CA2300891A1 - Method for printing an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects - Google Patents
Method for printing an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2300891A1 CA2300891A1 CA002300891A CA2300891A CA2300891A1 CA 2300891 A1 CA2300891 A1 CA 2300891A1 CA 002300891 A CA002300891 A CA 002300891A CA 2300891 A CA2300891 A CA 2300891A CA 2300891 A1 CA2300891 A1 CA 2300891A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- color
- separation
- colors
- achromatic
- c2m2y2
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
- B41M1/14—Multicolour printing
- B41M1/18—Printing one ink over another
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
- B41M3/06—Veined printings; Fluorescent printings; Stereoscopic images; Imitated patterns, e.g. tissues, textiles
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F3/00—Colour separation; Correction of tonal value
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F3/00—Colour separation; Correction of tonal value
- G03F3/10—Checking the colour or tonal value of separation negatives or positives
- G03F3/108—Checking the colour or tonal value of separation negatives or positives using a non-impact printing method, e.g. ink jet, using duplicating or marking methods covered by B41M5/00, e.g. by ablation or by thermographic means
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Color Image Communication Systems (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for printing an object, comprising the following steps: producing colour separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) of a threeor four-colour set from an original; modifying the allocation of colours (C1iM1iY1i; C2kM2kY2k; K2) - modified colours (C1i; M1i; Y1i; C2k; M2k; Y2k) are allocated to the base colours (C1; M1; Y1; C2; M2; Y2) of said colour separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) in a way which deviates from the three- or four-colour set, and printing the object or object being printed on the basis of the colour separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) with the modified colour allocation (C1iM1iY1i; C2kM2kY2k; K2). The invention also relates to an object, especially a floor covering, which is printed according to a colour separation (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) of a three- or four-colour set from an original, said object having modified colours (C1i; M1i; Y1i; C2k; M2k; Y2k; K2) corresponding to a modified colour allocation (C1iM1iY1i; C2kM2kY2k; K2) of the base colours (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2) to the colour separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2), said allocation deviating from the three- or four-colour set, and to a set of printed objects, especially floor coverings, the individual objects being produced according to the invention, being printed on the basis of the same original and each having a differently modified colour allocation (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2; K2j).
Description
July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Applicant: DLW Aktiengesellschaft "Method for the Printing of an Object, a Printed Object, and a Set of Such Printed Obj ects"
Our ref.: D 2537 - ds/dk Description The present invention concerns a method for the printing of an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects.
The printing of floor coverings in the past has taken place in a special color room using the gravure printing process. This is known, for example, from German patent 984 A1. Special colors (also referred to as tertiary or quartinary colors) are generally understood to mean mixtures of primary colors, secondary colors, black, and white, thus for example, beige, brown, violet, etc. Since it is frequently desired that the design correspond to the appearance of certain natural products (marble, granite, etc.), the desired natural material as a rule is first reproduced (for example through reproduction photography). On the basis of this printing master, color separations are prepared in the special color room usually in conjunction with intaglio gravure-in the form of half tone opal plates. In this connection, the term color separation should be understood as both halftone opal plates as well as data records for use in electronic image processing.
The preparation of color separations in a special color room requires much experience. In addition, all three or four colors separations must be modified in the proof tuning since a desired alteration of results as a rule cannot be achieved through the modification of only one color separation. In addition, in order to make reprints possible later, a large amount of data must be stored.
An additional problem is that specifically in the area of floor coverings there is often a desire to obtain several different colorations of one design July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner in the sense of a color series, each of which ideally can still be combined with the others.
With these requirements, the problems in the preparation of the color separation mentioned in the beginning naturally increase exponentially, for each color separation is selected in the special color room according to optical color effects and is processed until the closest possible approximation of the design is present. The special colors must be interchangeable with the particular color separations (creation of color series), and a registration difference based on operating conditions and material must be possible (for example, a 400-cm-wide web of material creeps in the equipment longitudinally and laterally in the machine without control due to material warpage and differences in thickness). As a result of empirically separated special colors, areas of unforeseeable overlap often occur with overstrike which result in the formation of patterns in the surface.
An additional manufacturing problem is that for each color setting, as a rule all individual colors of each printing group must be changed. For a web width of 400 cm, residual ink of at least fifty kilograms occurs in this process which must be drawn off and stored for further processing. This causes a higher manufacturing price for the printed object, in particular for a printed floor covering.
Furthermore, a method is known from German patent DE 195 23 188 Al for printing an object using a three or four color set with the following steps:
- Reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations of the color set with the generation of an achromatic separation and accordingly altered color separations, - Printing of the print object on the basis of the altered color separations, - Printing of the print object with a special color on the basis of the achromatic separation.
This method, however, has the drawback that for the creation of a multiplicity of color combinations of one pattern, a corresponding multiplicity of special colors must be used, the ink remnants of which in turn require storage or July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bor6 & Partner conditioning, as a result of which manufacturing costs are increased.
-> 3a July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 3a The publication Althammer Ed., "Technik des Flexodrucks" [Technique of Flexographic Printing], 1991, COATING VERLAG THOMAS & CO., St. Gallen, Switzerland, on pages 139 through 140 discloses a printing procedure in which one color of the original CYNIK separation is replaced by another color. What is involved here is the process which is designated coloration in which the other color is obtained through the mixing of (base) colors. A similar printing process is also known from German patent DE-381.
