What makes an interesting image pair?
When choosing image pairs that surprise the viewer and create a pleasing effect, you can draw inspiration from the following examples and sources.
- Use portrait photos of people you love and combine them in a single frame — for example, print your two children with a flip effect.
- Use two photos taken at different times to transition between a before and an after. You could move between your child at age 1 and age 10, or between summer and autumn views of the same place.
- Use wit and humour: contrasting states, such as happy and angry facial expressions, summer/winter views of the same location, or pleasant/unsettling objects turning into one another.
- Let the design carry a written message; you can transition between two slogans or sayings.
- Print image pairs created with the Snapchat Lens feature as lenticular images.
- Animated GIFs are a very rich source of ideas — you can take inspiration from them.
- Your messages and the stickers you use in the mobile world can be printed as lenticular stickers.
- Create designs using publicly available images of celebrities or stars you like: for example, pair your child with their favourite character.
- Combine a portrait of someone you love (your boyfriend or your son, say) with an image of the football team they support.
What should I look out for in the images I choose?
Even if you have chosen images that work well in content and message, the following points are worth attention to get a better result from lenticular printing and to keep each image sharp.
Size and resolution: The images should have the same or very similar dimensions, orientation and resolution.
Human faces: If the images involve a change of face, the eyes in both images should be aligned on top of one another.
Avoid high contrast: There should be no areas of high contrast within the images or across the transition between them. High contrast can cause a ghosting problem.
Black and white: Black or white backgrounds are not recommended. They may work if they occupy the same areas in both images.
Use of text: If you use text, avoid small or thin fonts. Choose bold type at a sufficient size. If the text changes between images, it should not overlap; place it in different areas. For the text background, avoid flat colour (especially white) and prefer a patterned background.
If you have questions, please get in touch. We can also suggest improvements to your order to help you get a better result.
How does the direction of movement affect the result?
If your lenticular print is a size that will be held and viewed in the hand, a top-to-bottom transition direction gives a better result.
If it will be hung on a wall as a poster or magnet, the movement direction should run right to left.
What is the viewing distance?
For A4 and smaller sizes, the best effect can be seen from as close as hand-viewing distance (around 25 cm).
For poster prints larger than A4, a viewing distance of more than about 1 metre will give the best effect.