3D Color Layer Compensation for Uniform Surface Thickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current printing technologies on fabric substrates, such as apparel and footwear, face challenges in achieving precise color density and structural thickness control, leading to inconsistent perceived color intensity and surface profiles, especially when printing complex three-dimensional objects with multiple layers.

Innovation Solution

A three-dimensional printing system that utilizes CMYK printing with a print controller to distribute color and structural layers based on target thickness, allowing for independent control of color density and structural thickness, enabling the creation of objects with desired surface profiles and aesthetic effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If multiple color layers are printed to achieve complex colors, then color intensity is improved, but surface profile consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperceived color intensityVSAvoidsurface profile consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first determining the colorless material recording amount based on the target thickness before printing color materials. This preliminary structural layer is deposited to establish the desired surface profile, and subsequent color layers are printed on top without altering the established surface geometry, thereby maintaining surface profile consistency while achieving complex color intensities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3957487B1Color density based thickness compensation printing
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 NIKE INNOVATE CV
  • EP3957487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3957487B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3957487B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for printing a three-dimensional object, the method comprising: printing a structural layer (610) onto a three-dimensional object, wherein the structural layer (610) comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises a first structural thickness, wherein the second region comprises a second structural thickness, and wherein the first structural thickness and the second structural thickness are different; printing a first color layer (650) directly onto the first region of the structural layer (610), wherein the first color layer comprises a first color and a first color thickness, and wherein the first color thickness and the first structural thickness in combination form a target thickness; and printing a second color layer (652) directly onto the second region of the structural layer (610), wherein the second color layer (652) comprises a second color and a second color thickness, and wherein the second color thickness and the second structural thickness in combination form the target thickness.