The company will use its Augment8 technology with customers during the design process to let them see what their packaging will look like in 3D before it is made.
Adam Kay, sales and technical director, Tyler Packaging said: “We’re always looking to stay at the forefront of packaging innovation, whether that be in terms of new materials, new machines or new designs. Augmented reality has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years, so we wanted to make sure that it was something we kept pace with.”
Customers can view model in real world setting
Tyler Packaging told FoodProductionDaily that AR is related to a more general concept called 'mediated reality', in which a view of reality is modified with the placement of 3D objects.
“We use 3D artists to build a virtual model, which is then uploaded to our server for a dedicated app to access. Once customers have downloaded the app to a mobile or tablet device they’ll be able to view the model in a real world setting,” said Kay.
The technology works by projecting an image of the packaging model onto a marker card, which can be printed from Tyler’s website.
The app uses the camera to track the printed marker and then overlays a model on the screen, which appears to the user as though the model is situated in their physical surroundings.
No need to commit to production run
Users can rotate and adjust the projected image by moving the marker card. This allows prospective customers to determine how their packaging will look on the shelf before it’s actually produced.
Tyler says that it is more cost effective to use augmented reality than produce a prototype.
“Many clients want to see what their product looks like on the shelf and next to their competitors before committing to print and production,” said Kay.
The app will let customers change the design of the packaging by colour, material or texture and view the changes in 3D.
Founded in 1982 and based in Leamington Spa, Tyler Packaging is a supplier of laminated, printed films, sacks, pre-made bags and pouches for the food, leisure and pharma industries.