In a procedure of mixing of colors, however, it is necessary from the aspect of subsequent reproducibility for a very accurate log of the mixing procedure to be kept or for the mixed ink to be stored for subsequent printing procedures. In addition, it is necessary in the case of these printing procedures to clean the inking unit which will be loaded with the modified color.
The object of the invention is to provide a method for the printing of an object which makes possible cost-effective production, in particular a simple color rendering of one like pattern.
This object is achieved through a method with the features indicated in Claim 1.
Preferred embodiments are found in the subclaims.
In the printing process, the sequence of the colors which are to be applied is specifically not critical. Since the step of altering the color assignment is carried out through the switching of one or several printing groups, an inking unit advantageously must be loaded with only one color, so that measures for the cleaning of the inking unit advantageously can be omitted.
-~ 3b July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 3b According to the invention, a method for the printing of an object with the following steps is provided:
- Generation of color separations of a print master based on a three or four color set;
- Alteration of the color assignment, with altered colors being assigned to the base colors of the color separations generated in deviation from the three or four color set; and - Printing of the object or of the printed object on the basis of color separations with altered color assignment.
Through the alteration or variation of the color assignment, a color variation of the same printing pattern can be achieved while retaining the same printing groups or printing plates and without special colors having to be mixed, as a result of which one pattern can be configured in various colors without great expense. In addition, for subsequent reprints, storage of the associated print data requiring a relatively small storage expense is possible.
--~ 4 July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Since it is fundamentally possible to work with the same base colors and they can be changed only in their assignment to the color separations created, it is in general possible to prepare gravure-ready data records for rotogravure through suitable proofing methods (for example, by means of a high resolution inkjet printer) without a great degree of knowledge of the technical overall conditions of gravure. Furthermore, it has been shown that in particular through alteration of the color assignment deviating from the conventional color assignments on the basis of which the color separations are produced, any number of color series can be produced on the basis of the same design which coordinate with each other.
According to the invention, a three or four color set is first produced from the pattern or the print master, in particular the process photo, with the three or four color set preferably having the color separations of the base colors magenta, cyan, and yellow.
This has in particular the advantage that color management, particularly with the use of digital technology, is significantly simplified on the basis of standardized color rooms (for example CIELAB).
-~ 4a July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 4a According to the invention, the step of alteration of the color assignment is accomplished through switching and/or changing one or more inking units. In doing so, the sequence of the colors to be applied is specifically not critical. Since an inking unit thus must advantageously be loaded only with one color, cleaning measures for the inking unit can be prevented. .
Alternatively or in addition, the step of the altering of the color assignment is accomplished according to the invention through the switching of one or more printing groups.
-~ 4b July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 4b According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of altering the color assignment comprises the selection of the altered colors for the altered color assignment from the primary colors, secondary colors, and/or one or more special colors.
If the changed color or colors are selected from the primary and/or secondary colors, storage of the residual inks becomes completely unnecessary since these colors are standardized and thus can readily be used for other inking units or for additional print jobs. The selection of the changed color from the special colors makes a broader palette of colors possible, with the selection of a single special color and assignment of this special color to each of the different base colors making possible an increased number of color configurations for objects or printed objects each being configured differently with respect to color. Thus it is possible to achieve an increase in the possible colorations of the same pattern -~ 5 July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner S
with low expenditure (for example, preparation of only one special color).
According to a further preferred embodiment, the step of production of color separations has the following step: reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations of the color set, producing an achromatic separation and correspondingly altered color separations.
For reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations of the three color set with the generation of an achromatic separation, known methods can be used.
Known from offset printing, for example, is the reduction of the spot colors in the three-color depths (undercolor reduction) in order to save ink and thus to achieve a faster machine run. In the invention, the use of so-called programmed color reduction or color removal (PCR) is preferred in which the neutral components in the color separations are replaced by a black separation. In other words, all gray values from light to dark can be composed, not through addition of complementary colors, but rather exclusively through the use of the printing ink black.
Preferably, the step of alteration of the color assignment furthermore contains the following step: the changing of the achromatic color assignment for the achromatic separation through assignment of color which is different or distinguishable from black, preferably a primary color, a secondary color, and/or a special color, to the generated achromatic separation.
-> 6 July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Also through alteration of the color assigned to the achromatic separation, a further increase in the number of possible color configurations can be achieved with a fixed number of colors to be used.
It is furthermore preferred that the achromatic separation represent the sum of the differences of the original and of the altered color separations of the three-color set. This is realized, for example, using programmed color reduction (PCR, see above).
This is known, for example, from Klischograph 1982, pages 22 through 23.
It has furthermore been found that the best results are achieved when the original color separations are altered for the creation of the achromatic separation such that the maximum possible reduction of surface coverage occurs.
It is furthermore preferred that the achromatic separation be attenuated, creating a skeleton-black separation, whereby the object is preferably printed with black on the basis of the skeleton-black separation. The skeleton black brings the "drawing" and thus creates, in an advantageous manner, the impression of greater "depth."
Preferably the skeleton-black separation is attenuated with respect to the achromatic separation by 50% to 90% so that the printed object is printed with 50% to 10%
of the deepest black. Particularly preferred is an attenuation of the achromatic separation by 70% to 85% so that the printed object is printed with 30% to 15% of the deepest black.
