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.
Patel
says, "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.
