Step 1:

Purchase a good quality double-sided optically clear, pressure-sensitive adhesive.  Make sure the product uses a silicone release liner because paper release liners leave a bad adhesive pattern that is easily detectable in the final mounted print.

Step 2:

Apply the optically clear adhesive to the back of your lenticular lens material using a laminator. This is a cold mount operation so pressure is all that is needed.

Step 3:

Trim the edges of the adhesive to the edges of the lenticular material. Apply a small piece of tape as a tab to the back in the upper right and left hand corners of the lens (see fig. 1). These tabs are taped directly to the release liner on the back of the lens and will be used later in the mounting process. Set the lens material aside.

Step 4:

After you have printed your interlaced inkjet print and allowed drying time, place the print face-up about 4 inches (10cm) from the nip of the laminating rollers with the printed interlaced lines perpendicular to the direction of the laminator rollers.

Step 5:

Assuming you have included alignment marks in the print, place the adhesive coated lens material that you set aside (lens face up) over the interlaced print for registration. Since the silicone release liner is between the bottom of the lens and the top of the print, the operator can adjust the lens over the print for proper registration. Using the alignment marks, adjust the lens to the print for proper alignment.

Step 6:

Once alignment is to your satisfaction, place one hand in the center of the lens applying downward pressure to keep the lens and print stationary. With your other hand, bend the top of the lens material up slightly to allow you to fold back the release liner using the taps you created earlier and create a tack edge of about 1 inch (2.5cm) across the entire top edge of the lens material.

Step 7:

Once adhesive along the tack edge is exposed, apply downward pressure with the same free hand (remember, the other hand is still holding the image down in the center) to actually tack the print to the bottom of the lens material.

Step 8:

After tacking the top edge, release the other hand from the center of the lens and carefully slide (remember the print and lens should already be close the nib of your laminating rollers) the lens with tacked print against the nib of your laminator.

Step 9:

Once again check that you are in registration using the alignment lines. If not, you can still adjust the lens over the print enough for proper alignment. Also remember to adjust the height of your rollers to accommodate the thickness of the lens material (98mil). Using the foot pedal of the laminator, run the lens material through the nibs of the laminator just far enough for the laminator to grab the material (be careful not to go so far as to catch the folded back release liner from Step 6, this will need to be removed as the laminator is mounting the print). Release the foot pedal.

Step10:

Now that the print is slightly into the laminator, check again for registration problems. You will still have a slight amount of adjustment capabilities if necessary. This is your last chance to correct any mis-alignments. Follow you alignment marks.

Step 11:

Again using the tabs you created back in step 3, begin pulling the release liner so that you have a good hold of both sides. Do not pull too far, only an inch (2cm) or so is needed. After you are sure you are in registration and clear of the rollers with the release liner, with the foot pedal while holding both left and right tabs start the laminator again. As the lens material with print are going through the laminator pull the release liner against (opposite) the direction of the lens to remove the liner and expose the adhesive for mounting. Do not get too far ahead of the laminator by pulling the release liner at too fast a rate against the speed of the laminator. Try to keep the same opposite direction pull speed as the laminator. You want to have about 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) of exposed adhesive between the peeled back release liner and the nibs of the laminating rollers.

Step 12:

Continue with the process until the release liner has been pulled completely off and the mounted print is out the other side of the laminator. If necessary, trim any excess media to the edges of the lens material. Congratulations, you now have a well mounted lenticular print!