Embossed Relief Images and Their Application for Color Motion Pictures

High-quality color pictures have been recorded as diffractive surface-relief structures in transparent media and can be read out in the zero diffraction order using unmodified, conventional projectors. These ZOD™ images can be replicated by hot embossing a metal master into thermoplastic film such as PVC or polycarbonate. Compared to conventional color film they offer a considerable cost advantage in quantity, together with superior resolution and brightness. Since the images contain no dyes, they do not bleach with time or on readout and have excellent archival properties. Since they absorb no light (they only diffract it) the temperature rise during projection is minimal and overheating problems are eliminated, enabling higher projection intensities to be used. The principles of operation of ZOD images are examined, and their application to motion pictures is considered.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1978-01

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J17454