# US 12,213,555 B2 · Additive color printing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,555 B2 - Document ID: US12213555B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/494,664 - Filed: 2023-10-25 - Published: 2024-02-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-26 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Todd W. Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213555B2 ## CPC - A43B 1/0027: {made at least partially from a material having special colours} - A41D 31/02: Layered materials (characterised by special function or use A41D31/04) - A43B 1/0072: {made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials} - A43B 5/02: Football boots {or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby} - A43B 23/02: Uppers; Boot legs - B41J 2/21: for multi-colour printing - B41J 3/407: for marking on special material - B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing} - B41M 5/0058: {on metals and oxidised metal surfaces} - B41M 5/0064: {on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers} - B41M 5/0076: {on wooden surfaces, leather, linoleum, skin, or flowers} - B41M 5/0088: {by ink-jet printing} - D06P 1/44: using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders - D06P 1/5257: {(Meth)acrylic acid} - D06P 5/30: Ink jet printing - H04N 1/54: Conversion of colour picture signals to a plurality of signals some of which represent particular mixed colours, e.g. for textile printing - B41M 2205/38: Intermediate layers; Layers between substrate and imaging layer - B41M 2205/42: Multiple imaging layers - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - D06P: DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for color printing onto nonwhite substrates and articles. For example, an article of apparel is provided that includes multiple layers of ink with a combination of a white ink and at least one color ink, and each layer having a ratio of white ink to color ink, and the ratios of white ink to color ink are different. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of apparel comprising: a substrate; and a plurality of sequential layers of a white ink and at least one color ink, the plurality of sequential layers comprising: a first layer of ink having a first mixture of the white ink and the at least one color ink, the first layer of ink having a first ratio of the white ink to the at least one color ink; a second layer of ink having a second mixture of the white ink and the at least one color ink, the second layer of ink being on at least a portion of the first layer of ink and having a second ratio of the white ink to the at least one color ink different from the first ratio, a third layer of ink having a third mixture of the white ink and the at least one color ink, the third layer of ink being on at least a portion of the second layer of ink and having a third ratio of the white ink to the at least one color ink different from the second ratio and the first ratio, and wherein the first ratio is greater than the second ratio, and the second ratio is greater than the third ratio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein an amount of the white ink in the second layer of ink is less than an amount of the white ink in the first layer, and an amount of the white ink in the third layer of ink is less than the amount of the white ink in the second layer of ink, and wherein an amount of the at least one color ink in the third layer of ink is greater than the amount of the at least one color ink in the second layer of ink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sequential layers comprises: a fourth layer of ink having a fourth mixture of the white ink and the at least one color ink, the fourth layer of ink being on at least a portion of the third layer of ink and having a fourth ratio of the white ink to the at least one color ink different from the third ratio, the second ratio, and the first ratio, and wherein the third ratio is greater than the fourth ratio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of apparel of claim 3, wherein an amount of the white ink in the fourth layer of ink is less than the amount of the white ink in the third layer of ink, and wherein an amount of the at least one color ink in the fourth layer of ink is greater than the amount of the at least one color ink in the third layer of ink. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the white ink is substantially opaque and the at least one color ink is substantially translucent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sequential layers are abrasion resistant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a fabric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of apparel of claim 7, wherein the fabric material comprises a textile material, a woven material, a nonwoven material, and/or a leather material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the article of apparel is an article of footwear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein infliction of scratching or abrasion to the plurality of sequential layers exposes a lighter shade of the at least one color ink. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The article of apparel of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sequential layers comprise more than four layers of ink. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a nonwhite substrate. ### Claim 13 An article of apparel comprising: a substrate; and a plurality of hot-melt layers of a mixture of an opaque material and at least one substantially translucent pigmented material, the plurality of hot-melt layers comprising: a first layer in contact with the substrate comprising the opaque material and at least one translucent pigmented material, the first layer having a first ratio of opaque material to translucent pigmented material; a second layer on at least a portion of the first layer, the second layer comprising the opaque material and the at least one translucent pigmented material, the second layer having a second ratio of opaque material to translucent pigmented material; and a third layer on at least a portion of the second layer, the third layer comprising the opaque material and the at least one translucent pigmented material, the third layer having a third ratio of opaque material to translucent pigmented material, wherein the first ratio is greater than the second ratio, and the second ratio is greater than the third ratio. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The article of apparel of claim 13, wherein the substrate is a nonwhite substrate, and wherein at least a portion of the first layer, second, layer, and third layers overlap and a sum of the plurality of layers of opaque material and translucent pigmented material on the nonwhite substrate at the overlapping portion produces a desired color that is optically indistinguishable in the visible spectrum from the same color printed onto a white substrate using opaque color inks. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The article of apparel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of hot-melt layers further comprise a fourth layer on at least a portion of the third layer, the fourth layer comprising the opaque material and the at least one translucent pigmented material, the fourth layer having a fourth ratio of opaque material to translucent pigmented material different from the third ratio, the second ratio, and the first ratio, and wherein the third ratio is greater than the fourth ratio. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of apparel of claim 15, wherein an amount of the opaque material in the second layer is less than an amount of the opaque material in the first layer, wherein an amount of the opaque material in the third layer is less than the amount of the opaque material in the second layer, wherein an amount of the opaque material in the fourth layer is less than the amount of the opaque material in the third layer, and wherein an amount of the at least one translucent pigmented material in the second layer is greater than an amount of the at least one translucent pigmented material in the first layer, wherein an amount of the at least one translucent pigmented material in the third layer is greater than the amount of the at least one translucent pigmented material in the second layer, and wherein an amount of the at least one translucent pigmented material in the fourth layer is greater than the amount of the at least one translucent pigmented material in the third layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The article of apparel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of hot-melt layers are abrasion resistant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The article of apparel of claim 13, wherein the substrate comprises a fabric material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The article of apparel of claim 13, wherein the article of apparel is an article of footwear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The article of apparel of claim 13, wherein the opaque materials and the at least one substantially translucent pigmented materials are chosen from an ink, a dye, a resin, an acrylic, a polymer, a thermoplastic material, a thermosetting material, and a light-curable material.