EP0876261B1 - Method for making a luminescent duplicate, and resulting duplicate - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for making a luminescent duplicate by preparing a film including a luminescent material, preparing a transparent filter to form a cohesion interface between the luminescent material and an image-bearing surface and restrict the influence of the colour of the luminescent material on the rendition of the duplicate, and printing an image on at least one light-transparent surface so that said image is transparent. The printing surface may be the surface of the filter, of a transparent medium or of the luminescent material.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of a reproduction with effect of luminescence, as well as such reproduction.

par impression sérigraphique et éventuellement en offset avec des encres photoluminescentes teintées ou non sur différents supports, tels que papier, tissu, plastique, métal,

par diverses formes d'impression (sérigraphie, "tampographie", offset, transfert thermique, ...) sur des supports photoluminescents au moyen d'encres non photoluminescentes,

par superposition d'un support opaque ou non, teinté ou non, perforé et/ou rendu opaque à des emplacements choisis laissant apparaítre la luminescence d'un second support luminescent aux endroits de perforations et/ou aux endroits transparents.

It is currently known to make reproductions with a luminescence effect and more precisely photoluminescence of the positive or negative shadow image type or images produced using tinted photoluminescent pigments. These two types of luminescent effect images are essentially produced using the following methods:

by screen printing and optionally in offset with photoluminescent inks tinted or not on different supports, such as paper, fabric, plastic, metal,

by various forms of printing (screen printing, "pad printing", offset, thermal transfer, ...) on photoluminescent supports using non-photoluminescent inks,

by superposition of an opaque or non-opaque support, tinted or not, perforated and / or made opaque at selected locations revealing the luminescence of a second luminescent support at the locations of perforations and / or at transparent locations.

These various methods do not make it possible to carry out reproductions with very fine resolution, very sharp images, which can be seen fairly faithfully night and day. They are often rather simple, geometric designs, with little details and few shades. In addition, the pigments tinted photoluminescent lamps only offer a limited number colors and their luminescence characteristics both in intensity and in duration are limited. In all these reproductions, an element that has a strong negative influence on image rendering is color luminescent product which is often yellow.

In GB-A-2 147 542, a method is described according to which the image is formed directly by the material luminescent or according to a variant in applying on the luminescent material a layer of a opaque material.

The purpose of the present invention is to allow achieve in luminescence reproduction all types of images such as photographic images, drawings techniques, works of artists, artificial images, logos, texts, wood texture effects, stones, metal, fabrics, liquids, plants, etc. These reproductions are made with a very good quality of detail, sharpness, contrast and hues while allowing the luminescent image to have a very good intensity and a longer duration to that of the current state of the art.

a. on prépare un film comprenant un matériau luminescent,

b. on prépare un filtre transparent pour constituer une interface de cohésion entre le matériau luminescent et une surface munie d'une image et attenuer l'influence de la couleur du matériau luminescent sur le rendu de la reproduction, et

c. on imprime sur au moins une surface permettant le passage de la lumière une image en faisant en sorte qu'elle soit transparente.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the following steps are carried out:

at. a film is prepared comprising a luminescent material,

b. a transparent filter is prepared to constitute a cohesion interface between the luminescent material and a surface provided with an image and to attenuate the influence of the color of the luminescent material on the rendering of the reproduction, and

vs. an image is printed on at least one surface allowing the passage of light, making it transparent.

The advantage of the method according to the invention is that it allows print any type of image while retaining its finesse, that is to say its nuances, shades, its details, that the impression is in your continuous, for example by laser, or photographic positive or negative, to get a quality photographic, or in very fine screen, for example in offset, or solid, for example in screen printing. The condition is that this impression is transparent and made on one or more surfaces allowing the light so that the luminescent material can be reached by light to store so optimal light energy, when it is a photoluminescent material, and above all allow said energy to be restored by the emission light of the product through reproduction and said surfaces. The luminescent material is, well heard, preferably photoluminescent, but others materials that can be charged by other energies, such as electric power, can be used. The luminescent product having a color which harms the quality of reproduction, a transparent filter adequate must be provided. This filter can be either a film placed on the film with the luminescent product, either be incorporated directly into the film with the luminescent material.

According to another alternative embodiment, provision is made to print the image on the filter by known means, for example thermal transfer, offset, screen printing, etc.

According to another variant, the image is printed directly on the film with the material luminescent incorporating the filter, the surface on which image is printed being always a surface allowing light to pass through.

According to another variant, the image is printed on a transparent support which is then affixed to the film comprising the luminescent material and on which the filter is affixed.

According to another variant, the image is also printed on a transparent support which is affixed on the film comprising the luminescent material and the filtered.

According to another variant, for the purpose optimize the light emission of the material luminescent, we apply a backscatter film on the back of the film incorporating the luminescent product.

According to another variant, the image or parts of the image juxtaposed or superimposed is printed on two different surfaces allowing passage the light thus allowing to obtain an effect of depth and, if necessary, a relief effect.

In fact, in the simplest case, you can print the whole image or parts of two, sides of a transparent support which is then affixed to the film with the luminescent material, the filter having been previously affixed to said film or incorporated in the luminescent material.

