ITUD20130031A1 - METHOD FOR PRINTING IMAGES ON A PRINT SUPPORT - Google Patents

Description

International Class: B41J 029/0000

Description of the invention having as title:

"METHOD FOR PRINTING IMAGES ON A PRINT MEDIA"

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a method for printing images on a print support such as, by way of example only, paper, cardboard, cardboard, leather, fabrics, wood, polymeric, metal, similar or derivative supports. In particular, the present invention allows the printing of images and glossy and opaque varnish, also in relief, on colored supports, meaning, here and in the following of the description and the claims, supports having a color other than white and of any chromaticity, even dark or very dark, for example black.

With the present invention it is possible to increase the quality and print yield of images such as, by way of example only, photos of landscapes, people, animals, postcards, company presentations, writings, slogans, or the like, while maintaining full correspondence and fidelity to color of the image, canceling the influence of the base color of the support, which today instead involves its alteration.

The method according to the present invention can be applied to any type of printing equipment.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Current printing techniques are constantly evolving, in the constant search for effects that give added value to a medium such as paper or cardboard that is strongly threatened by the innovations of the web and e-books.

In fact, the publishing houses of magazines and publications are increasingly looking for refined processes that attract readers with new papers, metallic effect prints, matt or glossy paints that can also be appreciated to the touch.

The aforementioned innovations, both for technical reasons and economies of scale, require significant print runs, being still out of reach as regards small quantities that are attributable, for example, to small photographic studios, graphics or simple enthusiasts.

As happened in the past during the transition from offset printing to digital printing - able to achieve the same quality of traditional offset printing at competitive costs even for small quantities - today the challenge of the publishing market is to make the same innovations in techniques and techniques available. offset printing materials also to those with digital technology, to make products of the highest quality accessible to anyone even for a single print and at low costs.

Professional printing equipment is known for printing images also on colored, even dark and very dark supports, such as papers or cards, obtaining exceptional results in terms of image yield and quality, which until now could not be obtained as the own colors of the image were overwhelmed by the chromatic strength of the support.

For this purpose, professional software programs for managing and printing images have been developed thanks to which the operator, aware of the need to print on a colored support, manually intervenes on the print management program for insertion, under the image to be printed of a layer, or "layer", of white color.

Specifically, once the user has acquired the image, for example by scanning, photographic recording, video, or the like, he uploads it to an image processing program for subsequent printing.

The image is associated with a level, hereinafter referred to as the image level, provided in said program.

In said image level, the operator identifies the perimeter of the image to be printed and determines a printing area affected by the image itself. The operator then generates a further layer to which he associates a mask, of white color, having shapes and dimensions substantially equal to those of said printing area.

This further level, identified in the following as the white level, is arranged by the action of the operator perfectly below the printing area of the image level.

The white level affects only the print area below the image.

Based on the information contained in the image layer and the white level, the program generates a command listing which is read by the printing equipment.

The printing equipment prints with white ink or varnish in the area affected by the mask contained in the white level, thus generating a white "covering" base which affects the area of the support on which the image is subsequently printed according to the information contained in the image layer.

This construction solution allows to obtain a good rendering of the images even on dark or even golden substrates. Furthermore, according to the intensity of the covering base, or the white background, it is possible to modulate the final result and obtain exceptional chromatic effects that can "blend" the colors of the images with that of the support on which they are printed.

From a technical point of view, the operation is not carried out automatically by the image management and printing program or by the printing equipment, but requires specific processing by a professional graphic designer: it is in fact necessary, as identified above, to separate the image not only on the information levels of the color typical of the print, but also on an additional one that must indicate the surfaces on which to print the white, with the relative intensity.

This embodiment can also be used for the application of particular graphic effects, for example by printing paints which can also overlap the image and the white covering base. Also in the case of varnish printing it is necessary to have the relative information level that defines the areas on which to apply the effect, indicating the type, for example opaque or glossy.

The greater the ability of the graphic designer to process the information layers of white and / or paint, the better the final result.

