Lenticular printing is what happens when regular printing gets bored and decides to learn magic. Using a special plastic lens made of hundreds of tiny ridges (called lenticules), we create printed images that appear 3D, animated, or that flip from one picture to another as you change your viewing angle.
You’ve probably seen lenticular printing in:
Colloquial names include "wiggle pictures," "tilt cards," and "flickers." In short: if it moves when you move, and it’s not haunted, it’s probably lenticular printing.
Under all the magic, lenticular printing is actually a very logical process. Think of it as a perfectly coordinated tag-team between your eyes, the artwork, and a plastic lens.
Multiple images are sliced into tiny vertical strips and digitally woven together into one file.
We call this interlacing, and it’s the part where your designer and software earn their coffee.
The interlaced image is then printed and precisely aligned with a lenticular lens sheet-a plastic surface covered in tiny curved lenses. The alignment needs to be extremely accurate, down to a few microns, so each lens shows just the right sliver of image at just the right angle.
This is why lenticular prints:
No batteries, no electronics, no AR app. Just physics quietly doing its thing.
Lenticular printing isn’t one effect; it’s a whole menu. Here are the greatest hits.
What it looks like: Image A changes to Image B (and sometimes C...) as you tilt or walk past.
Perfect for:
Under the hood, at least two images are interlaced and mapped to the lens so that each viewing angle shows a different image.
What it looks like: Something moves, grows, shrinks, morphs, or wiggles as you change your view.
Examples:
We use a sequence of slightly different images, interlace them, and let the lens reveal one frame at a time, creating the illusion of motion.
What it looks like: The image has real depth-foreground, midground, background-like you’re looking into a scene, not at a flat poster.
How it works: Each eye receives a slightly different version of the image through the lens. Your brain combines them and says, "Nice, that’s 3D." It’s the same principle as 3D movies, just without the cardboard glasses.
3D lenticular prints are popular for:
You don’t have to memorize this, but it’s why lenticular prints look so sharp when done right by a specialist like ViCGi.
Common lens materials include:
These plastics are engineered to have a specific lens pitch (number of lenticules per inch) and optical clarity for the intended effect and viewing distance.
For professional-quality lenticular printing, we typically use:
For you, this boils down to: when the artwork and production are done properly, the results look crisp, smooth, and mind-bending in the best way.
Lenticular concepts have roots going back centuries in optical experiments, but the modern version really took off in the mid-20th century.
Today, lenticular printing is widely used in marketing, packaging, art, and branded merchandise-anywhere you want a print to do more than just sit there quietly.
Lenticular printing is powerful, but it’s also picky. If things aren’t done properly, issues can show up, such as:
What it is: Unwanted visibility of other images or frames.
Why it happens: Poor contrast choices, excessive depth, or incorrect interlacing.
What it is: Visible lines or bands where the effect doesn’t transition smoothly.
Why it happens: Mismatch between the printed image pitch and the lens pitch.
What it is: The 3D effect looks "split," like you’re seeing two versions at once.
Why it happens: Depth pushed too far, incorrect camera/angle setup, or misalignment.
What it is: Vertical streaks or soft areas.
Why it happens: Calibration issues or printing inconsistencies.
At ViCGi, we focus on precise lens measurement, optimized artwork, and tight production control to keep these gremlins out of your finished pieces.
Lenticular printing isn’t just a gimmick; it solves real marketing problems-using fun as a weapon.
From a performance standpoint, lenticular printing often increases engagement, dwell time, and recall for campaigns and brands that want to be more than background noise.
Here’s where lenticular really shines:
No. Holograms rely on laser interference patterns and often show a shimmering or rainbow-like effect. Lenticular printing uses interlaced images and a lens sheet to create motion and depth, with full-color printed artwork. They’re different technologies, even if both look futuristic.
No glasses, no app, no headset. The 3D or flip effect is built into the print itself. The lenticular lens directs different parts of the image to each eye, and your brain does the rest.
High-resolution images, strong contrast between frames (for flips/animation), and clean separation between foreground and background (for 3D) work best. It also helps to limit and carefully place text in areas with motion or depth.
If you’re not sure, ViCGi can help adapt your existing designs so they’re lenticular-friendly.
Because the image is printed behind or directly onto the back of a plastic lens, lenticular prints are generally more durable than standard paper prints. UV-cured inks and rigid plastics add resistance to handling and fading, making them suitable for long-term displays, packaging, and promotional items.
If you’re looking to:
Lenticular printing is your new favorite tool. You bring the idea. ViCGi (Visual Creative Graphics Innovation) brings the lenses, the pixels, and just enough science to make it look like magic.
Get a custom quote for lenticular printing - tell us about your project, and we’ll recommend the best effect, size, and specs for your budget and timeline.