Abstract: An optical system includes a pair of front optical components, an optical member for superposing respective optical axes of the pair of front optical components on each other, a rear optical component disposed such that the superimposed optical axes coincide with an optical axis of the rear optical component, the rear optical component including a lens unit arranged to move during zooming, and a lens unit arranged to move during focusing and disposed on an object side of the lens unit arranged to move during zooming, and a pair of shutters capable of independently controlling amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from an object. The optical system forms parallactical images in a time-series manner by causing the pair of shutters to alternately change the amounts of transmission of light fluxes respectively entering the pair of front optical components from the object.

Abstract: A process for full-automatic and synchronous quick thermoprinting of stereoscopic color film and apparatus adopting the process uses the internationally accepted nontoxic oil ink to design patterns on a transfer medium, which medium is in turn absorbed by a special thin film so as to be attached to a printing stock, whereupon the thus prepared printing stock is put into the apparatus. By gas pressure a pressure column of an inclined surface is pushed downward so as to contact and press a sliding mold jig of the inclined surface to synchronously move toward the center, so that each outer mold thermocompresses onto the outer surface of the printing stock from upper, left, right, front and rear directions simultaneously. After a predetermined period at predetermined temperature, the mold automatically returns to its original position. The disadvantages of manual operation which is of lower efficiency and unstable quality are thus overcome.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing large format lenticular images on a lenticular sheet (902) having a plurality of generally parallel lenticules (903) on a front side of the lenticular sheet (902). A sensor (209) senses a beginning of each lenticule (903). A printhead (102) prints interleaved image information on the lenticular sheet (902) in a series of swaths (220). A width of each of the swaths (220) is less than a width of the lenticular sheet (902). Each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction parallel to the lenticules (903) and each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction perpendicular to the lenticules (903).

Abstract: A method of sensing the pitch or relative location of a lenticular lens on a sheet of transparent lenticular material of the type having a repeating pattern of cylindrical lenses on one side and a flat opposite side, comprising the steps of: forming a beam of light; focusing the beam of light into a spot smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material; moving the lenticular material relative to the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the beam of light; and sensing the position of the modulated beam of light to determine the pitch or relative location of lenticular material to the focused spot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing large format lenticular images on a lenticular sheet (902) having a plurality of generally parallel lenticules (903) on a front side of the lenticular sheet (902). A sensor (209) senses a beginning of each lenticule (903). A printhead (102) prints interleaved image information on the lenticular sheet (902) in a series of swaths (220). A width of each of the swaths (220) is less than a width of the lenticular sheet (902). Each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction parallel to the lenticules (903) and each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction perpendicular to the lenticules (903).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing large format lenticular images on a lenticular sheet (902) having a plurality a generally parallel lenticules (903) on a front side of the lenticular sheet (902) is disclosed, which comprises a sensor (209) which senses a beginning of each lenticule (903). A printhead (102) prints interleaved image information on the lenticular sheet (902) in a series of swaths (220) wherein a width of each of the swaths (220) is less than a width of the lenticular sheet (902). In one embodiment, each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction parallel to the lenticules (903). In another embodiment, each of the swaths (220) is printed in a direction perpendicular to the lenticules (903).

Abstract: The method of making the anaglyph on a page of an object comprises the steps of: producing left and right stereoscopic views of the object; and then, producing a left anaglyph image adding a first color on a planar page as a projection or equivalent to a projection of the left view on the page the page being vertically angled to the left image plane; and producing a right anaglyph image adding a contrasting color on the page as a projection or equivalent to a projection of the right view on the page. The perspective plane lies in the plane of the surface. Retinal rivalry is reduced by muting (desaturating) the original anaglyph colors in a color image of the object before adding the colors for the anaglyph.

