Lenticular Printing - 3D effects

[starkadder]

This really is just a piece of speculation but I'd love to know if anyone has tried it.

Lenticular printing is just the formal name for 3D printing - the kind that that changes as you rotate it or hold it at a different angle. You know the tourist postcards where the Mona Lisa's smile turns into a cheesy grin or those horrible religious images where the relevant saint gets a halo depending on how you hold the card.

I've been toying with the idea of getting several sheets of it done that would show the action of waves. I'd use it to show a moving ocean or river in a naval game or a pulp scenario. I think it would look spectacular but the price is making me cautious as I have to a couple of hundred units to make it worthwhile.

Has anyone ever done it?

[starkadder]

I thought this wasn't a bad explanation just posted on IO9

http://io9.com/5899590/what-are-lenticular-images-and-why-do-they-look-so-awesome

In case you're wondering why I'm so interested, I'm looking at water effects that move when viewed overhead (waves, shore breaks, flowing rivers etc). It would make ports and naval battles look amazing if it's done right.

[OSHIROmodels]

We actually thought about it for an architectural project at work but decided against it as the cost of the large sheet sizes was rather prohibitive.

Be interested to see your results if you do go down that route 

cheers

James

[Svennn]

The theory stands up for me, a great idea. As Wibblywobblywoo says though it could be cost prohibitive?

I recieved a card for my birthday this week that has a lenticular pacman on the front and it works brilliantly, the best I have ever seen.