To achieve this goal, even for single prints and with low costs, and therefore within the reach of any user, it is necessary that, on the one hand, producers improve the performances and cost / quality ratio of the printing equipment, and on the other hand companies in the publishing sector not only develop the necessary technological know-how internally, but which in turn make it available to potential customers in order to make what is currently the prerogative of graphic designers and therefore within everyone's reach. professional users.

If on the one hand, in fact, new printing technologies make it possible to obtain results that were previously impossible to achieve, from a technical point of view, knowledge that only graphic designers and color professionals possess is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for printing images on a print support which allows to simplify and automate the technical pre-printing process necessary for printing, with digital technologies, both on cardboard having different colors. , even dark or very dark, which with matte or glossy varnish effects.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for printing images which facilitates such processing, allowing to overcome the barrier of access to the new printing technology given by the lack of technical knowledge of non-professional users.

In order to obviate the drawbacks of the known art and to obtain these and further objects and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

EXPOSURE OF THE FOUND

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims disclose other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea.

In accordance with the aforementioned purposes, a method for printing images according to the present invention provides for the printing of at least one image on a printing support having a colored, ie non-white, printing surface.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the method comprises a step for acquiring the type of printing support, and an automatic processing step, which provides for:

- receive an image to print;

identify the contours of the image to extrapolate an area to be printed to be attributed to an image layer;

- generating a white colored mask having a shape and dimensions substantially equal to at least a portion of the area to be printed;

- associating the mask with a white layer to be positioned below the image layer, so that the mask and the at least a portion of the area to be printed are superimposed.

The aforesaid processing step therefore allows to completely automate the pre-printing process of an image on a colored print support, requiring no direct intervention from the operator to allow obtaining prints with good yield. In fact, the operator is no longer required to have specific graphic knowledge to obtain reliable prints, as these operations are carried out automatically.

The step of acquiring the type of print support includes, for example, an indication of the color, type, and properties of the print support. The acquisition phase can be carried out, for example, by specific acquisition means, or by means of an indication by the operator.

In embodiments, the method according to the present invention provides that the processing step comprises the generation of a layer of the support, or of a layer that represents a visual preview of the printing support, which reproduces the aforementioned printing surface; the method also comprises a graphical display phase during which the support level, the white level and the image level are superimposed on each other to provide the operator with a preview of the image print.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the method comprises a subsequent printing step during which a printing apparatus performs the printing, on the selected printing support, first of the mask and then of the area to be printed, on the basis of the information contained in the aforementioned image layer and the aforementioned white level.

In this way, a covering base of white color is generated perfectly below at least part of the area to be printed, thus allowing to print on a surface that is no longer colored but white.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the processing step comprises the generation of a list of commands to be supplied to the printing apparatus to command the printing of at least the mask and the area to be printed.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the processing step provides for the generation of a layer of a film which reports information relating to an aesthetic effect, such as a glossy, opaque effect, to be printed on the printing support. In the film layer, at least one film area is identified to be superimposed on the image layer. The area of film thus identified is subsequently printed on the print support.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

- fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an image to be printed;

- fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a print medium;

- fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a step of the method according to the present invention;

- fig. 4 is a schematic representation of an image printed on a print support with the method according to the present invention;

- fig. 5 is a block diagram of a system which carries out the method according to the present invention, in accordance with embodiments;

- figs. 6 and 7 are graphic representations of steps of the method according to the present invention according to another embodiment;

- figs. 8 and 9 are graphic representations of steps of the method according to the present invention according to a further embodiment;

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numbers have been used wherever possible to identify identical common elements in the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached figures, a method for printing images on a print support according to the present invention is described below.

In particular, in fig. 1 shows an image 10 to be printed reported, for simplicity of understanding, with a single color tone.

Although in the representation of fig. 1 the color tone of the image 10 is reported with a level of gray - to comply with the formal filing requirements - it is clear that the image can have different shades and / or gradations of colors.

In fig. 2 shows a printing support 11 on which the image 10 will be printed with the method according to the invention.

The printing support 11 can comprise paper, cardboard, cardboard, leather, fabrics, wood, polymeric, metallic, or similar supports and derivatives.