It has furthermore been found that the overall impression can be still further improved if the skeleton-black separation is intensified. In this connection, sharpening should be understood as the masking out of the gray values which are present. Ideally the skeleton-black separation is intensified to the maximum degree so that this separation has only black and white portions.
Finally, it has been found that for adapting the base colors (the three colors of the three-color set) to the actual printing conditions, the saturation of July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner altered color separations must be tuned for the particular printing process.
By this means, it is possible to achieve an ideal fixing of the middle tones with respect to darkness and light.
For the reduction of registration problems (color shifting), the altered color separations are advantageously attenuated.
According to the invention, an object, in particular floor covering, is also provided which is printed according to a prepared color separation of a three or four color set of a print master, with the object having altered colors according to an altered color assignment of the base colors to the prepared color separations in deviation from the three or four color set. In the production of the object according to the invention, in particular floor covering, the method according to the invention is preferably utilized.
According to a preferred embodiment, the individual altered colors for the altered color assignment are primary colors, secondary colors, and/or special colors, with the object preferably also having a color differing from black corresponding to a prepared achromatic separation.
According to the invention, a set of printed objects, in particular floor coverings, is also provided, with the individual objects being configured according to the invention, being printed on the basis of one print master, and having in each case a differently assigned color assignment.
The invention will now be described by way of example using several preferred embodiments.
By way of example, a digital three-color set C1M1Y1 of a print master is assumed, which is defined in the framework of a standard color room. This digital three-color set, consisting of one separation each for cyan, magenta, and yellow, can be obtained in the most varied of manners. First, the July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner three-color set can be obtained through a digital photograph of an artistic design or of a natural model (for example, a marble slab). By means of electronic image processing, the most varied of manipulations such as positioning, retouching, registration, etc., can be undertaken on this digital photograph. Afterward, the manipulated data can be converted in any standardized color room, with the color separations C1M1Y1 being obtained.
Alternatively, a design can also be digitally created directly on the computer without reproduction and then converted in a standardized color room.
After the color separation C1M1Y1 has been prepared, the color assignment is altered. In this way, changed colors C1;, Ml;, and Yl; are assigned to the colors C1, Ml, and Y1 which are standardized for the color room C1M1Y1, whereby the character i represents a number corresponding to the different color assignment (color assignment number). It is possible, for example, to use only the primary colors (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and in addition black (K). The corresponding possible color assignments are indicated in the following table:
July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner i C1; Ml; Yu K Y M
Y M K
M K Y
C K M
23 _ [. C Y
_ -~
July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Thus with the use of four colors for the color assignment alteration of a three-color set, the number of different color assignments is obtained from the following formula:
[equation]
with one possibility of the variation of 4 elements of order 3 having to be deducted, since the variation of 4 elements of order 3 also contains the "correct assignment,"
i.e., the assignment of the base colors according to the three-color set (thus C1 = C, Ml = M, and Y1 _ Y).
According to a second embodiment of the invention, in addition or alternatively to the preceding color assignments, additional color assignments can also be realized through the use of one or more secondary colors, i.e., green (G), blue (B), and red (R). If all three secondary colors are used, there are potentially [equation]
possibilities of different altered color assignments.
According to a third embodiment, one or more special colors can be used in addition to or alternative to the preceding colors.
In general there are, assuming a three-color set with n colors, [equation]
possibilities of different altered color assignments.
According to a fourth embodiment, a digital four-color set ClMtYIK of a print master is assumed which is July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner defined in a standard color room (for example, CIELAB). This digital four-color set, consisting of one separation each for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, like the three-color set can be obtained in the most varied of manners. The data obtained and manipulated as described above are converted in the CIELAB color room, yielding color separations C1M,Y1K. Alternatively, an image or pattern or design digitally generated directly on the computer without a reproduction can be converted in the CIELAB
color room.
Afterward, the color assignment is changed, specifically either using only the three primary colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and also black (K) or with the addition of or substitution of one or more secondary colors and/or special colors.
In general, based on a four-color set with n colors, there are [equation]
possibilities of different altered color assignments. With the use of 7 colors and 4 print units (corresponding to the four-color set), for example, this corresponds to 840 or 839 color possibilities, according to whether the colors used in the preparation of the four-color set are all represented among the 7 colors or not.
According to a fifth embodiment, prior to the altered color assignment, an algorithm for polychromatic programmed color reduction (PCR) is used in which the achromatic portions of the individual color separations (or, if applicable, of only one color separation, in the event the other color does not contain any achromatic portions) are "extracted" and combined in an achromatic separation KZ. The achromatic separation K2 thus represents the sum of the differences of the original color separations C1MIY1 and the altered color separations C2M2Y2.
Subsequently the achromatic separation K2 is diminished, generating a skeleton-black separation Kl. Finally, the color separations C2M2Y2 are greatly July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner attenuated, and the achromatic separation K2 and the skeleton-black separation K1 are intensified.
Following the generation of the skeleton-black separation Kl, the altered color assignment is carried out in deviation from the standard assignment. In doing so, altered colors C2x, M2k~ ~d Y2x are assigned to different color components C2, M2, Y2 of reduced color separation C2M2Y2K2, where C2x ~ C, M2x ~ M, and Y2x ~ Y for k =1, 2, ..
