Automated method for customized field stencils
AssigneeWorld Class Athletic Surfaces, Inc.
InventorRadford Eugene DuBois, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed embodiments relate to methods for automatically generating cutting instructions to translate a color image into a field stencil having a plurality of guideline apertures. The plurality of guideline apertures may denote the color zone boundaries in the color image, for example by being placed along the line drawing representing the color zone boundaries. Such field stencils may then allow for the reproduction of multi-color logos using a single stencil.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for creating field stencils for reproducing a multi-color image onto a field surface, using an automated cutting table with flexible sheet material, comprising the steps of:
- converting, by a computer having a processor that received an image file comprising a multi-color image, the multi-color image into a line drawing of the multi-color image, where the converting includes:
- identifying, by the computer executing the processor, a plurality of colors within the multi-color image,
- demarcating, by the computer executing the processor, transitions between the plurality of colors by placing lines between the plurality of colors so as to create the line drawing, where each of the lines in the line drawing corresponds with a color boundary within the multi-color image;
- scaling, by the computer executing the processor, the line drawing;
- automatically placing, by the computer executing the processor, a plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates along each line of the line drawing;
- designating, by the computer executing the processor, an aperture shape to each of the plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates;
- and
- based at least on the guideline aperture cut location coordinates, generating, by the computer executing the processor, cutting instructions for an automated cutting table that directs the automated cutting table to cut an aperture in sheet material according to the aperture shape designated for each guideline aperture cut location coordinate,
- wherein the plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates are approximately uniformly spaced along the lines of the line drawing.
A computer-implemented method for creating field stencils for reproducing a color image, using an automated cutting table for cutting sheet material, comprising the steps of:
- translating, by a computer having a processor that received an image file comprising a color image, the color image into a line drawing of the color image, where translating includes:
- identifying, by the computer executing the processor, a plurality of colors within the color image,
- demarcating, by the computer executing the processor, transitions between the plurality of colors by placing lines between the plurality of colors such that the plurality of lines create the line drawing;
- scaling, by the computer executing the processor, the line drawing;
- automatically placing, by the computer executing the processor, a plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates along each line within the line drawing;
- designating, by the computer executing the processor, an aperture shape to each of the plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates;
- based on the guideline aperture cut location coordinates, generating, by the computer executing the processor, cutting instructions that direct an automated cutting table to cut sheet material according to the aperture shape designated for each guideline aperture cut location coordinate;
- providing sheet material onto a cutting surface of the automated cutting table;
- and
- based on the generated cutting instructions, cutting, by the automated cutting table, a plurality of guideline apertures in the sheet material in accordance with the cutting instruction.
A computer-implemented method for creating a field stencil based on a color image, comprising the steps of:
- converting, by a computer having a processor that received an image file comprising a color image, the color image into a line drawing of the color image, where the converting includes:
- identifying, by the computer executing the processor, a plurality of colors within the multi-color image,
- demarcating, by the computer executing the processor, transitions between the plurality of colors by placing lines between the plurality of colors so as to create the line drawing;
- placing, by the computer executing the processor, a plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates for each line in the line drawing, where each guideline aperture cut location coordinate corresponds to a single guideline aperture located along a line within the line drawing;
- designating, by the computer executing the processor, an aperture shape to each of the plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates;
- and
- based at least on the plurality of guideline aperture cut location coordinates, generating, by the computer executing the processor, cutting instructions that direct an automated cutting table to cut apertures in sheet material according to the aperture shapes designated for each guideline aperture cut location coordinates so as to form a stencil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.