METALLIC IMAGE PRINT AND METHOD FOR PRINTING METALLIC IMAGE PRINT

Abstract

To provide a metallic-tone image print that appears as if an image like a photograph is printed on a metal surface, with a visual impression of surface unevenness, and that exhibits a high fidelity in reproducing an original image resembling a photographic image of embossed metal.SOLUTION: A metallic-tone image print comprises, on a transparent substrate, an image layer and a mirror ink layer printed in this order, where the image layer is formed by inkjet-printing, with transparent ink, an image obtained by negative-positive inversion of a grayscale image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a metallic image print. Specifically, the metallic image print is a metallic image print that appears to have a photographic image printed on metal, and further, the metallic image print has an uneven surface that looks like an embossed metal image. [Background technology]

[0002] There are ornaments with memorable photos engraved on a base material such as acrylic or glass.

[0003] These reproduce photographs by scratching the base material with leather or sandblasting.

[0004] There are also products that recreate a single-color metallic photograph by laminating a metal plate such as a brass plate onto the scratched surface of a photograph or other object.

[0005] Simple pictures consisting of letters and lines can be reproduced by scratching them with a sandblasting process or the like, but when trying to reproduce a photograph with subtle color variations by scratching it with a sandblasting process or the like, the subtle color variations cannot be reproduced, and the photograph ends up looking like it has been painted over in one solid color.

[0006] Furthermore, sandblasting causes scratches on the substrate, which can attract dust or cause oxidation in the scratched areas, necessitating the removal of the dust or the application of an anti-oxidation treatment.

[0007] Furthermore, stacking metal plates makes the whole piece heavy and makes it difficult to hang on the wall, which limits the places where it can be displayed.

[0008] If a metal vapor deposition film is used instead of a metal plate, the overall weight will be reduced, but the damaged area will be recessed, which may result in air bubbles or adhesive getting in when the vapor deposition film is laminated, further worsening the reproducibility of the photograph.

[0009] To provide an invention that can reproduce even minute color changes in a photograph, reproduces an image such as a metallic photograph with a highly designed metallic tone by printing, and produces a metallic image print that has an uneven appearance and appears to be embossed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 7-179016 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] As described in Patent Document 1, the applicant has developed a glossy printed material with a metallic luster that appears to be embossed in a concave-convex pattern by printing a pattern using clear or colored ink onto a substrate and then printing glossy ink on top of that.

[0012] The printed matter described in Patent Document 1 has the problem that when it contains letters or simple designs, the image appears smooth yet embossed with unevenness, but when it comes to images with subtle color variations such as photographs or illustrations, the photographs and illustrations do not appear clear and only a solid-colored image can be reproduced.

[0013] The inventors set solving the above-mentioned problems as a technical task, and as a result of numerous trial and error prototypes and experiments, they discovered that if a metallic image print is made by printing an image layer and a mirror-finish ink layer in this order on a transparent substrate, and the image layer is an image layer that is an image obtained by inkjet printing an image that is a negative-positive inversion of a grayscale image using transparent ink, it will be a metallic image with high reproducibility that reproduces the fine color changes of the grayscale image, and will also have the appearance of unevenness, making it look like it has been embossed, and thus they have achieved the above-mentioned technical task. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The above technical problems can be solved by the present invention as follows.

[0015] The present invention provides a metallic image print obtained by printing an image layer and a mirror-finish ink layer in this order on a transparent substrate, wherein the image layer is an image obtained by inkjet printing an image obtained by negative-positive reversal of a grayscale image using transparent ink.

[0016] The present invention also relates to the metallic image print, wherein the negative-positive reversed image has a density in the range of 0% or more and 85% or less.

[0017] The present invention also relates to the metallic image printed matter described above, which comprises a colored layer between the transparent substrate and the image layer and / or a colored layer on the surface of the transparent substrate opposite to the surface on which the image layer is printed.

[0018] The present invention also relates to the metallic image print, wherein the diameter of each dot of transparent ink ejected by the inkjet printing is 20 μm or more.

[0019] The present invention also provides a printing method for a metallic image print, comprising the steps of: performing negative-positive inversion on a grayscale image; inkjet printing the negative-positive inverted image on one surface of a transparent substrate using a transparent ink; and printing using a specular ink on the image printed using the transparent ink, in this order. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] The present invention is a metallic image print with high reproducibility of the original image, in which a negative-positive reversed grayscale image is ink-jet printed on a transparent substrate with a transparent ink, and then the surface of the image layer is printed with a mirror-finish ink, so that even the subtle color changes of a photograph can be reproduced.

[0021] Furthermore, metallic images can be produced by a simple method of printing specular ink without laminating a metal plate or a metal-deposited film.

[0022] In addition, since the negative-positive reversed grayscale image is inkjet printed using transparent ink and then printed with mirror-finish ink, a difference in texture appears between areas where the transparent ink is thickly overlapped and areas where it is not, resulting in a highly designed metallic image print that looks as if it has been embossed.

