3D Glasses

Q1: What is the "Lenticular Image"? How many effects can it produce?
A1: "Lenticular Image" is a kind of interlaced image woven by two or more than two images. Through the lenticular lens at a view distance, it can be refracted to our eyes, and then we will perceive different aspects of the image at the same time.

Based on the light refraction theory to generate specific effects, the basic effects are four kinds, i.e. Flip, 3D, Animation and Morph. These can be mixed and combined with art design, unlimited effects can be generated.

Flip    There are two to five images appeared on different viewing positions.
3D      There are more than 4 different view images appeared on different viewing positions.
Animation    There are more than 3 related images appeared on different viewing positions.
Morph    There are two independent images appeared at first and last view. Interpolate the intermediate views in-between.
Motion    Roughly we can integrate "Animation" and "Morph" into the "Motion" effect.

3D effect takes left/right eyes to see the left/right images respectively. Vertical weaving is the only option, and lens must be vertically registered. Though we may use either vertical or horizontal weaving to generate other special effects which are exhibited by using our both eyes to see the same image at the same time, but we usually take the horizontal weaving instead of vertical weaving because the vertical weaving application needs more precise calculation for viewing condition.

Q2: Is it possible to DIY the "Lenticular Images"? Is it difficult?
A2: Absolutely "Yes"! Our software like MagicFlip and Foto3D Print LE basically are designed for personal DIY use. Its GUI (Graphics User Interface) friendly operation environment can help you very easily accomplish the "Lenticular Image" production with your color printer and PC.

Q3: What is the difference between "MagicFlip" and "Foto3D Print LE "?
A3: The major difference is that "MagicFlip" is dedicated to produicng "Flip" effect of images while "Foto3D Print LE" can produce 3D photos with normal 2D photos.

Q4: What kind of color printer can be used for "Lenticular Images"?
A4: You may use any kinds of printer like Color Inkjet, Laser, Thermal, Dye Sublimation, …etc. However in order to get the best quality, it is highly recommended that you had better use the "Photo Quality" printer and the output resolution should be at least 300 DPI.

Q5: I am a novice to lenticular technology and even know nothing about 3D images. How can I get started with "Lenticular Images"?
A5: You may consider our "Foto3D print LE" for your first step to create the "3D Photos". Later, if you are familiar with the 3D lenticular image, then you can step further into the "i-MagicPrint Pro.".

Q6: Do you offer the litho printing service for the volume production?
A6: Yes, we do offer the the litho (or offset) printing service for those who are interested to produce their lenticular images in volume. Please refer to our Litho Printing page.

Q7: I've ever used other company's software to produce lenticular images. But, their quality seems not good enough. How about yours?
A7: There are many factors that will affect the lenticular production quality. Assuming lens quality is fine, the most possibilities are caused by that the image is woven by incorrect lens pitch, or the 3D depth exceeds the lens limitation. And, most other lenticular software won't tell you how and why.

How about ours? Before producing lenticular images, our software, "MagicRight"(included in "i-MagicPrint Pro."), will help you to do "Pitch Check" to find out the best weaving pitch according to your output device. Later, if you are going to produce 3D image, then our software, "MagicDepth"(Coming Soon!), will help you to do "Depth Check" to find out the optimum lens depth according to the object size. After you finish the pitch and depth ckeck for the lens as the first priority step to produce lenticular images, then that is the first step you are able to secure the quality of the lenticular images.

Q8: I'm trying to create 3D poster for commercial use. How big size can your software support?
A8: Our "i-MagicPrint Pro." is for commercial use. It can support "Unlimited" output size for the lenticular image as long as your PC system is powerful enough.

Q9: Why I found there are regular "Bands" on some 3D lenticular images which are printed by color printers?
A9: The regular "Bands" on some 3D lenticular images are very likely caused by software weaving. For most other lenticular software, they don't support "Printer" interweaving mode. As we well know, almost color printers, especially the color inkjet printers, their printout DPI values are integers like 300, 600, ..., or 360, 720, ...etc. But, normally we can hardly get the "Output DPI" (= lens LPI x View Number) as a "common factor" or a "common multiple" value of the output DPI value of most color printers. As a result, when these lenticular images are printed, the color printer will then use its dithering algorithm to resize image's DPI so as to meet the same printout size. If so, different printers might have different dithering algorithms. And, that will very probably cause regular "Bands" on some 3D lenticular images.

Since our software, "MagicWeaver"(included in "i-MagicPrint Pro."), can support "Printer" interweaving mode, it will force the "Output DPI" exactly same as the printout DPI that your color printer is going to use. Therefore, the printer doesn't need to use its dithering algorithm to resize image's DPI to meet the same printout size. As a result, you will never find any "Bands" on 3D lenticular images with our software.

Q10: Why I found there are "Ghosts" on some "Flipping" lenticular images?
A10: There are two major possibilities to cause such a "Ghost" (or "Cross Talk") phenomenon. One might be caused by poor lens quality. The other one could be caused by that the image is woven by the lens pitch of not precise enough.

Q11: How can your PC based lenticular software support my Mac system?
A11: Though our software currently can only work for PC system, all of them can support "TIF" image files. Therefore, you may convert your Mac images into "TIF" files in advance. After our software finishes processing these "TIF" files, it will then save them as "TIF" format as well. And, finally you can use them on your Mac system.

Q12: I used to create 3D images by Photoshop. But, it is very tedious that I have to individually shift each object (layer) and then merge the objects (layers) for each view. Is there any efficient way other than Photoshop to create 3D lenticular images?
A12: Absolutely "Yes"! You may try our "MagicWorks" (Coming Soon!). It is basically developed for lenticular 3D image applications to replace the "layer-shift" and "layer-merge" jobs done by Photoshop. Furthermore, you don't even need to worry about the "Parallax" issue. Just concentrate yourself on the "3D Composition". Unlike working in Photoshop, you have to carefully calculate the allowable parallax for each object. And, then convert this parallax into pixel unit for layer shift. It is a quite difficult and tedious job for an artist. With "MagicWorks", once you have set up the printout size and DPI, it will automatically adjust the allowable parallax for each 3D object while you are working on "3D Composition". And, that will definitely save you a lot of time to work more precisely and efficiently.

Q13: What is the difference between "Pseudo 3D" and "Real 3D"?
A13: "Pseudo 3D"(or "Cardboarding") is that cut out the objects from 2D(flat) image(s) and arranged at different depth planes by shifting horizontally. These objects are located at different planes, and the planes are isolated without connecting.

While "Real 3D" is that the objects are created by multiple-camera, single camera with multiple shots, or shooting the real scene at different perspective viewpoints. It also can be generated from computer with proper programs such as 3D Studio Max.

Q14: Can your software support "Real 3D" lenticular images?
A14: With our software "MagicWorks"(Coming Soon!), it can support both "Pseudo 3D" and "Real 3D" in the same 3D scene for "3D Composition". Later, it can combine them to save as multiple 3D views for a lenticular 3D image.