Localized Gloss Printing for Realistic Image Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for imparting gloss to printed images uniformly coat clear ink onto the entire print medium, limiting the ability to express localized glossiness and realism, especially when certain areas require varying gloss levels.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus and method that forms at least two regions with different gloss levels on a print medium, followed by forming a printed image on these regions, using a gloss forming unit and a print image forming unit to enrich the expression of glossiness and achieve a more realistic appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If clear ink is coated uniformly onto the entire print medium, then the degree of glossiness can be adjusted, but the glossiness of the entire print medium is adjusted uniformly and cannot express localized glossiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegloss level control precisionVSAvoidlocalized gloss expression capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the print medium into multiple regions with different gloss levels. The gloss forming unit applies gloss solution selectively to specific regions rather than uniformly across the entire medium, enabling localized gloss expression while maintaining control precision for each region

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements different gloss qualities in different regions of the print medium. By controlling the gloss forming unit to apply varying amounts of gloss solution to different areas, the system achieves local quality variation where each region has the desired gloss level independent of others

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If clear ink is coated onto the print medium before forming the printed image, then glossiness can be imparted, but the processing sequence becomes less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegloss effect qualityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the gloss solution in advance to specific regions of the print medium before the print image is formed. This preliminary action allows the gloss effect to be established first, then the image is printed on top, maintaining gloss quality while enabling efficient processing through proper sequencing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional processing sequence by forming the gloss effect first and then printing the image on top, rather than printing first and then applying gloss. This reversal maintains the reliability of gloss effect while improving overall processing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12583246B2Printing apparatus and method for forming printed images having glossiness

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 RISO KAGAKU CORP

AI summary

A printing apparatus includes: a gloss forming unit that forms at least two regions having different gloss levels on a print medium; and a print image forming unit that forms a print image on the at least two regions having different gloss levels of the print medium after the gloss forming unit forms the at least two regions.