WO2014125391A1

WO2014125391A1 - Enhanced 3d metallic printing method

Info

Publication number: WO2014125391A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/058661
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eli Grinberg; Kobi Bar
Original assignee: Scodix Ltd.
Priority date: 2013-02-13
Filing date: 2014-01-30
Publication date: 2014-08-21

Abstract

A method of enhanced 3D metallic printing on a substrate having a plurality of registration markers at predetermined locations thereon that has been preprinted with at least one feature, the feature comprising a metallic area, the method comprising steps of: providing an adaptive overprint system comprising: an imager for capturing a digital image of the substrate with the registration markers and the metallic feature; a printing platform upon which the substrate resides during overprinting; a printing mechanism for printing the overprint over the pre-printed metallic feature; a controller operatively connected to the imager and the printing mechanism; and a handling device to move the substrate in and out of the printer; capturing a digital image of the substrate, comprising capturing the plurality of registration markers and the metallic feature to be overprinted; producing image data related to the location of the registration markers and the metallic area in the captured image, the image data comprising a shift value of the metallic area; analyzing the image data to produce appropriately shifted printing instructions; and overprinting the metallic area in accordance with the shifted printing instruction.

Description

ENHANCED 3D METALLIC PRINTING METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention relates to overprinting, and more particularly to adaptive corrected overprinting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims priority from and is related to U.S.

Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61/763,994, filed 02/13/2013, this U.S. Provisional Patent Application incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Overprinting is the intentional printing of one or more layers of ink, or other such printing media, on top of another, for example by coating or varnishing. In this manner, a previously printed media can be enhanced, for example, with a glossy finish. The overprint or overcoat can be on the entire media or substrate, on one or more features previously printed on the substrate or be printing printed adjacent to previously printed features, or any combination of these.

[0004] To print on specific features and produce a high quality overprint, it is critical that the overprint ink be accurately applied on the substrate. For this purpose, the overprint coating applicator, for example, an ink-jet nozzle, must be accurately aligned with the features to be coated.

[0005] Another example of overprinting one in which a symbol or text, etc, is printed after a first printing, and the overprinting is printed adjacent or in proximity to, but not necessarily directly over, the symbol or text.

[0006] US 4,857,715 (Koch et al) discloses a scannable form for an optical mark scanning apparatus in the form of a generally rectangular sheet of paper or like material having a preprinted timing track along one edge and a plurality of preprinted quality assurance marks is printed by a laser printer with customized questions and corresponding response bubbles to create a survey form. An overprint registration system is used in conjunction with the scannable forms to align material for printing on the scannable forms prior to printing the survey form by printing an overprint registration mark

corresponding to at least one of the quality assurance marks and adjusting the position of the overprint registration mark to establish the alignment between the response bubbles to be printed and the preprinted timing track. The system may also include a verification process wherein a plurality of alignment marks will be overprinted in the position of the overprint registration marks during the printing of the survey form, so that the alignment of each form in relation to the quality assurance marks may be verified during scanning.

[0007] US 5,600,350 (Cobbs et al) describes an image registration system for a multicolor inkjet printer/plotter. The system comprises a carriage assembly for retaining multiple inkjet cartridges. Each cartridge has a plurality of nozzles adapted to eject ink in response to the application of an electrical signal thereto. A first mechanism is provided for moving the carriage assembly means in a first axis. A second mechanism is provided for moving print media in a second axis transverse to the first axis, the first axis being a scan axis and the second axis being a media axis. A first position encoder senses the position of the carriage assembly in the first axis and a second position encoder senses the carriage assembly in the second axis and providing position encoder signals in response thereto. A control circuit provides electrical signals which cause the nozzles in the inkjet cartridges to eject ink onto the media and create an image thereon in response to timing signals. The system includes a sensor module which optically senses the image and provides a set of sensed signals in response thereto. The sensed signals are processed to provide timing signals for use in correcting the image miss- registration.

