Digital Color Reference Patches for Gravure Ink Formulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in seamlessly transitioning from digital to analog printing, particularly in achieving color matching and richness without the availability of original digital data, leading to inefficiencies in setup time and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A printed substrate with digitally printed color reference areas allows for easy conversion to analog printing by identifying suitable inks for gravure printing, eliminating the need for original digital data, using patches with mixed digital inks to replicate desired tones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital printing is used for decorative panels, then flexibility and setup time are improved, but color richness and print quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by including color reference areas (patches) during the digital printing process that will be used later for ink formulation in analog printing. These patches are printed in advance on the substrate along with the decorative pattern, allowing subsequent color matching without needing the original digital data. This preliminary inclusion of reference elements enables the transition from digital to analog printing while maintaining color accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If analog gravure printing is used for decorative panels, then color richness and print quality are improved, but setup time and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by printing color reference areas during the digital printing stage, so that when transitioning to analog gravure printing, the ink formulation can be based on these pre-existing patches rather than requiring time-consuming color matching from scratch. This eliminates the need for extensive setup time in analog printing while preserving color richness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating physical color reference patches that replicate the digital colors on the actual substrate. These patches serve as copies of the desired colors that can be measured and used to formulate inks for analog printing, replacing the need to work with digital data alone and enabling accurate color reproduction in the analog process.
3Manufacturing precision
If analog gravure printing is used for decorative panels, then print quality is improved, but device complexity and cost deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates simplified copies (color reference patches) of the digital design during the digital printing process. These patches contain the essential color information needed for analog printing, allowing the complex analog printing process to be set up more simply by measuring these patches and formulating inks accordingly, rather than requiring complex data conversion processes.
4Measurement precision
If color reference areas are added to the substrate, then color matching accuracy is improved, but substrate area for decoration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing color reference areas in specific local regions of the substrate (typically margins or non-decorative areas) rather than distributing them throughout the entire decorative surface. This allows the reference areas to have the quality of being measurable and color-accurate, while the main decorative areas maintain their full intended area and design integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a printed substrate, wherein said printed substrate comprises a substrate (2), said substrate preferably being a paper or a thermoplastic foil, at least one digitally printed decor (3) and at least one patch (4), wherein said at least one patch (4) comprises at least one color reference area (5), said at least one color reference area (5) comprising at least one digital ink and wherein said patch (4) is located on a part of said substrate (2), said part being substantially free of said at least one printed decor (3). In another aspect, the invention pertains to a method for formulating an ink for a gravure printing press. In another, independent aspect, the invention pertains to a method for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface.