# US 10,479,121 B2 · Processing an object for printing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,121 B2 - Document ID: US10479121B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/546,216 - Filed: 2015-01-29 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-29 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Jan Morovic; Peter Morovic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479121B2 ## CPC - B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - G06F 3/1208: {resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview} - G06F 3/1247: {by conversion to printer ready format} - H04N 1/60: Colour correction or control {(H04N1/54 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/6022: {Generating a fourth subtractive colour signal, e.g. under colour removal, black masking} - G06F 3/1205: {resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets} - G06F 3/1254: {Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver} - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - 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) - 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 - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method for processing an object for printing, the object comprising a plurality of properties defined at each of a plurality of locations within the object, each property represented by a metamer set of possible combinations of proportions of at least one of a set of printing materials, the method comprising: selecting a combination of the metamer sets of a given location within an object that provides all of the plurality of properties defined for the given location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing an object for printing, the object comprising a plurality of properties defined at each of a plurality of locations within the object, each property represented by a metamer set of possible combinations of proportions of at least one of a set of printing materials, the method comprising: selecting a combination of the metamer sets of a given location of the plurality of locations within the object that provides all of the plurality of properties defined for the given location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a combination of the metamer sets of the given location comprises if no combination exists that provides all of the plurality of properties defined for the given location, applying user-defined rules associated with each of the metamer sets for the given location to select one of the combinations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein selecting a combination of the metamer sets of the given location comprises if no solution to the applied user-defined rules exists, performing a manual override for the given location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein performing a manual override comprises changing parameters of the object until another combination of metamer sets for the given location can be selected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises if no solution to the applied user-defined rules exists, reporting the input object unfit for printing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises generating control data for printing the object from the selected combination at the given location. ### Claim 7 An apparatus for processing an object for printing, the object comprising a plurality of properties defined at each of a plurality of locations within the object each property represented by a metamer set of possible combinations of proportions of at least one of a set of printing materials, the apparatus comprising: a selector to select a combination of the metamer sets for a given location of the plurality of locations within the object that provides all of the plurality of properties defined for the given location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the selector comprises an identifier to identify the metamer set for each property defined at the given location. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the selector further comprises a selection applicator to select one of the identified metamer sets for a given location within the object that provides all of the plurality of properties defined for the given location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises a store to store a plurality of user-defined rules associated with each metamer set, the selection applicator is further to apply the user-defined rules associated with the metamer sets for the given location to select a metamer set for the given location if no metamer set exists that provides all of the plurality of properties defined for the given location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus further comprises a tagger to tag the given location if no solution to the applied user-defined rules exists for enabling a manual override for the given location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first interface to present the tagged location to a user for manual override. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second interface to input the manual override. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus further comprises a generator to generate a report that the input object is unfit for printing if no solution to the applied user-defined rules exists. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises a generator to generate control data for printing the object from the selected metamer set at the given location.