[0008] US 6,454,383 (Lund et al) provides a method and apparatus for a test pattern used in the alignment of an ink-jet pen which deposits fixer fluid, or other clear ink precursor fluid, on print media uses the change in reflectivity caused by overprinting a series of positional-calibration indicia with colorant to obtain data with respect to deviations in a carriage-scan x-axis and a paper scan y-axis. Thus the invention measures distances between pens or nozzles.

[0009] US 5,803,504 (Deshiens et al) describes a method of producing a lottery ticket with an overprint region provided over a scratch-off layer. To ensure proper alignment of printing layers of the overprint region, photocell devices are installed at each of the stations of press maybe linked to various controls of the paper feeding mechanism of the press. Preferably, the registration devices in the flexographic press should allow no more than a 0.005 inch (0.013 cm) variation on each station.

[0010] US 6,840, 173 (Kawabata et al) discloses a plate cylinder and printing plate holder for the cylinder, which is capable of adjusting relative positions of plural printing plate holders and fixing the printing plate holders on the plate cylinder without causing misalignments of images among printing plates held by the printing plate holders even after overprinting.

[0011 ] The plate cylinder is equipped with at least two printing plates wrapped around the outer circumference thereof. The plate cylinder comprises printing plate holders, one per each printing plate, for holding the printing plates on the outer circumference of the plate cylinder. The printing plate holders include one printing plate holder in a stationary state and fixed against the plate cylinder and other printing plate holders that are adjustable to move in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder and fixable against the plate cylinder.

[0012] To aid in applying the overprint coating accurately, prior art relies on registration markers, typically in the form of cross hairs, located in two corners of the substrate. However, during the pre-overprinting print, registration markers and the specific features may be misaligned; i.e. moved from their intended location in an x-direction, and/or a y-direction, and/or at an angle, and/or due to scaling (enlargement/reduction) and so on. Other types of misalignment can also be present, as will be discussed in more detail below. [0013] It is therefore a long felt need to disclose a means and method for overprinting that overcomes the difficulty of identifying a misalignment between registration markers and preprinted features, such that the overprint is not aligned in accordance with said registration markers, but rather in accordance with said pre-printed features. Moreover, it is a long felt need to address a plurality of printing shifts beyond misalignment, namely global shift, a local shift, a linear shift, an angular shift, a size shift, an intensity shift, a color shift, or any combination thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to disclose a method of enhanced 3D metallic printing on a substrate having a plurality of registration markers at predetermined locations thereon that has been preprinted with at least one feature, said feature comprising a metallic area , the method comprising steps of: providing an adaptive overprint system comprising: an imager for capturing a digital image of said substrate with said registration markers and said metallic feature; a printing platform upon which the substrate resides during overprinting; a printing mechanism for stamping said overprint upon said pre-printed feature; a controller operatively connected to said imager and said printing mechanism; and a handling device to move the substrate in and out of the printer; capturing a digital image of the substrate, comprising capturing said plurality of registration markers and said metallic feature to be overprinted; producing image data related to the location of said registration markers and said metallic area in said captured image, said image data comprising a shift value of said metallic area; analyzing said image data to produce appropriately shifted printing instructions; and overprinting on the substrate in accordance with said shifted printing instruction.

[0015] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the shift is selected from a group consisting of: a global shift, a local shift, a linear shift, an angular shift and a size shift. [0016] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises two layers: paper; and a metallic printed layer, which may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper and wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic pattern.

[0017] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises two layers: paper; and a metallic layer, which may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper, with additional color patterns printed in the same layer and wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic pattern.

[0018] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises three layers: paper; a metallic layer comprising a metallic foil; and a color print layer wherein the printed pattern is opaque and does not cover the entire metallic foil and wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic foil in areas not covered by said opaque color layer.

[0019] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises three layers: paper, a metallic layer, which may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper, with additional color patterns printed in the same layer; and an additional at least partially transparent color layer printed on top of at least part of the metallic/gray/silver inks print, for creating metallic effects, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic layer in areas not covered and in areas covered by said transparent color layer.

[0020] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises four layers: paper, a metallic printed layer, which may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper, with additional color patterns printed in the same layer; a transparent lamination layer; and an additional transparent color layer printed on top of at least part of the lamination layer over the metallic/gray/silver inks print, for creating metallic effects, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic layer in areas covered by said transparent color layer.

