GB2255573A

GB2255573A - Production of images on fabrics draughted on the grid system

Info

Publication number: GB2255573A
Application number: GB9110218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Rhodes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-10
Filing date: 1991-05-10
Publication date: 1992-11-11
Also published as: GB9110218D0

Abstract

A method of producing images on fabrics draughted on the grid system, eg lace, tapestry and embroidery, comprises producing a photographic image and transposing the image to a machine which uses the grid system in making the fabric. A computer-enhanced photographic image may be produced by scanning a photograph with a monitor and using computer software packages to convert the image to digital form, such that the design may be used in an appropriately sized point gauge machine. As an intermediate step the computer-enhanced image may be transferred on to draughting paper. The computer enhanced image preferably is made up of squares of identical size whose density gives the shading of the image. <IMAGE>

Description

PRODUCTION OF IMAGES ON FABRICS DRAUGHTED ON THE GRID SYSTEM This invention relates to the production of images on fabrics draughted on the grid system.

Presently, images are produced on lace and other warp and weft fabrics, for example tapestry or embroidery, draughted on the grid system by a very slow process requiring a skilled draughtsman. The required design is drawn by hand and the design transferred into a squared image on draughting paper by the skilled eye of the draughtsman. The final image so produced is appropriate for use in any machine which uses the grid system to produce a patterned fabric of any type.

However, to produce such a squared image to make a lace picture, for example, takes many hours and is, therefore, costly. Furthermore, often the draughtsman is not able to transpose a design into squares to give an absolutely perfect copy of the design.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing images on fabrics draughted on the grid system comprising producing a computer-enhanced photographic image and transposing the image to draughting paper for use in a machine which uses the grid system in making the fabric.

Suitably, the computer-enhanced photographic image is produced by scanning a photograph with a monitor and using computer software packages to convert the image to print digital form.

Preferably, the image is not finished to a fine resolution, such that the final image is comprised of a plurality of squares of a fixed size.

The squared image may be overlaid with a grid of appropriate dimensions in order to transpose the image onto draughting paper such that the design may be used in an appropriately sized point gauge machine.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided fabric on which images have been formed by producing a computer-enhanced photographic image and transposing the image to draughting paper-for use in a machine which produces fabrics draughted on the grid system.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a method of producing images on fabrics draughted on the grid system, embodying the invention, and the fabric produced therefrom. It will be realized that this method has been selected for description to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a computer-enhanced photographic image produced according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged section of the image shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the design image of Figure 2 transposed onto the draughting paper, suitable for a 10 point gauge machine; and Figure 4 illustrates the design of Figure 3 reduced so as to be suitable for a 20 point gauge machine.

With reference to Figure 1, in carrying out the present invention a computer-enhanced photographic image (10) may be produced which is suitable for use in producing images on fabrics draughted on the grid system, for example, lace pictures, tapestry, embroidery and all other warp and weft fabrics so produced.

Most computer-enhanced photographic images as a finished product have a very fine resolution. The finished picture, if closely analyzed, will be seen to be comprised of a plurality of dots which merge together to produce the image. Further, the shading effect of the picture is generally obtained by the graduating sizes of the dots: areas comprised of large dots merged together form the dark areas-of the image; where the dots graduate into smaller, more widely spaced dots, the lighter areas of the image are formed.

A computer-enhanced photographic image (10) for use in the present invention is not refined to produce a finished image with a fine resolution. It has been found that a computer-enhanced photographic image (10) may be produced with a coarse resolution such that the final image is comprised of a plurality of squares.

Furthermore, the image is comprised of a fixed size of square: the density of the squares is proportional to the level of shading of the original picture, but the shading effect is not obtained by the graduation of the squares.

A detailed example of how such a computer-enhanced photographic image (10) may be produced follows.

Suitable hardware comprises an Apple Mac IIcx Computer; an Agfa Focus 600 d.p.i. scanner and an Apple Mac Laserwriter II Printer.

A photograph is scanned with a monitor in black and white mode and the photograph saved as an encapsulated postscript file (EPS file). The photograph is taken as an EPS file into a suitable computer software package, such as ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR and saved as a document. The picture is registered as PICT File P1, on the hard disc and the EPS file can be taken into the computer software package DIGITAL DARKROOM or PHOTOSHOP, and printed out on the printer.

A computer-enhanced photographic image 10 so produced is suitable for use in producing images on lace, for example. An enlarged section of the image shown in Figure 1 is illustrated in Figure 2, where the squared effect is clearly shown. The squared image, as all the squares are of fixed size, may be suitably used on machines which use the grid system in making fabric.

Suitably, the grid may be read directly from the draft squared image onto a computer. It is then possible to adapt the design as required - for example, whole areas of the design could be blocked out before the finished design is used ultimately in the production of fabrics draughted on the grid system.

Furthermore, the photograph could be scanned and a squared image produced directly on, for example, a video screen, and the image then manipulated to give the finished design. This would thereby bypass the requirement of printing out the squared image and then reading the image onto a computer.

Alternatively, the squared images may be transposed simply on to draughting paper of the correct gauge, to produce a design as shown in Figure 3. The design shown here is suitable for use in a 10 point gauge machine.

For example, draughting paper may be converted on to

clear cellophanei, 'and this grid may be enlarged to the size required such that it is overlaid on the squared image.

Evidently, however the finished design may be reduced or enlarged as required to be adapted for use in different sized point gauge machines.

Figure 4 shows the design illustrated in Figure 3 reduced to give more detail, to fit on to a 20 point machine. Generally, this is the finest gauge used to achieve a lace curtain machine, for example.

The designs produced according to the present invention would be suitable for use on all machines using the Jacquard or Computer method, or any other machine which uses the grid system in making fabric.

It will be realized that the methods of draughting embodying the present invention could be of great significance in the production of images on fabrics draughted on the grid system. Lace pictures, for example, are presently produced by a draughtsman reproducing a design on draughting paper by a slow process requiring considerable skill. The present invention, however, would enable a lace-maker to produce a computer-enhanced photographic image from any type of photograph or film which could be readily transposed onto draughting paper. The method would, therefore, allow the quick submissions of draughted designs to bodies interested in having a lace picture made.

Furthermore, the present invention would allow much greater freedom in the choice of designs applied to all warp and weft fabrics draughted on the grid system, and the invention would give a perfect copy of the design: this is near to impossible when draughting by eye.

The invention provides a method of transposing a photographic image onto fabric, rather than utilizing an artist's impression and, therefore, of creating life-like images.

Claims

1. A method of producing images on fabrics draughted on the grid system comprising producing a photographic image and transposing the image to a machine which uses the grid system in making the fabric.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein a computerenhanced photographic image is produced by scanning a photograph with a monitor and using computer software packages to convert the image to digital form.

3. A method according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the computer-enhanced photographic image is not produced to a fine resolution such that the final image is comprised of a plurality of squares.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the computer-enhanced photographic image comprises a fixed size of square.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a squared image is overlaid with a grid of appropriate dimensions in order to transpose the image onto draughting paper such that a design may be used in an appropriately sized point gauge machine.

6. Fabric on which images are formed, said fabric being made by producing a photographic image, transposing the image to draughting paper and using the design in a machine designed to produce fabrics draughted on the grid system.

7. Fabric on which images are formed according to a method in any one of claims 1 to 5.