METHOD FOR REDUCING IMAGE QUALITY ARTIFACTS IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
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Accused Products
Abstract
A relief print master, such as a flexographic print master or sleeve is created by printing a sequence of intermediate layers on top of each other with an inkjet printing system. The top layer corresponds with the halftoned image that is to be printed by the print master and the lower intermediate layers are supporting layers. The pixels of the intermediate layers that are stacked on top of each other are printed with different nozzles to reduce image quality artifacts. Both a method and a system are described.
15 Citations
31 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A method for printing a three-dimensional image including pixels in a fast scan dimension x, a slow scan dimension y, and a z dimension that is orthogonal to the x and y dimensions on a printable surface by a printhead including a plurality of marking elements, the method comprising the steps of:
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subdividing the three dimensional image into multiple two-dimensional images defining multiple two-dimensional intermediate layers parallel to the fast scan dimension x and the slow scan dimension y; and printing the intermediate layers on top of each other in the z dimension by moving the printhead and the printable surface relative to each other in the fast scan dimension x to print a first set of pixels along the fast scan dimension x with a first set of marking elements over a first area, and in the slow scan dimension y to subsequently print a second set of pixels in the slow scan dimension y with a second set of marking elements over a second area that partially overlaps with the first area to define an overlapping portion;
whereina non-overlapping portion between the first area and the second area defines a distance SlowScanPitch in the slow scan dimension y; a range of movement of the printhead in the slow scan dimension y determines a print cycle; and the second set of marking elements printed in the overlapping portion between the first area and the second area is different from the first set of marking elements printed in the non-overlapping portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A printing system for printing a three-dimensional image including pixels in a fast scan dimension x, a slow scan dimension y, and a z dimension that is orthogonal to the x and y dimensions on a printable surface, the printing system comprising:
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a raster image processor to subdivide the three dimensional image into multiple two-dimensional images defining multiple two-dimensional intermediate layers parallel to the fast scan dimension x and the slow scan dimension y; a printhead including at least a first set of marking elements and a second set of marking elements to print the multiple two-dimensional intermediate layers on top of each other in the z dimension, the printhead and the printable surface being arranged to move relative to each other in the fast scan dimension x to print a first set of pixels along the fast scan dimension x with the first set of marking elements over a first area, and to move in the slow scan dimension y to subsequently print a second set of pixels in the fast scan dimension y with the second set of marking elements over a second area that partially overlaps with the first area to define an overlapping portion;
whereina non-overlapping portion between the first and second areas defines a distance SlowScanPitch in the slow scan dimension y; a range of movement of the printhead in the slow scan dimension y determines a print cycle; and the second set of marking elements printed in the overlapping portion between the first area and the second area is different from the first set of marking elements printed in the non-overlapping portion. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification