CA1037763A - Color display of geophysical and other data - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

This invention relates to a new method of providing im-proved colour graphic displays of geophysical and other scientific and industrial data. Seismic sections, well bore logs, topo-graphic contours, medical data, etc. may be conveniently and ad-vantageously displayed in colour using this method. The data is received in digital form from a tape recorder or some other type of storage device and plotted on film transparencies. The film transparencies are then developed to form positive images. Poly-mer coatings are then sequentially deposited for each of the data sequences. A sheet of photopolymer laminate is placed on a display backing. A polymer coating is then deposited onto the display backing by exposing it to ultraviolet light through one of the positive images in a printer. A colour toner is then applied to each of the deposited polymer coatings. The colour graphic display thus formed is better adapted than known dis-plays for interpretation by analysts.

Description

~037~3 -. : .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF TEIE INVENTION: The present invention relates to color displays of geophysical data ,~
and other scientific and industrial data.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART: Prior art attempts to display geophysical data in color have been - based on complex, special purpose equipment adapted for use with specifically processed input signals expressing a particular geophysical or seismic variable, normally the frequence of seismic signals. The displays so formed in these prior art equipment were often quite different in format, scale and appearance from typical black-and-white seismic sections, reducing -; theif effectiveness for use in conjunction with the ;;~ conventional black-and-white sections in geophysical analysis : Other prior art color processing techniques, such as half-tone processing, did not readily adapt themselves to geophysical displays~
since an initial or input color display was required as a starting point for processing. From this initial color display, plural half-tone prints were made and processed in order to form an output color display. ';
Since half-tone processing required that a completed ' color display be provided to make additional color copies of the original, the effectiveness and in-telligibility of half-tone processing was dependent on that of the input or original color display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
; 30 Briefly, the present invention provides 2 4~

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a new and improved method and apparatus for color displays G
of geophysical and other data. In forming the color display of data, a positive image whose density varies according to the data is formed. A polymer coating is then deposited onto a display surface according to the density level or opacity of the positive image.
Toner of a particular color is then applied to adhere to the polymer coating so that a color display of the data is formed.
Where numerical values of functions in the data are represented as various colors, plural positive images are formed, each varying in density according to the presence of assigned numerical values of functions in the data. A polymer coating is deposited ~`
on the display surface for a first image and toner of a first color is applied to adhere to this coating.
Further polymer coatings and colors of toner are applied successively over the initial toner and subsequently applied toners to form the various colors.
In the apparatus of the present invention, the data is plotted onto a film transparency, from which a positive image is formed whose density ; level or opacity varies according to the data. A
polymer coating is then deposited on a display surface according to the opacity of the positive image so that a color toner may be applied to form a color display of the data. Where numerical values of ~
functions in the data are represented as various colors, plural positive images are formed, and polymer A~

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103771~3 emulsions are sequentially laminated onto the display surface so that plural polymer coatings may be deposited.
Color toners are sequentially applied after each polymer coating is deposited and before the next polymer emulsion is laminated thereon.
The apparatus of the p~esent invention further includes a new and improved printer wherein the polymer ~; coatings are exposed to ultraviolet light while the positive image screens the ultraviolet light to control the amount of polymer coatings deposited. The ultraviolet light is further angle screened for each polymer coating to be exposed so that the coatings do not form interference patterns with each other.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of forming a color display of data, both geophysical data and other types of technological data.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for forming color displays of geophysical data and other types of technological data.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved printer for depositing polymer coatings to represent various colors in geophysical and other types of technological data. .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the process steps of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric schematic drawing, taken partly in cross-section ~_ .
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Fig. 3 is an ~ ~ ~d~e~ ~sometric schematic drawing, taken partly in cross-section, of the printer of the pre-sent invention;
E'igs. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are sample color displays of a seismic section with a superimposed color modulation formed according to the present invention; and Fig. 4E is a conventional black-and-white display of the seismic section of Figs~ 4A through 4D without a superimposed color modulation.
: 10 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings, the letter A designates generally : the apparatus of the present invention for forming a color display of data. The apparatus A (Fig. 1) is particularly adapted for forming a color display of geophysical data wherein geophysical variables are plotted as functions of seismic signal travel time. It should be understood, however, that the apparatus A of the present invention is ~; equally adapted for forming displays of scientific, medical, industrial and other types of technological data as color functions or modulations of a common variable.
The apparatus A includes an image forming plotter I
which receives electrical signals representing the data to be plot-ted from a tape recorder T, or from some other suit-able digital memory or signal storage apparatus. The plotter I encodes the data from the tape recorder T and plots the ~;
data as a positive image from which the display is to be formed onto a film transparency.
A developer/film processor D develops the positive image of the data plotted on the film transparency by the plotter I. The positive image so developed varies in density .:
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'' ~377~3 level or opacity according to the values of geophysical data.
A display backing of paper, bristolboard, pasteboard or other suitable material has a polymer emulsion coating laminated thereover in a laminator L. After lamination, - the positive image is mounted on the display backing over - the polymer emulsion coating laminated thereto, and is , processed in a printer P so that a polymer coating is deposlted on the display surface according to the density of the positive image. Color toner dust may then be applied -; 10 to adhere to the polymer coating and form a color display . of the data.
The reel of tape in the storage T contains the data to be formed into the display in the apparatus A.
As set forth above, geophysical data, both in the form of seismic sections and well bore logs, topographic contours, medical data and other types of technical and technological data are suitable for display in accordance with the present invention.
.~ As an example, the data on the reel of tape in the storage T may be seismic signals processed in a conventional data processing machine such as a computer to form coded values representing various colors in a color dispIay of an auxiliary seismic variable which is to be superimposed on a black-and-white seismic section.
Suitable auxiliary seismic variables are interval velocity, reflection strength, coherence, cross-dip, any of which can be compared against a threshold level prior to display with only those variables-exceeding the threshold level being displayed, or an auxiliary variable . ~

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: 1()377~3 as discriminated by a second auxiliary variable, e.g., reflection strength as discriminated by signal coherence.
- Processing techniques to obtain data of this form of seismic - variables are set forth in Canadian Patent 1,015,077, which issued August 2, 1977 to Nigel Anstey.
; The processing results of this form are plural : signals in a suitable signal sequence, one signal in the form of digital data representing the conventional black-and-white seismic section, and three signals representing ` 10 the density values of the three component colors: magenta, .. : . , ` cyan and yellow. These component colors when combined form -~; the colors in the auxiliary seismic variable display super-imposed as a color modulation on the black-and-white seismic section, together with a calibrated color key presenting the .- ` .
` colors assigned to the numerical values of the variable for ease in analysis of the data. Suitable density values and techniques for processing signals to determine numerical ~ -values of the auxiliary variable for display are set forth `
in Canadian Patent 1,015,077 referred to above. The black-and-white signal and the three color component density values in the other three signals are then stored in ~- the reel of the tape storage T.
The data in the reel in the storage T containing the signals to be displayed is then furnished to the plotter I. The plotter I is a conventional signal plotter, such as an Optronics Plotter Model P-1500.
The plotter I includes a tape reader which reads the ~ 7 :-. '.-` :. '.-.

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1(~377~3 signals from the reel in the storage T and furnishes such signals to a Diyital-To-Analog converter or encoder lO.
The encoder 10 receives the digital signals from the tape T
and converts each digital signal to an analog signal amplitude. The encoded analog signal amplitudes from the encoder lO are then furnished to an image plotter 12 which plots the signals received from the encoder 10 for each signal in the tape storage T onto a separate film transparency. The information content of the signals plotted by the plotter 12 is in the form of positive images, or positives, which when developed in the processor D vary in density level or opacity from black through shades of gray to transparent in accordance with the amplitude of the signal level output of the encoder lO for the particular portion of the data being displayed.
The image forming plotter I thus forms an image : .
onto a separate film transparency for each of the signals in the tape T, one for the black-and-white seismic signal, one for the magenta density level of the auxiliary seismic variable, one for the cyan density level of the auxiliary seismic variable, and one for .. ~
the yellow density level of the auxiliary seismic variable being displayed.
The film transparencies containing the positive images formed in the plotter I are then developed in a developer D. As set forth above, the positive images vary in density level or opacity from black through shades of gray to transparent according to the amplitude of the signal level output of the encoder lO. The density ~ .
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levels so represented indicate -the signal amplitude of the black-and-whi-te seismic section, the density level of the magenta component of the color representation of the auxiliary seismic variable, the density level of the cyan color component of the color representation of the auxiliary seismic variable, and the density level of the yellow component of the color representation of the auxiliary seismic variable.
A sheet of photopolymer laminate is then laminated to a display backing in a laminator L. A suitable photo-polymer laminate is a film formed from a polyester base with a light-sensltive coating applied thereto, both of which are sandwiched between and protected by upper and lower cover sheets of a suitable plastic. A suitable -~ type of photopolymer laminate in this category is that film sold by DuPont under its trademark "Cromalin", -~ although other suitable laminates may be used, if desired.
A suitable laminator L is the Model 2700 laminator sold as part of the "Cromalin" system by DuPont, which stores a reel of the photopolymer laminate therein. As the display backing is moved past a laminating head therein, the laminator L removes the lower cover sheet from the laminate and applies the polyester base of the laminate to the display backing.
The display backing with the applied laminate and a first film transparency output of the processor D
mounted thereon are then inserted in the printer P so that a polymer coating may be deposited onto the display back-ing according to the density of the positive image on the film transparency, in a manner set forth below.
After the polymer coating is deposited on the -' ~ :

--3~--. . , - 1()377~3 backing in the printer P, the display backing and the transparency are removed from the printer P and the ~
upper cover sheet of the laminate is removed, leaving ~ ;
a gummy polyester coating deposited onto areas of the - backing in accordance with the density of the film ; transparency. Where the film transparency is transparent, no gummy polyester coating is present. Color toner of a first color is then applied by hand or by sui-table automatic means to adhere to the gummy areas. In this manner, a first toner color is applied in accordance with the density of a first transparent image of the data to be displayed. As has been set forth above, ; the density of the transparent image varies in accordance with the amplitude of the input signal from the tape T.

Considering the printer P (Fig. 3) more in detail, ,~
a vacuum printer, such as a Berkley-Ascor vacuum printer, ~; where a photopolymer laminate is exposed to ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet lamp or source 14 in the presence of a substantial vacuum condition, is modified in structure with the present invention in the manner to be set forth below. Conventional portions of the printer are not shown in the drawings in order to preserve clarity therein.
A base 16 of rubber or other suitable resilient material is mounted in a suitable housing in the printer P.
One or more suitable apertures 18, preferably plural per-forations are formed in the base 16 so that a pipe or tubing 20 ¢onnected to a pump may permit air to be withdrawn to form a vacuum between the base 16 and a transparent cover sheet 22. The cover sheet 22 is formed from glass -~ 30 or other suitable material and serves in conjunction with ~ ._ _~_ , ~ . , .
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~0377~3 the base 16 to hold the display backing in place during illumination by the source 14. A resilient rib or rim 24 ,.~
is formed about the outer edge of the base 16 and is Q' adapted to yield downwardly when engaged by the outer edges of the cover sheet 22, permit-ting the cover sheet 22 and the base 16 to move towards each other when the vacu~n condition is formed therebetween by means of extraction of air through the apertures 18.
The cover sheet 22 is hingedly or otherwise movably mounted with respect to the base 16 to permit insertion and removal of the polymer coated display surface, and to permit closure of the cover sheet 22 -~
against the rim 24 duriny evacuation of the air between the sheet 22 and the base 16.
An optical screen 26, such as a commercially available elliptical dot screen or other commercially available opti_al screen is mounted or attached by suitable adhesives, on an opposite side of the cover 22 from the ultraviolet source 14. The elliptical dot screen 26 forms a grid pattern of dots which forms a mesh or group of dot openings superimposed above the deposited image in order that the entire area of the dark or gray portions of the positive image are not transferred to the photo-sensitive polymer coating, but rather a group of dots whose area of coverage varies in accordance with the presence or absence of gray or dark areas on the positive image. ~ -As set forth above, a display backing is used to receive the photo polymer laminates to be applied.
A display hacking 28 (Fig. 3) on which the display is to be formed has a polymer emulsion 30 laminated -~

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1(~377~3 thereto in the larninator L (Fig. 1). A corner of the emulsion 30 is raised in the drawings to schematically indicate the two separate layers, although in practice the emulsion is laminated over the entire surface of ,.:
the backing 28.
A film transparency 32 is mounted on the laminated backing 28 above the emulsion 30. Suitable registry lines or guides 34 may be formed onto the display backing 28 in order to insure positionin~ of the transparency 32 in the proper place thereon.
A photosensitive cell 36 with a filter 36a adapted to screen out light outside the sensitivity range of the `- photopolymer emulsion is mounted in position to receive a portion of the output of the ultraviolet source 14 to measure the illumination output thereof. The photosensitive cell 36 sends an electrical signal over an electrical conductor 38 indicating the illumination output of the source 14 to a light-time integrator 40. A suitable light-time integrator, for example, is Graphic Ar-ts - 20 Manufacturing Light-Time Integrator Model LI-102. The integrator 40 integrates or totals the illumination out-put of the source 14 as exposure time elapses so that the total illumination output of the source 14 over a time interval is measured.
Plural control knobs 42 are mounted with the integrator 40 to provide an input indication of the desired illumination-time product output of the source 14.
~1hen this desired illumination-time output product is sensed by the integrator 40, a suitable switch electrically de-energizes the printer by disabling the operating switch thereof, turning off the ultraviolet light source 14.
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The light-time integrator 40 permits control of the uniformity of the density of the polymer coatings deposited from the laminate 30 onto the display backing 28 according v .. . . .
to the data content of the transparency 32 despite fluctuations in light output intensity of the source 14. With a desired light-time product established at the input knobs 42, the light-time integrator 40 prolongs exposure time should ultravlolet llght intensity from the source 14 decrease during exposure of a laminate onto the backing 28. Conversely, the integrator 40 decreases exposure time should the output intensity of the source 14 increase during exposure of a laminate onto the backing 28.
An alignment guide 44 of plural registry lines and a number indicating the sequence in which they are used is mounted with the base 16 to indicate the desired position of the display backing for each of the p]ural positive images to be deposited thereon. The four desired positions of alignment for the backing 28 with respect to t~?e screen :-26 during exposure of such image to the ultraviolet light 20 from the source 14 are different. Moving the backing 28 -to different positions with respect to the screen 26 in the manner indicated by the alignment guide 44 permits --the screen 26 to perform the function of angle screening the ultraviolet light which prevents the superimposition ; of positive images during exposure and thereby prevents formation of undesirable interference patterns known as moiré patterns which would reduce the intelligibility and accuracy of the display formed in accordance with the :
present invention.

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~V37~63 Schematic diayram 100 (Fig. 2) sets forth the sequence of processing steps in order to Eorm the input data into an output display.
A first step 102 is performed by reading in the signals of the input digital data to be displayed from the tape T into the plotter I (Fig. 1). A step 104 schematically represents the coding step where the input digital data from the tape T is converted into analog form by the encoder 10 of the plotter I. A
step 106 represents the operation of the plotter 12 of the image forming plotter I where -the analog data output of the encoder 10 is plotted for each of the input signals as a positive image onto separate film transparencies.
A step 108 indicates schematically the operation of the film processor D where each of the positive images formed onto film transparencies during step 106 is - developed by the film processor D.
A first laminate 30 (Fig. 3) is laminated to the backing 28 in the laminator L during a step 110, and a first of the positive images formed during performance step 108 is placed thereon in registry with the registry lines 34. It is to be noted that although the positive image is superimposed on the laminate, there is no adhesive . or other connection therebetween, for reasons to be set forth below. The laminated backing 28 and the superimposed positive image are then placed on the first registry line (labelled "1") in the alignment guide 44 (Fig. 3) in the printer P. A step 112 is the next step, where the positive image is formed on the applied laminate in a manner to be set forth below.

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.: 10377~i3 The cover plate 22 of the printer P is then moved into engagement wi-th the rib 24 about the base 16, and appropriate settings on the knobs ~2 of the light-time integrator 40 are made. The printer P is then energized, activating the ultraviolet source 14.
In the printer P, the ultraviolet light from the source 14 hardens areas of the polymer emulsion in the laminate 30 which are exposed thereto during the step 112.
Where because of the data content of the input signal there are black or gray areas on the positive image 32 interposed ~!
between the laminate 30 and the ultraviolet source 14, the ultraviolet light from the source ~4 does not harden the polymer emulsion in the coating, thereby leaving a gummy or sticky area on the display backing 28. The amount of area of -the display backing 28 to which the coating of adhesive emulsion adheres is controlled by the extent of the input signal being plotted across the data field to -be plotted.
The ultraviolet light passing through the openings in the screen 26 thus leaves a plurality of correspondingly shaped small dots or areas in those areas where the adhesive emulsion does not harden during exposure. The amount of emulsion deposited as these small dots on the backing 28 in a particular area is governed by the amplitude of the '~
input data signal,which varies the positive image 32 in opacity or density level from black through gray to transparent, as has been set forth above. Accordingly, in areas of the display where the numerical values of the input data signal to be displayed are high, and a corres- .
ponding dark image is formed on the positive image film '` .
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37~i3 transparency 32, corresponding dense groupings of these small dots of emulsion are left. In areas of the display where the signal to be displayed has low numerical value.s, a correspondingly lighter image is formed on the trans-parency 32, and a correspondingly thinner or less dense grouping of do-ts emulsion is left on the backing 28.
~ hen the light-time integrator 40 senses that sufficient exposure of the laminate 30 to the ultraviolet light from the source 14 has occurred as established by -the settings on control knobs 42, the printer P is stopped, and the display backing 28 removed therefrom. The positive image 32 is removed from the laminated display backing 28, and is placed in storage so that it is available for sub-sequent use. It is important to note that display formation in accordance with the present invention does not alter the ; posi-tive image film transparencies and thus the film trans-parencies are available for formation of subsequent displays ; without requiring operation of the plotter I or the developer D.
The upper cover sheet of the photopolymer laminate 30 is then removed, for example by hand, from the display backing 28 during the step 114, and the adhesive emulsion coatings deposited on the backing 28 during the step 112 are thus exposed. During the step ~16 a conventional color toner dust of a first color is applied to the display backing 28 by hand or by some suitable automated means.
The color toner dust applied during the step 116 adheres only to those adhesive portions of the display backing 28 where the gummy areas of emulsion have been deposited during performance of step 112 according to the dark or gray areas present on the positive image.

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As has been set forth, the amount of emulsion deposited on the backing is controlled by the darkness of the positive image across areas of the display. Where large deposits of emulsion are present, relatively large amounts of toner adhere. ~here lesser deposits of emulsion are present, relatively small amounts of toner adhere.
The particular number of color toners used in the present invention, as well as the particular colors ;~ or color mixture used, and the sequence in which they are used, varies according to the type of data to be displayed.
For seismic cross-section displays with a superimposed `~
auxiliary seismic variable in color therewith, of the type ; set forth above, four toners are suitable for use: -magenta, cyan, yellow and black.
Figure 4D in the drawings represents an example ~ `
;` display according to the present invention, in the form -of an output display having an auxiliary seismic variable of reflection strength of a seismic signal superimposed as a color modulation on a black-and-white seismic section. The horizontal dimension across the display of Fig. 4D is distance along a seismic survey line as indi-cated by spacing lines, while the vertical dimension is seismic signal travel time, as indicated by seconds 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 along the left edge of the display. A
calibrated color key is formed therewith to permit numerical analysis of the assigned numerical values of the reflection strength function in the seismic data, as disclosed in the Canadian Patent 1,015,077 set forth above. The color key at the right in Figure 4D, as is evident ' :
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:; . . ` ~ , . . '.' ' ', 1~)37 ~;3 ~rom lnspection, indicates by color variations from magenta for maximum relative signal strength through shades of orange, yellow, green and blue calibrated numerical variations in the relative strength of the seismic signal whic}l are superimposed as color modulations to increase the information content of the section for geophysical analysis as contrasted to the black-and-white display in Fiy 4E. Further, the depositing of the polymer coating in the form of small dots in the printer P
for the various positive images increases the range of definition of the various colors so displayed, as will be more evident below.
Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C represent the final display of Figure 4D during various steps of its formation in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4A represents the display after a first positive image has been transferred into corresponding deposits of photopolymer emulsion thereon in the printer P and a magenta toner applied to adhere to the emulsion deposits.
; 20 As has been set forth above, the areas on the display where a high level of relative signal strength occurs are indicated by the magenta toner. The amounts of magenta deposited to form the calibrated color key, -as is evident from Fig. 4A, decrease from a high density level as signal strength indicated by the key decreases.
After the magenta toner has been applied to adhere to the emulsion deposits and the emulsion permitted to harden, a new layer of photopolymer laminate 30 is applied thereabove, as indicated by a process step 118. A second positive image is superimposed thereabove and the display backing returned to the printer P for A~

