METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PLATE-SHAPED THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT

Abstract

A method for producing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30), the method comprising: an image preparation step (S10) for creating color image data (P1) containing a colored three-dimensional pattern; a gray scaling step (S20) for gray scaling the color image data (P1) created in the image preparation step (S10) to obtain grayscale image data (P2), wherein the gray scaling step (S20) comprises a brightness adjusting step for adjusting the brightness of at least one of the color image data (P1) and the grayscale image data (P2); a three-dimensional data generation step (S30) for generating three-dimensional data based on a gradation of the grayscale image data (P2) obtained in the grayscale step (S20); a three-dimensional color data generation step (S40) for generating three-dimensional color data (M2) by performing texture mapping on the three-dimensional data (M1) generated in the three-dimensional data generation step (S30) using the color image data (P1) prepared in the image preparation step (S10) as a texture; and a molding step (S50) for molding the plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) by a full-color 3D printer based on the three-dimensional color data (M2) generated in the three-dimensional color data generation step (S40).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object, such as a diorama base plate. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In the related art, a patterned plate-shaped three-dimensional object having a three-dimensional shape was provided. Examples of such a plate-shaped three-dimensional object include a diorama base plate used in a diorama to depict or honor a character or the like in any scene. To depict a more realistic scene, the diorama base plate is preferably based on a pattern having a three-dimensional shape and bumps with a motif, such as a lawn and a stone-paved alley, rather than a flat pattern such as a print.

[0003] In the prior art, a plate-shaped three-dimensional object, such as a diorama base plate, is manufactured by manually engraving a plate material. In recent years, it has become possible to use an NC machine tool and a 3D printer by creating (modeling) three-dimensional data with 3D CAD or the like. Therefore, it is conceivable to generate three-dimensional data for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object based on a captured image or a planar image created by a drawing program. As such a technique, JP 2020-49852 A discloses a method for generating three-dimensional data of a predetermined area of a planar image by inputting an input value indicating a relationship between a distance from a contour of the predetermined area to each position and a height. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A plate-shaped three-dimensional object, such as a diorama base plate, is intended to be colored according to its purpose. Therefore, it may be necessary to paint a plate-shaped three-dimensional object created with an NC machine tool or a 3D printer. However, a lawn, a stone-paved alley, and the like require painting in slightly different shades rather than a single color, and such painting can be laborious and lead to difficulties in producing a colored plate-shaped three-dimensional object.

[0005] The aim of the present disclosure is to provide a method for producing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object by which a colored plate-shaped three-dimensional object can be easily produced.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object, the method comprising: an image preparation step for creating color image data containing a colored three-dimensional pattern; a gray-scaling step for gray-scaling the color image data prepared in the image preparation step to obtain gray-scale image data; a three-dimensional data generation step for generating three-dimensional data based on a gradation of the gray-scale image data obtained in the gray-scaling step; a three-dimensional color data generation step for generating three-dimensional color data by performing texture mapping on the three-dimensional data generated in the three-dimensional data generation step using the color image data prepared in the image preparation step as a texture;and a molding step of molding the plate-shaped three-dimensional object by a full-color 3D printer based on the three-dimensional color data generated in the three-dimensional color data generation step;

[0007] According to the above aspect, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object by which a colored plate-shaped three-dimensional object can be easily manufactured.

[0008] DE 10 2017 119 023 A1 describes a method for image processing and a scanning system using the method.

[0009] US 2020 / 0307105 A1 describes a method for generating energy transfer properties in voxel data structures using texture maps.

[0010] US 2016 / 0229222 A1 describes systems and methods for producing bas-relief images using a printer.

