Advanced light management with holographic films
Next generation holographic films: where innovation meets optical excellence
Holographic films represent a breakthrough in optical technology, offering unprecedented possibilities for light control and visual enhancement across multiple industries. These specialized photopolymer materials create stunning three-dimensional images and patterns that change with viewing angle, combining aesthetic appeal with functional innovation.
Pioneering in this technology, our advanced photopolymer film Bayfol® HX is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in optical design. It enables customized solutions that deliver both striking visual effects and practical light management capabilities for tomorrow's innovative products.
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Transparent displays project information directly onto the windshield. -
AR smart glasses project 3D-images onto the wearer's real-world view. -
Holographic stickers, seals, and security labels enhance product security and brand identity.
Holographic technology for tomorrow’s products
From innovating automotive safety and entertainment through transparent displays to enabling next-generation augmented reality experiences in smart glasses, holographic films are reshaping how we interact with information and our environment. Beyond visual applications, they serve as powerful security solutions, providing sophisticated brand protection with enhanced anti-counterfeiting features.
Bayfol® HX for a broad range of applications
Bayfol® HX offers easy processing compatibility with thermoforming and molding while maintaining superior optical performance. It enables design freedom for brand differentiation, creates visual depth effects in reduced space, and delivers full-color recording with industrial-scale customization capabilities. This makes our Bayfol® HX the material of choice for next-generation optical solutions across automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial applications.
Hologram manufacturing involves a sophisticated optical process that captures and reconstructs three-dimensional light information.
Basic Principle:
Holography records both the intensity and the phase of light waves, unlike conventional photography which only captures intensity. This dual recording enables the reconstruction of true 3D images.
Manufacturing Process
1. Recording Setup
• A coherent laser beam is split into two paths.
• Object beam: Illuminates the subject/object.
• Reference beam: Travels directly to the recording medium.
2. Interference Pattern Creation
• Light reflected from the object interferes with the reference beam.
• This creates a complex interference pattern containing 3D information.
• The pattern is recorded on photosensitive material (like photopolymer film).
3. Processing
• The exposed material undergoes chemical or optical processing.
• For photopolymer films like Bayfol® HX, this involves UV curing.
• The interference pattern becomes permanently embedded in the material.
4. Reconstruction
• When illuminated with appropriate light, the hologram reconstructs the original 3D image.
• Viewers can see different perspectives by changing their viewing angle.
Key Technologies:
Precision laser imaging creates microscopic structures.
Photopolymer materials provide high-resolution recording capability.
Volume holographic optical elements (vHOEs) enable advanced applications.
This process enables applications from security labels to AR displays, where the hologram's unique optical properties provide both functionality and visual appeal.
vHOE stands for Volume Holographic Optical Elements - specialized optical components that use the entire thickness (volume) of a holographic material to manipulate light.
Key Characteristics:
Volume Recording
• Unlike surface holograms, vHOEs utilize the full depth of the material.
• Creates complex 3D interference patterns throughout the entire film thickness.
• Enables superior optical performance and functionality.
Optical Functions
• Light steering - Directing light in specific directions.
• Beam splitting - Dividing light into multiple paths.
• Wavelength filtering - Selecting specific colors/frequencies.
• Focusing/defocusing - Acting as lenses or mirrors.
• Directional diffusion - Controlling light distribution patterns.
Applications with Bayfol® HX:
AR/VR Displays
• Holographic combiners that overlay digital information onto real-world views.
• Eye-tracking systems using near-infrared light.
Automotive
• Head-up display combiners projecting information onto windshields.
• Light guiding elements for dashboard displays.
Advantages:
• High efficiency - Minimal light loss during operation.
• Compact design - Multiple optical functions in thin films.
• Customizable - Tailored optical properties for specific applications.
• Durability - Stable performance over time.
vHOEs represent the advanced functionality that makes modern holographic applications possible, transforming simple films into sophisticated optical systems.
Key benefits
- Volume holography (vHOE): Steers light efficiently and remains transparent at the same time.
- Full-color recording: Functional in entire VIS spectral range, NIR announced.
- Integration / processing: Proven in wind shield, wearable optical combiner, labels.
- Industrial scale: Designed for roll-2-roll (R2R) process - available customized.