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~`: 10377~i3 formation. For the second positive image to be transferred to the display backing, a second registry line 44 is used in order to prevent moiré interEerence and superimposition - of the positive images being deposited, as has been set forth. Figure 4B represents the display of Figure 4A
after a second posi~ive image has been transferred into corresponding deposits of emulsion during the step 112, ; the superimposed second positive image removed from the display backing and the laminate sheet removed during performance of the step 114, and a yellow color toner ~-~ dust applied in the manner set forth above during the step 116.
As is evident from Figure 4B, in areas of the - display where moderately strong, but not maximum, levels of strength are present the dots of yellow toner and magenta toner blend to the eye to form ranges of colors in shades of umber, orange and yellow according to decreasing relative signal strength, both in the display and in the color key.

After the yellow toner has been applied during the step 116 to adhere to the emulsion deposits and the emulsion permitted to harden, a third layer of laminate is applied thereabove during the step 118, and a third positive image superimposed thereabove.
The display backing is then returned to the printer P
for formation of corresponding deposits of adhesive emulsion thereon in the printer P. After the emulsion is so deposited on the display backing, and the printer P stopped, the backing 28 is removed from the printer P

and the superimposed positive image returned to storage.
The upper cover sheet of the photopolymer laminate is ,~,'~
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then removed during the step 114 and a third color toner dust, cyan, is applied to adhere to the emulsion deposits resulting in the display of Figure 4C.
As is evident from Fig. 4C, in areas of the ~; display where relatively low levels of signal strength - occur, the dots of yellow toner and the dots of cyan~;
; toner blend to the eye to form ranges of colors in shades ; of yellow-green, green, and blue according to decreasing : relative signal strength both in the display and in the . , ~
color key. -After the cyan toner has been applied in the manner set forth above and the deposited emulsion per-;-~ - mitted to harden, a final layer of photopolymer laminate is applied to the display backing during step 118. A
fourth positive image is superimposed thereabove and ~, .................................................................... .
the display backing returned to the printer P for formatlon of corresponding deposits of emulsion thereon. ~
After the printer P is stopped, the fourth positive image -is removed therefrom, and the upper cover sheet of the photopolymer laminate is then removed so that a fourth color toner dust, black, is applied to adhere to the;~
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emulsion deposits, resulting in the final output display of Figure 4D. The areas of the display to which the dots ~ -~
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- of black toner adhere and the size of the dots in these - areas correspond to the areas of the black-and-white ., ~ , , .
display of Fig. 4E! ranging from black through shades of gray to transparent.
Since at this time all four data signals from -the tape T have been incorporated into the display, as schematically indicated by a step 120, the final output display is formed and the apparatus A is pre-` 2 :
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pared for processing or subsequent displays. At this time the spacing lines across the top of the display, the - travel time lines and designations, and the reference - levels and designations of the color key are added, either by plotter, typing, lettering set, pen and ink, or lamination and superimposition of a previously - printed transparency. An additional photopolymer lami-nate may thereafter be added and hardened in the printer P to protect the display so formed.
Thus, the present invention forms color displays readily and quickly from input data indicating in color the numerical variations in the data without requiring special purpose signal processing equipment. Further, as has been set forth above, the positive image trans-parencies are also not altered and are thus available for further use. Should a processing error occur, such as ; application of a wrong color of toner to an emulsion, with the present invention it is not required to plot a new set of data and subsequently form positive images in order to correct the processing error. A new dis-play backing is laminated, and the first~posltive image inserted therewith ~nto the printer P for formation of the first positive image and processing in accordance with the present invention continues.
It should be understood that the printer P of the present invention may further be used to make color displays from film negatives, if desired, when such negatives are produced from seismic data in accordance with Canadian Patent 1,015,077, referred to above.
Such negatives are then screened to produce screened ;;

