Method and apparatus for aligning a lenticular overlay with a lenticular print

An apparatus, comprising:

• a) a lenticular print having an image region containing a plurality of parallel image bundles of equal width, adjacent bundles having bundle junctures therebetween and being set at a pitch W, the print having first and second two-dimensional fiducial indicia each having one or more alignment elements disposed at one of two predetermined distances from any one of said bundle junctures, and wherein said fiducial indicium is at least as wide as two of said parallel image bundles;
• b) a lenticular overlay slidably positioned on said lenticular print to project images of said first and second fiducial indicia;
• and
• c) positioning means positioning said overlay responsive to one or more characteristics of said first and second projected images.

A method for aligning a lenticular overlay having parallel lenticules and lenticule junctures therebetween with a lenticular print having parallel image bundles and bundle junctures therebetween, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a lenticular print having first and second two-dimensional fiducial indicia on a surface thereof, said indicia each having one or more alignment elements disposed on said lenticular print at a critical distance from any image bundle juncture, and wherein said fiducial indica is at least as wide as two of said parallel image bundles;
• b) providing a lenticular overlay in slideable contact with said lenticular print;
• c) projecting first and second images of said first and second fiducial indicia, thereby defining projected first and second images, said projected first and second images showing said alignment elements;
• d) moving said overlay with respect to said print until each of said projected first and second images coincides with a single lenticule juncture;
• and,
• e) translating and rotating said overlay until said projected first and second images form symmetrically arranged blocks about one of said lenticule junctures.