[0011] WO 2018 / 197531 A1 describes an apparatus and a method for producing a textured coating. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0012] The present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, without being limited thereto, in which: Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is an example of an image created in an image preparation step of the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is an example of an image processed in a gray scaling step in the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 4 is an example of three-dimensional data generated in a three-dimensional data generation step in the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 5 is an example of three-dimensional color data generated in a three-dimensional color data generation step in the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 6 is an example of a plate-shaped three-dimensional object manufactured by the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 7 is a photographic view showing another example of a plate-shaped three-dimensional object manufactured by the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. 8 is a photographic view showing another example of a plate-shaped three-dimensional object manufactured by the method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. A plate-shaped three-dimensional object, such as a diorama base plate, is produced according to the flowchart in Fig. 1. Each step is described below using the flow chart in Fig. 1 described. IMAGE PREPARATION STEP (STEP S10)

[0014] In an image preparation step (step S10), color image data representing a motif of the plate-shaped three-dimensional object to be manufactured is prepared. As the color image data, image data generated by various methods can be used, such as captured image data obtained by capturing an image with an image pickup device such as a camera, image data generated by drawing software, and image data generated by scanning a handwritten illustration. Here, the color image data represents an image containing a colored three-dimensional pattern. The colored three-dimensional pattern is a pattern with a colored three-dimensional shape that includes artificial and / or natural objects.

[0015] The color image data P1 in Fig. 2 is an example of the color image data created in the image preparation step (step S10) and includes a colored three-dimensional pattern based on a captured image of a stone alley. When preparing the color image data by acquiring an image, it is desirable to capture an image from a direction as perpendicular to a plane (ground) as possible. This is because capturing an image obliquely to the plane (ground) will produce a plate-shaped three-dimensional object with an obliquely distorted pattern.

[0016] When the color image data prepared in the image preparation step (step S10) is processed to a size in which an object can be manufactured with a full-color 3D printer used in a subsequent molding step (step S50), an operation for adjusting the size in the subsequent step can be omitted. The color image data P1 can be processed with application software for performing photo processing provided in a personal computer (PC). A plurality of identical plate-shaped three-dimensional objects can be manufactured and used by arranging them like tiles. In such a case, by performing the processing described below, it is possible to manufacture a plurality of plate-shaped three-dimensional objects that can be arranged with a more natural appearance.

[0017] The image preparation step (step S10) may include an image acquisition step and a photo-cutting step. In the image acquisition step, an image of a patterned ground surface (ground) is captured. As described above, the image is captured from a direction perpendicular to the ground surface. In the photo-cutting step, the color image data is generated by cutting the photo data acquired in the image acquisition step into a rectangular shape so as to form continuous patterns when arranged in the vertical and / or horizontal directions. The color image data P1 in Fig. 2 are formed by cutting the photo data at a position that does not give a sense of strangeness, so that when a plurality of plate-shaped three-dimensional objects formed using the color image data P1 are arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, stone paved patterns arranged in a semicircular shape are substantially continuous. The color image data P1 is also formed in a rectangular shape, so that the manufactured plate-shaped three-dimensional object has a rectangular shape. The color image data P1 can be processed with application software included in the PC to perform photo processing. GRAYSCALE STEP (STEP S20)

[0018] In a grayscale step (step S20), the color image data prepared in the image preparation step (step S10) are grayscaled to obtain grayscale image data. Fig. 3 shows grayscale image data P2 obtained by gray scaling the color image data P1 prepared in the image preparation step (step S10) into Fig. 2. The grayscale image data P2 is grayscaled to 256 levels. As described later, the level of the grayscale image data P2 is set as the height from a top surface of the plate-shaped three-dimensional object to be manufactured. The grayscale step (step S20) can be performed by the application software for performing photo processing on the PC.

[0019] The grayscale step (step S20) includes a brightness adjustment step for adjusting the brightness of an image (the color image data P1 and / or the grayscale image data P2). For example, if there is a portion where the height of the plate-shaped three-dimensional object to be manufactured is to be partially changed by viewing the grayscale image on a monitor of the PC, the height of the manufactured plate-shaped three-dimensional object can be partially changed by adjusting the brightness using the application software for performing photo processing. Alternatively, the overall height of a surface can also be adjusted by adjusting the brightness of the entire image. STEP FOR GENERATING THREE-DIMENSIONAL DATA (STEP S30)

[0020] In a three-dimensional data generation step (step S30), three-dimensional data is generated based on the gradation of the grayscale image data obtained in the grayscale step (step S20). The three-dimensional data generation step (step S30) can be performed by three-dimensional data generation application software provided in the PC. Fig. Fig. 4 shows three-dimensional data M1 generated in the three-dimensional data generation step (step S30) based on the grayscale image data P2 in Fig. 3 were generated.