Abstract: The application discloses a process for full-automatic and synchronous quick thermoprinting of stereoscopic color film and apparatus adopting the process, which uses the internationally recognized nontoxic oil ink to design patters on a transfer media, which media is in turn absorbed by a special thin film so as to be attached to a printing stock, and then it is put into the apparatus of the present invention. A gas pressure means pushes a pressure column of an inclined surface downward so as to contact and press a sliding mold jig of the inclined surface to synchronously move toward the center, so that each outer mold thermocompresses onto the outer surface of the printing stock form upper, left, right, front and rear directions simultaneously. After predetermined period at predetermined temperature, the mold automatically returns to its original position. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the manual operation which is of lower efficiency and unstable quality.

Abstract: A lens aperture of an autostereoscopic camera is moved in a parallax scanning pattern through a plurality of disparity positions offset from the optical axis of the camera lens. Images of a scene being photographed, as viewed through the lens aperture in its various disparity positions, are recorded for subsequent display, which produces a three dimensional illusion when viewed on a conventional display with the unaided eye. The size of the lens aperture and the parallax scanning pattern are adjustable to suit conditions. The lens aperture may be defined by a through-hole in an opaque card, a plurality of interleaved leaf elements, or a planar array of cells switched between transparent and opaque states. In addition to stereoscopic imaging, the moving lens aperture principle of the present invention may be utilized in range-finding and camera image stabilization applications.

Abstract: A lenticular imaging product comprising: a lenticular lens element having an array of lenticules; and means for encoding characteristics of the lenticular lens element for use in processing the lenticular lens element.

Abstract: A personalized sticker is manufactured by first creating a plurality of copies of a personalized image, with each copy differing in size, and then interlacing the copies to form an interlaced personalized image. The interlaced personalized image is filmed and the film is utilized to print the interlaced personalized image on a sheet of paper. A lenticular lense corresponding to the interlacing of the interlaced personalized image is then formed on a surface of a plastic laminate opposite the sheet of paper. The sheet of paper is removed and the personalized image is transferred to the plastic laminate. A protective backing is next applied to the interlaced personalized image opposite the lenticular lense, which is in turn attached to a double-sided adhesive sheet for later use.

Abstract: A method of detecting the relative skew between a reference beam and transparent lenticular material of the type having a repeating pattern of cylindrical lenses, comprising the steps of: forming a beam of light; focusing the beam of light into a line with a width smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material; moving the lenticular material relative to the beam in a direction such that the beam crosses the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical lenses to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the beam of light; and sensing the position of the line of modulated beam of light along a line parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cylindrical lenses to determine the skew or relative angular location of lenticular material to the focused line.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus has an image display device for displaying image information, a lens array having a plurality of element lenses for focusing the image information displayed in the image display device, the element lenses being arrayed at a predetermined pitch, an image recording medium located at a focus plane of the lens array, and a beam controller for controlling a beam passing through an aperture for each element lens out of the plurality of element lenses. The image information displayed in the image display device for every element lens is successively recorded in the image recording medium by the beam controller.

Abstract: The method for positioning an array with periodic structures, for forming an image thereon, comprises the following steps: (a) providing a first beam of light by a first light source; (b) passing this first beam of light through the array; (c) forming a light line corresponding to the first light source with the first beam of light after the first beam of light passes through the array such that the light line is perpendicular to long axes of the periodic structures; (d) rotating the array to rotate the light line across a first detector; (e) producing a signal when the light line sweeps across the first detector; (f) determining when maximum signal is produced by the first detector; and (g) rotating the array to a proper position based on angular position corresponding to this maximum signal.

Abstract: A transparent print media comprising a first surface having a polarity of lenticular portions adapted to image left and right stereo images printed on an opposing surface to the first surface so as to produce a stereo photographic image when viewed from the first surface.

