Holography and Hologram Label Design Tips

Helpful ideas to maximize the impact of holography.

The brightest, most colorful holography is usually achieved when solid color line art is used (no gradients). We prefer vector based art because it can be easily separated for holography.

If the hologram is to have multiple levels (2D/3D), try to keep the background graphics fairly bold. If the background has very fine lines or details, they might wash out.

Holography is created mainly with red, green and blue, so please try to keep each level to 3 or 4 colors. There are more options for the surface of the hologram, such as holographic white and dual axis gratings.

Remember that holography reflects the colors of the spectrum; when viewed at different angles, a hologram will shift through all the colors of the rainbow. Colors can be designated for different elements. Our holographers will shoot the hologram so that when held at its optimum viewing angle, it will reflect those designated colors. As the hologram turns, however, it will run through the spectrum. We can not create holography that shows, for example, only blue and red at all times.

Process holography can be created from photographs or complex art that contains gradients or a wide range of colors. When viewed at optimum angle, the hologram will show the colors of the original photo or artwork. When turned, the hologram will shift through the spectrum. In general, process holography is not as bright or rich as solid color art. Process holography uses various dot densities to create new colors, much like 4 color process printing. This has a tendency to dull the colors.

If process holography is necessary for your product, there are a couple of things you can do to make the end product better:

    1) Try to limit process elements to the surface level of the hologram. They will be the brightest and sharpest here.

    2) Use solid color graphics in the background.