.. For Kl, however, a skeleton black is used and for achromatic K2, a "normal" black is used.
Afterward proof tuning is accomplished by means of a suitable proofing machine, for example an inkjet printer (IRIS). The proof for separations C2M2Y2 takes place with altered color assignment C2xM2k1'2k~ wile the corresponding type of black is used for Kl and K2.
The data records obtained in this manner can be saved in defined formats (for example TIFF) and then used as the basis for the most varied of printing processes such as gravure, offset printing, and also direct imaging (digital printing).
For the preparation of color series, i.e., a series of designs on the basis of the same basic design or pattern, but with various colorations (colorits) the various color assignments suited for a particular coloration is determined empirically.
Since for a different color assignment, special colors do not necessarily have to be resorted to, the quantity of data which must be saved for a reprint can be accordingly reduced for each colorit.
According to a sixth embodiment, a color distinguishable or different from black is also taken for the achromatic separation K2, i.e., a color separation K2~ which is different from black is undertaken for achromatic separation K2. Thus additional possibilities of color configuration July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner of the same pattern are created.
It is furthermore advantageous that during proof tuning for determination of the ideal reproduction as well as also for determination of the colorits, the color separations C2M2Y2, which are altered on the basis of the reduction of achromatic portion, can be changed with respect to their saturation in order to make possible adjustments to the actual printing conditions.
In general, the data records determined in such manner (the digitally stored color separations C1M1Y1K, C2M2Y2K1K2, as well as the particular selected altered color assignment Ci;Ml;YI;, C2kM2kY2k~ Kz~) ~'e "~'avure-ready" data records, i.e., it is possible to used these data records directly for the gravure of engraved cylinders for the printing of webs of synthetic floor covering. It is naturally also possible to use these data records for direct imaging (digital printing) which will gain in importance in particular in the future).
Our ref.: D 2537 - ds/dk Description The present invention concerns a method for the printing of an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects.
The printing of floor coverings in the past has taken place in a special color room using the gravure printing process. This is known, for example, from German patent 984 A1. Special colors (also referred to as tertiary or quartinary colors) are generally understood to mean mixtures of primary colors, secondary colors, black, and white, thus for example, beige, brown, violet, etc. Since it is frequently desired that the design correspond to the appearance of certain natural products (marble, granite, etc.), the desired natural material as a rule is first reproduced (for example through reproduction photography). On the basis of this printing master, color separations are prepared in the special color room usually in conjunction with intaglio gravure-in the form of half tone opal plates. In this connection, the term color separation should be understood as both halftone opal plates as well as data records for use in electronic image processing.
The preparation of color separations in a special color room requires much experience. In addition, all three or four colors separations must be modified in the proof tuning since a desired alteration of results as a rule cannot be achieved through the modification of only one color separation. In addition, in order to make reprints possible later, a large amount of data must be stored.
An additional problem is that specifically in the area of floor coverings there is often a desire to obtain several different colorations of one design July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner in the sense of a color series, each of which ideally can still be combined with the others.
With these requirements, the problems in the preparation of the color separation mentioned in the beginning naturally increase exponentially, for each color separation is selected in the special color room according to optical color effects and is processed until the closest possible approximation of the design is present. The special colors must be interchangeable with the particular color separations (creation of color series), and a registration difference based on operating conditions and material must be possible (for example, a 400-cm-wide web of material creeps in the equipment longitudinally and laterally in the machine without control due to material warpage and differences in thickness). As a result of empirically separated special colors, areas of unforeseeable overlap often occur with overstrike which result in the formation of patterns in the surface.
An additional manufacturing problem is that for each color setting, as a rule all individual colors of each printing group must be changed. For a web width of 400 cm, residual ink of at least fifty kilograms occurs in this process which must be drawn off and stored for further processing. This causes a higher manufacturing price for the printed object, in particular for a printed floor covering.
Furthermore, a method is known from German patent DE 195 23 188 Al for printing an object using a three or four color set with the following steps:
- Reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations of the color set with the generation of an achromatic separation and accordingly altered color separations, - Printing of the print object on the basis of the altered color separations, - Printing of the print object with a special color on the basis of the achromatic separation.
This method, however, has the drawback that for the creation of a multiplicity of color combinations of one pattern, a corresponding multiplicity of special colors must be used, the ink remnants of which in turn require storage or July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bor6 & Partner conditioning, as a result of which manufacturing costs are increased.
-> 3a July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 3a The publication Althammer Ed., "Technik des Flexodrucks" [Technique of Flexographic Printing], 1991, COATING VERLAG THOMAS & CO., St. Gallen, Switzerland, on pages 139 through 140 discloses a printing procedure in which one color of the original CYNIK separation is replaced by another color. What is involved here is the process which is designated coloration in which the other color is obtained through the mixing of (base) colors. A similar printing process is also known from German patent DE-381.
In a procedure of mixing of colors, however, it is necessary from the aspect of subsequent reproducibility for a very accurate log of the mixing procedure to be kept or for the mixed ink to be stored for subsequent printing procedures. In addition, it is necessary in the case of these printing procedures to clean the inking unit which will be loaded with the modified color.
