Three-dimensional object printing system and three-dimensional object printing method

A three-dimensional object printing system configured to apply a printing medium onto surfaces of three-dimensional objects, the three-dimensional object printing system comprising:

• a printing table having a plurality of detection reference marks thereon;
• a detector;
• a printing data generator;
• and
• a printer;
• wherein the detector is configured to detect 1) positions and orientations of three-dimensional objects that have been placed on the printing table in a manner that hides and/or partially hides from observation some of said detection reference marks, and 2) detection reference marks, among said plurality of detection reference marks, that remain visible and/or partially visible through gaps between the three-dimensional objects that have been placed on the printing table;
• the printing data generator is configured to determine reference coordinates of the detected visible and/or partially visible detection reference marks and to generate printing data specific to each of the three-dimensional objects that have been placed on the printing table based on the positions and orientations of the three-dimensional objects and the reference coordinates of the visible and/or partially visible detection reference marks that have been detected by the detector;
• and
• the printer is configured to apply the printing medium onto the surfaces of each of the three-dimensional objects that have been placed on the printing table using the printing data generated by the printing data generator that is specific to each of the three-dimensional objects that have been placed on the printing table.