It is also possible to print part of the image, for example the background, on the filter and the other on a transparent support or even print a part of the image on the film including the material luminescent and the filter and a transparent support. In the latter case, printing on the support transparent could also be made on both sides, totally or partially creating a relief effect in addition to depth. If superimposed parts of the image are printed on different surfaces and different colors in depending on the viewing angle, the superposition of colors will also change the color of the reproduction.

The invention also relates to reproductions obtained by implementing the method according to the invention.

Thus, a luminescent reproduction is characterized by the fact that it is composed of a film comprising luminescent material, a filter transparent and an image printed on at least one surface allowing light to pass through.

According to another variant, the image is printed totally or partly juxtaposed and / or superimposed on two different surfaces letting the light thus creating an effect of depth and, where appropriate, relief.

Finally, the reproduction can include a simple screen transparent protection, including protection against ultraviolet radiation.

The invention will be described in more detail using the attached drawing.

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a reproduction according to an alternative embodiment.

Figure 2 is a schematic section of a reproduction according to another variant.

Figure 3 is a schematic reproduction section according to another variant.

In the simplest embodiment of the invention, a image 2 is reproduced on a transparent support 1 and a film 4 incorporating a luminescent product and more specially photoluminescent is applied to the support 1, either on the same side as the printed image, or the other. A filter 3 in the form of a film allowing to attenuate the effects of the color of photoluminescent material is inserted between the support 1 and the film 4.

According to another embodiment, the filter 3 can be directly incorporated into film 4 with the product photoluminescent.

Finally, in an even more elaborate execution, a film backscatter 5 is applied to the back of film 4 with the photoluminescent product to allow optimize the photoluminous emission by the backscattering of the luminescence of the product of the photoluminescent material, the filter being either affixed on the luminescent material, or incorporated into said material.

We will now review the different elements used for carrying out the invention.

Support 1 must have excellent transparency in order to allow optimal passage, hand, daylight and / or artificial light allowing photoluminescent material to store energy and, on the other hand, to allow the light emission of the photoluminescent product.

The support can be smooth or embossed, shiny or matt, tinted or not. Different materials can be used, in particular polypropylene and polyester. One of the factors to consider when choosing of the material is the quality of protection UV radiation of the material and its compatibility with other components of reproduction. This protection and compatibility will guarantee good and long reproductive stability regarding its sharpness, details, colors ...

The applicant has made good reproductions in using supports whose thickness is included between 80 and 120 microns.

Reproduction 2, i.e. the printed image, must have a good transparency in order to let pass light in both directions.

Different printing techniques are used such as laser printing, inkjet, offset, photographic (e.g. slides) etc. The print mode will be chosen according to possibilities of transparency of inks, fineness and compatibility with others components of photoluminous reproduction.

The Applicant Obtained Excellent Reproductions when the print thickness was less than 10 microns.

It is obvious that only the thickness of printing alone is not decisive for transparency, but also the quality of inks used and print resolution.

As mentioned before, a filter 3 more or less tinted and having excellent transparency should be created to reduce and correct the effects of color luminescent material on the rendering of the reproduction. This filter must be of excellent transparency so as not to alter the sharpness, contrast, the nuances of the hues of the reproduction when reflecting daylight and / or artificial and photoluminous emission, i.e. contribute to obtaining an image as faithful as possible. The transparency of the filter is also necessary to preserve performance as much as possible of luminescence of photoluminous reproduction.

Depending on the type of printing used and the result sought, the image can be printed directly on the filter, for example by thermal transfer or offset, or serigraphy, or on the film incorporating the luminescent material and filter. What matters is that the surface on which the image will be printed is perfectly homogeneous and smooth and lets the light, if only to allow radiation emission of the luminescent material. So the filter affixed to the luminescent material creates a surface transparent ready to receive any type of print direct or the media on which the image was printed or a protective screen. The filter is an interface of cohesion between the luminescent material and one of the previously mentioned elements for a faithful rendering of the image and the color attenuation of the material luminescent.

Different techniques for creating the filter can be considered such as applying a thin film or inserting the filter directly into the luminescent material.

The choice of the manufacture of the filter, the material, the concentration rate and thickness will be defined depending on the desired images and results and the effect of reflection obtained by day as well as the effect of luminescence obtained at night.

The film comprising luminescent material 4 and more precisely photoluminescent in general must be prepared in such a way that the characteristics of the luminescent pigment are not altered in order to guarantee a product with a silky intensity, luminescence duration and stability in the times that are optimal.

Obtaining the luminescent product layer can be carried out in particular by applying a film luminescent or the use of luminescent plates. However, the application of a luminescent film with at a good preparation of the luminescent material according to the means known to those skilled in the art is often the best solution. Indeed, the latter solution achieves very good results luminescent, to vary very precisely and rational the characteristics of intensity and duration of the luminescence properties of the layers bright, and to vary very rational and specifies the characteristics of flexibility or rigidity of the luminescent layers, as well as those of the luminescent effect reproductions.