The object of the invention is to provide a method for the printing of an object which makes possible cost-effective production, in particular a simple color rendering of one like pattern.
This object is achieved through a method with the features indicated in Claim 1.
Preferred embodiments are found in the subclaims.
In the printing process, the sequence of the colors which are to be applied is specifically not critical. Since the step of altering the color assignment is carried out through the switching of one or several printing groups, an inking unit advantageously must be loaded with only one color, so that measures for the cleaning of the inking unit advantageously can be omitted.
-~ 3b July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 3b According to the invention, a method for the printing of an object with the following steps is provided:
- Generation of color separations of a print master based on a three or four color set;
- Alteration of the color assignment, with altered colors being assigned to the base colors of the color separations generated in deviation from the three or four color set; and - Printing of the object or of the printed object on the basis of color separations with altered color assignment.
Through the alteration or variation of the color assignment, a color variation of the same printing pattern can be achieved while retaining the same printing groups or printing plates and without special colors having to be mixed, as a result of which one pattern can be configured in various colors without great expense. In addition, for subsequent reprints, storage of the associated print data requiring a relatively small storage expense is possible.
--~ 4 July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Since it is fundamentally possible to work with the same base colors and they can be changed only in their assignment to the color separations created, it is in general possible to prepare gravure-ready data records for rotogravure through suitable proofing methods (for example, by means of a high resolution inkjet printer) without a great degree of knowledge of the technical overall conditions of gravure. Furthermore, it has been shown that in particular through alteration of the color assignment deviating from the conventional color assignments on the basis of which the color separations are produced, any number of color series can be produced on the basis of the same design which coordinate with each other.
According to the invention, a three or four color set is first produced from the pattern or the print master, in particular the process photo, with the three or four color set preferably having the color separations of the base colors magenta, cyan, and yellow.
This has in particular the advantage that color management, particularly with the use of digital technology, is significantly simplified on the basis of standardized color rooms (for example CIELAB).
-~ 4a July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 4a According to the invention, the step of alteration of the color assignment is accomplished through switching and/or changing one or more inking units. In doing so, the sequence of the colors to be applied is specifically not critical. Since an inking unit thus must advantageously be loaded only with one color, cleaning measures for the inking unit can be prevented. .
Alternatively or in addition, the step of the altering of the color assignment is accomplished according to the invention through the switching of one or more printing groups.
-~ 4b July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner 4b According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step of altering the color assignment comprises the selection of the altered colors for the altered color assignment from the primary colors, secondary colors, and/or one or more special colors.
If the changed color or colors are selected from the primary and/or secondary colors, storage of the residual inks becomes completely unnecessary since these colors are standardized and thus can readily be used for other inking units or for additional print jobs. The selection of the changed color from the special colors makes a broader palette of colors possible, with the selection of a single special color and assignment of this special color to each of the different base colors making possible an increased number of color configurations for objects or printed objects each being configured differently with respect to color. Thus it is possible to achieve an increase in the possible colorations of the same pattern -~ 5 July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner S
with low expenditure (for example, preparation of only one special color).
According to a further preferred embodiment, the step of production of color separations has the following step: reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations of the color set, producing an achromatic separation and correspondingly altered color separations.
For reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations of the three color set with the generation of an achromatic separation, known methods can be used.
Known from offset printing, for example, is the reduction of the spot colors in the three-color depths (undercolor reduction) in order to save ink and thus to achieve a faster machine run. In the invention, the use of so-called programmed color reduction or color removal (PCR) is preferred in which the neutral components in the color separations are replaced by a black separation. In other words, all gray values from light to dark can be composed, not through addition of complementary colors, but rather exclusively through the use of the printing ink black.
Preferably, the step of alteration of the color assignment furthermore contains the following step: the changing of the achromatic color assignment for the achromatic separation through assignment of color which is different or distinguishable from black, preferably a primary color, a secondary color, and/or a special color, to the generated achromatic separation.
-> 6 July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Also through alteration of the color assigned to the achromatic separation, a further increase in the number of possible color configurations can be achieved with a fixed number of colors to be used.
It is furthermore preferred that the achromatic separation represent the sum of the differences of the original and of the altered color separations of the three-color set. This is realized, for example, using programmed color reduction (PCR, see above).
This is known, for example, from Klischograph 1982, pages 22 through 23.
It has furthermore been found that the best results are achieved when the original color separations are altered for the creation of the achromatic separation such that the maximum possible reduction of surface coverage occurs.
It is furthermore preferred that the achromatic separation be attenuated, creating a skeleton-black separation, whereby the object is preferably printed with black on the basis of the skeleton-black separation. The skeleton black brings the "drawing" and thus creates, in an advantageous manner, the impression of greater "depth."
Preferably the skeleton-black separation is attenuated with respect to the achromatic separation by 50% to 90% so that the printed object is printed with 50% to 10%
of the deepest black. Particularly preferred is an attenuation of the achromatic separation by 70% to 85% so that the printed object is printed with 30% to 15% of the deepest black.
It has furthermore been found that the overall impression can be still further improved if the skeleton-black separation is intensified. In this connection, sharpening should be understood as the masking out of the gray values which are present. Ideally the skeleton-black separation is intensified to the maximum degree so that this separation has only black and white portions.
