GB2220615A

GB2220615A - Colouring systems for graphics designers

Info

Publication number: GB2220615A
Application number: GB8813027A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Hugh Williams
Original assignee: Coates Brothers and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Coates Brothers and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1988-06-02
Filing date: 1988-06-02
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Also published as: GB8813027D0

Abstract

A colouring system comprises (a) a plurality of separately identifiable containers each containing a differently coloured pigmented ink; (b) a mixing vessel; and (c) a colour guide showing a range of colours to be obtained from inks in the containers (a) and simple mixtures thereof. The mixing vessel may be graduated, or alternatively devices are provided for introducing metered quantities of ink into the mixing vessel. The system is particularly suited for designers producing artwork for printing; the printing ink manufacturer may supply both the designer and the printer with the means for making a range of coloured inks, the two ranges being capable of being accurately matched.

Description

COLOURING SYSTEMS This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to colouring systems.

Basically, in the graphic arts industry a design is prepared by a designer and subsequently printed by a printer. It is, of course, desirable that the colours chosen by the designer should be as clearly matched as possible by the colours printed by the printer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a colouring system whereby a designer is provided with a wide range of possible colours for use in preparing a design, which colours can later be very closely, indeed almost exactly, matched by a printer.

According to the invention there is provided a colouring system comprising: (a) a plurality of separately identifiable containers each containing a differently coloured pigmented ink; (b) a graduated mixing vessel; and (c) a colour guide showing a range of colours to be obtained from the inks in the containers (a) and simple mixtures thereof.

In using the colouring system of the invention, a designer first selects the desired colour from the colour guide and then makes up an ink of that colour by mixing inks from containers (a) (the "basic" inks) in the appropriate ratio. The resultant ink is then applied to the design.

The containers for the basic inks are suitably vessels, e.g. of glass or plastics material, provided with a dropper top or like dispenser for transferring ink from the container to the mixing vessel.

Replacement basic ink may be supplied in any desired form of sealed container or sachet. The basic inks themselves are, as noted above, pigmented inks and their colouration is derived from the presence of pigments therein. Desirably the basic inks contain no soluble dyestuff. The inks should have a fluidity or viscosity making them suitable for application by the common tools of the designers trade, e.g. pens, brushes, air-brushes or felt-tipped marker pens. To this end the ink vehicle suitably comprises a solvent and a resinous binder system such as an acrylic copolymer binder system.

There are suitably at least 20 differently coloured basic inks, preferably from 20 to 30 thereof. Thus, we have found that the provision of 20 or more basic inks allows for the preparation of a very wide range of colours. In this connection it may be noted that. in the preparation or selection of a colour, the designer need not be limited only to these colours given in the colour guide. Thus, the designer may produce his own colours or modify those of the colour guide and still be able to accurately specify their make-up in terms of the basic inks employed and the ratios used.

The mixing vessel should be of clear glass or plastics material and is desirably provided with a closeable top, such as the screw-top, to facilitate mixing of its contents by shaking. The mixing vessel is graduated into a number of equal volumes, e.g. 10 to 20 equal volumes. This graduation, of course, permits of introduction into the vessel of two or basic inks in simple ratios, e.g. 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1:3.,. Conveniently, the colouring system of the invention is provided with several mixing vessels, of different sizes, to allow for the preparation of larger or smaller amounts of finished inks.

In accordance with a modification of the invention, the mixing vessel is not necessarily graduated, means being provided to introduce measured amounts of basic ink into the mixing vessel. These means, may, for example, take the form of meterd dispensing means for the basic ink container or the basic ink container itself, may be in unit dosage, e.g. sachet, form.

The finished, blended inks of the desired colour may be applied using any of the means noted above. A particular suitable general purpose application means is a marker pen and, accordingly, there may be supplied with the colouring system of the invention, a supply of empty, unfilled marker pens, which may have tips of vrious styles, shapes and sizes.

When the designer has selected and used a particular colour of ink to his satisfaction he is readily able to specify its components in term of the basic inks and their ratios or alternatively by reference to the colour guide.

Complementary with the colouring system of the invention, is an equivalent range of basic pigmented printing inks for supply to a printer and from which the printer may make up a range of printing inks matching the designers selected inks (using the same principles of blending differently coloured basic inks in simple ratios).

Thus, using the colouring system of the invention in conjunction with a complementary range of printing inks, it is possible for a printing ink manufacturer to supply both designer and printer with means for making a range of coloured inks, the two ranges being capable of being closely, simply and accurately matched.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A colouring system comprising: (a) a plurality of separately identifiable containers each containing a differently coloured pigmented ink; (b) a graduated mixing vessel; and (c) a colour guide showing a range of colours to be obtained from inks in the containers (a) and simple mixtures thereof,

2. A colouring system claimed in claim 1 having from 20 to 30 of the separately identifiable containers (a).

3. A modification of the colouring system claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the mixing vessel is not graduated and in which means are provided to introduce measured amounts of inks from containers (a) into the mixing vessel.