3D Printing Color Mapping via Material Combinations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current three-dimensional printing technologies face limitations in generating objects with complex color gamuts and mechanical properties, as they often rely on individual voxel colors rather than combinations, which restricts the range of achievable colors and requires extensive processing and memory storage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves defining a color mapping resource that associates color descriptions with print instructions, using halftoning techniques to determine material coverage, and selecting subsets of voxel combinations to reduce processing burden and expand the color gamut, while considering object properties and material combinations to optimize object generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If individual voxel colors are used for 3D printing, then the processing and memory storage requirements are reduced, but the color gamut range is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials principle by combining multiple print materials with different colors in various proportions to create a broader color gamut. Instead of relying on individual voxel colors, the system uses material combinations (e.g., white material mixed with colored materials) to generate intermediate colors and expand the achievable color range while maintaining manageable processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes principle by varying the proportions and ratios of different print materials to achieve different colors. By changing the material composition parameters (ratios of white material to colored materials, depth of material layers), the system can generate a continuous spectrum of colors within the printable gamut, effectively expanding color range without requiring every possible color to be pre-defined.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all voxel combinations are processed to expand color gamut, then the color range increases, but the processing burden and memory storage increase extensively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality principle by determining material combinations and colors on a per-voxel basis according to the specific color requirements of each location. Rather than pre-processing all possible voxel combinations, the system calculates the appropriate material mixture for each voxel locally based on the target color and available materials, significantly reducing memory storage requirements while maintaining full color gamut capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics principle by implementing a dynamic color mapping system that adapts material combinations based on real-time color requirements. The color mapping resource dynamically determines appropriate material ratios and depths for each voxel based on the target color, rather than using static pre-computed tables for all possible combinations, thereby reducing processing burden while maintaining color accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive combinations of print materials are used, then the color gamut is expanded, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action principle by pre-defining a color mapping resource that contains the relationships between target colors and corresponding print material combinations. This lookup table or database is created in advance, allowing the printing system to quickly retrieve appropriate material ratios and depths during actual printing without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining expanded color gamut capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies intermediary principle by introducing a color mapping resource as an intermediate layer between the target color specification and the actual print material deposition. This intermediary component translates desired colors into practical material combinations using halftoning techniques, simplifying the computational process and reducing processing time while enabling access to a broader color gamut through material mixtures.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a plurality of print material combinations for object generation are determined, each print material combination having an associated color. A plurality of color descriptions may be determined, the color descriptions corresponding to a combination of voxels, each of the voxels of the combination of voxels having a defined print material combination and a defined depth with respect to a surface. A color mapping resource may be defined, the color mapping resource associating a color description with a print instruction, each print instruction being for use in causing an object generation apparatus to generate the combination of voxels corresponding to the associated color description.