BACKGROUND ART Most known postcards or greeting cards are of a solely two dimensional nature, depicting scenes, images and text in a two dimensional representation.

Some cards, attempting to create a three dimensional effect have done so by leaving some portions of the card in two dimension and pressing other portions of the card into raised three dimensional shapes.

Other existing cards attempt to create three dimensional effects by a "pop-up" method; cutting and folding the card so that when opened, portions of the card protrude out from the surface.

These attempts at three dimensional representation have the disadvantages that they are not suitable for photographic images of the card, in that the particular image or object the card maker is seeking to make three dimensional must fit the raised portion or pop- up section of the card exactly. If a different shaped image is used, the card maker has to change the shape of the card, resulting in higher manufacturing costs. In addition, if it is the shape of the card which is made first, then the image depicted on the card must be massaged to fit that shape. This is suitable for fictitious images, drawn, painted or otherwise produced by an artist's hand, but not for photographic images of"real" scenes and objects.

In addition, these known methods of making three dimensional card images do not have very natural or realistic three dimensional effects and look rather artificial and contrived.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the abovementioned disadvantages by providing display or presentation means, such as a card, which produces more natural and realistic three dimensional effects in photographic images.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite display system comprising a first portion bearing a two-dimensional image or scene, and a second portion adapted to contain and to display one or more predetermined materials in three-dimensions, wherein said second portion is so juxtaposed with the two-dimensional image or scene of the said first portion that it lends or provides a three-dimensional appearance to the image or scene and an association with a recognisable component of the image or scene.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a composite display of an image or scene in the form of a greeting care, calendar, framed photograph or illustration or the like, comprising a first portion bearing a two-dimensional image or scene, and a second portion adapted to contain and to display one or more predetermined materials contained within a three-dimensionally defined space (e.g. a clear or light-transmitting envelope or sachet) on or within said second portion, wherein said second portion is so juxtaposed with the two-dimensional image or scene of the said first portion that it lends or provides a three-dimensional appearance to the image or scene and an association with a recognisable component of the image or scene.

The predetermined material could be any material having an association with the image or scene, such as particulate or granular materials e.g. sand, rocks or pebbles, or liquids e.g. water. In some cases synthetic materials may be used e.g. artificial snow for a snow scene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1: is a plan view of the front of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the form of a greeting card or postcard.

FIGURE 2: is a plan view of the back or reverse side of the greeting card or postcard of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a plan view ofthe front side (7) ofthe card (1) according to one embodiment of the invention. The card (1) shown in Figure 1 comprises a two dimensional body (2) made of fairly rigid paper or cardboard material with a photographic image (3) and border (4) printed onto the front side thereof and a sachet (5) attached thereto and covering or replacing a portion of the photographic image (3). The sachet (5) is made oftransparent plastics material and is adapted to contain particulate matter (6) or other material normally associated with the particular image. In a further embodiment, not shown, the sachet may be sandwiched between front and back apertured portions of the card.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a plan view of the back side (8) of the card (1) according to one embodiment of the invention. From this aspect there can be seen said body (2) having an aperture (9) through which light may pass and through which said sachet (5) and said particular matter (6) may be seen.

In an alternative embodiment the photographic image (3) may completely cover the front side (7) of the card, with no room for a border (4). As a further alternative, the border (4) and other surrounds of the photographic image (3) and the sachet (5) on the front and/or back surfaces of the card can be printed with two-dimensional images associated with the photographic image e.g. a sandy beach or the like.

In a further alternative embodiment there may be no aperture (9) in the body (2) of the card (1).

Naturally, further alternative embodiments may contain different scenes depicted in the photographic image (3) and different text printed on the front side (7) and back side (8) ofthe card (1).

It will be appreciated that the composite card according to the present invention is suitable for promoting well-known tourist attractions e.g. the beaches at Bondi, Coogee, Manly and Waikiki, as well as other locations, such as Uluru or Ayer's Rock, the Simpson Desert, the Sahara desert, oasis scenes etc., to name a few, wherein distinctive sands, rocks, pebbles or other particulate materials are incorporated into the sachet and form an integral three-dimensional part of the depicted scene. Ideally, the particulate material is free-flowing within the sachet.

In embodiments of the invention incorporating coarser particulate materials, such as pebbles or rocks, ideally such material is sandwiched between front and back apertured sides of the card or other display means, with each aperture covered by a thin layer of transparent plastics material, and with an apertured spacer member sandwiched between the front and back apertured sides of the card to provide a three-dimensional contained space for the pebbles or rocks.

The composite greeting card of the present invention can be manufactured by techniques and methods, known in the greeting card and printing arts, employing materials commonly known and used therein, including various grades of paper and cardboard.

The sachet can be fabricated from PVA, PVC or other suitable plastics materials. If necessary, for customs, health or quarantine purposes, the particulate material can be sterilised or sanitised by ultraviolet, microwave or steam treatment or the like.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to greeting cards or postcards, it will be appreciated that the same inventive concept is readily adaptable to other display means, such as desk or table mounted photographs, wall or refrigerator mounted displays, promotional material e.g. travel agency displays, and the like, to name but a few variations.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention broadly described herein without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention.