WO2016038484A1

WO2016038484A1 - On-demand 3d rendering

Info

Publication number: WO2016038484A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/056168
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chaim Kleinhendler; Eli Grinberg; Shmuel KULY
Original assignee: Scodix Ltd.
Priority date: 2014-09-09
Filing date: 2015-08-13
Publication date: 2016-03-17

Abstract

A print-on-demand ordering system for 3D enhanced images comprising: at least one user computer running a user application comprising: means for receiving original image separation; means for receiving user selection of enhancement mode; a 2D overlay generator; and a 3D viewer module; and a back-end 3D rendering engine configured to receive the original image separations and the 2D overlay, comprising: means for generating color bitmap; means for creating 3D mesh; and means for rendering a 3D view from the color bitmap and the 3D mesh.

Description

ON-DEMAND 3D RENDERING

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

The present invention pertains to the field of digital print and more particularly a print-on-demand ordering system for 3D enhanced images.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from and is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/047,667, filed 09/09/2014, this U.S. Provisional Patent Application incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. BACKGROUND

The twin developments of online ordering and digital print technologies have given birth to a rapidly growing market for photo books and web-to-print. For Print Service Providers, this digital technology means you can provide exactly what your customers want, a wide range of highly attractive applications, and while at the same time increasing your profitability. The service may apply to book covers, photo albums, wedding albums, greeting cards, calendars, invitation cards, business cards etc. Dedicated websites provide services such as design, proofing and ordering at the front-end, and controlled printing, cutting, packing and dispatching at the back-end. These websites tend to minimize user selectable options by printing standard types of printed materials, such as business cards or postcards, mostly selectable from a catalog. SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a print- on-demand ordering system for 3D enhanced images, comprising:

at least one user computer running a user application comprising: means for receiving original image separations, means for receiving user selection of enhancement mode, a 2D overlay generator, and a 3D viewer module, and a back-end 3D rendering engine configured to receive the original image separations and the 2D overlay, comprising: means for generating color bitmap, means for creating 3D mesh, and means for rendering a 3D view from the color bitmap and the 3D mesh.

Creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprise automatically creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

Creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprise selecting a desired type of enhancement.

Enhancement type may be selected from the group consisting of: clear polymer with a raised 3D effect, clear polymer with a slightly raised 3D effect, metallic raised enhancement and adding a glittery effect to a clear polymer. Creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprise manually creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

Manual creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprise selecting of areas.

Selecting areas may comprise using at least one of: drawing one or more borders around areas, selecting one or more colors and selecting one or more object types.

2D overlay generator may comprises the overlay parameters and the image file.

2D overlay generator may generate one or more 2D overlay separations. Back-end 3D rendering engine may comprise means of receiving image file, means of receiving 2D overlay separation, and a 3D view renderer.

2D overlay separations may be imported by the user.

The method of print-on-demand for 3D enhanced images may additionally comprise: receive an image file, create parameters for a 3D overlay to be printed on top of the image, use of the image and the overlay parameters to generate a 2D overlay image of the 3D overlay, displaying the generated 2D overlay image, communicate the image and the 2D overlay image to a back- end server, generate by the backend server a color bitmap from the image, generate by the backend server a 3D mesh from the 2D overlay image, render by the backend server a 3D view, and communicate the rendered 3D view to a user application.

Creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprises selecting a desired type of enhancement.

Type of enhancement may be selected from the group consisting of clear polymer with a raised 3D effect, clear polymer with a slightly raised 3D effect, metallic raised enhancement and adding a glittery effect to a clear polymer. Creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprise manually creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

Manually creating parameters for a 3D overlay may comprise selecting areas.

Selecting areas may comprise using at least one of: drawing one or more borders around areas, selecting one or more colors and selecting one or more object types. Selecting areas may comprise using at least one of: drawing one or more borders around areas and selecting one or more colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental

understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for carrying out the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a functional diagram showing the data flow between the front-end web application and the back-end 3D viewer engine;

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the main steps taken by the process of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is the product of the final rendering of the selected image.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an enhanced print-on-demand system and method, which adds the option of printing an automatically generated 3D overlay over the selected image.

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for carrying out the present invention. The system includes a front-end unit 100 comprising a print order web-application 102 and a 3D viewer 105, as will be explained in details below.

The system further includes a back-end unit 1 10 comprising a 3D rendering engine 120 which communicates bi-directionally over the internet with the web application 102, as will be explained in details below.

The back-end unit 1 10 provides a CMYK file 130 and an overprint file 140 downstream to a pre-press 150 and production (printing) 160 facilities as known in the art. At least one printer in the production facilities 160 is assumed to have 3D printing capabilities, such as Scodix S Digital Presses,

Scodix Ultra , Scodix Rainbow™ printer.

Attention is drawn now to Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 2 is a functional diagram showing the data flow between the front-end web application and the back-end 3D rendering engine.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the main steps taken by the process of the present invention. In step 300 which is performed in the web application, the user is presented with a user interface (Ul) that prompts him to:

select an image from a system catalog of images, preferably categorized by type, e.g. business card, invitation, etc.; or

- Import a personal image CMYK color file in one of predefined formats e.g. PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF (including polygon layers) etc.