[0021] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises four layers: paper; a metallic layer comprising a metallic foil; a transparent lamination layer; and a color print layer where the printed pattern is opaque and does not cover the entire metallic foil, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic foil in areas not covered by said opaque color layer.

[0022] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprise four layers: paper; a metallic layer which may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper, with additional opaque white color patterns printed in the same layer; a transparent lamination layer; and an at least partially transparent color layer printed on top of at least part of the lamination layer over the metallic/gray/silver inks print and/or over the white print, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said transparent color printed over said metallic layer and said metallic layer not overprinted by a transparent ink.

[0023] It is within the scope of the present invention that in the above mentioned method the substrate comprises five layers: paper; a metallic layer comprising a metallic foil; a transparent lamination layer; a layer printed with partially transparent color areas and opaque white areas; and a layer printed with color over the opaque white printed areas, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said transparent color printed over said metallic layer and said metallic layer not overprinted by a transparent ink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0025] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a printing system for overprinting on a substrate of the present invention; [0026] Fig. 2 is an elevated view of a substrate having a feature disposed in its designed location (with no offset);

[0027] Figs. 3A-3H are elevated views of substrates with an exemplary offsets that can accurately overprinted by the printing system of the present invention;

[0028] Fig. 4 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method of the present invention;

[0029] Figs 5A through 5H show a number of exemplary compositions of a printed substrate to be used according to the present invention for attaining an enhanced 3D metallic look; and

[0030] Figs 6A through 6H show the resulting enhanced printing on the substrates of Figs. 5A through 5H.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031 ] The following description is provided, alongside all chapters of the present invention, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of said invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, will remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide a means and method for adaptive overprinting.

[0032] The term 'handling device' refers hereinafter to the devices or mechanisms for feeding a substrate into a printing device, for holding the substrate during printing and for expelling the substrate after printing.

[0033] The term 'plurality' refers hereinafter to any integer number equal or higher than one, e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.

[0034] The terms 'shift' or 'printing shift' are used interchangeably hereinafter in the broadest manner including a longitudinal and/or lateral disposition (i.e. x-y or Cartesian coordinate skew; also know as a linear shift); an angular shift or disposition (i.e. polar coordinate type); a size shift (e.g. due to an enlargement or size reduction anomaly of any or all features or portion(s) thereof); a local shift (i.e. wherein only one or some— or portions thereof— of features contain anomalies or deviations; an intensity shift (i.e. the intensity or boldness or portion thereof deviates from the designed intensity a color shift wherein the color or shade of a feature(s) appearing on the substrate are not as intended (e.g. fading due to age or sun exposure, dirt, chemicals, etc) or the color shift is used to determine a proper color for matching a color to be printed adjacent to the feature(s). Aside from the local shifts, the aforementioned shift types may be categorized as "global shifts" if the feature(s) are affected (shifted, etc.) in an analogous manner to the registration markers.

[0035] The aforementioned meanings and explanations of the interchangeable terms misalignment, skew and shift should become clearer upon reading of the detailed description.

[0036] The term 'substrate' is used in its broadest meaning and includes any medium that can be printed upon, for example, paper, plastic, wood, metal, films and so on.

[0037] The 'pre-printed feature' refers hereinafter to any image or markings that have stamped upon a substrate prior to being introduced to the overprint system.

[0038] Advantages of the overprinting system and method of the present invention include:

[0039] It does not require set up and does not require plates, screens or prepress preparation.

[0040] It can be used for flood coating or spot coating, e.g. a UV spot coating.

[0041] It is conveniently used with most common paper sizes in the conventional and digital printing industry.

[0042] The coating is determined directly from a computer file.

[0043] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an overprinting system of the present invention for printing on a substrate 10, for example a sheet of paper and the like. The substrate 10 has a pair of registration markers 12a and 12b, typically in the form of cross hairs, located in two corners of thereof. The substrate 10 further comprises a feature 14 from a previous printing thereon, shown as a square for demonstration purposes only. The system comprises a paper feeder 16, a platform 18 for receiving the substrate 10, an imaging device or imager 20, a printing mechanism 22 and a control module or controller 24, shown housed in a housing or cabinet 26. The controller 24 is operationally connected to the imager 20 and printing mechanism 22.

