Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional graphic images using a lenticular sheet

Claim 1

A method of producing three-dimensional images using a lenticular sheet, comprising the steps of: capturing a plurality of views of a subject at different parallax angles; parsing each of the views of the subject into a plurality of narrow rectangular segments equal to the number of lenticules of the lenticular sheet; compressing the width of each narrow rectangular segment by a ratio equal to the reciprocal of the plurality of parallax views of the subject obtained in the step of capturing; interleaving the multiplicity of segments; printing the interleaved segments; and then aligning the printed image with the lenticular sheet following the step of printing the interleaved segments, whereby the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment obtained in the step of capturing.

Claim 2

A method of producing three-dimensional images using a lenticular sheet, comprising the steps of: capturing a plurality of views of a subject at different parallax angles; parsing each of the views of the subject into a plurality of narrow rectangular segments equal to the number of lenticules of the lenticular sheet; compressing the width of each narrow rectangular segment by a ratio equal to the reciprocal of the plurality of parallax views of the subject obtained in the step of capturing; interleaving the multiplicity of segments; printing the interleaved segments; and then aligning the printed image with the lenticular sheet following the step of printing the interleaved segments, whereby the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment obtained in the step of capturing.

Claim 5

A system for producing three-dimensional images using a lenticular sheet, comprising: capturing means for capturing multiple parallax views of a subject; parsing means for dividing each of the multiple parallax views of the subject into a plurality of narrow rectangular segments equal in number to the number of lenticules of the lenticular sheet; compressing means for compressing the narrow rectangular segments of each of the parallax views of the subject by a ratio determined by a reciprocal of the number of parallax views of the subject captured; interleaving means for arranging the plurality of compressed segments of each of the parallax views of the subject; printing means for producing an output of the compressed interleaved segments; and aligning means for aligning the lenticular sheet with the compressed interleaved segments of the output such that the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment; wherein the capturing means, parsing means, compressing means, interleaving means and printing means are separate and distinct from the lenticular sheet.

Claim 6

A system for producing three-dimensional images using a lenticular sheet, comprising: capturing means for capturing multiple parallax views of a subject; parsing means for dividing each of the multiple parallax views of the subject into a plurality of narrow rectangular segments equal in number to the number of lenticules of the lenticular sheet; compressing means for compressing the narrow rectangular segments of each of the parallax views of the subject by a ratio determined by a reciprocal of the number of parallax views of the subject captured; interleaving means for arranging the plurality of compressed segments of each of the parallax views of the subject; printing means for producing an output of the compressed interleaved segments; and aligning means for aligning the lenticular sheet with the compressed interleaved segments of the output such that the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment; wherein the capturing means, parsing means, compressing means, interleaving means and printing means are separate and distinct from the lenticular sheet.

Claim 16

A system for producing three dimensional images using a lenticular sheet comprising: photographic means for producing a series of photographic negative images representing multiple parallax views of a subject; enlarger means for projecting the photographic negative images sequentially onto a photographic print sheet at an enlargement ration determined by the number of parallax views of the subject and the pitch of the lenticules on the lenticular sheet; mask means disposed between the enlarger means and the photographic print sheet for exposing narrow rectangular segments of the projected negative image onto the photographic print sheet; stepping means for stepping the mask means laterally across the surface of the photographic print sheet in synchrony with the sequence of images projected by the enlarger means, whereby each of the negative images representing parallax views of the subject are divide into narrow rectangular segments which are interleaved across the photographic print sheet; developing means; and aligning means for aligning the lenticular sheet with the compressed interleaved segments of the developed photographic print sheet such that the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment.

Claim 17

A system for producing three dimensional images using a lenticular sheet comprising: photographic means for producing a series of photographic negative images representing multiple parallax views of a subject; enlarger means for projecting the photographic negative images sequentially onto a photographic print sheet at an enlargement ration determined by the number of parallax views of the subject and the pitch of the lenticules on the lenticular sheet; mask means disposed between the enlarger means and the photographic print sheet for exposing narrow rectangular segments of the projected negative image onto the photographic print sheet; stepping means for stepping the mask means laterally across the surface of the photographic print sheet in synchrony with the sequence of images projected by the enlarger means, whereby each of the negative images representing parallax views of the subject are divide into narrow rectangular segments which are interleaved across the photographic print sheet; developing means; and aligning means for aligning the lenticular sheet with the compressed interleaved segments of the developed photographic print sheet such that the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment.

Claim 18

A system for producing three-dimensional images using a lenticular sheet, comprising: photographic means for producing a series of photographic negative images representing multiple parallax views of a subject; enlarger means for projecting the photographic negative images sequentially onto a photographic print sheet at an enlargement ratio determined by the number of parallax views of the subject and the pitch of the lenticules on the lenticular sheet; plural mask means, each corresponding to one of the multiple parallax views of the subject, consisting of regularly spaced, transparent, narrow, rectangular segments separated by opaque regions wherein the spatial frequency of the transparent segments is equal to the spatial frequency of the lenticules on the lenticular sheet and the position of the segments relative to one another is determined by the parallax angle of the corresponding view of the subject; disposing means for placing each of the mask means between the enlarger means and the photographic print sheet in synchrony with the sequential projection the parallax views of the subject corresponding to that mask by the enlarger means, whereby each of the negative images representing parallax views of the subject are divide into narrow rectangular segments which are interleaved across the photographic print sheet; developing means; and aligning means for aligning the lenticular sheet with the compressed interleaved segments of the output such that the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment.

Claim 19

A system for producing three-dimensional images using a lenticular sheet, comprising: photographic means for producing a series of photographic negative images representing multiple parallax views of a subject; enlarger means for projecting the photographic negative images sequentially onto a photographic print sheet at an enlargement ratio determined by the number of parallax views of the subject and the pitch of the lenticules on the lenticular sheet; plural mask means, each corresponding to one of the multiple parallax views of the subject, consisting of regularly spaced, transparent, narrow, rectangular segments separated by opaque regions wherein the spatial frequency of the transparent segments is equal to the spatial frequency of the lenticules on the lenticular sheet and the position of the segments relative to one another is determined by the parallax angle of the corresponding view of the subject; disposing means for placing each of the mask means between the enlarger means and the photographic print sheet in synchrony with the sequential projection the parallax views of the subject corresponding to that mask by the enlarger means, whereby each of the negative images representing parallax views of the subject are divide into narrow rectangular segments which are interleaved across the photographic print sheet; developing means; and aligning means for aligning the lenticular sheet with the compressed interleaved segments of the output such that the position of each segment below each lenticule corresponds to the parallax angle view represented by that segment.