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VENUS TRAVELS THROUGH TIME IN 3 DIMENSIONS

August 8, 2008

Taking a 25,000 year old artefact and bringing it to life on a postage stamp might appear to be an exercise in tackling the improbable, but the fact that it’s never been done before adds an extra edge to the achievement.

Discovered 100 years ago, the Venus von Willendorf (also called the Woman of Willendorf) is an 11.1cm high statuette of a female figure believed to have been created between 24,000 BC and 22,000 BC.

Apparently representing a goddess of fertility, little is known about its origin, method of creation or cultural significance. We can tell you a lot, on the other hand, about the process of creating a high definition 3D image on a tiny scale; Outer Aspect have achieved depth and detail never seen before in such a small product. Venus literally has 14mm of 3D out of material that is less than 1mm in thickness!

Capturing The Image

Since Venus is kept at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna and insured for 75 million euros, popping it in a courier pack was not an option. The team from Outer Aspect took custom-made equipment to the museum and lit the figurine on site, then photographed it using a 2,400 MegaPixel camera and a computerised system that captures hundreds of different view points.

 

 

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FILM CLIP OF WONDER GOAL SHOWN ON AUSTRIAN MOTIONSTAMP

May 5, 2008

Austria Post launched a unique postage stamp, a world first, using the latest sophisticated, motionstamp technology, at the imposing House of Sport, in the heart of Vienna, on 5 May.

The state-of-the-art technology for this amazing, self-adhesive �?.45 stamp was developed by Outer Aspect, the world leader in motionstamp production. The company, founded by innovator Jonathan Moon in 1997, is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Wonder goal

The film incorporated into the actual stamp shows the wonder goal scored by Andreas Herzog, the Austrian number 10, on September 6 1997 when Austria beat Sweden 1-0. 48,000 fans packed into the Vienna Ernst Happel Stadium on that memorable night to see the goal that helped Austria to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals played in France.

Drama and excitement

The splendid, well-attended mid-morning occasion captured the drama and excitement of the historic goal scored by Andreas Herzog, the Austrian record holder with 103 games for the national team, who propelled the ball with his left foot 20 metres into the back of the net. This wonder goal, relived by those present on a large screen, is now captured on the Austrian stamp and can be enjoyed by stamp collectors and football fans throughout the world.

Single unit

Jonathan Moon explained a little of the background to the motionstamp in an interview for the PE. He said: ”This single unit is made completely of microlenticular material and therefore cannot be dissected into separate parts. It incorporates security features both overt and covert making it almost impossible to duplicate:.

He added: “Outer Aspect developed a special resin that works with most ink cancellation systems around the world.�?br />

When did Outer Aspect produce its first postage stamp using this special motionstamp technology? Jonathan Moon replied: “We worked on our first motionstamp project during 2005. It was issued by TNT in the Netherlands, to mark the Winter Olympics held in Turin during February 2006. Several million stamps, launched that month, sold out within 48 hours.�?br />

Outer Aspect has now produced a motionstamp for six countries: Austria Post, Australia Post, Irish Post, TNT in the Netherlands, Finland Post, and the United Arab Emirates.

Three-dimensional

Outer Aspect is in discussion with several other postal administrations throughout the world about exciting new stamp projects. Its next motinstamp is a three-dimensional image of a 25,000-year-old statue for Austria Post to be launched in Vienna on August 8 2008.

Instant Stamp?

Is Outer Aspect able to produce an instant stamp of the winning goal in the final of Euro 2008 to be played in Vienna on Sunday June 29 and have it on sale within 48 hours of the final whistle? Jonathan Moon admitted: “Not at the current state of the technology but we envisage we will be able to respond to such a request by the FIFA World Cup finals to be played in South Africa during 2010.�?/p>

Facts about the Andi Herzog stamp

• This is the largest single MotionStamp that has ever been produced, 6.5 x 4.7cm
• This is the highest face value stamp ever made, its nominal value being 5.45 Euros
• The stamp uses 3 seconds of video footage which is the highest number of images ever put within a MotionStamp
• Preparation for these stamps required a large amount of video editing which is entirely new for the philatelic community. The unique video editing technique incorporates a special picture within picture effect
• When making the raw MotionStamp lens material for this challenging project, every few sheets were checked as it was made for its optical qualities and other stringent requirements to ensure the material would be able to handle the complex images required. This is the highest standard ever achieved.
• On the stamp, the goal and its setup from three different perspectives are shown
• This is the sixth time that a bona fide MotionStamp image stamp has been produced for the philatelic industry which has all the security features within the resin including being able to accept ink cancellation
• The stamps were designed and manufactured in New Zealand by Outer Aspect

Anddi Herog said after the stamp launch " I am very proud to have scored one of the most important goals in Austrian football, and that it has been reproduced on this wonderful initiative stamp by Austria Post".

