Optical 3D printer with extended angular coverage

An optical printer for producing 3D and animation pictures from a plurality of 2D images on a photosensitive emulsion layer secured to a view-separating screen, said view separating screen having a longitudinal axis and said 2D images being recorded on film, said printer comprising:

• a) means for carrying said film;
• b) projection lens means properly focusing on said film and said photosensitive emulsion layer to project each of said 2D images at a different projection angle through said view-separating screen onto said photosensitive emulsion layer;
• c) a lamphouse to illuminate the film for exposure;
• d) means for tilting said photosensitive emulsion layer together with said view-separating screen at different angles about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis to achieve different projection angles;
• e) a platform to hold said view-separating screen together with said photosensitive emulsion layer, and
• f) means for moving said platform in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so as to change the projection angles.

An optical printer for producing 3D and animation pictures from a plurality of 2D images on a photosensitive emulsion layer secured to a view-separating screen, said view separating screen having a longitudinal axis and said 2D images being recorded on film, said printer comprising:

• a) means for carrying said film;
• b) projection lens means properly focusing on said film and said photosensitive emulsion layer to project each of said 2D images at a different projection angle through said view-separating screen onto said photosensitive emulsion layer;
• c) a lamphouse to illuminate the film for exposure;
• d) means for tilting said photosensitive emulsion layer together with said view-separating screen at different angles about an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis to achieve different projection angles;
• and
• e) means for moving the projection lens to different positions so as to change the projection angles.

A method of printing 3D and animation pictures from a plurality of 2D images on a photosensitive emulsion layer secured to a view-separating screen having a longitudinal axis, said 2D images being recorded on film which is illuminated by a lamphouse during printing for exposure, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) sequentially moving said 2D images into an exposing position under the lamphouse;
• b) tilting said photosensitive emulsion layer together with said view-separating screen at different angles so as to achieve different projection angles;
• c) adjusting the XY position of said 2D images for alignment;
• and
• d) projecting the 2D images positioned in the exposing position so as to expose said photosensitive emulsion through said view-separating screen at a different projection angle.