The printing support 11 has a colored printing surface 12. For simplicity of understanding, the printing surface 12 shown in FIG. 2 has a single color tone, in this case black, although it is not excluded that, in other embodiments, the printing surface 12 has other color tones other than white. Further embodiments provide that the printing surface 12 has different colors varying gradually, or not gradually, on the extension of the printing support 11.

Embodiments of the printing method, according to the present invention, provide for a step of acquiring, or possibly creating, the image 10 by acquisition means 13 (fig. 5) such as, by way of example only, a camera , a camera, a scanner, a computer or the like, to make it available to a processing unit 14.

During this acquisition phase, the operator can be expected to intervene on the image provided by the acquisition means 13 to adjust some display parameters such as, by way of example only, brightness, saturation, contrast, or simply to define the shape or size. .

Embodiments of the present invention provide that the processing unit 14 is provided with a means that can be read by a computer comprising a sequence of instructions which, when executed by the computer, implement the method according to the present invention.

For this purpose, the processing unit 14 comprises a user interface 21 which allows interaction between the processing unit 14 and the operator.

The user interface 21 may comprise a screen, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, or similar interaction tools.

A processing step follows during which the processing unit 14 processes the image 10 and controls a printing apparatus 15 to perform, according to the methods described below, a printing step of the printing support. 11.

The image processing step 10, performed by the processing unit 14, provides for the attribution of the image 10 to a level, or layer, of the image, hereinafter referred to as the layer of the image 16 (Fig. 1) .

The attribution of the layer of the image 16 provides for an identification of contours 17, i.e. of an area to be printed 18 occupied by the image 10 itself, performed automatically by the processing unit 14.

The processing unit 14, during this operation, can provide for a subdivision of the image 10 into a plurality of elementary units also called "pixels". For each pixel of the image 10, at least its reciprocal position with respect to the other pixels, or to a common reference system, and the color associated with it are determined.

The method also comprises the generation of a transparency, or layer of the support 19 (fig. 2) which reproduces the printing surface 12 of the printing support 11, or its chromatic gradations.

The generation of the layer of the support 19 provides for the introduction, by the operator, of parameters such as the size of the printing support 11, the entry of a parameter relating to the color, or colors, of the printing support 11, the typology of the substrate 11 (fig. 5).

For this purpose, the processing unit 14 can propose to the operator, through the user interface 21, a plurality of already predetermined options, for example, for the choice of the type of printing support 11 which can be smooth, rough, transparent, opaque, for example by proposing a series of media options already on the market.

As regards the indication of the color of the print substrate 11, it can be envisaged that the operator, through the user interface 21, acts on cursors, or numerical indicators to adjust, for example, hue, brilliance, brightness, contrast, saturation of colors or other, and identify the color that is closest to that of the print substrate 11 on which you intend to print the image 10.

The processing unit 14 attributes to the layer of the support 19 a reference system 20 (Fig. 2), for example of the Cartesian type (X, Y).

Subsequently, the operator arranges the image 10 above the support layer 19 in the desired position. The processing unit 14, once the image 10 has been positioned, identifies its positioning coordinates with respect to the reference system 20.

Embodiments can provide that each pixel, with which the image 10 is divided, is associated with a pair of Cartesian coordinates (Xi, YJ - in which "i" is the i-th pixel considered - which identifies its position with respect to the reference system 20.

A subsequent generation step is provided for a white-colored mask 22 having a shape and dimensions substantially equal to, or possibly slightly smaller than, those of the area to be printed 18. Embodiments may provide that the processing unit 14 defines the dimensions of the mask 22 by reducing its dimensions by a few pixels, for example one or two pixels with respect to the contours 17 of the image 10.

The processing unit 14 attributes the mask 22 thus generated to a transparency or white layer 23 (Fig. 3) which is placed under the image layer 16.

For clarity of illustration, in fig. 3 the white layer 23 shows the portion affected by the mask 22 in white color, while the remaining part is black, even if this latter part is to be considered transparent.

In embodiments it can be provided that the white layer 23 has dimensions and shape substantially equal to those of the support layer 19, so that their perfect overlapping is possible. The reference system 20 is also associated with the white layer 23 with respect to which it is possible to identify the position of the mask 22.