Abstract: A method for positioning an array with periodic structures, for forming an image thereon, comprises the following steps: (i) producing a light beam along fast-scan axis; (ii) translating the array in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fast-scan axis; (iii) detecting the light beam alternatively by a pair of detectors, the detectors being located near opposite edges of the array along the fast-scan axis; (iv) providing substantially periodic signals by the pair of detectors in accordance with their detection of the light beam; (v) determining relative phases of the periodic signals, the relative phases corresponding to misalignment of the array; (vi) sensing phases of the periodic signals and rotating the array such that the long axes of the periodic structures are substantially parallel to the fast-scan axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming compressed images, to be seen through a lenticular film, reduces the time required for the formation of the compressed images and maintains an acceptable quality of the compressed images. First image data relating to a plurality of original images having different parallaxes are stored in a memory and later edited. Second image data relating to a plurality of linear fragmentary images are formed by dividing the edited first image data into sections such that the dividing lines run parallel with a longitudinal direction of the original images. The linear fragmentary images are thereafter expanded in the longitudinal direction. Compressed images are formed by interleaving the linear fragmentary images.

Abstract: A system for producing lenticular three-dimensional images in which the images are not bonded to the lenticular sheet, whereby a large number of images may be viewed using a single lenticular sheet. Such images may be used to construct a book or scroll of images, or may be sequentially displayed to form a motion picture. Three-dimensional encoded images are produced by capturing multiple parallax angle views of a scene, separating each view into narrow rectangular segments, interleaving these segments and displaying the resulting image on a flat surface. The image is placed at the focal plane of a lenticular sheet, and the interleaved segments of the image are aligned with the lenticules of the lenticular sheet. When the encoded image is viewed through the lenticular sheet a 3-D image is formed. The 3-D stereoscopic encoded image may be formed on a computer-driven printer, on a photographic emulsion or on a video display terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for aligning a lenticular image printed on a substrate with a lenticular lens sheet. The method comprises; fixing at least one set of differently colored alignment lines onto the substrate for projection through the lenticular lens sheet, positioning the lens sheet over the substrate, viewing at least one set of differently colored alignment lines as projected through the lens sheet, and adjusting the position of the lens sheet relative to the substrate according to a characteristic of the projected image.

Abstract: A lenticular preprinting process producing a composite image which, when printed, is assembled with a lenticular lens material (18). The composite image is developed from a plurality of images (A-D) which include both graphic and textual images. Each of the respective images are digitized and a pixel array for the image is formed. Separate digital files are created for each image. Next, computerized files are separately created for continuous tone images and for linework images. From these computerized files, separate raster image files for the continuous tone and linework images are produced. Next, segments from each raster image file is combined in a predetermined sequence with segments from the other raster image files to separately interlace the respective continuous tone and line work images. The resulting combined files are now linked to produce an image having both continuous tone and linework constituents.

Abstract: A lenticular image product is formed from a lenticular material having an array of cylindrical lenses and a photographic emulsion coated thereon, by scanning the lenticular material with an intensity modulated first beam of light in a direction parallel to the long axes of the cylindrical lenses to form a latent lenticular image in the photographic emulsion. A second beam of light having a wavelength outside of the range of sensitivity of the photographic emulsion is focused into two distinct spots or a line both with a width smaller than the pitch of the cylindrical lenses onto the lenticular material. The lenticular material is moved through the beam in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses to provide a page scan motion of the lenticular material and to modulate the angle of reflection or refraction of the second beam of light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing images. The optical output from a spatial multimode laser, which is multimode in one direction and is single mode in the orthogonal direction, is scanned parallel to the multimode direction. More specifically, according to one aspect of the present invention the printing apparatus includes a multimode laser having an emitting aperture that provides a laser beam. A scanner scans the laser beam from this laser along a scan line such that a long dimension of said emitting aperture corresponds to the scan direction. An optical system focuses the laser beam to a spot having a long dimension and a short dimension, such that the long dimension of the spot is along the scan direction.

Abstract: An integral image display carrying, on the same side of a single substrate, a plurality of separate different integral images on different regions of the substrate, each of which images has a plurality of views, at least one of the views of one integral image following sequentially from a view in another one of the integral images. Particularly, one of the complete images may follow sequentially from the other one. The sequences of each integral image may particular be motion sequences.

