Automated lenticular photographic system

An automated lenticular photographic system comprising:

• an interface that permits a user to upload image files;
• image processing and printing equipment that is in communication with the interface for receiving the uploaded image files and processing the uploaded image files to create an interlaced print image file that is used to produce an interlaced print sheet containing interlaced print images, wherein a pair of registration marks is formed on the interlaced print sheet outside of borders of the interlaced print images;
• a processing station where the interlaced print sheet is aligned with a lenticular lens sheet with a registration system that detects whether the lenticular lens sheet is off-centered and skewed relative to the interlaced print sheet;
• and
• means for controllably adjusting the position of the lenticular lens sheet relative to the interlaced print sheet until proper registration between the lenticular lens sheet and the interlaced print sheet is achieved, wherein the lenticular lens sheet is at least selectively joined to the interlaced print sheet to provide a lenticular product that can be delivered back to the user;
• wherein each registration mark is formed of a plurality of side-by-side arrowheads that all point in a first direction as well as a small square that is centrally located along the plurality of arrowheads and is located adjacent a pointed tip of one of the arrowheads, wherein when the lenticular lens sheet and the interlaced print sheet are properly aligned, the squares of both registration marks are aligned with tips of the arrowheads.

A method for aligning a printed interlaced image with a lenticulated lens sheet, including the steps of:

• forming a registration mark having a regular arrangement of elongate geometrical features upon a sheet carrying a printed interlaced image, each of said elongate features being elongate in an axis parallel to the elongate image fields in said interlaced image, said regular arrangement having a spatial frequency measurably different from the pitch of the anticipated lenticulated lens sheet,
• superimposing a lenticulated sheet in approximate alignment with said interlaced image, such that the collective magnification effect of a subset of the lenticular lenses within said lenticulated lens sheet upon said regular arrangement of elongate geometrical features generates at least one transversely expanded image of said elongate features,
• observing the appearance of said at least one transversely expanded image of said elongate features,
• comparing the observed optical result to a predetermined target result, and
• adjusting the relative position of said printed interlaced image and said lenticulated lens sheet to approach said predetermined target result.