Eye-Catching Motion Captured In Stamp Sheet
Pride In Print media release (May 2008)
New
Zealand imaging company, Outer Aspect, has utilised
pioneering MotionPrint imaging technology to produce a
commemorative mini-sheet stamp, celebrating Year of The Surf
Lifesaver in Australia. The innovative technology, which
effectively allows images to be “played back” to the
human eye as the viewing angle changes, enabled Outer Aspect
to depict lifesavers in an inflatable rescue boat actively
mounting a wave over the top of a rolling sea
background. Outer Aspect’s marketing executive, Sharmila
Patel says close liaison with Australia Post and its
designers was required to ensure the correct movements, wave
sequences and overall look were achieved. “The video
footage provided was converted into a series of small clips
and output onto specially-formatted lithographic plates then
printed onto the reverse side of clear optical plastic
lens,” says Ms Patel. “A specialised coating was then
put on the back to make it reflective rather than a
translucent image. This was followed by the application of a
specialised adhesive produced especially for the philatelic
market.” “The work was finished by adding unique
security features that make a bona fide stamp and die
cutting to enable the stamp to be removed from the
sheetlet.”
The job, which marked the centenary of surf
lifesaving in Australia, was also the first MotionPrint
mini-sheet to be produced for Australia Post. Despite
Outer Aspect having established itself as the world-leader
in this technology throughout the philatelic community, Ms
Patel says this job was the “most technically difficult”
mini-sheet yet undertaken by Outer Aspect. “We were
required to provide motion across the whole mini-sheet,
whereas prior to this we had only done MotionPrint at
individual stamp size.” “It required all of our skills
and through the process we hit the limits to what the
printing press can achieve -- the tolerances required proved
to be beyond what a standard printing press can do. “Our
company is always pushing the boundaries of technical
development and each job has its own unique requirements
that require constant development of market
innovation.” The Commemorative Surf Lifesaver
MotionPrint stamp mini-sheet has been entered in the
security printing section of this year’s Pride In Print
Awards, being presented at Auckland’s SkyCity Convention
Centre on May 16. ENDS * (note to publishers: Pride In
Print has a capital “I” for “In”) ** (note to
publishers: all winning entries remain confidential until
Awards Night -- early media releases are in no way intended
to forecast potential
winners)
-- a
visualisation of the Commemorative Surf Lifesaver
MotionPrint stamp mini-sheet can be accessed via
Eye-Catching Motion Captured In Stamp Sheet