Abstract: A method for making display products that generate special visual effects with autostereographic, dynamic, alternating, animated, and morphed images used in conjunction with lenticulated arrays for marketing and informational purposes. The special imaging effects, which can be integrated with discrete lenticulated container structures for data storage media and other contents, are achieved by digitally sampling and formatting source images with resampling procedures and then generating a merged image file that serves as the digital input for color printers or digital printing presses. The sampled images are printed on substrates along with registration lines or on preperforated stock preformatted for use with a corresponding lenticulated component. Afterwards, the images are separated from the substrate by either cutting them from the substrate using the printed registration lines as guides or breaking them out along the preperforated lines.

Abstract: A method for printing interdigitated images comprising the steps of interdigitating f images by modulating b beams of light (12) with image information. The b beams of light (12) are scanned onto an image-forming medium (50) by a polygon scanner (30) which has p sides. The relationship between the number of images f, the beams of light b, and the number of sides of the polygon p is given by f/pb=n where n is an integer. The image-forming medium is registered with a lenticular medium.

Abstract: A process for printing an image (I.sub.C) on a lenticular lens material (12) with a printing press (10). A separate film negative (B, C, Y, M) is prepared for each color used in printing the image. One of the negatives (B) is selected and each of the other negatives, and the lens material, is registered with the selected negative. Each of negatives is adjusted to the selected negative so all of the negatives and the lens material are in registry with each other. Separate printing plates (18) are prepared from each of the negatives. The plates are mounted on the press at respective printing stations and the lens material is run through the press with each of the plates being used to print on the material. The plates are adjusted, as necessary, to align the plates and register the color dot patterns printed by each plate to the color printed by the plate made from the selected negative.

Abstract: A method for forming an integral image on an image receiving medium which image is aligned or alignable with an integral lens sheet having a back side and a plurality of separate lens elements on a front side, and apparatus which can perform such a method. The method includes: directly sensing the location of each of a plurality of reference elements on the lens sheet which reference elements are separated in a same direction the lens elements are separated; and writing portions of the lenticular image on the image receiving medium each of which is associated with a corresponding lens element, in accordance with the sensed positions of the reference elements; wherein each of a plurality of image portions is written at a position which is a function of the directly sensed location of at least one selected reference element, the functions for at least some of the plurality of image portions being based on at least one different reference element.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the production of superior quality three dimensional images utilizing a multi-lens camera and a multi-lens enlarger configured according to a standard of arrangements. The number of lenses used in the camera and the enlarger is selected to he greater than the resolution capabilities of the human eye and the lenticular print system. The width of a zone of the lineiform image is determined by the distance between two adjacent images on the focal plane of the lenticular screen of a point projected from a distance at or beyond the distance limit through adjacent projecting apertures of the enlarger. The projecting apertures of the enlarger are linearly arrayed and equally spaced within the accepting angle corresponding to the distance limit to construct a lineiform image without gaps between zones and without gaps between lines.

Abstract: A method of producing a multidimensional image having a special effect. A lenticular lens is provided having a plurality of equally spaced, parallel lenticular lines and a substantially planar back surface. A plurality of planar images are created, ordered, and interlaced into a desired sequence. The interlaced images are printed and arranged in a desired manner in relation to the lenticular lens. A special effect coating is then applied to a desired portion of the interlaced images to create a desired visual effect.

