Spot gloss and gloss control in an inkjet printing system
AssigneeElectronics for Imaging, Inc.
InventorsLianhui Cong, Terrill Clayton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a technique that effects spot gloss or gloss control and/or variations on one image without requiring clear inks. This is preferably accomplished by use of a multilayer printing process in which an image is first printed using a first set of color print heads and then cured, and in which the image is again printed using a second set of color print head, but where the image remains uncured for a predetermined interval to allow the ink drops applied to the media to spread and thus introduce a gloss effect.
Claims17
A method for selectively applying gloss effects to any and/or all portions of an image, comprising:
- with an inkjet printing system, printing a two-layer image using pixel image data, said image on a medium using a set of color print heads;
- curing said printed image with a curing operation;
- performing said curing operation with one or more UV lamps;
- setting an amount of covering or screening of a portion of said one or more UV curing lamps to determine an amount of gloss achieved to vary gloss in a second layer of the two-layer image by controlling a rate at which ink drops applied by said set of color print heads spread;
- and
- covering or screening a portion of said one or more UV curing lamps, starting at a location corresponding to a second row of printing heads or corresponding to a middle of the second row such that no UV radiation or limited UV radiation output is available at said covered or screened portion.
An apparatus for selectively applying gloss effects to any and/or all portions of an image, comprising:
- an inkjet printing system comprising a first set of color print heads configured for printing, as a first layer and using pixel image data, said image on a medium;
- one or more curing lamps for curing said printed image with a first curing operation;
- said inkjet printing system comprising a second set of color print heads to print, subsequent to curing the printed image with the first curing operation, as a second layer and using said pixel image data, at least a portion or all of the same image on said medium and directly over a corresponding portion or all of said cured image printed by said first set of color print heads;
- said inkjet printing system configured to allow said second layer to remain uncured for a predetermined interval until ink drops of said second layer spread to create a desired gloss effect;
- and
- said one or more curing lamps configured to cure said second layer with a second curing operation once said desired gloss effect is achieved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.