Printed Matter Gloss Control via Local Transparent Material Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods fail to effectively express the texture of metallic colors in printed matter, as the metallic luster achieved with glossy transparent materials is insufficient due to excessive specular reflection from the transparent layer and insufficient reflection from the chromatic material layer.
Innovation Solution
A printed matter configuration with alternating chromatic regions and a glossy transparent material layer, where the amount of clear toner per unit area in the transparent layer is adjusted to suppress excessive specular reflection, enhancing the saturation of the chromatic material layer, thereby improving the metallic color texture representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a glossy transparent material layer is applied to enhance gloss level, then the gloss level of the printed matter is improved, but the saturation of the chromatic material layer is reduced due to excessive specular reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different regions within the transparent material layer: a first region with a greater amount of transparent material per unit area and a second region with a lesser amount. This spatial variation in material distribution allows different areas to have different optical properties, enabling simultaneous achievement of gloss enhancement and color saturation in different regions of the printed matter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by varying the amount of transparent material per unit area across different regions. By controlling this physical parameter (material quantity/distribution), the optical characteristics (specular reflection, gloss, and color saturation) are adjusted to resolve the contradiction between enhancing gloss and maintaining color saturation.
2Illumination intensity
If metallic color material is used in addition to CMYK colors, then metallic luster is attempted to be achieved, but the metallic luster remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by designating specific regions (first regions) with higher transparent material content to create specular reflection areas that simulate metallic highlights, while other regions (second regions) with lower transparent material content maintain color saturation. This spatial differentiation enables pseudo-metallic luster expression without requiring actual metallic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining chromatic material layers with transparent material layers in a multi-layer structure. This composite approach allows the integration of different optical functions: the chromatic layer provides color while the transparent layer provides gloss and specular reflection, together achieving metallic color texture that neither layer could achieve alone.
3Shape
If clear toner is applied to achieve high gloss, then the surface smoothness is improved, but the texture of metal color cannot be expressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating spatially varying regions in the transparent material layer with different material densities. The first regions with higher transparent material content provide enhanced surface smoothness and gloss, while the second regions with lower content preserve color saturation, together creating the complex optical texture characteristic of metallic surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses another dimension by transitioning from a uniform transparent material layer to a multi-region structure with varying material distribution. This dimensional change in material organization (from 2D uniform plane to 3D varied structure) enables the expression of metallic texture through controlled variations in light reflection and transmission properties.
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
This approach achieves high saturation and gloss levels, effectively simulating the texture of metallic colors by optimizing the reflection properties of the chromatic and transparent material layers.
Implementation Method 1
The transparent material layer includes a plurality of first regions respectively overlapping with the plurality of first chromatic regions and a plurality of second regions respectively overlapping with the plurality of second chromatic regions. The amount per unit area of the transparent material in the second region is smaller than the amount per unit area of the transparent material in the first region.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A printed matter (100) includes a recording medium (110); a chromatic color layer (120) formed, with a chromatic colorant, on the recording medium (110); a plurality of first regions (131) formed with a transparent material and arranged at intervals on the chromatic color layer (120); and a plurality of second regions (132) each of which is disposed between adjacent two of the plurality of first region (131). A first unit material amount calculated by dividing an amount of the transparent material in the plurality of first regions (131) with an area of the plurality of first regions (131) is different from a second unit material amount calculated by dividing an amount of the transparent material in the plurality of second regions (132) with an area of the plurality of second regions (132).