENS TECHNOLOGY

The "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" is the world's most advanced, optically correct and clear printable thin-gauge lens developed for high quality and cost efficient lenticular printing.

In recent years, we have worked with a leading optical scientist, who researched and analyzed the lenticular industry's most common standard and independent custom lenses currently available on the market. After careful optical laboratory analysis, it was apparent that these various lenticular lenses have limited optical performance properties and are similar variations of prior art lens designs dating back over 40 years ago.

LentiClear Lenticular Lens, Inc. determined that a new and improved high performance lenticular lens design was needed to take lenticular printing to a higher level, in terms of overall viewing quality and print manufacturing cost efficiency. We then developed and was later awarded, our own US patented (issued 2004) with additional global patents pending, the "next-generation" advanced thin-gauge printable lens designs for sheet-fed, rotary web-fed printing, display and digital printed applications.

The new "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" lens is not simply a copy or reverse engineering feat of the current cylindrical lenticular lens materials available on the market today. This completely new and innovative lenticular lens design incorporates specialized internal optical enhancements and new features. Many of the "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" features are credited in part to the ever-changing advancements in the aerospace and fiber optic industries.

"LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" Lenticular Design Improvements

Our patented tool fabrication process creates ultra-smooth diamond tools, which are used to engrave precision extruding or casting cylinders that manufacture the LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens materials including:

New scientifically improved outer aspheric physical shape of the lenticle.

Improved internal optical enhancements to promote cleaner and clearer printed images to the viewer.

Less visible projected aberrations

Enhanced printed image resolution due to lower aberrations and distortion

Higher image contrast as compared to the standard cylindrical lenticular lens.

Benefits Of Use:

  1. The LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens (2005) 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. (See "Proofing Requirements" below).

  2. New enhanced optical designs for both "extruded and cast/embossed" style custom lenticular materials.

  3. Current overall thickness designs include: 0.0102 mil (thin-gauge) and 0.018 mil (standard-gauge) with others pending; however, the "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" formulas will work with any desired custom thickness and resin a extruder or printer might require for specialized lenticular printed or non-imaged products.

  4. 0.0102 mil has the ability to print images with clearer, smaller serif type and point sizes (i.e., flipping from black to color copy, language changes, etc.) due to fine lens pitch.

  5. 0.0102 mil lens structure is flexible enough to firmly affix to containers, jars, bottles, cups, and cartons without de-laminating due to plastic "memory" of heavier and thicker gauges.

  6. The thin-gauge "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" is adaptable to the packaging industry's pressure sensitive in-line labeling applicators, e.g., rotary roll fed "blow down", and "wipe-down" labeling systems.

  7. Reduces the thickness and weight per square inch of the lenticular material, thus reducing the cost of use, enabling packagers to produce mass-quantities of lenticular products at affordable costs per unit.

  8. Has comparable or better lenticular optical performance than much thicker lens designs, but at much lower material thickness.

  9. Offers increased lenticle viewing angle area for broader animated imaging techniques and performance at lower thicknesses, in addition to using a higher and finer lens pitch for better clarity.

  10. Designed to help decrease material waste during press make-ready start up and reduce press running waste as compared to standard old lenticular design materials, thus reducing costs of usage to printer and to the end buying print customer.

  11. Engineered to increase quality of images by as much as 35%, as compared to current standard old cylindrical lens designs, depending on print method.

  12. Superior aspheric tool and aspheric lens material designs produces proper ray tracing (exiting of light rays, i.e. printed image) to viewer for unequaled viewing performance. (See "ADVANTAGES" page).

  13. Dimensional stability in both sheet and roll press applications.

  14. Higher lens uniformity.
  15. Natural high ink receptivity.

  16. Excellent printability via offset, flexo, gravure, letterpress, and digital imaging/print processes.

  17. Provides less "cross-talk" (image ghosting) between multiple images.

  18. "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" lens designs perform exceptionally well with APET, PETG, and Rigid PVC plastic resins.

