Registration system for lenticular printing

In a printing operation in which a material is run through a press and an image is printed on the material, the image comprising a plurality of colors one of each of which is printed on the material at successive locations along the press, a registration system for maintaining registration of colors printed on the material so to produce a quality printed product comprising:

• a color registration pattern printed on said material together with the image printed thereon, said color registration pattern including a baseline pattern to which one of the colors for the image is registered, said baseline pattern having a plurality of locations at each of which one of the other colors used in printing the image is printed for checking the registration of said colors to each other, the baseline pattern comprising a series of bars extending parallel to each other, each bar comprising a plurality of bar segments spaced apart from and axially aligned with each other, one of the other colors used in printing the image being printed as a series of bars interspaced between adjacent bar segments of said baseline pattern, said series of interspaced color bars aligning with the bar segments forming said baseline pattern if the colors are in registry;
• imaging means obtaining an image of said printed pattern as said material is drawn through said press;
• a display displaying said printed pattern for an observer observing said display to determine if the colors printed on the material properly register with each other;
• and,
• control means operable by said observer to dynamically adjust the printing of any printed color determined not to be in registry with the other printed colors for said color to be brought into registry therewith.

A method of registering a plurality of colors used to print an image formed on a lenticular material drawn through a printing press comprising:

• printing said image on said material and printing a color registration pattern together with said image, said color registration pattern including a baseline pattern to which one of the colors for the image is registered, said baseline pattern having a plurality of locations at each of which one of the other colors used in printing the image is printed for checking the registration of said colors to each other, the baseline pattern comprising a series of bars extending parallel to each other, each bar comprising a plurality of bar segments spaced apart from and axially aligned with each other, each of the other colors used in printing the image being printed as a series of bars interspaced between adjacent bar segments, said series of interspaced color bars aligning with the bar segments forming said baseline pattern if the colors are in registry;
• obtaining an image of said printed pattern as said material is drawn through said press;
• displaying said printed pattern for an observer observing said displayed printed pattern to determine if the printed colors are properly registering with each other;
• and,
• dynamically controlling operation of the press to adjust the printing of any color determined not to be in registry with the other printed colors for said color to be in registry therewith.