[0044] The system also comprises a device (not seen) for moving the paper 10 from the platform 18 where printing occurs to any following stage, for example, exposure to UV radiation to dry the overprinting ink, in the case of a UV spot coating. Such following stage is represented schematically by tray 28.

[0045] In accordance with particular embodiments, the printing mechanism 22 comprises a printing head such as an ink-jet nozzle 30 or a plurality thereof (only one shown), and a mechanism for holding and moving the ink-jet nozzle such as a moveable bar 32. The printing mechanism 22 may be designed to move the ink jet nozzle 30 in both the x-direction and y-direction, for example by moving the ink jet nozzle 30 along the bar 32 (e.g. in the x-direction) and moving the bar (e.g. in the y-direction) over the substrate 10 when it resides on the platform 18. It should be understood that other printing mechanisms may be used, for example, a laser printing mechanism (not shown).

[0046] The imager 20 is typically an optical imager whose function and mechanism can constituted by a variety of means, for example it may be housed in the bar 32 and scan the substrate 10. Likewise, it should be understood that other ink-jet nozzle movement options can be devised, one example being wherein the substrate 10 is moved is one or both of the x- direction and/or y-direction— or in combination with the printing mechanism 22.

[0047] Fig. 2 shows the substrate 10 with its registration markers 12a and 12b in their intended locations. These registration markers 12a and 12b are standard commercially utilized markers. For explanation purposes, the feature 14 is shown a distance of "D" units in the x-direction from the registration marker 12a and a distance of "S" units in the y-direction from that marker. However, due to offset(s), the location of the registration markers 12a and 12b are not in their intended locations.

[0048] Fig. 3A shows a first example of a possible offset wherein the registration markers 12a and 12b are not in their intended locations. In this example, the registration markers 12a and 12b are shifted or translated a distance "d" in the x-direction from those intended locations. For explanation purposes, the shifted registration marks are shown using dash lines and their actual positions are designated 13a and 13b, respectively. These reference numerals will be used throughout in regard to global positional and size offsets (as compared to local offsets, intensity offsets and color offsets, which will be discussed below).

[0049] Prior to applying the overprint, the imager 20 images the substrate 10 and thereby determines and quantifies the aforementioned shift, i.e. the actual locations 13a and 13b of the registration markers 12a and 12b and that the shift is "d" units in the x-direction. The feature 14 is therefore determined to be "D" units in the x-direction from registration marker 12a at its actual location 13a. This information is conveyed to the controller 24 which in turn actuates and controls the printing mechanism 22 to compensate for this offset. Thus an accurate overprinting can be performed.

[0050] Fig. 3B shows another example of a possible offset wherein the registration markers 12a and 12b are not in their intended locations. In this example, the registration markers 12a and 12b are shifted or translated a distance "d1 " in the y-direction from those intended locations.

[0051 ] In a similar manner as described with reference to Fig. 3A, prior to applying the overprint, the imager 20 images the substrate 10 and thereby determines and quantifies the aforementioned shift, i.e. the actual locations 13a and 13b of the registration markers 12a and 12b and that the shift is "dl" units in the y-direction. The feature 14 is therefore determined to be "D" units in the y-direction from registration marker 12a at its actual location 13a. This information is conveyed to the controller 24 which in turn actuates and controls the printing mechanism 22 to compensate for this offset so that an accurate overprinting can be obtained.

[0052] Fig. 3C shows yet another example of a possible offset wherein the registration markers 12a and 12b are not in their intended locations. In this example, the registration markers 12a and 12b are turned or angled at an angle "theta". For convenience of displaying this offset, the actual positions 13a and 13b will be displayed as having an x-direction offset as well (however, the feature 14 is not shifted). It should be understood that any and all combinations of offsets, those already described, those yet to be described, and those not described herein but falling within the scope of the claimed invention, can occur separately or in combination.

