The Incubator 2.5 research team is exploring 2.5D printing developed by Canon Océ, which is a 3D fabrication technology that lies in between 2D and 3D printing. This technology is pre-market but available to certain clients as it is still being further developed. What sets it apart from other printing technologies is that it combines high resolution images with elevated surfaces. The result is a visual perception that exceeds its physical elevation and produces new effects when it comes to textures and graphics. As design researchers, we have had the opportunity of exploring this technology and have defined different aspects and qualities that set 2.5D apart from other digital fabrication methods.
When it comes to making 2.5D samples, print ready images can be prepared in software commonly used by the creative industries such as Photoshop and Illustrator, either through using a pixel or a vector approach. The software plug-in developed by Océ gives the ‘maker’ ultimate precision in determining elevations within the image.
2.5D can be printed on any non-porous flat surface, although experimentation with various materials is still in progress. It has a maximum height of 5mm although higher elevations are available upon request. A beneficial aspect of 2.5D is that it can print across different materials using the same printing process. This ensures a continuous level of finish and quality, whether it be on glass, wood, chip board or stone, to mention a few examples.
2.5D is also suited for large scale applications as the printable area has a maximum size of 120x240cm. The Incubator 2.5 team is currently experimenting with this new technology, therefore if you have any questions or interest in knowing more about 2.5D, please contact Karianne Rygh or Cynthia Hathaway, the two design research associates on this project.