To view more details click here

 

 

Creating The Stamp

Once the image files were composed on a three-dimensional cave background created by Outer Aspects Designers, the images were printed onto the reverse side of sheet of clear plastic optical lens array made with precise focused fine lenses (39 lenses per centimetre) called lenticules.

Then, the final images were encrypted. After a further
specialised optical process, they could now be replayed to the viewer with an astonishing illusion of depth and movement.

This process is not without its challenges; if there is a mis-registration of greater than 1/100mm, the effect is compromised. Also, the lens acts as a magnifier and exaggerates any faults that may exist. But, having achieved the ideal level of accuracy, the finishing process went ahead.

This consisted of adding a specialised coating to make it a reflective rather than a translucent image, applying an adhesive produced specially for the philatelic market and adding security features. Outer Aspect are continually evolving new products in this area; most of the time, several patents are pending.

Venus is on her way.

The commemorative MotionStamp is issued today, the 100th anniversary of the figurine’s discovery, by Austria Post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Itella Corp releases new stamp using MotionStamp imaging

January 24, 2008

The new stamp year in Finland began on the 24th January where miniature sheets were issued bearing a total of 11 different 1st class non-value indicator stamps. Also issued on the same day were two sets of stamps, one with 3 stamps denominated 5 cents and another with three 10 cent stamps. All these issues have something new, never before seen on Finnish stamps - an illusion of movement thanks to the imaging and printing technology used. These stamps were produced using a process called MotionStamp imaging which makes it possible to create motion in a printed image. Although MotionStamp imaging has been around for a long time (first theorised in AD60) it was only limited to simple flip effects comprising of two or three images. Now experts at Outer Aspect based in New Zealand have developed technology that enables the production of much finer MotionStamp images with movie like qualities. The Itella Corp stamps are a unique example of very sophisticated MotionStamp imaging.

Facts about the stamps

• This is the largest MotionStamp sheetlet that has ever been produced.
• This is the first time a MotionStamp sheetlet has been produced which includes 4 individual stamps
• This is the most complex MotionStamp ever made as this is the first time the stamps will incorporate both animation and 3D images all in one
• This is the fifth time that a bona fide MotionStamp image stamp has been produced for the philatelic industry which has all the security features within the plastic including being able to accept ink cancellation
• Unlike traditional artwork, preparation for MotionStamps required a large amount of video editing which is entirely new for the philatelic community
• When making the raw MotionStamp lens material for this challenging project, every few sheets were checked as it was made for its optical qualities and other stringent requirements to ensure the material would be able to handle the complex images required. This is the highest standard ever achieved.

Where were the stamps produced?

There is only one company in the world that can produce MotionStamp images at this level of sophistication and who have the required security auditing in place for the philatelic market.

Itella Corp Philatelic department identified this company as Outer Aspect Ltd in New Zealand, working with Itella Corp designers concepts converted a mixture of static images and video into MotionStamp imaging.

To view more details click here

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Surf's up on eye-catching stamp sheet

March 6, 2007

New Zealand imaging company, Outer Aspect, used 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.

The mini-sheet has won a gold medal in the security printing section of this year's Pride In Print Awards.

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.

"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."

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. "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."

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Wide Screen MotionStamping Technology Hits the Post

September 29, 2006

An Post (anpost.ie) have embraced world leading widescreen technology by releasing it embedded in a new series of stamps for the 2006 Ryder Cup golf tournament

These stamps use very sophisticated MotionStamp technology to replay golfing footage recorded on a film like widescreen format then embedded within the stamp! The stamp designer Emmet Mullins from Javelin Group (javelin.ie) in Dublin chose Outer Aspect’s MotionStamp Technology for the Ryder Cup stamps because of their unique ability to capture the motion of a golfers swing in a printed image.

“We just wanted the WOW factor appropriate for commemorating the Ryder Cup. Outer Aspect’s MotionStamp Technology provided us with that.�?/p>

“We are delighted with the unique effect that Outer Aspect MotionStamp has produced for us.�?“Outer Aspect ensured we got the most from the technology. They never sleep, were very professional and always available to help us through this process.�?/p>

To view more details click here

 

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TNT Post Honours Athletes on MotionStamps

February 9, 2006

Dutch skating legends Ard Schenk and Yvonne van Gennip, olympic winners appear on new stamps using MotionStamp technology. TNT Post and Atos Origin wanted to honour these skating legends and mark the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games. The stamps are somewhat larger than usual at 52 x 30 millimeters resulting in clear images of the dutch skating champions.

To view more details click here