[0021] In the three-dimensional data generation step (step S30), the height corresponding to the gradation of the grayscale image data is set in the three-dimensional data generation application software. Using the top surface of the thickness of a plate-shaped 3D model as a reference plane, the height can be set as the height from the reference plane. The height corresponds to the gradation of the grayscale image data. Alternatively, the height corresponding to the gradation of the grayscale image data can be set as the amount of depression from the top surface of the thickness of the plate-shaped 3D model, that is, the height in a direction in which the thickness decreases.

[0022] If the grayscale image data P2 in Fig. 2 consists of 256 gradations, the height corresponding to the gradations can be specified. The grayscale image data P2 is set so that the height is smaller the closer the color is to white, and larger the closer the color is to black. Another three-dimensional object can be modeled and added to a periphery of the created three-dimensional data M1. STEP FOR GENERATING THREE-DIMENSIONAL COLOR DATA (STEP S40)

[0023] In a three-dimensional color data generation step (step S40), the color image data prepared in the image preparation step (step S10) is used as a texture, and texture mapping is performed on the three-dimensional data generated in the three-dimensional data generation step (step S30) to generate three-dimensional color data. Fig. 5 shows three-dimensional color data M2 obtained by performing texture mapping on the three-dimensional data M1 in Fig. 4 using the color image data P1 in Fig. 2 were created as a texture.

[0024] Since the size of the color image data P1 in Fig. 2 and the size of the three-dimensional data M1 are substantially the same, the color image data P1 used as the texture can be obtained using the Fig. 2, prepared in the image preparation step (step S10) can be easily inserted into the three-dimensional data M1. In the three-dimensional color data M2 in Fig. 5, the color image data P1, the entirety of which is a colored three-dimensional pattern, is applied to the entirety of the three-dimensional data M1. However, if the three-dimensional data M1 represents, for example, a three-dimensional object in which a colored three-dimensional pattern is only partially present, the texture mapping can also be partially performed using the color image data P1 as a texture (see Fig. 7, which will be described later). SHAPING STEP (STEP S50)

[0025] In a molding step (step S50), a plate-shaped three-dimensional object is molded by a full-color 3D printer (not shown) based on the three-dimensional color data created in the three-dimensional color data generation step (step S40). A UV-curing inkjet full-color 3D printer can be used as the full-color 3D printer.

[0026] In this example, where an image of a stone road is captured and the color image data P1 is Fig. 2, a plate-shaped three-dimensional object 10, which is in Fig. 6 is produced by the full-color 3D printer based on the three-dimensional color data M2 in Fig. 5. A variety of plate-shaped three-dimensional objects 10 produced by the full-color 3D printer can be easily manufactured.

[0027] As another example of a plate-shaped three-dimensional object, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, it is possible to manufacture a plate-shaped three-dimensional object 20 in which a colored three-dimensional pattern with a lawn as a motif is formed within a circumferential ring 21. The ring 21 can be modeled in the three-dimensional data generation step (step S30) or in the three-dimensional color data generation step (step S40).

[0028] In manufacturing the plate-shaped three-dimensional object 20, a captured image of the lawn is preferably cut into a circular shape in the image preparation step (step S10). In the three-dimensional color data generation step (step S40), texture mapping is performed only within a 3D model of the ring 21 using the color image data generated in the image preparation step (step S10) as a texture. Accordingly, three-dimensional color data can be generated (three-dimensional color data generation step S40).

