Relief Print Color Gamut Independence via Segmented Pixel Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing relief print systems face a limitation in generating a gamut of colors that is independent of the height of the pixels, as the obtainable colors on a dark background are reduced due to the stacking of colorants, leading to a reduction in the overall color gamut.
Innovation Solution
The method involves defining a rasterized relief image with color and height channels, distinguishing between a relief part and a skin part, and deriving pass images where the relief part uses arbitrary colorants and the skin part primarily white colorants, allowing the gamut to be independent of pixel height by separating the colorant composition into distinct layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If colorants are stacked multiple times on the same substrate position to create relief height, then the height of the relief print is improved, but the color gamut is reduced due to darkening effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pixel into three distinct parts: relief part (for height), white part (for background concealment), and skin part (for color rendering). This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the relief part creates height through multiple colorant stacks, the white part provides a consistent light background, and the skin part applies color only where needed, thereby maintaining color gamut while achieving relief effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different colorant compositions to different parts of each pixel location. The relief part uses arbitrary colorants for height building, the white part uses mainly white colorant for background, and the skin part uses colorants matched to the desired color. This local differentiation ensures that color is only applied where necessary, preventing unwanted darkening while maintaining relief height
2Shape
If the same colorant combination is printed multiple times to increase relief height, then the height of the relief print is improved, but the printed color becomes darker and gamut is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pixel into relief part, white part, and skin part, the patent allows the skin part to be printed with the precise colorant combination needed for accurate color reproduction, while the relief part handles the height-building function. This separation ensures that color accuracy is not compromised by the height-building process
Solution Approach 2:
The white part is printed first to establish a consistent light background, then the skin part is printed on top to add the desired color. This preliminary action of creating a white background ensures that subsequent color layers are not darkened by underlying dark colors, maintaining color accuracy while building relief height
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for processing a relief raster image, comprising customary color channels for indicating a color of each pixel and a height channel for indicating a height of each pixel into several pass images that are printed using a printer with several colorants including a white colorant. For each pixel a relief part, a white part and a skin part are discriminated in order to combine the demands for height and color variation across the surface of the image. The skin part comprises pixels for which a colorant composition based on the color channels of the relief raster image is established. In order to print a color in the skin part that is independent of a height of the pixel, the relief part comprises an arbitrary colorant composition and the white part comprises mainly white colorant.