The mask 22 is substantially associated with the same position identified above for the area to be printed 18.

The processing unit 14, in fact, provides for the white layer 23 showing the mask 22 to be arranged above the layer of the support 19.

The image layer 16 is subsequently arranged above the white layer 23 so as to have a perfect overlap between the mask 22 and the area to be printed 18.

The processing unit 14 generates a list of commands to be supplied to the printing apparatus 15 to provide, before printing the image 10, a printing of the mask 22 and, subsequently, above it, the printing of the area to be print 18. By way of example only, the aforementioned list of commands can provide an indication of the number of passes that the printing apparatus 15 will have to carry out to obtain the desired level of whiteness on the printing support 11.

The number of passes to be carried out is also determined as a function of the color of the printing surface 12 which has been set by the operator.

Apart from the parameters entered by the operator, the processing unit 14 is configured to automatically perform, without requiring the intervention of expert professionals, the aforementioned creation and superimposition operations in the predetermined position of the white layer 23 and of the layer of the 'image 16.

This allows to make available a simplified method for printing on a colored support that is also usable by non-professional users who do not have particular knowledge in the graphic field. The embodiments described above can be integrated into a list of instructions / commands executable by a computer.

In further embodiments, the processing unit 14 can be connected to a data sharing network, even locally or remotely, to receive or transmit the images 10.

Similarly, the processing unit 14 can also comprise data storage means both of the fixed type and of the volatile type, both of the removable and non-removable type, substantially known and therefore not described.

Further embodiments may provide that the printing apparatus 15 is configured to print, in addition to the white layer 23 and the image layer 16, also a film of substantially transparent material, which gives the area in which it is printed a particular aesthetic effect, for example glossy, opaque, or other graphic effect, such as glitter, sequins or the like conferred for example by respective paints.

In this embodiment it is envisaged that the operator, interacting with the processing unit 14, identifies at least one area of the film 24 (Figs. 6 and 7) on the printing support 11 in which to return the film of transparent material.

Once these parameters have been entered, the processing unit 14 automatically generates a transparency or layer of the film 25 (Fig. 6) to be superimposed on the image layer 16 as shown in Fig. 7.

Specifically, in fig. 6, for the sake of clarity of illustration, the area of the film 24 is indicated as a rectangle with a background and the layer of the film 25 to which it is associated is represented in black color, even if it is to be considered substantially transparent.

In fig. 7 shows the positioning of the region of the film 24 on an area outside the image 10; however, it cannot be excluded that, in other embodiments, it is arranged substantially overlapping the image 10. In this figure, the overlap, in order from the lower to the upper level, of the layer of the support 11, of the layer of the white 23, image layer 16 and film layer 25.

With reference to figs. 8 and 9 a further embodiment of the present invention is described which can possibly be combined with the embodiments described up to now.

In particular, the printing method provides that the image layer 16 is divided into a plurality of pixels of the image 26, which may or may not be occupied by the area to be printed 18.

For each pixel of the image 26 at least its position with respect to the reference system 20, its size, and the color attributed to it, or a weighted average of the colors defined by the area to be printed 18, are stored.

In particular, the processing unit 14 can provide for an acquisition of the data relating to the color, for example by means of the RGB additive model, or the CMYK subtractive model.

In particular, in the RGB model the color of each pixel is expressed by the red, green, and blue components on respective scales ranging from 0 to 255; in the CMYK model the color of the pixel is divided into cyan, magenta, yellow, and black components with respective scales ranging from 0 to 100.

In accordance with further embodiments, the color of the pixel can be identified based on the HSL model in which the color of each pixel is identified as a function of the hue, brightness and saturation of the color.

The method provides for the generation of the layer of the support 19 similarly to what has been described above. The generation of the white mask 22 to be attributed to the white layer 23 is then envisaged. With reference to fig. 9, the white layer 23 is determined as a function of the information acquired by the processing unit 14 on the area to be printed 18.

The method provides that also the white layer 23 (fig. 9) is divided into a plurality of elementary cells such as white pixels 27, advantageously with the same number and dimensions of pixels to which the image 10 is divided.