Abstract: A stereoscopic picture-taking method comprises the steps of (1) positioning two image-bearing transparencies each having substantially the same positive image at separate right-position and left-position locations relative to one another; (2) projecting light through the right-positioned transparency first to a right-positioned taking lens of a camera and then to a right-positioned imaging area on a filmstrip in the camera, to expose a latent image on the right-positioned imaging area of the positive image on the right-positioned transparency; and (3) projecting light through the left-positioned transparency first to a left-positioned taking lens of the camera located to the left of the right-positioned taking lens and then to a left-positioned imaging area on the filmstrip located to the left of the right-positioned imaging area, to expose a latent image on the left-positioned imaging area of the positive image on the left-positioned transparency.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with an optical printer for making 3D and animation pictures from a plurality of 2D images on a lenticular print material. The 2D images are sequentially projected by a projection lens onto the print material at different projection angles. In order to change the projection angles, the print material and the projection lens are moved relative to the film to different positions. The method and apparatus, according to the present invention, use a tilting mechanism to tilt the print material about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lenticules and away from the optical axis of the projection lens so as to reduce the moving distance of the print material and the projection lens. In effect, the angular coverage of the printer is extended by the tilting of the print material and, therefore, the printer can make 3D and animation pictures on a print material having a wider viewing angle.

Abstract: Multi-dimensional lithographs which impart the illusions of depth and/or motion to a viewer are prepared by constructing and sequencing a plurality of electronic pages, preferably four or more; rasterizing, compressing and converting each page; interlacing the pages in a desired sequence; outputting the interlaced frames to an imaging device; and producing a lithographic separation from the imaging device. In the rasterization of each frame, nonbinary pixels are created that correspond to the resolution of the line count of the lenticular lens that will ultimately be applied to a print of the lithograph times the number of frames in the lithographic separation. The frames are compressed to an amount equal to the reciprocal of the number of frames from which the lithographic separation is prepared. In the converting step, the nonbinary pixels of the compressed frames are converted to individual color plates of binary pixels.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stereoscopic image display apparatus which allows an observer to recognize a stereoscopic image, and has a lenticular lens sheet constituted by arranging a plurality of lenticular lenses, and a display unit for sequentially arranging and displaying, on a rear surface portion of the lenticular lens sheet, bundles each including n stripe images which are obtained by dividing n parallax images from different view points into a plurality of stripe images, and bundling corresponding stripe images constituting the respective parallax images. When the deviation amount of the central position of each of the lenticular lenses and the central position of the bundle of stripe images is given by .gamma.

Abstract: A 3D printer comprises a scanning laser system. A donor sheet is located in the focal plane of the optical system and carries a thermally transferable colourant such as a dye or pigment. A lenticular screen has a colourant receiving layer which receives colourant from the donor sheet to form 3D pixels, each comprising interlaced 2D pixels, aligned with lenticules of the screen. A detector array responds to laser light which has been transmitted through the lenticular screen, and a print register control system uses the detector output correctly to position the scanning laser beam to compensate for irregularities in the lenticular screen.

Abstract: A method for forming a lenticular image on an image receiving medium on the back side of a lenticular lens sheet, which sheet has a plurality of generally parallel lenticules on a front side:(a) at a sensing station, directly sensing the actual position of a reference element associated with a lenticule;(b) writing a portion of the integral image corresponding to a lenticule associated with the reference element the actual position of which was previously sensed in step (a), on the image receiving medium in accordance with the sensed actual position; and(c) moving at least one of the lens sheet and sensing station in relation to the other, in a transverse direction in relation to the lenticules, so that another lenticule can have its associated another reference element directly sensed at the sensing station. An apparatus which can execute the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching and aligning film sheets to a lenticular substrate comprising supporting members for the film sheet, two actuator assemblies positioned on opposite sides of a film sheet with a rigid bar member connecting the actuator means, "flexible" clamping members to engage the edges of the film sheet, a constraint member for the film sheet and lenticular substrate and detection means to detect errors in positioning of the film sheet image (substrate) and lenticular substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for creating three-dimensional or depth image font text characters using graphic three-dimensional object creation techniques and graphics processors. The text characters can be represented as set descriptions of the characters. The text characters can also be represented as a three-dimensional geometric model including polygons constructed from vertices defined by three-dimensional coordinates. The representations are stored in a font storage and when a user specifies the text characters to be used in a depth image along with the font to be used for the text characters, the geometric representations of the characters are retrieved. If stored as a set, the set is converted into a geometric plot. Appropriate scaling and surface texturing operations are performed as designated by the user to create three-dimensional text character graphic objects.

