Level-line moirés by superposition of cylindrical microlens gratings

Two superposed layers of transparent cylindrical lenslet gratings create classical moiré fringes when illuminated from behind. We rely on this observation to conceive special devices made of superposed lenslet gratings that produce compelling beating shapes when tilted against the light. Level-line moirés are created by superposing gratings of cylindrical lenslets of the same period on both sides of a substrate and by locally shifting some of the cylindrical lenses according to the moiré theory. Depending on the illumination and the viewing conditions, constant light intensities or colors move across graphical elements or faces. Such level-line moiré samples have been fabricated and characterized to determine the optimal fabrication parameters. Thanks to their striking visual appeal and their relatively challenging fabrication, moirés created by superposition of lenslets have a high potential for document security, art, and decoration.