[0029] As another example of the plate-shaped three-dimensional object, as in Fig. 8, in the image preparation step (step S10), color image data of the colored three-dimensional pattern created by drawing software or the like may be prepared, and a plate-shaped three-dimensional object 30 may be manufactured based on the color image data.

[0030] According to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object according to the following aspects.

[0031] A method for manufacturing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) according to a first aspect comprises: an image preparation step (S10) for preparing color image data (P1) containing a colored three-dimensional pattern; a gray-scaling step (S20) for gray-scaling the color image data (P1) prepared in the image preparation step (S10) to obtain gray-scale image data (P2); a three-dimensional data generation step (S30) for generating three-dimensional data (M1) based on a gradation of the gray-scale image data (P2) obtained in the gray-scaling step (S20); a step (S40) of generating three-dimensional color data (M2) by performing texture mapping on the three-dimensional data (M1) generated in the three-dimensional data generating step (S30) using the color image data (P1) prepared in the image preparing step (S10) as a texture;and a forming step (S50) for forming the plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) by a full-color 3D printer based on the three-dimensional color data (M2) generated in the three-dimensional color data generation step (S40);

[0032] Configured in this way, it is possible to easily generate three-dimensional data even for shapes with fine, continuous patterns, such as a lawn or a stone. Furthermore, it is possible to easily colorize the three-dimensional data because the original color image data is added to the three-dimensional data as a texture. Specifically, the three-dimensional data, such as a lawn or a stone, is given a non-uniform hue (a single color), and the plate-shaped three-dimensional object is formed using the full-color 3D printer. Therefore, it is possible to produce a plate-shaped three-dimensional object, such as a diorama base plate, that resembles a real lawn or stone.

[0033] In the method for manufacturing the plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) according to a second aspect, the gray scaling step (S20) comprises a brightness adjusting step for adjusting / setting the brightness of at least one of the color image data (P1) and the gray scale image data (P2).

[0034] According to this configuration, the height of the colored three-dimensional pattern of the plate-shaped three-dimensional object to be produced can be easily changed and adjusted by means of the application software for general photo processing.

[0035] In the method for manufacturing the plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) according to a third aspect, the image preparation step (S10) comprises: an image acquiring step for obtaining photo data created by acquiring an image of a patterned floor surface, and a photo cutting step for obtaining the color image data (P1) by cutting the photo data obtained in the image acquiring step into a rectangular shape to form continuous patterns when arranged in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.

[0036] According to this configuration, even in the case of a diorama base plate that has a colored three-dimensional pattern and requires a large area, by manufacturing the same type of plate-shaped three-dimensional objects, the patterns can be arranged to continuously form the diorama base plate.

[0037] The embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the present embodiment, and various changes may be made.

Claims

[1] A method for producing a plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30), the method comprising: an image preparation step (S10) for creating color image data (P1) containing a colored three-dimensional pattern; a gray scaling step (S20) for gray scaling the color image data (P1) created in the image preparation step (S10) to obtain grayscale image data (P2), wherein the gray scaling step (S20) comprises a brightness adjustment step for adjusting the brightness of at least one of the color image data (P1) and the grayscale image data (P2); a three-dimensional data generation step (S30) for generating three-dimensional data based on a gradation of the grayscale image data (P2) obtained in the grayscale step (S20); a three-dimensional color data generation step (S40) for generating three-dimensional color data (M2) by performing texture mapping on the three-dimensional data (M1) generated in the three-dimensional data generation step (S30) using the color image data (P1) prepared in the image preparation step (S10) as a texture; and a molding step (S50) for molding the plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) by a full-color 3D printer based on the three-dimensional color data (M2) generated in the three-dimensional color data generation step (S40). [2] Method for producing the plate-shaped three-dimensional object (10, 20, 30) according to claim 1, wherein the image preparation step (S10) comprises: an image acquisition step for obtaining photo data created by acquiring an image of a patterned floor surface; and a photo cutting step of obtaining the color image data (P1) by cutting the photo data obtained in the image acquiring step into a rectangular shape to form continuous patterns when arranged in at least one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.

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