Abstract: The filmless method and printer for making 3D and animation pictures using a digital reflection-type matrix display device such as a digital micro-mirror device to sequentially display a plurality of 2D views, a light source to illuminate the display device to produce a reflected beam, and a projection lens to form an image from the reflected beam and expose it on a lenticular print material. To fill the image area underlying each lenticule on the print material, each 2D view is projected at a different angle. Two methods can be used: 1) In the scanning method, two of the three elements including the display device, the projection lens and the print material are moved to different positions to change the projection angle; 2) In the non-scanning method, the projection lens has a large aperture sufficient for covering the total viewing angle of the lenticules.

Abstract: The filmless method and printer for making 3D and animation pictures, using a matrix display to sequentially display a series of 2D views, and a projection lens to project the displayed images onto a lenticular print material, each at a different projection angle. In order to fill the image area underlying each lenticule on the lenticular print material with different 2D views, each 2D view must be projected onto the lenticular print material at different projection angle. Two methods can be used: 1) In the scanning method, two of the three elements including the matrix display, the projection lens and the lenticular print material are moved by mechanical means to different positions to change the projection angle; 2) In the non-scanning method, a large-aperture projection lens is used to project the 2D views sequentially displayed on the matrix display onto the lenticular print material such that each 2D view is projected through a different section the lens aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing lenticular pictures includes imposing lines of information in the form of segmented images of a scene onto a light sensitive material. Alternate segments or lines are provided from different perspective views of the same scene to be printed. The light sensitive material has a transparent lenticular material attached thereto. The light sensitive material is exposed, from the side opposite the lenticular material, by light from an illuminated image. The exposure may be effected by optical projection or by contact printing or by CRT image projection or other device. A reference grid, having a pitch slightly different from the pitch of the lenticular material, is positioned on the lenticular material and is effective to cause a Moire pattern to become visible when the lenticular material is moved relative to the light sensitive material.

Abstract: After a plurality of parallax images either obtained from an external camera or generated by a computer are divided into a plurality of image strips, respectively, a combined image is formed from the plurality of image strips, and recorded on a photo sensing drum as a latent image. Next, the latent image is transferred or printed on backside of a lenticular sheet, made from a transparent plastic, with toner or ink, thereby forming a stereoscopic image display medium. Accordingly, a high definition stereoscopic image of good contrast can be printed out at high speed by using a printer having a simple configuration.

Abstract: The improved method and apparatus for recording a stereoscopic image read a plurality of original images photoelectrically, split each original image into linear images of a desired pitch, perform any necessary image processing operations such as arranging the linear images in the recording order, and record the linear images by scan exposure on a lenticular light-sensitive material having a lenticular sheet and a recording layer. The method and apparatus permit the lenticular light-sensitive material to be scan exposed from the rear side and they also enable the linear images to be recorded with increased line width and a stereoscopic image to be formed with satisfactory registration between the principal objects of the original images. The improved lenticular light-sensitive material has an anti-halation layer provided between the lenticular sheet and the recording layer, thus permitting scan exposure to be effected from the rear side.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for making a composite image of a scene a large-aperture lens to form an image of the scene on a photographic film through a lenticular screen or a barrier strip. The recorded image on film is digitized into a digital image and conveyed to a computer workstation for processing. Assuming the image area in the recorded image under each lenticule is digitized into an image zone composed of N pixel rows in the digital image. To correct the pseudoscopic effect, the order of each group of N pixel rows in each image zone is electronically reversed. Also, the entire digital image is electronically reversed to become a normal composite image. The image reversal process (for the entire image) can also be effected optically by forming the scene image through a plane mirror. The composite image in digital form can be used to produce 3D display, video and hard-copies by presenting the composite image behind a lenticular screen or a barrier strip.