In step 310, once the user has selected an image 200 to be enhanced, he is presented with the selection of "Automatic" or "Manual" definition of the image areas to be enhanced. In the Manual mode, the user may select areas to be enhanced using a variety of tools such as, for example, drawing one or more borders around areas, selecting one or more colors, and other tools known in the art such as:

Differentiate between white elements and non-white elements to be (background Vs non-background objects)

- If text is marked as an object, or text identification available then only text should be enhanced.

- Marked zones (images) to be enhanced

- Enhance using artistic effects (Like Van- Gogh filter )

- Etc.

In the Automatic mode the image is analyzed according to predefined rules and at least one set of overlay creation parameters 220 is generated accordingly. The rules may comprise one or more of the manual rules described above.

The user may further select his desired type of enhancement, e.g. Scodix Sense: Clear polymer with a raised 3D effect, Scodix Spot: clear polymer with a slightly raised 3D effect, Scodix Foil: Metallic Raised enhancement or Scodix Glitter: Adding a glittery effect to Scodix Sense.

Once the overlay parameters 220 have been determined (step 310) they are passed to the 2D overlay generator 235 along with the original image separations 210.

In step 320 the 2D overlay generator uses the original image separations 210 and the overlay parameters 220 to generate one or more 2D overlay separations 240. In step 330 the web application displays the generated 2D overlay. In one embodiment of the present invention, if the overlay parameters were selected automatically, the web application may display a plurality of thumbnail overlay images to select from, each created according to a different rule or set of rules.

In step 340 the user either accepts the displayed enhancement area generated or goes back to step 310 to define new parameters, or selects another automatically generated overlay.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a overlay separation 245 may be imported by the user.

If the displayed overlaid image is accepted by the user, or if an overlay separation has been imported, the original image separations and the generated or imported 2D overlay are communicated to the back-end 3D rendering engine 120 to generate a color bitmap 260 and a 3D mesh of the overlay 270 (step 350). The mesh is a geometrical structure composed out of lines connected together to form a 3D object. It is used as a reflection surface to demonstrate the gloss of the overlay material.

The color bitmap 260 and the 3D mesh 270 are then transferred to the 3D view renderer 280 which renders the composite image 290 and communicates it back to the web application for display (step 360). The user is provided with tools for controlling and changing the point of view: angle, illumination etc... in the viewer. The viewer also allows manipulations on grouped elements in accordance with the agreed set of rules and abilities, Y-axis manipulation on the selected image and zoom.

After approval (step 370) of the rendered image (Fig. 4) the workflow continues according to the print service provider application (step 380).

Claims

1 . A print-on-demand ordering system for 3D enhanced images

comprising:

at least one user computer running a user application comprising: means for receiving original image separations;

means for receiving user selection of enhancement mode;

a 2D overlay generator; and

a 3D viewer module; and

a back-end 3D rendering engine configured to receive said original image separations and said 2D overlay, comprising:

means for generating color bitmap;

means for creating 3D mesh; and

means for rendering a 3D view from said color bitmap and said 3D mesh.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said creating parameters for a 3D

overlay comprises automatically creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said creating parameters for a 3D

overlay comprises selecting a desired type of enhancement.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said enhancement type is selected from the group consisting of: clear polymer with a raised 3D effect, clear polymer with a slightly raised 3D effect, metallic raised

enhancement and adding a glittery effect to a clear polymer.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said creating parameters for a 3D

overlay comprises manually creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said manual creating parameters for a 3D overlay comprises selecting areas.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said selecting areas comprises using at least one of: drawing one or more borders around areas, selecting one or more colors and selecting one or more object types.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said 2D overlay generator comprises said overlay parameters and said original image separations.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said 2D overlay generator generates one or more 2D overlay separations.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said back-end 3D rendering engine comprises means of receiving image file; means of receiving 2D overlay separation; and a 3D view renderer.

1 1 . The system of claim 10, wherein said 2D overlay separations are

imported by the user.

12. A method of print-on-demand for 3D enhanced images, comprising:

- receiving an image file;

- creating parameters for a 3D overlay to be printed on top of said image;

- using said image and said overlay parameters to generate a 2D overlay image of said 3D overlay;

- displaying said generated 2D overlay image;

- communicating said image and said 2D overlay image to a back- end server;

-generating by said backend server a color bitmap from said image; -generating by said backend server a 3D mesh from said 2D overlay image;

-rendering by said backend server a 3D view; and communicating said rendered 3D view to a user application.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said creating parameters for a 3D overlay comprises automatically creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said creating parameters for a 3D overlay comprises selecting a desired type of enhancement.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said type of enhancement is selected from the group consisting of clear polymer with a raised 3D effect, clear polymer with a slightly raised 3D effect, metallic raised

enhancement and adding a glittery effect to a clear polymer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said creating parameters for a 3D overlay comprises manually creating parameters for a 3D overlay.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said manually creating parameters for a 3D overlay comprises selecting areas.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said selecting areas comprises using at least one of: drawing one or more borders around areas, selecting one or more colors and selecting one or more object types.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said selecting of areas comprises using at least one of: drawing one or more borders around areas and selecting one or more colors.