Q: How do you do it?
First we check the size and resolution of your photos and adjust them in Photoshop, if necessary. Then, we import the images into proprietary Flipograph software to interlace the two photos together. We carefully laminate the resulting print onto a precisely calibrated lens, so that when you flip the image, either forward and back or side to side, you see each image separately. The process is much more labor-intensive than simply printing a photo.

Q: What makes a great Flipograph? Good photos.

1. Larger digital files, 1MB or greater work best, larger for 8 x 10s.
2. Both photos should be oriented in the same way, i.e. both vertical, or both horizontal.
3. Crop them the the way you want them and size them both to the same dimension (4x5, 5x7 or 8x10) at 300 dpi resolution.
4. In general, close-ups work better than distance shots or scenes with busy backgrounds.
5. A contrast of color helps make each photo pop.

Q: Should I order a side-to-side or up & down flip?
It depends on how you're going to use or display it. If it will hang on a wall in a hallway, for example, ask for HORIZONTAL orientation so the flip will occur as you walk past. If you're more likely to walk straight toward your Flipograph, choose the VERTICAL orientation and it will flip as you move toward and away from it. If you're not sure how your Flipograph will be displayed, VERTICAL is your best bet.

Q: If you can combine 2 photos in 1, why not 3 or 4?
Glad you asked. It is possible (and fun) to do so. If you have 3 or 4 shots you think would combine well, email them to me at info@flipograph.com and we'll call you back with a special quote. It actually won't cost much more than a simple double flip. Look for some examples of multiple flips in the Gallery.

Q: Besides the magical animation effect, how are Flipographs different from flat, paper prints?

Because Flipographs have a high-impact plastic lens over them, they're thicker, have more "body" or stiffness, and are more durable than regular prints. The print under the lens is made up of alternating stripes of each of the two images, so the image resolution is necessarily cut in half in order to put two different images in the same space as one would be. These effects are less pronounced in simpler images without a lot of detail clutter. Starting out with a well-lit image at high resolution really helps boost the quality of your finished print. Bold colors and close-up cropping will make your Flipograph pop of the page, but it's really the animation that grabs people's attention.FlipographWebMovie-poster