1~)3 771~3 posi-tives in the conventional manner and the laminates are exposed to ultraviolet light in the printer P through the , screened positives to deposit gummy areas thereon so that toner may be applied. In this case, the screen 26 is not used.
It should further be understood that nega-tives could, if desired, be plotted in the plotter P and positives developed therefrom for use with the present invention.
- 10 The foregoing disclosure and descriptlon of the ;~ invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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Claims (4)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In forming color graphic displays directly from a sequence of input digital data values, wherein differing colors at data display points in the color displays are quantitatively indicative of differing values or ranges of values of the digital data, and processed input digital data to be displayed at the data display points having numerical codes assigned thereto from an assignment table, with the assignment table comprised of a set of numerical codes referenced as a two-dimensional matrix, one dimension of the matrix representing sample values of the data to be displayed, each sample value representing an assigned range from a plurality of ranges into which the input data values are partitioned, and the other dimension of the matrix representing a plurality of component displays, one component display for each component color in the color displays to be formed, and further with the numerical codes of the set specifying the visual image densities to be formed at data display points of the component displays and further specifying the relative density of each component color in the colors associated with such data display points according to the sample values thereof, and further with the numerical codes assigned to the data display points organized into output sequences for each of the component displays, the improved method of forming component color displays comprising the steps of:
(a) plotting the output sequences of numerical codes assigned to data display points by light exposure to produce corresponding film transparencies having image densities at the data display points according to the numerical codes assigned to the sample values;

(b) developing the exposed film transparencies to produce positive images whose image densities at the data dis-play points vary according to the numerical codes of the output sequences for each of the plotted film transparencies for such output sequences;
(c) sequentially depositing a polymer coating for each of the plotted output sequences over previously deposited coatings according to the image densities of the positive images formed for each of the plotted film transparencies, by performing the steps of:
(1) placing a sheet of photopolymer laminate on a display backing;
(2) placing one of the developed positive images having image density variations above the sheet of photopolymer laminate;
(3) placing an optical screen above the image;
(4) exposing each of the polymer coatings to ultraviolet light through one of the positive images to deposit the polymer coating according to the density of the positive images at data display points; and (5) changing the alignment of each of the positive images with respect to the optical screen prior to said step of exposing to thereby angle screen the ultraviolet light to different angles for each of the polymer coatings during said step of exposing; and (d) applying a color toner to each of the deposited polymer coatings to thereby form component color displays for color graphic display directly from the digital data values.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein said step of developing positive images comprises:
developing positive images whose opacity varies according to the contents of the data.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein:
said step of applying comprises applying a color toner distinct in color from the others to each of the deposited polymer coatings.

4. The method of Claim 3, wherein:
(a) said step of depositing comprises initially depositing a first polymer coating on the display surface;
(b) said step of applying includes applying a first color toner to the first deposited polymer coating;
(c) said step of exposing further comprises indivi-dually exposing each of the other polymer coatings subsequent to said step of applying a first color toner; and (d) said step of applying comprises applying a color toner distinct in color from the other color toners to each of the other polymer coatings after each of said steps of indivi-dually exposing.