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US 12,558,848 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for printing three-dimensional structures with image information
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorTodd W. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for printing 3D structures using 2D monochromatic images (for example, greyscale images) is provided. The method can include instructing a printing device to print a 2D monochromatic image using print material in a reservoir known to contain a structural print material to create a three-dimensional structure. The method can further include instructing the printing device to print a 2D color image using color print material in a reservoir known to contain color print material, thereby forming an inner or an outer color layer of the three-dimensional structure.
Claims14
A method of printing with a printing system, comprising:
- filling a first color print material reservoir of a printing device with a structural print material;
- receiving from a processing system connected to the printing device reservoir identification information corresponding to the first color print material reservoir;
- receiving from the processing system reservoir identification information corresponding to a second color print material reservoir of the printing device filled with a color print material;
- receiving from the processing system monochromatic image information with the reservoir identification information corresponding to the first and second color print material reservoirs, wherein the monochromatic image information corresponds to a monochromatic image, wherein the monochromatic image information includes a shade level for each pixel of the monochromatic image;
- receiving from the processing system color image information corresponding to a color image;
- instructing the printing device to print the monochromatic image information using the first color print material reservoir;
- and
- instructing the printing device to print the color image information using the second color print material reservoir,
- wherein a three-dimensional structure is formed as the printing device prints the monochromatic image information using the structural print material from the first color print material reservoir;
- and
- wherein a two-dimensional color layer is formed as the printing device prints the color image information using the color print material from the second color print material reservoir.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.