[0053] Again, prior to applying the overprint, the imager 20 images the substrate 10 and thereby determines and quantifies the aforementioned shift, i.e. the actual locations 13a and 13b of the registration markers 12a and 12b and that the offset is an angle "theta" (and any x-direction and/or y-direction units shift). This information is conveyed to the controller 24 which in turn actuates and controls the printing mechanism 22 to compensate for this offset so that an accurate overprinting can be produced.

[0054] Fig. 3D shows still another example of a possible offset, which will be termed a size offset. Here, the size of the feature 14, or portions thereof, may be different than the intended size. In other words, the feature 14 may be appear somewhat enlarged or reduced in size versus the intended. In Fig. 3D, an enlargement offset is exemplified. For visualization purposes only, the actual positions 13a and 13b (indicating an enlargement in this example) will be displayed as having an x-direction offset as well. It can be noticed that the feature 14 is enlarged in relation to the enlargement of the registration markers 12a and 12b in their actual sizes 13a and 13b.

[0055] Once again, prior to applying the overprint, the imager 20 images the substrate 10 and thereby determines and quantifies the aforementioned enlargement, and there is a compensating effect applied by the overprinting system for this offset.

[0056] Fig. 3E shows another example of a possible offset, which will be termed an intensity offset. Here, the intensity of the feature 14, or portions thereof, may be different than the intended intensity, i.e. lighter or darker. For explanation purposes, to represent an increased intensity offset, i.e. bolder/darker than intended print appearing on the substrate 10, the actual intensity 13a and 13b is shown as having thicker dashed lines and slightly larger (and with positional offsets). Similarly, the feature 14 is shown having thicker lines. It should be understood that a faded or lighter feature 14 can also appear on the substrate 10 to be overprinted. Such offsets can occur, for example, due to printing errors, printing equipment issues (nozzle blockage, spurting, etc), due to exposure to environmental factors such as light and/or dirt, and for other reasons.

[0057] The intensity information is conveyed to the controller 24 by the imager 20, which in turn actuates and controls the printing mechanism 22 to compensate for the intensity offset, so that a proper overprinting is achieved.

[0058] Fig. 3F shows a still further example of a possible offset, which will be termed a color offset. Here, the color(s) of the feature 14, or portions thereof, may be different than the intended color(s), e.g. a different color or shade. Such offsets can occur, for example, due to printing errors, printing equipment issues (blockage of nozzles or portions of nozzles relating to certain color or colors), fading, cover-up or distortion as a result of exposure to environmental factors such as light and/or dirt, and for other reasons.

[0059] Sometimes the overprinting is the application of a symbol (or text, etc) adjacent the feature 14, and a matching of color with the feature, or a portion of it, is desired. Such an overprinting is also considered within the scope of this example.

[0060] The color(s) can be determined, for example, by the emitted wavelength of the registration markers 12a and 12b and/or feature(s) 14 previously printed on the substrate 10.

[0061 ] For explanation purposes, to represent an offset wherein the color is different than intended, the actual color 13a and 13b is shown as having curved dashed lines (and slightly larger and shifted to the right so those lines can be seen more easily). To represent an analogous relationship, the feature 14 is shown having lines made up of a sequence of curved segments.

[0062] The imager 20 conveys the color information to the controller 24 which in turn actuates and controls the printing mechanism 22 to compensate for the difference in color - so that a proper overprinting ink (varnish, etc) color is used.

[0063] If the offset is global, the registration markers 12a and 12b and the feature 14 will be affected in an analogous manner. Alternatively, the offset may be local. In other words, only some features 14, or portions thereof, may be affected (have an offset). Either way, the imager 20 can determine and quantify such offsets and correct for them. The correction can be in the form of adding or reducing the intensity (amount of ink, varnish, etc., and/or perhaps its color) overprinted on the feature 14, or portion thereof; or even blocking out unintended stray or miss-placed lines/marks.

