Media-based system for forming three-dimensional objects
First Claim
1. A method for forming a color-accurate physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model comprising:
- forming page images for a 3D computer-based model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the 3D computer-based model including an image color that is different than a media color to be used to form the physical object;
printing the page images on sheets of substrate media to form a plurality of printed documents;
each printed document having the image color printed thereon based on a location of the image color in the 3D computer-based model, wherein each printed document comprises an inner perimeter and outer perimeter, the image color based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model being printed between the inner and outer perimeter to form a band of printed color so that interior portions of the printed documents that will not be visible when the physical object is formed do not include printed color;
trimming the printed documents along a trim path between the inner and outer perimeters in the band of printed color so that the printed color on the document is revealed along the trim path; and
stacking the printed documents to form the color accurate physical object.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments described herein are directed to generating physical three-dimensional color-accurate objects based on a 3D computer-based color model using printed layers of media. Embodiments can slice a 3D computer-based color model into 3D cross-sectional components, which retain the color information of the model. The 3D cross-sectional segments can be converted into 2D page images and the color information can be included in a plan image corresponding to the cross-sectional segments. Embodiments can print the page images to form cross-sectional prints which can be layered and trimmed to shape the prints into a color accurate physical object that represents the model.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for forming a color-accurate physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model comprising:
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forming page images for a 3D computer-based model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the 3D computer-based model including an image color that is different than a media color to be used to form the physical object; printing the page images on sheets of substrate media to form a plurality of printed documents; each printed document having the image color printed thereon based on a location of the image color in the 3D computer-based model, wherein each printed document comprises an inner perimeter and outer perimeter, the image color based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model being printed between the inner and outer perimeter to form a band of printed color so that interior portions of the printed documents that will not be visible when the physical object is formed do not include printed color;
trimming the printed documents along a trim path between the inner and outer perimeters in the band of printed color so that the printed color on the document is revealed along the trim path; and
stacking the printed documents to form the color accurate physical object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for forming a physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model, the system comprising:
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a processing device configured to form page images for a 3D computer-based model and to incorporate an image color into the page images based on a location of the image color in the model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the 3D computer-based model including the image color that is different than a sheet of substrate media color to be used to form the physical object; and a media printing system which prints the page images on both a top and bottom surface of the sheet of substrate media to form cross-sectional prints, the cross-sectional printed sheets of substrate media being stacked to form the color-accurate physical object;
wherein the processing device is configured to form an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter for each plan image, a trim path being between the inner perimeter and outer perimeter, at least one of the plan images including the image color printed on the substrate media between the inner and outer perimeters based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model to form a band of printed color so that the interior portions of the cross-sectional prints that are not visible when the object is formed do not include printed color, and wherein trimming the at least one of the plan images along the trim path reveals the printed color on an edge of the substrate media. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processing device, wherein execution of the instructions implements a method for forming a physical object from a three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model comprising:
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forming page images for a 3D computer-based model, the page images corresponding to cross-sectional segments of the 3D computer-based model, the model including an image color that is different than a substrate media color to be used to form the physical object; and incorporating the image color into the page images based on a location of the image color in the 3D computer-based model, the image color of the page images being printed on sheets of substrate media to form cross-sectional prints from which the physical object is formed, wherein each cross-sectional print comprises an inner and outer perimeter, the image color based on the location of the color in the 3D computer-based model being printed on the substrate media between the inner and outer perimeter to form a band of printed color so that interior portions of the cross-sectional prints that are not visible when the physical object is formed do not include printed color, and a trim path being between the inner and outer perimeters so that upon trimming the sheet of substrate media, the printed color is revealed along the trim path on an edge of the substrate media. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification