Clear Toner Patterning Based on Color Darkness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods using 100% clear toner for dimensional printing are expensive, low in resolution, and require numerous passes, which can degrade image quality and waste toner.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a grey-level rendition of CMYK images to vary the amount of clear toner applied, minimizing passes and toner usage, while maintaining dimensionality and enhancing gloss effects through controlled application in multiple printing passes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If 100% clear toner is used for dimensional printing, then dimensional effect is achieved, but the number of printing passes increases and image quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies clear toner selectively based on the darkness level of underlying color areas. Lighter areas receive more clear toner while darker areas receive less or none, creating localized dimensional effects only where needed rather than uniformly across the entire document.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies the amount of clear toner applied as a continuous parameter based on the darkness level of the underlying color, rather than using fixed 100% coverage. This grey-level rendition of clear toner application reduces the number of passes needed while maintaining dimensional effects.
2Shape
If 100% clear toner is applied in multiple passes, then dimensional printing is achieved, but toner consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Clear toner is applied locally only to areas requiring dimensional enhancement, determined by the darkness level of the underlying color. This selective application avoids unnecessary toner consumption in areas where dimensional effects are not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying 100% clear toner uniformly, the system applies partial amounts based on the specific needs of each area, using only the necessary amount of toner to achieve the desired dimensional effect without excessive consumption.
3Illumination intensity
If clear toner is applied uniformly across the document, then gloss effect is achieved, but resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies clear toner with varying amounts based on the darkness level of underlying areas, creating localized gloss effects that enhance the perceived resolution by avoiding uniform coverage that would blur fine details.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing engine prints an electronic document in a first printing pass to produce a printed media sheet having first markings. Additionally, a processor determines the amount of the clear marking material to print on top of the previously printed media sheet (which already has those first markings). The processor determines different amounts of clear marking material to print on first and second areas of the printed media sheet, based on different darkness levels of first and second colors in the first and second areas of the sheet. After the first printing pass, the printing engine prints (on the previously printed media sheet which has the first markings) those different amounts of clear marking material on the first area and the second area in a second printing pass, and this produces a printed media sheet having gloss markings.