Inkjet Printing Ink Gaps for Gravure Simulation

The patent applies local quality by varying the ink layer thickness in different areas of the printed image. By creating stochastic distributions of ink voids (areas with reduced or no ink), the printing process achieves local variations in ink coverage that replicate gravure printing effects while maintaining the flexibility of inkjet printing. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the inkjet process to produce controlled local thickness variations rather than uniform layers.

The patent changes the parameter of ink layer thickness from uniform to variable by introducing ink voids with different sizes, shapes, and distributions. The digital image template is modified to include these voids, and the printing process parameters are adjusted to create areas with reduced ink transfer. This parameter change enables the inkjet process to achieve gravure-like effects with stochastic ink distribution.

The patent extracts or removes ink from specific areas to create ink voids within the printed image. By taking out ink in a controlled stochastic distribution, the overall ink coverage is maintained in most areas while creating localized regions with reduced or no ink. This extraction accelerates drying time in these void areas and improves adhesion for subsequent coatings without significantly compromising overall print quality.

The patent creates a porous structure in the ink layer by introducing ink voids that allow air circulation and evaporation pathways. This porous configuration, with its network of interconnected voids, significantly enhances drying performance by facilitating moisture escape while maintaining visual coverage through optical effects. The voids act as channels for rapid evaporation without creating visible defects.

The patent copies the visual appearance of gravure printing by replicating its characteristic stochastic ink distribution pattern using inkjet technology. The ink voids are arranged to mimic the cell structures of gravure cylinders, creating a visual effect that closely resembles traditional gravure printing. This copying approach maintains visual uniformity by reproducing the aesthetic characteristics of the reference printing method while achieving improved drying and adhesion properties.

The patent applies partial action by introducing ink voids that occupy only a portion of the total image area rather than uniformly across the entire surface. The voids are strategically distributed to provide sufficient drying and adhesion benefits while maintaining adequate ink coverage in other areas to preserve visual uniformity. The stochastic distribution ensures that no single area is overly affected, balancing processability improvements with visual consistency.