This produces reliable luminescent reproduction both in terms of its image quality, that is to say the depth of field, nuances, details, etc. than of its outfit, that is to say the absence of deformation, degradation. So, this embodiment allows also to greatly alleviate the problems of mechanical tensions, i.e. contraction, expansion during thermal shock that the product can undergo.

In addition, the advantage of using a film containing the luminescent material instead of a plate is its exact fit to format required for reproduction, thus minimizing losses as much as possible and waste.

Finally, backscatter film 5 must be applied on the back of the luminescent product. Ideally, the film of backscatter is a mirror or is tinted white it is homogeneous and as opaque as possible. this allows optimize the light emission by the backscattering of the luminescence of the material luminescent through the different layers found above the luminescent material

Backscatter film can be obtained from different ways known to those skilled in the art such than applying a film or printing a film.

In some cases, the use of a rigid film, mirror or tinted white offers the advantage of stiffen luminescent reproduction.

According to the invention, an embodiment which has proven to be of good quality is to perform a luminescent reproduction 2 by printing the image with the laser technique, said reproduction 2 being made integral by the technique of thermofusion (hot Melt) on the internal face of the support transparent 1. The application of a filter 3 in the form of a thin film between 50 and 150 microns on the internal face of the support is also made integral by the thermofusion technique (hot Melt) and with the application of a luminescent product in the form a film of about 300 microns on the external face of the filter also made integral by thermofusion. Finally, a backscatter film is applied by opaque white screen printing on the face external of the photoluminescent product. As described above, the invention allows good photoluminous reproduction both at the level of diversity than image quality.

It should be noted that if one wishes a reproduction to luminescent effect with a smooth and shiny appearance, use a shiny transparent support. If we want a smooth, matt appearance, use a matt transparent support. If you want a luminescent effect reproduction with the relief aspect, the reproduction must be printed on the outer face of the transparent support, while on the other side of the support we have the filter and the luminescent material and, if applicable, the film backscatter.

It is also possible to obtain a relief effect in using a transparent support with a relief on the outer side, the image being printed on another surface allowing light to pass, for example the other face of said support and / or the filter or if the filter is incorporated into the luminescent material with a partial or total printing on the film 4.

Different combinations, without departing from the scope of the present invention, are possible to obtain desired effects. So the image can be printed at choice, totally or partially on one or several different surfaces such as: both surfaces of a transparent support, the filter or the film with the luminescent material incorporating the filter. Printing can be done directly, offset, laser, serigraphy, "pad printing", etc. or indirect (Thermal transfer).

Glossy or matte aspects are obtained using the appropriate transparent support.

In the examples illustrated in the appended figures, we have schematically represented different variants for the creation of luminescent reproductions. So, we can use completely independent supports for each of the elements (see Figure 2), i.e. a transparent support 1, a reproduction 2, a filter 3, a luminescent product 4 and / or integrate some of these elements as in figure 1. Support 1 and image 2 are gathered on the same element, while the filter and the luminescent product 4 are combined on another element.

Finally, the execution of figure 3 is similar to that of Figure 1, except that a third element, namely a backscatter film 5 is also provided.

Luminescent reproductions may be produced double-sided, without departing from the scope of the present invention, either by producing, according to the invention, two reproductions that are assembled back to back, either by using a luminescent film common to two films thus saving material and rationalization of production.

The luminescent reproductions thus produced can be used in fields too multiple than varied, for example advertising, watchmaking, jewelry, tourism, games, etc. The reproduction can be conditioned under a multitude in shape, for example as a key ring, badges, t-shirt, caps, watch faces, frames, bracelets, etc.

Claims (10)

1. Process for manufacturing a reproduction with a luminescence effect, characterized in that the following steps are carried out :

   a. a film comprising a luminescent material is prepared ;

   b. a transparent filter is prepared in order to form a cohesive interface between the luminescent material and a surface provided with an image and to moderate the influence of the color of the luminescent material on the rendition of the reproduction ; and

   c. an image is printed on at least one surface allowing light to pass through it, ensuring that it is transparent.
2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the image is printed on the filter.
3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter is incorporated into the luminescent material and the image is printed on said film comprising the luminescent material and the filter.
4. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the image is printed on a transparent carrier and in that said carrier is affixed to the film comprising the luminescent material and to which the filter is affixed.
5. Process according to claim 3, characterized in that the image is printed on a transparent carrier and in that said support is affixed to the film comprising the luminescent material and the filter.
6. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a backscattering film is applied to the free face of the film comprising the luminescent material.
7. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the image or parts of the image which are superposed and/or juxtaposed is/are printed on at least two different surfaces allowing light to pass through them.
8. Reproduction with a luminescence effect, characterized in that it comprises a film made of a luminescent material, of a cohesive transparent filter set out between the luminescent material and one surface allowing light to pass through it on which an image is printed.
9. Reproduction according to claim 8, characterized in that the image is printed completely or in juxtaposed and/or superposed on two different surfaces, thus making it possible to create a depth effect or a relief effect.
10. Reproduction according to anyone of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the reproduction comprises a protective screen, in particular a screen for protection against ultraviolet.

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