[0023] Furthermore, if the density of the negative-positive inverted image is in the range of 0% to 85%, subtle color changes can be reproduced, further improving the design.

[0024] Furthermore, if a colored layer is provided between the transparent substrate and the image layer and / or on the surface of the transparent substrate opposite to the surface on which the image layer is printed, the transparent image layer will appear colored, resulting in a metallic image print with even better design.

[0025] Furthermore, if the diameter of each dot of transparent ink ejected by an inkjet printer is 20 μm or more, the unevenness will appear even more clearly, improving the design. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image formed with transparent ink on a transparent substrate. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a metallic image print according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating a metallic image print according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a metallic image print according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating a metallic image print according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing a grayscale image and a negative-positive inverted image of Example 1, and the light and dark density distribution of each image. [Figure 7] The image layer is a negative-positive reversal image (Example 1) and a grayscale image (Comparative Example 1) for comparison. [Figure 8]10 is a diagram showing a grayscale image and a negative-positive inverted image of Example 2, and the light and dark density distribution of each image. FIG. [Figure 9] The image layer is a negative-positive reversal image (Example 2) and a grayscale image (Comparative Example 2) for comparison. [Figure 10] 10 is a diagram showing a grayscale image and a negative-positive inverted image of Example 3, and the light and dark density distribution of each image. FIG. [Figure 11] The image layer is a negative-positive reversal image (Example 3) and a grayscale image (Comparative Example 3) for comparison. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention is a metallic image print 10 (Fig. 1) formed by printing a mirror-finish ink 3 on an image layer 2 on a transparent substrate 1, and when viewed from the direction of the transparent substrate 1, a metallic image can be seen that appears to have been embossed with the metallic image.

[0028] The transparent substrate 1 is not particularly limited, and may be colored as long as it transmits light, and the thickness can also be changed as desired.

[0029] Examples of transparent substrates include films and plates made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), acrylic, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[0030] A transparent layer 5 may be laminated on the transparent substrate 1, and the image layer 2 may be formed on the transparent layer 5 (FIG. 4C).

[0031] Alternatively, a transparent layer 5 may be formed on the side of the transparent substrate 1 opposite to the side on which the image layer is printed (FIG. 4D).

[0032] The transparent layer 5 is only required to transmit light and may be colored.

[0033] In addition, the colored layer 6 may be formed between the transparent substrate 1 and the image layer 2 (Figure 5A), or the colored layer 6 may be formed on the surface of the transparent substrate 1 opposite the image layer 2 (Figure 5B).

[0034] When the colored layer 6 is formed, the image layer formed with transparent ink is transparent, so the color of the colored layer is visible through it, and the image of the metallic image print can be made to look as if it were colored.

[0035] The colored layer 6 may be formed on the entire surface of the transparent substrate 1, or may be formed on a part of the surface in accordance with the image.

[0036] The method for forming the colored layer is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to form it by printing with an inkjet printer.

[0037] The image layer 2 in the present invention is formed by ink-jet printing a negative-positive inverted grayscale image with transparent ink.

[0038] There are no particular limitations on the grayscale image as long as it is an image expressed in shades of black, white, and gray, and it may be an image in which a color photograph is converted into a grayscale image, or an image in which a color illustration is converted into a grayscale image.

[0039] Grayscale images are printed after being reversed.

[0040] If the negative-positive reversal is not performed, the color difference disappears and the image becomes like a solid color, as shown in Comparative Examples 1 to 3 (FIGS. 7, 9, and 11), and the reproducibility of the original image is significantly reduced.

[0041] Negative-positive inversion can be achieved by using commercially available image processing software.

[0042] The density of the negative-positive reversed image in the present invention is preferably in the range of 0% to 85%.

[0043] If the density exceeds 85%, it becomes difficult to see fine differences, and the produced metallic image may appear to be solid, resulting in poor reproducibility.

[0044] Therefore, if the density exceeds the range of 0% to 85% after negative-positive inversion of a grayscale image, it is preferable to adjust it to the range of 0% to 85% using commercially available image processing software.

[0045] The density is 0% white, 100% black, and gray in between, and can be measured using commercially available image processing software.

[0046] Furthermore, the difference in color density between adjacent images contained in the negative-positive reversed image is preferably 1% or more, and more preferably 2% or more.

[0047] This is because the boundary between adjacent figures becomes easier to see if there is a difference in shading of 1% or more.

[0048] If the boundaries between images are easily visible, the metallic image produced is less likely to give the impression of being solidly painted, and the reproduction of the grayscale image of the original image is improved.

[0049] The shading can be measured using commercially available image processing software.

[0050] Although the image processing software used for image processing is not particularly limited, PHOTOSHOP (registered trademark) manufactured by Adobe Incorporated is exemplified.

[0051] Negative-positive reversed grayscale images are inkjet printed onto a transparent substrate using transparent ink.

[0052] The transparent ink is not particularly limited, and may be colored as long as it is transparent.

[0053] The inkjet printer is not particularly limited as long as it can use transparent ink.

[0054] The diameter of one dot of transparent ink ejected from an inkjet printer is preferably 20 μm or more, and more preferably 20 μm to 35 μm.

[0055] The transparent ink ejected from the inkjet printer adheres to the ejection surface in a continuous dot pattern, and the dots become entangled and form large clumps. However, if the diameter of each dot attached to the ejection surface is 20 μm or less, it is difficult for the ink to form large clumps, and there is a risk that the ink will not look embossed.

[0056] An example of a combination of transparent ink and an inkjet printer is printer: SC-V7000 / transparent ink: SC24VR100 (manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation).

[0057] In the present invention, printing is performed on the printed image layer 2 with a specular ink. The specular ink may be applied on the image layer 2 formed with the printed transparent ink, and it is not necessary to print on the entire transparent substrate 1 .

[0058] It may also be decorated by printing with ordinary color ink 4 (Fig. 3).

[0059] The specular ink may be any ink with metallic luster.

[0060] An example of a reflective ink is reflective ink No. 2 Silver (manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd.).

[0061] The printing method for the specular ink is not particularly limited, but examples include screen printing, flexographic printing, and pad printing.

[0062] When printing by screen printing, it is preferable to use a screen of 250 mesh to 300 mesh.

[0063] After printing the specular ink, a metallic image print can be produced by drying it. [Example]

[0064] In the examples and comparative examples, image processing was performed using PHOTOSHOP (registered trademark) manufactured by Adobe Incorporated. (Example 1): Person Figure 6 shows the light and dark density distribution of an image obtained by negative-positive inversion using a grayscale portrait image, and an image obtained by inverting the grayscale image and the negative-positive image.

[0065] Since the density of the negative-positive inverted images was often in the range of 85% or more, image processing was performed to bring it into the range of 0% to 85%.

[0066] Negative-positive inverted images and images without negative-positive inversion (original grayscale images) were inkjet printed using an SC-V7000 (Seiko Epson Corporation) and transparent ink SC24VR100 (Seiko Epson Corporation).

[0067] The diameter of each dot deposited on the ejection surface was 20 μm or more.

[0068] On the surface of the image layer printed with the transparent ink, Mirror Ink No. 2 Silver (manufactured by Seiko Advance Co., Ltd.) was screen printed using a 250 mesh screen.

[0069] After screen printing the mirror ink, the substrate was dried at 60°C for 30 minutes with hot air to obtain a metallic image print.

[0070] FIG. 7 shows an image layer in which a negative-positive inversion image is formed (Example 1) and an image layer in which a negative-positive inversion image is not formed (a grayscale image of the original image) (Comparative Example 1).

[0071] (Example 2): Scenery 1 A metallic image print was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 using a grayscale landscape photograph (FIG. 8).

[0072] The density of the negative-positive reversal image was only slightly outside the range of 0% to 85%, so no image processing was performed.

[0073] FIG. 9 shows an image layer having a negative-positive inverted image (Example 2) and an image layer having a non-negative-positive inverted image (grayscale image of the original image) (Comparative Example 2).

[0074] (Example 3): Scenery 2 A metallic image print was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 using a grayscale landscape photograph (FIG. 10).

[0075] The density of the negative-positive reversal image was only slightly outside the range of 0% to 85%, so no image processing was performed.

[0076] FIG. 11 shows an image layer having a negative-positive inverted image (Example 3) and an image layer having a non-negative-positive inverted image (grayscale image of the original image) (Comparative Example 3).

[0077] A comparison between the Examples and Comparative Examples demonstrated that if the image layer is an image obtained by negative-positive inversion of a grayscale image, the subtle color changes in the image are reproduced, resulting in a print that looks like a metallic photographic image, whereas if the grayscale image is used as is without negative-positive inversion, the print does not look like a metallic photographic image. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] The metallic image print of the present invention is a highly designable metallic image print that looks like a metallic photograph because it can reproduce the subtle color changes of a photograph and also has the appearance of embossed unevenness. Therefore, the present invention has high industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 Transparent base material 2 Image Layer 3. Mirror ink 4 Regular color inks 5 Transparent layer 6 Colored layer 10 Metallic image print of the present invention

Claims

1. A metallic image print is formed by printing an image layer and a mirror-finish ink layer in this order on a transparent substrate, and the image layer is an image layer in which an image obtained by negative-positive reversal of a grayscale image is inkjet-printed with transparent ink.

2. 2. The metallic image print according to claim 1, wherein the negative-positive reversed image has a density in the range of 0% to 85%.

3. 3. The metallic image print according to claim 1, further comprising a colored layer between the transparent substrate and the image layer and / or a colored layer on the surface of the transparent substrate opposite to the surface on which the image layer is printed.

4. 3. The metallic image print according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of each dot of the transparent ink ejected by the inkjet printing is 20 [mu]m or more.

5. The method for printing a metallic image print includes, in this order, a step of negative-positive inverting a grayscale image, a step of inkjet printing the negative-positive inverted image on one side of a transparent substrate with a transparent ink, and a step of printing with a specular ink on the image printed with the transparent ink.

Images