If there is no perfect overlap between the pixels of the image 26 and the pixels of the white 27, the processing unit 14, for each pixel of the white 27, will perform a weighted average of information present in the pixels of the image. 26 which partially overlap with the considered pixel.

The processing unit 14, in turn, corresponds to each pixel of the image 26 a white pixel 27 arranged substantially in the same evaluated position with respect to the common reference system 20.

The processing unit 14, as a function of preset algorithms and correlating the information of each pixel of the image 26, associates a certain intensity of white color with the white pixels 27. The "opaque" white color intensity translates into a higher or lower transparency / opacity of white.

With reference to fig. 9, the pixels represented with shades of gray indicate a greater transparency of the white compared to the pixels of the white 27 reported in white color, while the pixels of the white 27 reported in black indicate the maximum transparency, and they are not associated with any gradation of white.

By way of example only, the algorithm implemented in the processing unit 14 can provide for the attribution of greater transparency to the white pixels 27 to which correspond pixels of the image 26 having a dark color - and therefore having greater hiding power - and greater opacity. , for example tending to white, for the pixels of the image 26 with lighter color.

The information of the white pixels 27 is then translated into a list of commands for the printing apparatus 15 which, according to the transparency / opacity indications of each white pixel 27, deposits more or less white on the print support 11.

In further embodiments, the operator can decide to intervene, in predefined areas, on the level of transparency / opacity of the white to give particular graphic effects.

In this case, the white layer 23 is divided into two sectors 28 (fig. 9), in each of which the user can adjust the parameters of the above transparency / opacity attribution algorithm to identify the intervention methods.

In embodiments, the method according to the present invention provides that, during the processing operations, the user interface 21 provides a real-time display of the processing performed by the processing unit 14, and a preview of the print to be obtained.

It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts can be made to the method for printing a print support described up to now, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will certainly be able to realize many other equivalent forms of method for printing a printing support, having the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore all fall within the scope of protection defined by them.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Method for printing images on a printing support (11), said printing support (11) having a colored, non-white printing surface (12), characterized in that it comprises a step for acquiring the type of printing support (11), and a processing phase which involves: - receiving an image (10) to be printed; - identifying the contours (17) of said image (10) to extrapolate an area to be printed (18) to be attributed to a level of the image (16); - generating a mask (22) of white color having a shape and dimensions substantially equal to at least a portion of said area to be printed (18); - associating said mask (22) with a white layer (23) to be positioned below said image layer (16), so that said mask (22) is said at least a portion of the area to be printed (18 ) are overlapped. 2. Method as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a printing step during which a printing apparatus (15) performs printing, on said printing support (11), first of said mask (22) and then of said area to be printed (18). Method as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing step provides for the generation of a layer of a film (25) bearing information relating to an aesthetic effect, such as a glossy, opaque effect, to be printed on said printing support (11), at least one film area (24) to be superimposed on said image level (16) being identified in said layer of the film (25). 4. Method as in claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said printing apparatus (15) prints a film above the printing of said image (10), on the basis of the information contained in said layer of the film (25). 5. Method as in claim 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that said processing step comprises the generation of a list of commands to be provided to said printing equipment (15) to command the printing of at least said mask (22) and of said area to be printed (18). 6. Method as in claim 5, characterized in that said command list comprises at least one indication of the number of passes that the printing apparatus (15) must perform for printing said mask (22). Method as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing step comprises the generation of a support layer (19) which reproduces said printing surface (12), and which comprises a graphic display step in which said support level (19), said white level (23) and said image level (16) are superimposed to provide the operator with a preview of the printing of said image (10). Method as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least said image (10) of said image layer (16) is divided into a plurality of pixels of the image (26), and at least said mask (22 ) of said white level (23) is divided into a plurality of white pixels (27), and that each pixel of the image (10) is associated with a corresponding white pixel (27). Method as in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a certain white intensity is attributed to each of said white pixels (27). 10. A computer readable means comprising a sequence of instructions which, when executed by said computer, implement the method of claims 1 to 9.