LentiClear Lens Pre-Press Proofing Requirements and Advantages for Printers And End Users:

Most lenticular lens materials are general in design and intended to accommodate both proofing and printing stages. LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005, on the other hand, is purposely designed to be printed and proofed directly onto the smooth backside of the lens... a real advantage in lenticular print production.

LentiClear Lens pre-press proofing delivers a much sharper and accurate proof image of what you can expect to view during actual press production. There are no surprises such as radical color changes, non-functioning animations or 3D images when the customer is standing at the pressroom color table. The LentiClear "direct-to-lens" style proof provides both precise flip actions, 3D and in-focus field of views because the artwork is positioned at the nearest possible critical focal point on the back of the lens.

Current Industry Standard Proofing System (using "non-direct-to-lens" method):

The most commonly used proofing system within the lenticular print industry consists of a four-color matchprint proof, which is laminated (using an adhesive) to a standard cylindrical lenticular lens material. The 4-ply sandwiched lenticular images are displaced at various distances from each other throughout the proof and are stepped too far away from the critical proper focal point of the lens. There are several reasons why this "non-direct-to-lens" proofing method is not accurate and will not replicate well when printed on press:

First, the matchprint is built up with 4-ply layers of thin transparent interlaced imaged membranes (one of each color - CMYK) that are then heat laminated on top of each other one at a time on top of the white opaque matchprint back carrier. This 4-ply membrane construction measures approximately 0.002 mil thick. Next, the 4 ply sandwiched membrane must be aligned properly to the smooth lens side of the lenticular material. If this 4-ply membrane is not carefully aligned to the proper starting individual lenticule, the proof will not work as designed due to registration problems.

Secondly, another optical problem arises when the matchprint is then laminated to the lenticular lens material. This adhesive adds an additional 0.002 mil (approximate) thickness, which increases the total displacement of image to the proper focal point.

The combined 0.004-mil (approx.) thick spacing from the back of the lens creates a false and unreliable proof image, plus the adhesive lamination glue adds another optical interference. The press cannot match the proof which can lead to lost production time on press, more lenticular waste, lost profit for the printer, and worst of all – an unhappy client and possible job rejection.

LentiClear Lens Proofing System (using the "direct-to-lens" method):

The best solution for preventing the mentioned scenario is using the simple LentiClear Lens proofing method:

Simply proof directly to the smooth back surface of the LentiClear Lens by using your standard proofing system, which eliminates the adhesive mounting step by heat laminating the 4-ply membranes direct to the lens using a variable heat controlled transfer laminator.

This method will displace the image over 50% less than the standard proofing method, plus you will not have any optical interference from the adhesive.

Using our proofing method your LentiClear proof should look and function well (3D & flip action) , but it will look even better on press when the colors are added simultaneously and the ink lies direct to the back of the lens, at the exact critical focal point which was designed for best possible optical performance.

LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens (2005) was designed for one thing. To be totally optically correct and accurate in both the proofing and printing processes.

Questions (?): Please feel free to contact us with any questions on proofing.

Proofing Support: Should you run into problems proofing internally at your prep facility, please call LentiClear Lenticular Lens Inc. for assistance.

Optional Lenticular Pre-Press Services: If your company is not familiar or capable with lenticular pre-press imaging technology, LentiClear Lens, Inc. can help you. We can supply complete pre-press services: art design, interlacing, proofing, film, and computer to plate services through our affiliated pre-press lenticular partner. Call us today for more information.

New Commercial Availability of "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005":

The "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" is now offered for sale to the general open sheet fed print manufacturing and package converting markets. (See "Contact Page" to request more information and pricing on our sheeted lenticular materials).

The "LentiClear Elliptical Lenticular Lens 2005" - lenticular web roll material is reserved and available only to approved web roll fed printers that are licensed under Web Communications Group, Inc. (WCG), US PATENT'S # 5,560,799 and # 5,753,344. Contact Dr. Gary A. Jacobsen at e-mail: GJ@webcommgroup.com, or call 630/467-0900 for full licensing details.

Call or email us today for latest information regarding pricing on the LentiClear Lenticular Lens, Inc. line of products for both sheet and roll lenticular materials.

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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)

© LentiClear Lens, Inc.