Lenticular And Hologram Printing Glossary
Many lenticular projects slow down because teams are using the same words to mean different things. This glossary is meant to standardize the most common terms used in hologram-image, print, and multi-view workflows.
Why this glossary matters
When teams mix up terms like pitch, LPI, depth range, and interlacing, they often choose the wrong workflow or troubleshoot the wrong part of the process.
A shared vocabulary makes it easier to compare 2D, 3D, AI, and Sketchfab workflows, communicate with print vendors, and avoid avoidable test cycles.
Lenticular printing
A print process that places a ridged lens sheet over interlaced imagery so different views appear from different angles, creating depth or motion effects.
Hologram image
On this site, a hologram image usually refers to a print-ready or display-oriented image sequence designed to create a depth illusion, not a true laser-recorded hologram.
Interlacing
The process of combining multiple views into a single striped image so each lenticular lens directs the intended view to the viewer.
LPI
Lenses per inch. This measures the density of the lenticular lens sheet and directly affects how interlaced output must be prepared.
Pitch test
A calibration test used to find the effective lens pitch and alignment that match a real printer, substrate, and lens sheet combination.
Multi-view
A set of images showing the same subject from slightly different viewpoints so depth or motion can be reconstructed in a lenticular output.
Depth range
The front-to-back span of perceived depth in the final result. Too much depth can feel unstable or uncomfortable, while too little can look flat.
Viewpoint consistency
How well a sequence preserves the same subject identity, geometry, framing, and material behavior across neighboring views.
Geometry
The real 3D structure of a model or scene. Geometry matters because it gives more reliable camera control and depth than a single flat image can provide.
Quilt or view grid
A tiled arrangement of multiple views, often used in display workflows or as an intermediate way to inspect whether a set of views is coherent before final interlacing.
How to use these terms in workflow decisions
If your main problem is calibration, focus on pitch, LPI, and interlacing. If your problem is unstable depth or bad perspective, focus on viewpoint consistency, depth range, and geometry.
For source selection, a flat image usually points to a 2D or AI workflow, while real geometry points to a 3D workflow. When print precision matters, geometry and calibration terms usually matter more than generative speed terms.
Need a quick calibration path?
Use the pitch test tool when your biggest unknown is how a real lens sheet and printer will behave together.
Open the pitch test toolNeed to compare workflows?
Use the workflow comparison guide if you are still deciding between 2D, 3D, or AI generation before production.
Read the workflow comparison guideFrequently asked questions
Is a lenticular print the same as a real hologram?
Not in the strict technical sense. Lenticular output creates depth or motion effects through multi-view imagery and a lens sheet, while a true hologram is recorded differently. In practice, many teams still use "hologram image" as a shorthand for lenticular-style depth imagery.
Why does LPI matter so much?
Because the lens density determines how tightly views must be interlaced and aligned. If LPI assumptions are wrong, even good imagery can look ghosted or soft after printing.
Which terms matter most for workflow choice?
The most useful terms for workflow choice are source image, geometry, multi-view, depth range, viewpoint consistency, and pitch test. Together they usually tell you whether 2D, 3D, AI, or calibration work should come first.