Blue Toner Pigment Composition for Accurate Color Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The CMYK color space, commonly used in printing, provides poor representation of saturated blue hues, making it challenging to produce consistent and accurate blue tones across different devices and printing systems.
Innovation Solution
A blue toner composition is developed, incorporating a combination of violet and cyan pigments, such as Pigment Violet 23 and Pigment Blue 15:3, which matches Pantone Blue 072 and Reflex Blue within a human perception limit of ΔE2000 less than 3, using a process involving resin emulsion aggregation and specific pigment loadings to achieve accurate color reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If CMYK color space is used for printing, then standard color reproduction is achieved, but saturated blue hues are poorly represented
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the blue color representation by separating violet and cyan pigment functions. Instead of relying on a single cyan pigment in the CMYK system, the patent uses a combination of violet pigment (e.g., Pigment Violet 23) and cyan pigment (e.g., Pigment Blue 15:3) to independently control different aspects of blue hue representation, enabling accurate reproduction of saturated blues that exceed standard CMYK capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple pigments (violet and cyan) in specific ratios within the toner formulation. This composite pigment system creates a new color reproduction capability that transcends the limitations of individual CMYK inks, achieving extended gamut coverage for blue hues while maintaining compatibility with standard printing processes
2Manufacturing precision
If violet and cyan pigments are combined to achieve accurate blue tones, then color accuracy is improved, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent manages formulation complexity by establishing specific parameter ranges for violet and cyan pigment concentrations (e.g., violet pigment at 1-10 wt% and cyan pigment at 2-15 wt%). These defined parameters provide a systematic approach to achieving accurate blue color matching while simplifying the formulation process through quantifiable guidelines rather than trial-and-error methods
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the production of blue toners that consistently match Pantone Blue 072 and Reflex Blue standards, ensuring color accuracy and extended gamut coverage for custom-color applications, with ΔE2000 values within the threshold of human perception, thus addressing the limitations of the CMYK color space.
Implementation Method 1
The CMYK model works by partially or entirely masking certain colors on the typically white background (that is, absorbing particular wavelengths of light)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides blue toners and methods for their production. In embodiments, methods of the present disclosure include systems which may be utilized to predict the color properties of a blue toner, thereby permitting adjustment of the pigment loading and/or toner mass per unit area.