Finally, it has been found that for adapting the base colors (the three colors of the three-color set) to the actual printing conditions, the saturation of July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner altered color separations must be tuned for the particular printing process.
By this means, it is possible to achieve an ideal fixing of the middle tones with respect to darkness and light.
For the reduction of registration problems (color shifting), the altered color separations are advantageously attenuated.
According to the invention, an object, in particular floor covering, is also provided which is printed according to a prepared color separation of a three or four color set of a print master, with the object having altered colors according to an altered color assignment of the base colors to the prepared color separations in deviation from the three or four color set. In the production of the object according to the invention, in particular floor covering, the method according to the invention is preferably utilized.
According to a preferred embodiment, the individual altered colors for the altered color assignment are primary colors, secondary colors, and/or special colors, with the object preferably also having a color differing from black corresponding to a prepared achromatic separation.
According to the invention, a set of printed objects, in particular floor coverings, is also provided, with the individual objects being configured according to the invention, being printed on the basis of one print master, and having in each case a differently assigned color assignment.
The invention will now be described by way of example using several preferred embodiments.
By way of example, a digital three-color set C1M1Y1 of a print master is assumed, which is defined in the framework of a standard color room. This digital three-color set, consisting of one separation each for cyan, magenta, and yellow, can be obtained in the most varied of manners. First, the July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner three-color set can be obtained through a digital photograph of an artistic design or of a natural model (for example, a marble slab). By means of electronic image processing, the most varied of manipulations such as positioning, retouching, registration, etc., can be undertaken on this digital photograph. Afterward, the manipulated data can be converted in any standardized color room, with the color separations C1M1Y1 being obtained.
Alternatively, a design can also be digitally created directly on the computer without reproduction and then converted in a standardized color room.
After the color separation C1M1Y1 has been prepared, the color assignment is altered. In this way, changed colors C1;, Ml;, and Yl; are assigned to the colors C1, Ml, and Y1 which are standardized for the color room C1M1Y1, whereby the character i represents a number corresponding to the different color assignment (color assignment number). It is possible, for example, to use only the primary colors (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and in addition black (K). The corresponding possible color assignments are indicated in the following table:
July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner i C1; Ml; Yu K Y M
Y M K
M K Y
C K M
23 _ [. C Y
_ -~
July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner Thus with the use of four colors for the color assignment alteration of a three-color set, the number of different color assignments is obtained from the following formula:
[equation]
with one possibility of the variation of 4 elements of order 3 having to be deducted, since the variation of 4 elements of order 3 also contains the "correct assignment,"
i.e., the assignment of the base colors according to the three-color set (thus C1 = C, Ml = M, and Y1 _ Y).
According to a second embodiment of the invention, in addition or alternatively to the preceding color assignments, additional color assignments can also be realized through the use of one or more secondary colors, i.e., green (G), blue (B), and red (R). If all three secondary colors are used, there are potentially [equation]
possibilities of different altered color assignments.
According to a third embodiment, one or more special colors can be used in addition to or alternative to the preceding colors.
In general there are, assuming a three-color set with n colors, [equation]
possibilities of different altered color assignments.
According to a fourth embodiment, a digital four-color set ClMtYIK of a print master is assumed which is July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner defined in a standard color room (for example, CIELAB). This digital four-color set, consisting of one separation each for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, like the three-color set can be obtained in the most varied of manners. The data obtained and manipulated as described above are converted in the CIELAB color room, yielding color separations C1M,Y1K. Alternatively, an image or pattern or design digitally generated directly on the computer without a reproduction can be converted in the CIELAB
color room.
Afterward, the color assignment is changed, specifically either using only the three primary colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and also black (K) or with the addition of or substitution of one or more secondary colors and/or special colors.
In general, based on a four-color set with n colors, there are [equation]
possibilities of different altered color assignments. With the use of 7 colors and 4 print units (corresponding to the four-color set), for example, this corresponds to 840 or 839 color possibilities, according to whether the colors used in the preparation of the four-color set are all represented among the 7 colors or not.
According to a fifth embodiment, prior to the altered color assignment, an algorithm for polychromatic programmed color reduction (PCR) is used in which the achromatic portions of the individual color separations (or, if applicable, of only one color separation, in the event the other color does not contain any achromatic portions) are "extracted" and combined in an achromatic separation KZ. The achromatic separation K2 thus represents the sum of the differences of the original color separations C1MIY1 and the altered color separations C2M2Y2.
Subsequently the achromatic separation K2 is diminished, generating a skeleton-black separation Kl. Finally, the color separations C2M2Y2 are greatly July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner attenuated, and the achromatic separation K2 and the skeleton-black separation K1 are intensified.
Following the generation of the skeleton-black separation Kl, the altered color assignment is carried out in deviation from the standard assignment. In doing so, altered colors C2x, M2k~ ~d Y2x are assigned to different color components C2, M2, Y2 of reduced color separation C2M2Y2K2, where C2x ~ C, M2x ~ M, and Y2x ~ Y for k =1, 2, ..
.. For Kl, however, a skeleton black is used and for achromatic K2, a "normal" black is used.
Afterward proof tuning is accomplished by means of a suitable proofing machine, for example an inkjet printer (IRIS). The proof for separations C2M2Y2 takes place with altered color assignment C2xM2k1'2k~ wile the corresponding type of black is used for Kl and K2.
