Video Stamps
May 27th, 2008 by capitaladmin
Lenticular visual technology isn’t just for paper money…
The Netherlands first issued their lenticular “video” stamp in 2006, using a special printing process on a stamp-sized piece of plastic. Each stamp sells for €.39 (46 cents US), and before you think that’s crazy, keep in mind that these are not flat panel displays that we’re talking about. How does this work, you might ask? The technique is a variation on those little plastic decoder rings you might have seen as a kid—as you tilt the stamp to the left and right, the series of images appear to play back in sequence. Here’s how Outer Aspect, the company that printed these video stamps, explains it:
“Lenticular is a specialised printing process that can show depth, motion, HD video, film or combinations of these. The lenticular material is made up of tiny ridges or lenses (hence the name “lenticular” printing). We take raw images and process them through a computer algorithm, which matches the lens surface of the lenticular material. When the two work together it enables the image to be replayed back to you. The printing is always on the reverse side of the Lenticular lens material, as this is where the focal point is, allowing the images to be replayed back to the human eye as the viewing angle changes.”
Most recently, Finland Launched 2008 with MotionPrint Alpine Skiing Stamps. Never been seen before on Finnish stamps, the miniature sheet designed by Susanna and Ari Lakaniemi is dedicated to alpine skiing features Tanja Poutiainen, Antti Avtti, Matti Raty and Tapio Arska Saarimaki. This is the largest motionprint sheetlet that has ever been produced which included four individual stamps.
For the first time ever Austrian Post has produced an official postal stamp using lenticular printing technology. Arguably it is the technologically most sophisticated stamp of all times.The stamp features the legendary goal scored on September 6th, 1997 by Andi Herzog, Austria’s record-breaking international player, in a game against Sweden – With Multiple Camera Angles !!!
