# US 10,373,394 B2 · Method and apparatus for embedding a 2-dimensional image in a 3-dimensional model > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,373,394 B2 - Document ID: US10373394B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/498,324 - Filed: 2017-04-26 - Published: 2017-08-10 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-11 - Assignees: Adobe Inc. - Applicants: Adobe Inc. - Inventors: Mayur Hemani; Abhishek Kumar; Naveen Prakash Goel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373394B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) - G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 2219/49023: 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A computer implemented method and apparatus for embedding a 2D image in a 3D model. The method comprises generating a 3-dimensional (3D) print matrix representing a 2-dimensional (2D) image, wherein the print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, the base plane of each sub-region angled with respect to a top surface of the print matrix so as to produce a plurality of shades, each shade representing a shade of the 2D image; and embedding the print matrix in a (3D) model. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method of embedding 2-dimensional images into 3-dimensional models comprising: processing a 2-dimensional image using one or more of gray scaling, noise removal, or dithering; generating an indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image, the indexed color image comprising a pre-determined number of colors based on reflective properties of a 3-dimensional printing material; generating a 3-dimensional print matrix representing the 2-dimensional image, wherein the 3-dimensional print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, a base plane of each sub-region angled so as to produce a respective one of a plurality of shades, each shade representing a color of the indexed color image; and embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a 3-dimensional model formed of the 3-dimensional printing material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each sub-region corresponds to one or more pixels of the 2-dimensional image, and wherein each angled base plane is printed at a respective one angle of a plurality of pre-defined angles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein processing the 2-dimensional image comprises converting the 2-dimensional image into a grayscale image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying an error diffusion process to the grayscale image to reduce a number of colors in the grayscale image to a predetermined number of colors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying the error diffusion process to the grayscale image to convert the grayscale image into a 2-bit image consisting of four distinct gray colors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a flat surface of the 3-dimensional model. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises: determining an area on a surface of the 3-dimensional model that is greater than or equal in size and having a depth thereunder, of the size and depth of the 3-dimensional print matrix; removing the area and volume thereunder from the surface of the 3-dimensional model; and replacing the removed area and volume with the volume of the 3-dimensional print matrix. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for embedding 2-dimensional images into 3-dimensional models comprising: at least one processor; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: process a 2-dimensional image using one or more of gray scaling, noise removal, or dithering; generate an indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image, the indexed color image comprising a pre-determined number of colors based on reflective properties of a 3-dimensional printing material; generate a 3-dimensional print matrix representing the 2-dimensional image, wherein the 3-dimensional print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, a base plane of each sub-region angled so as to produce a respective one of a plurality of shades, each shade representing a color of the indexed color image; and embed the 3-dimensional print matrix in a 3-dimensional model formed of the 3-dimensional printing material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to process the 2-dimensional image by converting the the 2-dimensional image into a grayscale image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to generate the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image by applying an error diffusion process to the processed 2-dimensional image to reduce a number of colors in the processed 2-dimensional image to a predetermined number of colors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to generate the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image by applying an error diffusion process to the processed 2-dimensional image to convert the processed 2-dimensional image into a 3-bit image consisting of eight colors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a flat surface of the 3-dimensional model. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises: determining an area on a surface of the 3-dimensional model that is greater than or equal in size and having a depth thereunder of the size and depth of the 3-dimensional print matrix; removing the area and volume thereunder from the surface of the 3-dimensional model; and replacing the removed area and volume with the volume of the 3-dimensional print matrix. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform a steps comprising: processing a 2-dimensional image using one or more of gray scaling, noise removal, or dithering; generating an indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image, the indexed color image comprising a pre-determined number of colors based on reflective properties of a 3-dimensional printing material; generating a 3-dimensional print matrix representing the 2-dimensional image, wherein the 3-dimensional print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, a base plane of each sub-region angled so as to produce a respective one of a plurality of shades, each shade representing a color of the indexed color image; and embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a 3-dimensional model formed of the 3-dimensional printing material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein each sub-region corresponds to one or more pixels of the 2-dimensional image, and wherein each angled base plane is printed at a respective one angle of a plurality of pre-defined angles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein processing the 2-dimensional image comprises converting the 2-dimensional image into a grayscale image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying an error diffusion process to the grayscale image to reduce a number of colors in the grayscale image to a predetermined number of colors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying the error diffusion process to the grayscale image to convert the grayscale image into a 2-bit image consisting of four distinct gray colors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a flat surface of the 3-dimensional model. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises: determining an area on a surface of the 3-dimensional model that is greater than or equal in size and having a depth thereunder, of the size and depth of the 3-dimensional print matrix; removing the area and volume thereunder from the surface of the 3-dimensional model; and replacing the removed area and volume with the volume of the 3-dimensional print matrix.