World's First 3D / Animated Billboard is 36 feet long.

A centered view of the world's first full-size 3D/animation lenticular billboard.

The world's first 3D / Animated full-size billboard was created by Big3D.com and installed on June 4, 2001. The outdoor mural combines 3D depth with animation and covers the entire 10.5' x 36' billboard. Animated portions of the billboard change appearances as the viewers drive by and change their viewing angle.

A view of the completed billboard from the main street. The image "flips" cleanly as viewers drive by.

Big3D.com partnered with Alliance Marketing to select and procure digital artwork from the original files for IMAX's 3D movie CyberWorld. The billboard features animated 3D imagery from the movie including: Bart & Homer Simpson, dancing Antz, Fig, and some very colorful Bugs. CyberWorld is the first animated 3D movie created.

Tom Saville (in bucket) hands another panel to the LAMAR installer. An interesting contrast as the new hi-tech image covers an old hand-painted image.

Big3D is recognized as the world leader in large format 3D/Lenticular graphics. As such, we have been receiving requests for years for outdoor 3D/lenticular billboards. Big3D has been working with MicroLens Technology to get a lens appropriate for outdoor usage. The result is a completely indoor/outdoor lens for large size murals and billboards.

This screen capture shows the full image with tile sections. It also shows some of the individual animation elements.

Big3D.com and Edwards IMAX Theatres selected frames from the movie and obtained the original digital artwork. The various characters to be featured on the billboard were cut out and brought into PhotoShop on different layers. Characters were placed to create dancing Antz (as featured in the movie), Bugs circling, and Bart & Homer Simpson alternating appearances. A continuous background with different layers of depth was created to enhance the 3D effect. Special design concepts were considered due to the sheer size of the billboard.

This screen capture shows a different viewing angle of the billboard image. Also shown is a close up of Bart & Homer interlaced.

This screen capture shows one view of the billboard.

A grid was created in PhotoShop to help place artwork around tiled segments. Thirty-six tiles were used. Each tile was printed photographically and laid out in sections. Most difficult was aligning each individual tile so that all sections were exactly in phase with each other. Phasing is important so that the viewed image transitions smoothly and completely as the viewing angle changes. The entire billboard was then assembled in Big3D's workroom to verify perfection before delivery to the billboard site. Holes were pre-drilled in the acrylic tiles to facilitate installation. The lenticular tiles were attached to the billboard structure with screws and washers.

Damian lines up the individual tiles and getting them all in phase with each other for proper depth resets and animation sequence.

Once the artwork was received from IMAX, the entire project was completed in less than a week.