What did the job entail?
US-based Workman Publishing has produced Safari: A Photicular Book to capture the wildlife of the East African Serengeti. Accompanied by commentary from author Carol Kaufmann, the 3D images appear to come to life on the page.
How was it produced?
Creator Dan Kainen produced each image from around 15 capture shots from four-colour wildlife films. Hong Kong lens mould manufacturer Intex Syndicate produced acrylic and lenticular lenses to lie on top of the images. As the images move under the lens when the book is moved, the viewer sees all 15 captures giving the illusion that the image is moving.
The book’s pages were created on 230gsm die-cut sheets that were fitted with the lens and image by Chinese printer Millenium. These were then hand assembled into cards and collated and bound into the final book. The casewrap on the book includes a sculptured emboss and foil stamp.
What challenges were overcome?
Kainen worked with the manufacturer for a year to produce moulds that had the thickness and focal range to ensure that, when the book is opened and closed, the animals had optimum movement.
Wolff and Kaufmann had to fly to China three times over six months to work directly with the producers to reconfigure the lenticular aspects of the book.
What was the feedback?
Workman Publishing’s Maggie Gleason said: "Booksellers are reporting amazed and intrigued customers. This book is really unlike anything in print! The finished product with ground-breaking design challenges has certainly met all our expectations."