The data records obtained in this manner can be saved in defined formats (for example TIFF) and then used as the basis for the most varied of printing processes such as gravure, offset printing, and also direct imaging (digital printing).
For the preparation of color series, i.e., a series of designs on the basis of the same basic design or pattern, but with various colorations (colorits) the various color assignments suited for a particular coloration is determined empirically.
Since for a different color assignment, special colors do not necessarily have to be resorted to, the quantity of data which must be saved for a reprint can be accordingly reduced for each colorit.
According to a sixth embodiment, a color distinguishable or different from black is also taken for the achromatic separation K2, i.e., a color separation K2~ which is different from black is undertaken for achromatic separation K2. Thus additional possibilities of color configuration July 16, 1998 Miiller-Bore & Partner of the same pattern are created.
It is furthermore advantageous that during proof tuning for determination of the ideal reproduction as well as also for determination of the colorits, the color separations C2M2Y2, which are altered on the basis of the reduction of achromatic portion, can be changed with respect to their saturation in order to make possible adjustments to the actual printing conditions.
In general, the data records determined in such manner (the digitally stored color separations C1M1Y1K, C2M2Y2K1K2, as well as the particular selected altered color assignment Ci;Ml;YI;, C2kM2kY2k~ Kz~) ~'e "~'avure-ready" data records, i.e., it is possible to used these data records directly for the gravure of engraved cylinders for the printing of webs of synthetic floor covering. It is naturally also possible to use these data records for direct imaging (digital printing) which will gain in importance in particular in the future).
Claims (13)
1. Method for the printing of an object having the following steps:
- Preparation of color separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) of a three or four color set based on a print master;
-Alteration of the color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k; K2) with altered colors (C1i; M1i; Y1i; C2k; M2k; Y2k) being assigned to basic colors (C1; M1; Y1; C2;
M2;
Y2) of the prepared color separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2;K2) in deviation from the three or four color set; and -Printing of the object or the printed object on the basis of the color separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) with the altered color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k;
K2), characterized by the fact that the step of the alteration of the color assignment is carried out through exchanging and/or changing one or more inking units and/or the step of altering the color assignment is carried out through the switching of one or more press groups.
- Preparation of color separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) of a three or four color set based on a print master;
-Alteration of the color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k; K2) with altered colors (C1i; M1i; Y1i; C2k; M2k; Y2k) being assigned to basic colors (C1; M1; Y1; C2;
M2;
Y2) of the prepared color separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2;K2) in deviation from the three or four color set; and -Printing of the object or the printed object on the basis of the color separations (C1M1Y1; C2M2Y2; K2) with the altered color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k;
K2), characterized by the fact that the step of the alteration of the color assignment is carried out through exchanging and/or changing one or more inking units and/or the step of altering the color assignment is carried out through the switching of one or more press groups.
2. Method according to Claim 1 with the step of alteration of the color assignment including the following step:
- Selection of the changed colors (C1i; M1i; Y1i; C2k; M2k; Y2k) for the altered color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k; K2) from the primary colors, secondary colors, and/or special colors.
- Selection of the changed colors (C1i; M1i; Y1i; C2k; M2k; Y2k) for the altered color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k; K2) from the primary colors, secondary colors, and/or special colors.
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims with the step of preparation of color separations having the following step:
- Reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations (C1M1Y1) of the color set with the generation of an achromatic separation (K2) and of correspondingly altered color separations (C2M2Y2).
- Reduction of the achromatic portions of the color separations (C1M1Y1) of the color set with the generation of an achromatic separation (K2) and of correspondingly altered color separations (C2M2Y2).
4. Method according to Claim 3 with the step of alteration of the color assignment (C1i M1i Y1i; C2k M2k Y2k; K2) also having the step:
- Changing of the achromatic assignment (K2j) for the achromatic separation (K2) through assignment of a color (K2j) different to black, preferably a primary color, a secondary color, and/or special color, to the created achromatic separation (K2).
- Changing of the achromatic assignment (K2j) for the achromatic separation (K2) through assignment of a color (K2j) different to black, preferably a primary color, a secondary color, and/or special color, to the created achromatic separation (K2).
5. Method according to Claim 3 or 4 where the achromatic separation (K2) represents the sum of the differences between the original (C1M1Y1) and the altered (C2M2Y2) color separations of the three color set.
6. Method according to one of preceding Claims 3 through 5 where the original color separations (C1M1Y1) are altered for the generation of the achromatic separation (K2) such that a maximum possible surface coverage reduction occurs.
7. Method according to one of preceding Claims 3 through 6 where the achromatic separation (K2) is diminished with the creation of a skeleton-black separation (K2) and the object is printed on the basis of the skeleton-black separation (K1) preferably with black.
8. Method according to Claim 7 with the skeleton-black separation (K1) being diminished in comparison with the achromatic separation (K2) by 50% to 90%, so that the object is printed with 50% to 10% of the deepest black.
9. Method according to Claim 8 with the skeleton-black separation (K1) being diminished in comparison with the achromatic separation (K2) by 70% to 85% so that the object is printed with 30% to 15% of the deepest black.
10. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 6 through 9 with the skeleton-black separation (K1) being intensified.
11. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 3 through 10 with the saturation of the altered color separations (C2M2Y2) being tuned during the printing procedure.
12. Method according to one of the preceding Claims 3 through 11 with the altered color separations (C2M2Y2) being attenuated.
13. Method according to one of the preceding claims with the color set having the color separations of the base colors magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE1997136605 DE19736605A1 (en) | 1997-08-22 | 1997-08-22 | Modified color printing method |
| DE19736605.8 | 1997-08-22 | ||
| PCT/EP1998/004464 WO1999010182A1 (en) | 1997-08-22 | 1998-07-17 | Method for printing an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2300891A1 true CA2300891A1 (en) | 1999-03-04 |
Family
ID=7839870
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002300891A Abandoned CA2300891A1 (en) | 1997-08-22 | 1998-07-17 | Method for printing an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU8976698A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2300891A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE19736605A1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO20000445D0 (en) |
| PL (1) | PL338734A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999010182A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8833259B2 (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2014-09-16 | Flooring Technologies Ltd. | Method for producing a same pattern using a simple print and device thereof |
| US10029452B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2018-07-24 | Flooring Technologies Ltd. | Method for producing decorative prints having identical quality independently of the printing method used and a device for performing said method |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102004003258A1 (en) * | 2004-01-21 | 2005-08-18 | GEKKO Gesellschaft für Printrealisierung und Farbstandardisierung mbH | Printed matter and process for its production |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3409381A1 (en) * | 1983-03-15 | 1984-09-20 | Herbert Innsbruck Winkler | Method for producing a differently coloured image from an original having only one hue, in particular from a black and white cartographic terrain representation |
| DE19523188C2 (en) * | 1995-06-26 | 1998-04-02 | Dlw Ag | Process for printing an object and printed object, in particular floor covering |
-
1997
- 1997-08-22 DE DE1997136605 patent/DE19736605A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1998
- 1998-07-17 PL PL98338734A patent/PL338734A1/en unknown
- 1998-07-17 AU AU89766/98A patent/AU8976698A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-07-17 WO PCT/EP1998/004464 patent/WO1999010182A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-07-17 CA CA002300891A patent/CA2300891A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2000
- 2000-01-28 NO NO20000445A patent/NO20000445D0/en unknown
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8833259B2 (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2014-09-16 | Flooring Technologies Ltd. | Method for producing a same pattern using a simple print and device thereof |
| US9199449B2 (en) | 2006-05-16 | 2015-12-01 | Flooring Technologies Ltd | Method for producing a same pattern using a simple print and device thereof |
| US10029452B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2018-07-24 | Flooring Technologies Ltd. | Method for producing decorative prints having identical quality independently of the printing method used and a device for performing said method |
| US10315410B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2019-06-11 | Flooring Technologies Ltd. | Method for producing decorative prints having identical quality independently of the printing method used and a device for performing said method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE19736605A1 (en) | 1999-02-25 |
| AU8976698A (en) | 1999-03-16 |
| PL338734A1 (en) | 2000-11-20 |
| NO20000445D0 (en) | 2000-01-28 |
| WO1999010182A1 (en) | 1999-03-04 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7032517B2 (en) | Method for the reproduction of spot colors with primary printing inks and secondary printing inks | |
| US5734800A (en) | Six-color process system | |
| CA2415009A1 (en) | Color reproduction process | |
| EP0836556B1 (en) | Colour print standardisation | |
| AU2009295192B2 (en) | A method of printing | |
| US6262808B1 (en) | Multicolor printing process, especially a multicolor grid screen printing process for textile substrates | |
| CA2300891A1 (en) | Method for printing an object, a printed object, and a set of such printed objects | |
| KR100559754B1 (en) | Means for producing and performing ceramic multicolor prints with improved copy quality | |
| AU705402B2 (en) | Process for printing an article, and floor covering obtainable thereby | |
| JP3867915B2 (en) | Anti-counterfeit printed matter and method for producing the same | |
| JPH0775908B2 (en) | Printing method with high saturation and excellent color reproducibility | |
| EP1580981A2 (en) | Color adjusting method, color image forming method, and color image forming device | |
| JP2001260516A (en) | Method for printing using printing system having excellent color reproducibility of high chroma on designated color part | |
| JP3538361B2 (en) | Method of setting halftone dot area ratio (c, m, y, bk) of each color plate for producing a four-color halftone print image excellent in color reproduction of color original | |
| Lankinen | Evaluation of Expanded Gamut Printing in Flexography | |
| JPS612171A (en) | Output device of color picture | |
| JP2000158788A (en) | Color image forming method, its printed matter and its device | |
| KR20030051149A (en) | Color offset printing method and textile paper for that | |
| JP2000301745A (en) | Improved color quality printing using plurality of coating stations for coating equal color | |
| RU2194625C2 (en) | Method for production of multicolored background image with graphic pattern on securities | |
| Thirkell et al. | A reassessment of past colour collotype printing achievements as a model for current digital, archival printing practice | |
| Homann | ISO 12647, GRACoL and SWOP for Separation, Proof and Print | |
| JPH1076743A (en) | Full color printing method using base color of colored material | |
| JPH02212844A (en) | Plate making method of multicolor printed matter | |
| GB2056706A (en) | Improvements to printing production |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |