How to Make a 3D Lenticular Print？

The foundation of a 3D lenticular image is binocular disparity, which mimics how human eyes perceive depth. To achieve this, take two photographs of the same subject from slightly different horizontal positions—one representing the left eye and the other the right eye.

The horizontal shift between the two shots is typically 2–6 cm, depending on the subject distance. A smaller shift is recommended for close objects, while a slightly wider shift works better for distant scenes. The camera height and angle must remain consistent to avoid vertical misalignment, which can cause ghosting or eye strain in the final print.

Using a tripod with a sliding rail improves accuracy and repeatability.

The key plane (also known as the zero-parallax plane) is the visual reference point where objects appear to sit directly on the surface of the print, neither popping out nor receding into the background.

In Photoshop, load both images and identify a common subject element—such as a face, product edge, or logo—that you want to remain visually stable. This point will serve as the key plane and helps define the perceived depth of the entire scene.

Proper key plane selection is crucial. Industry guidelines suggest that keeping the key plane centered in the composition reduces viewer discomfort and improves 3D clarity.

Once the key plane is selected, carefully align the two images in Photoshop so that the chosen reference point overlaps perfectly in both frames. This alignment ensures that the key plane appears sharp and stationary when viewed through the lenticular lens.

At this stage, only horizontal alignment adjustments should be made. Vertical or rotational corrections can disrupt the lenticular effect and reduce image quality. Zoom in to pixel level to ensure precision, as even a 1–2 pixel misalignment can noticeably degrade the final result.

After alignment, reduce the opacity of the top layer temporarily to visually confirm accuracy.

Aligning images usually creates empty areas along the edges due to horizontal shifting. These areas must be removed to maintain a clean final image.

Crop both images to the largest common overlapping area, ensuring that important visual elements remain within the frame. Consistent cropping is essential, as both images must have identical dimensions before interlacing.

This step directly affects the perceived depth range. Excessive cropping reduces depth intensity, while insufficient cropping may introduce edge artifacts when viewed through the lenticular lens.

Before interlacing, resize the images according to the lens pitch (LPI – lines per inch) of the lenticular sheet you plan to use. Common lenticular lenses range from 40 to 75 LPI for posters and display prints.

For inkjet printing, a resolution of 300–720 DPI is recommended, depending on printer capability. The final image width in pixels must be mathematically matched to the lens pitch to ensure each image slice aligns perfectly under the lens.

For example, a 60 LPI lens at 600 DPI requires 10 pixels per lenticule. Incorrect sizing is one of the most common causes of blurred or misaligned lenticular prints.

After resizing, the two images are interlaced using lenticular software or Photoshop scripts. The interlaced image is then printed on photo paper using an inkjet printer with high color accuracy.

Once printed, the lenticular lens sheet must be laminated with perfect alignment between the image strips and the lens ribs. Even a 0.1 mm shift can ruin the 3D effect, so alignment marks and slow, controlled lamination are strongly recommended.