Spot color pattern system

• US 20030095271A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Falk, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0094 Colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/54 Conversion of colour picture signals to a plurality of signals some of which represent particular mixed colours, e.g. for textile printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6052 Matching two or more picture signal generators or two or more picture reproducers

Abstract

A spot color pattern system provides a naming convention that allows the user to name a custom spot color pattern. A Raster Image Processing (RIP) has a database of spot color patterns that are user definable and are patterns which are images of a textile, fabric, metal, etc., that are repeatedly printed across the job. The RIP interprets a spot color pattern name in print job, looks up the spot color in its database, pulls up the image associated with the spot color pattern name, adds Postscript® pattern code to the print job to paint the spot color across the background of the print job, realistically simulating the final print media, and adds other code to perform other tasks, such as mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing. A RIP user interface gives the user the ability to create, modify, or delete spot color patterns. The invention also provides a mechanism that allows an application program to access a custom spot color pattern from the RIP.

Claims

1. A process for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

scanning the print job for a spot color pattern name;

providing means for adding page description language code to the print job to paint the spot color pattern where required in the print job;

wherein the spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

executing the page description language code in the print job; and

sending the print job to a printer.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the spot color pattern is definable by a user.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user interface that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a spot color pattern name with an image.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a spot color pattern name and image pair in a database.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the scanning step identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

adding additional page description language code to the print job to perform other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

8. A process for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

providing a Raster Image Processor (RIP);

providing a database of spot color patterns on the RIP;

wherein the database comprises spot color pattern name and image pairs;

wherein an application program accesses a spot color pattern by requesting the spot color pattern from the RIP;

wherein the RIP sends the requested spot color pattern to the application program if the spot color pattern exists in the database; and

wherein the spot color pattern simulates a user'"'"'s specialized print media.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the application program stores the spot color pattern locally and uses it for further references by a user.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein an application program queries the RIP to see if the RIP has a particular spot color pattern in its database, and wherein the application program downloads the spot color pattern to the RIP if the RIP does not have the spot color pattern in its database.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein an application program downloads any required spot color patterns to the RIP when a job is sent to the RIP to be printed.

12. The process of claim 8, wherein the spot color patterns in the database are definable by a user.

13. The process of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a user interface on the RIP that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns in the database; and

wherein the user associates a spot color pattern name with an image.

14. The process of claim 8, wherein the RIP further comprises:

receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

scanning the print job for a spot color pattern name;

providing means for adding page description language code to the print job to paint the spot color pattern where required in the print job;

wherein the spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

executing the page description language code in the print job; and

sending the print job to a printer.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the scanning step identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

16. The process of claim 14, further comprising:

adding additional page description language code to the print job to perform other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

17. An apparatus for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

a module for receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

a module for scanning the print job for a spot color pattern name;

means for adding page description language code to the print job to paint the spot color pattern where required in the print job;

wherein the spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

a module for executing the page description language code in the print job; and

a module for sending the print job to a printer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the spot color pattern is definable by a user.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a module for providing a user interface that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a module for associating a spot color pattern name with an image.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a module for storing a spot color pattern name and image pair in a database.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the scanning module identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a module for adding additional page description language code to the print job to perform other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

24. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

scanning the print job for a spot color pattern name;

providing means for adding page description language code to the print job to paint the spot color pattern where required in the print job;

wherein the spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

executing the page description language code in the print job; and

sending the print job to a printer.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the spot color pattern is definable by a user.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

providing a user interface that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

associating a spot color pattern name with an image.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

storing a spot color pattern name and image pair in a database.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the scanning step identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

adding additional page description language code to the print job to perform other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

31. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

providing a Raster Image Processor (RIP);

providing a database of spot color patterns on the RIP;

wherein the database comprises spot color pattern name and image pairs;

wherein an application program accesses a spot color pattern by requesting the spot color pattern from the RIP;

wherein the RIP sends the requested spot color pattern to the application program if the spot color pattern exists in the database; and

wherein the spot color pattern simulates a user'"'"'s specialized print media.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the application program stores the spot color pattern locally and uses it for further references by a user.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein an application program queries the RIP to see if the RIP has a particular spot color pattern in its database, and wherein the application program downloads the spot color pattern to the RIP if the RIP does not have the spot color pattern in its database.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein an application program downloads any required spot color patterns to the RIP when a job is sent to the RIP to be printed.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the spot color patterns in the database are definable by a user.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing a user interface on the RIP that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns in the database; and

wherein the user associates a spot color pattern name with an image.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the RIP further comprises:

receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

scanning the print job for a spot color pattern name;

providing means for adding page description language code to the print job to paint the spot color pattern where required in the print job;

wherein the spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

executing the page description language code in the print job; and

sending the print job to a printer.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the scanning step identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

adding additional page description language code to the print job to perform other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

40. A process for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

providing means for injecting page description language code into the print job to redefine spot color pattern code in the job;

wherein a spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

executing the page description language code in the print job;

detecting the spot color pattern name;

wherein the injected page description language code is executed when a spot color pattern name is detected; and

wherein the spot color pattern is painted where required in the print job.

41. The process of claim 40, wherein the spot color pattern is definable by a user.

42. The process of claim 40, further comprising:

providing a user interface that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns.

43. The process of claim 40, further comprising:

associating a spot color pattern name with an image.

44. The process of claim 40, further comprising:

storing a spot color pattern name and image pair in a database.

45. The process of claim 44, wherein the detecting step identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

46. The process of claim 40, wherein the injected page description language code performs other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

47. An apparatus for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

a module for receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

means for injecting page description language code into the print job to redefine spot color pattern code in the job;

wherein a spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

module executing the page description language code in the print job;

a module detecting the spot color pattern name;

wherein the injected page description language code is executed when a spot color pattern name is detected; and

wherein the spot color pattern is painted where required in the print job.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the spot color pattern is definable by a user.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

a user interface that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

a module associating a spot color pattern name with an image.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

a module storing a spot color pattern name and image pair in a database.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the detecting module identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the injected page description language code performs other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.

54. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for simulating specialized print media, added materials, and/or specialized inks on a plain paper printer in a computer environment, comprising:

receiving a user'"'"'s print job;

providing means for injecting page description language code into the print job to redefine spot color pattern code in the job;

wherein a spot color pattern simulates any of the user'"'"'s specialized print media, added materials, or specialized inks;

executing the page description language code in the print job;

detecting the spot color pattern name;

wherein the injected page description language code is executed when a spot color pattern name is detected; and

wherein the spot color pattern is painted where required in the print job.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the spot color pattern is definable by a user.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

providing a user interface that allows a user to create, modify, and/or delete spot color patterns.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

associating a spot color pattern name with an image.

58. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

storing a spot color pattern name and image pair in a database.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the detecting step identifies a spot color pattern name and extracts the associated image from the database.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the injected page description language code performs other tasks that include, but are not limited to, mirroring or four-way mirroring to prevent stitches from appearing in the printout.