[0064] Figs. 3G and 3H illustrate examples of local offsets, by way of the feature 14 which is exemplified by a simply drawn house. In Fig. 3G, the house feature 14 is missing the top of its roof. This can be added during the overprinting. In addition to determining and compensating for all of the aforementioned type offsets and others not exemplified, if any, after the imager 20 images the substrate 10, the controller 24 compares the components of the feature 14 with a master substrate (not shown) whose data has been digitized and stored. As a result, the controller 24 determines that the roof top is missing and actuates the printing mechanism 22 to add it, in addition to any other overprinting applications.

[0065] An application of the aforementioned example is one wherein the overprinting completes or provides a portion of an electronic circuit, for example by printing an electronic ink to connect the ends of two portions of the electronic circuit.

[0066] Fig. 3H illustrates a slightly different issue. Here the rooftop of the feature 14 is in an incorrect position (not shown). The overprinting system performs a similar determination as just described, however, when overprinting, it must first delete the miss-positioned rooftop. This can be accomplished by determining the background color and overprinting that color on the miss-positioned rooftop in order to delete it, as well as overprinting the roof top as it should be.

[0067] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for overprinting wherein offset issues are taken into account. In a first step 102, the substrate is fed or otherwise positioned on the platform 14 of the overprinting system. Then, in a subsequent step 104, the substrate 10 is imaged, including imaging the registration markers 12a and 12b and all features 14 on the substrate. In a next step 106, the imager 20 provides a digitized image (image data) of the substrate 10 to the controller 24 which receives and analyzes the data and determines what compensation is required, if any, to compensate for the offsets that may be present, in a step 108. The controller 24 then, in a step 1 10, actuates the printing mechanism 22 in a suitable manner, by way of signals for the printing mechanism 22 to apply ink (varnish, etc.) shifted linearly (x-y direction), angularly, to compensate for intensity issues, color issues, local anomalies, and the like. In a final step 1 12, the printing mechanism 22 applies ink (varnish, etc.) in accordance with the signals provided to it by the controller 20.

[0068] In accordance with particular embodiments, the method further comprises inputting data relating to the features 14 of the substrate 10 as they are intended to be. In the case where local anomalies are to be corrected, such inputting of data would be required.

[0069] One advantageous use of the overprinting system and method according to the present invention provides enhanced 3D metallic look to a print, using a transparent polymeric overprint layer.

[0070] The method comprises two main stages: substrate printing and metallic look enhancement.

[0071 ] The first stage of printing a substrate with any color combination including metallic parts may be performed in any method known in the art, such as using metallic/gray/silver inks, i.e. inks with fine reflective metallic particles, hot foil fusion, etc.

[0072] Figs 5A through 5H show a number of exemplary compositions of a printed substrate to be used according to the present invention for attaining an enhanced 3D metallic look.

[0073] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5A comprises 2 layers: paper 100; and a metallic printed layer 1 10, which may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper 100. [0074] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5B comprises 2 layers: paper 100; and a metallic layer 1 10, where layer 1 10 may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper, as shown in Fig. 1A, with additional color patterns 120 printed in the same layer.

[0075] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5C comprises 3 layers: paper 100; a metallic layer 1 10 comprising a metallic foil; and a color print layer where the printed pattern 120 is opaque and does not cover the entire metallic foil 1 15.

[0076] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5D comprises 3 layers: the two layers of Fig. 4B; and an additional at least partially transparent color layer 125 printed on top of at least part of the metallic/gray/silver inks print, for creating metallic effects (e.g. gold).

[0077] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5E comprises 4 layers: the two layers of Fig. 4B; a transparent lamination layer 130; and an additional layer printed on top of at least part of the lamination layer over the metallic/gray/silver inks print, for creating metallic effects (e.g. gold).

[0078] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5F comprises 4 layers: the two layers of Fig. 4C; a transparent lamination layer 130; and a color print layer where the printed pattern 120 is opaque and does not cover the entire metallic foil 1 15.

