Alpha Channel Transparency for Colored Substrate Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for printing electronic images on colored substrates are inefficient in reducing the amount of printing ink used, as they often require a white underbase on non-white substrates, resulting in wasteful application of multiple paint layers.
Innovation Solution
The method utilizes alpha channel information in combination with substrate color information to determine the transparency level of each pixel, allowing the substrate color to be used as the underbase for non-black areas, thereby reducing the need for additional ink layers and optimizing ink usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a white underbase is applied to colored substrates, then the same or comparable printing results as white substrates are achieved, but the quantity of printing ink increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the underbase transparency pixel-by-pixel based on the substrate color and the pixel's position in the image. Each pixel's underbase transparency is individually calculated to match the substrate color where appropriate, rather than applying a uniform white underbase across the entire image area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of underbase transparency from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on the substrate color and image content. The transparency parameter is dynamically adjusted for each pixel, allowing the underbase to be fully transparent where the substrate color matches the desired output color, and opaque where color correction is needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple paint layers are applied to colored substrates, then complete color coverage is achieved, but the printing process becomes less efficient and more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the underbase transparency pixel-by-pixel based on the substrate color and the pixel's position in the image. Each pixel's underbase transparency is individually calculated to match the substrate color where appropriate, rather than applying a uniform white underbase across the entire image area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of underbase transparency from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on the substrate color and image content. The transparency parameter is dynamically adjusted for each pixel, allowing the underbase to be fully transparent where the substrate color matches the desired output color, and opaque where color correction is needed.
3Manufacturing precision
If a white underbase is applied to all areas, then consistent printing results are achieved, but time is wasted applying extra ink to areas where substrate color is sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the underbase transparency pixel-by-pixel based on the substrate color and the pixel's position in the image. Each pixel's underbase transparency is individually calculated to match the substrate color where appropriate, rather than applying a uniform white underbase across the entire image area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of underbase transparency from a fixed value to a variable value that depends on the substrate color and image content. The transparency parameter is dynamically adjusted for each pixel, allowing the underbase to be fully transparent where the substrate color matches the desired output color, and opaque where color correction is needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for printing an electronic image comprising a plurality of pixels onto a substrate (501,801) using a computer-assisted image processing system, said method comprising the step of using alpha channel information in combination with substrate color information to calculate the transparency level that needs to be applied to each pixel.