Printing-facilitating kit

• US 20040021881A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sericol Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sericol Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Harper-Smith, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/005 only locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/021 Adaptations for printing on specific media
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0097 Printing on special media, e.g. labels, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6055 using test pattern analysis

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for ensuring image consistency of an image printed onto a plurality of substantially identical objects printed by different vendors at different times and/or locations: The method involves receiving a plurality of inks and a product-printing facilitating kit which provides a three step printing process which may be carried out by multiple vendors to provide the same image on all of the objects. The product-printing facilitating kit comprises a film-positive standard having a black image in a plurality of different tones thereon, a digital file encoding said film-positive standard, a plurality of test-print standards each of said test-print standards having one of said inks printed thereon in a plurality of different tones, and a list of suggested parameters for producing a test film positive and a plurality of test-printed objects.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring image consistency of an image printed onto a plurality of substantially identical objects printed at different times and/or locations comprising:

(A) receiving a plurality of inks which have been adapted for printing said image onto said objects; and

(B) receiving a product-printing facilitating kit which comprises

a film-positive standard having a black image in a plurality of different tones thereon, a digital file encoding said film-positive standard,

a plurality of test-print standards each of said test-print standards having one of said inks printed thereon in a plurality of different tones, and

a list of suggested parameters for producing a test film positive and a plurality of test-printed objects;

(C) carrying out printing steps 1 and 2, in either order, followed by step 3, wherein

step 1 comprises the following sub-steps;

(i) using said film-positive standard to make up a screen-printing screen bearing a stencil corresponding to said film-positive standard,

(ii) printing from said screen-printing screen using one of said inks to produce a test-printed object,

(iii) comparing said test-printed object to the corresponding said test-print standard,

(iv) if necessary, running diagnostic tests and adjusting one or more printing parameters,

(v) repeating sub-steps (ii) to (iv) until said test-printed object is substantially identical to said test-print standard,

(vi) optionally repeating sub-steps (i) to (v) for each of said inks;

step 2 comprises the following sub-steps;

(i) producing said test film positive from said digital file encoding said test film positive,

(ii) comparing said test film positive to said supplied film-positive standard,

(iii) if necessary, running diagnostic tests and adjusting one or more printing parameters

(iv) repeating sub-steps (i) to (iii) until said test film positive is substantially identical to said film-positive standard; and

step 3 comprises the following sub-steps;

(i) obtaining a digital file encoding said image which is to be printed,

(ii) producing a plurality of film positives corresponding to each of said inks using said parameters obtained from step 2,

(iii) using said film positives to make up a plurality of screen-printing screens each bearing a stencil corresponding to said film positives,

(iv) printing said image onto said plurality of substantially identical objects using said screen-printing screens, said printing parameters obtained from step 1 and said inks.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of substantially identical objects are CDs.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of substantially identical objects are printed by different vendors.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step 1 precedes step 2.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supplied film positive standard incorporates a tonal range from 0 to 100%.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said supplied film positive standard incorporates a tonal range from 0 to 100% in 1% increments.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen-printing screen made up in step 1, sub-step (i), is made up according to supplied parameters which include any of Rz value, mesh type and stencil system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein printing carried out in one or both of steps 1 and 3 is process printing.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inks are black, magenta, cyan and yellow and said test-print standards are magenta, cyan and yellow.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inks are formulated for printing onto CD ROMs.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said printing in step 1, sub-step (ii), is carried out according to supplied parameters which include any of squeegee blade type, screen tension, snap height and print sequence.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said printing in step 2, sub-step (i), is carried out according to supplied parameters which include any of density, resolution, dot shape, LPI, tonal range, screen angles and print sequence.

13. A product-printing facilitating kit comprising

a film-positive standard having a black image in a plurality of different tones thereon,

a digital file encoding said film-positive standard,

a plurality of test-print standards each of said test-print standards having one of said inks printed thereon in a plurality of different tones, and

a list of suggested parameters for producing a test film positive and a plurality of test-printed objects.

14. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said product is a CD and said test-print standard is printed onto a CD.

15. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said supplied film positive standard incorporates a tonal range from 0 to 100%.

16. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said supplied film positive standard incorporates a tonal range from 0 to 100% in 1% increments.

17. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a set of instructions for using said kit.

18. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 17, wherein said set of instructions includes a set of printing parameters.

19. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 18, wherein said printing parameters include a film-positive specification, a screen-printing screen specification and a screen printing specification.

20. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 19, wherein said film-positive specification includes any of density, resolution, dot shape, LPI, tonal range, screen angles and print sequence, said screen-printing screen specification includes any of mesh type, stencil system and Rz value, and said screen printing specification includes any of squeegee blade type, screen tension, snap height and print sequence.

21. A printing-facilitating kit comprising a CD ROM carrier;

a CD ROM comprising a digital file encoding a film-positive standard, a file containing a list of suggested printing parameters for printing a test film-positive, a file containing a list of suggested printing parameters for printing a test print;

a film-positive standard having a plurality of different tones printed thereon; and

one or more test-print standard CD ROMs each of said test-print standard CD ROMs having an ink printed thereon in a plurality of different tones.

22. A method of obtaining a plurality of printed objects printed by a plurality of vendors all of said printed objects having substantially identical images printed thereon, comprising

designing an image,

sending said image to an ink manufacturer for formulation of inks suitable for printing said image onto said objects, and

sending said image, said inks and a product-printing facilitating kit to said plurality of vendors, wherein said product-printing facilitating kit comprises

a film-positive standard having a black image in a plurality of different tones thereon,

a digital file encoding said film-positive standard,

a plurality of test-print standards each of said test-print standards having one of said inks printed thereon in a plurality of different tones, and

a list of suggested parameters for producing a test film positive and a plurality of test-printed objects.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the objects are CDs.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said inks are black, magenta, cyan and yellow and said test-print standards are magenta, cyan and yellow.

25. The product-printing facilitating kit as claimed in claim 23, wherein said inks are formulated for printing onto CD ROMs.