[0079] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5G comprises 4 layers: paper 100; metallic layer 1 10, where layer 1 10 may be a pattern printed in metallic/gray/silver inks on the paper, as shown in Fig. 1A, with additional opaque white color patterns 140 printed in the same layer. The white layer 140 may serve to conceal the underlying paper color; a transparent lamination layer 130; and a color layer printed on top of at least part of the lamination layer 125 over the metallic/gray/silver inks print, for creating metallic effects (e.g. gold) and/or 120 over the white print. [0080] The exemplary substrate of Fig. 5H comprises 5 layers: paper 100; a metallic layer 1 10 comprising a metallic foil; a transparent lamination layer 130; a layer printed with partially transparent color areas 125 and opaque white areas 140, which may serve as background to the registration markers so as not to print them on top of the metallic foil, which may cause reflection problem in the capturing process; and a layer printed with color 120 over the opaque white printed areas.

[0081] The accurate compensation mechanism described above is used in conjunction with the enhanced metallic printing to produce polymeric vaulted lens-like constructs over the metallic colored areas of the substrate, as shown in Figs. 6A through 6H, which correspond to substrates 5A through 5H, thus attaining a prominent and shiny effect of the metallic areas.

[0082] The polymeric lenses are printed accurately, using the system and method of the present invention, over metallic areas of the substrate.

[0083] It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis.

Claims

1. A method of enhanced 3D metallic printing on a substrate having a plurality of registration markers at predetermined locations thereon that has been preprinted with at least one feature, said feature comprising a metallic area , the method comprising steps of: a. providing an adaptive overprint system comprising: an imager for capturing a digital image of said substrate with said registration markers and said metallic feature; a printing platform upon which the substrate resides during overprinting; a printing mechanism for printing said overprint over said pre-printed metallic feature; a controller operatively connected to said imager and said printing mechanism; and a handling device to move the substrate in and out of the printer; b. capturing a digital image of the substrate, comprising capturing said plurality of registration markers and said metallic feature to be overprinted; c. producing image data related to the location of said registration markers and said metallic area in said captured image, said image data comprising a shift value of said metallic area; d. analyzing said image data to produce appropriately shifted printing

instructions; and e. overprinting the metallic area in accordance with said shifted printing instruction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said shift is selected from a group consisting of: a global shift, a local shift, a linear shift, an angular shift and a size shift.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises two layers: paper; and a metallic printed layer, which may be a pattern printed in one of metallic, gray and silver inks on the paper and wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises two layers: paper; and a metallic layer, which may be a pattern printed in one of metallic, gray and silver inks on the paper, with additional color patterns printed in the same layer and wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises three layers: paper; a metallic layer comprising a metallic foil; and a color print layer wherein the printed pattern is opaque and does not cover the entire metallic foil and wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic foil in areas not covered by said opaque color layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises three layers: paper, a metallic layer, which may be a pattern printed in one of metallic, gray and silver inks on the paper, with additional color patterns printed in the same layer; and an additional at least partially transparent color layer printed on top of at least part of the metallic layer, for creating metallic effects, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic layer in areas not covered and in areas covered by said transparent color layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises four layers: paper, a metallic printed layer, which may be a pattern printed in one of metallic, gray and silver inks on the paper, with additional color patterns printed in the same layer; a transparent lamination layer; and an additional transparent color layer printed on top of at least part of the lamination layer over the metallic layer, for creating metallic effects, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic layer in areas covered by said transparent color layer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises four layers: paper; a metallic layer comprising a metallic foil; a transparent lamination layer; and a color print layer where the printed pattern is opaque and does not cover the entire metallic foil, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said metallic foil in areas not covered by said opaque color layer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises four layers: paper; a metallic layer which may be a pattern printed in one of metallic, gray and silver inks on the paper, with additional opaque white color patterns printed in the same layer; a transparent lamination layer; and an at least partially transparent color layer printed on top of at least part of the lamination layer over the metallic layer and/or over the white print, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said transparent color printed over said metallic layer and said metallic layer not overprinted by a transparent ink.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises five layers: paper; a metallic layer comprising a metallic foil; a transparent lamination layer; a layer printed with partially transparent color areas and opaque white areas; and a layer printed with color over the opaque white printed areas, wherein said overprinting comprises overprinting said transparent color printed over said metallic layer and said metallic layer not overprinted by a transparent ink.