Abstract: A method for making large format lenticular 3-D images by enlarging a smaller source image utilizes an optical enlarger that is calibrated by forming a first reference image pattern from a first piece of lenticular material having the same pitch as a second piece of lenticular material, and a second reference image comprising lines having a pitch corresponding to the spacing between the same views of the source image. The source image is derived by photographing an original scene from different views taken from spaced apart positions. The first reference image is positioned at a copy plane and the second reference image is positioned at the source plane. The relative orientation of the reference images are adjusted to provide a Moire pattern that achieves desired spacing and parallelism. With the adjustment of the enlarger optics completed, the source image is positioned at the source plane and an enlargement is made at the copy plane.

Abstract: A 3D printer that has a chemical processor in-line with the printer. The preferred printer is a single-stage printer that uses two video cameras with different magnification powers for acquiring images from 2D negatives for editing and key subject alignment. One video camera takes full view image for key subject selection and picture cropping, the other video camera which is used for acquiring image data for key subject alignment sees only an enlarged section of the image around the key subject. The single-stage printer uses an automated image matching algorithm to find the relative location of the key subject in each negative frame. The single-stage printer also includes a chemical processor so that photo processing can be part of an in-line printing process.

Abstract: A 3D photographic printer and printing method wherein a stationary projection lens is used to project a series of 2D views each at a different projection angle onto a stationary lenticular print material. The aperture of the projection lens is sufficient large to cover the entire width of each of the lenticules on the print material. The lens aperture is mechanically or optically partitioned into a number of sections so that only one section is opened to allow a 2D view to be exposed at a different projection angle.

Abstract: Multidimensional lithographs which impart the illusions of depth and/or motion to a viewer are prepared by constructing and sequencing a plurality of electronic pages, preferably four or more; rasterizing, compressing and converting each page; interlacing the pages in a desired sequence; outputting the interlaced frames to an imaging device; and producing a lithographic separation from the imaging device. In the rasterization of each frame, nonbinary pixels are created that correspond to the resolution of the line count of the lenticular lens that will ultimately be applied to a print of the lithograph times the number of frames in the lithographic separation. The frames are compressed to an amount equal to the reciprocal of the number of frames from which the lithographic separation is prepared. In the converting step, the nonbinary pixels of the compressed frames are converted to individual color plates of binary pixels.

Abstract: A system for producing low-cost, 3-D stereoscopic encoded images in which encoded images are produced by capturing multiple parallax angle views of a scene, separating each view into narrow rectangular segments, interleaving these segments and displaying the resulting image on a flat surface. The image is placed at the focal plane of a lenticular sheet, and the interleaved segments of the image are aligned with the lenticules of the lenticular sheet. When the encoded image is viewed through the lenticular sheet a 3-D image is formed. The 3-D stereoscopic encoded image may be formed on a computer-driven printer, on a photographic emulsion or on a video display terminal. The image may be a single still rendering or it may represent a frame of a motion picture.

Abstract: A filmless 3D printing method for producing 3D photographs on lenticular print material. The 3D photograph is composed of a series of 2D images of a scene acquired by a video camera and displayed on a video monitor screen. During printing, the projection lens and the print material are moved to different positions to change the projection angles and fill the lenticules with compressed images. While the video camera is moved in relation to the scene to acquire 2D images, it aims at the key subject of the scene at all times so that the location of key subject image on the images displayed on the screen is always the same. Thus, the 2D images exposed on the print material are automatically aligned. The 2D images of a scene at different viewing angles can also be generated on a computer.

Abstract: A process for printing an image (IC) on a lenticular lens material (12) with a printing press (10). A separate film negative (B, C, Y, M) is prepared for each color used in printing the image. One of the negatives (B) is selected and each of the other negatives, and the lens material, is registered with the selected negative. Each of negatives is adjusted to the selected negative so all of the negatives and the lens material are in registry with each other. Separate printing plates (18) are prepared from each of the negatives. The plates are mounted on the press at respective printing stations and the lens material is run through the press with each of the plates being used to print on the material. The plates are adjusted, as necessary, to align the plates and register the color dot patterns printed by each plate to the color printed by the plate made from the selected negative.