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 from pixel image data corresponding to said image on a medium using a set of color print heads;
- curing said printed two-layer image with a curing operation;
- introducing a variable gap between two or more UV curing lamps;
- performing said curing operation with one or more UV curing lamps;
- covering or screening a portion of said one or more UV curing lamps via setting of a shutter mechanism that includes an electronic panel, the electronic panel having a selectable degree of opacity, wherein a slider control enables a granular selection of the opacity of the electronic panel, and wherein the opacity of the electronic panel sets an amount of covering or screening of the portion of said one or more UV curing lamps;
- and
- selecting the amount of covering or screening of the portion of said one or more UV curing lamps, via the slider control, wherein selecting the amount of covering or screening varies a gloss effect 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
- initially passing said second layer through said variable gap, wherein said second layer remains uncured while said second layer clears said variable gap.
An apparatus for selectively applying gloss effects to any and/or all portions of an image, comprising:
- an inkjet printing system including a set of color print heads configured for printing said image as a first layer from pixel image data on a medium configured to be printed with a two-layer image;
- one or more UV curing lamps configured to cure said printed two-layer image with a curing operation, wherein the UV curing lamps are further configured to introduce a variable gap between two or more UV curing lamps;
- and
- a shutter mechanism that includes an electronic panel having a selectable degree of opacity covering or screening a portion of said one or more UV curing lamps, wherein a slider control enables a granular selection of the opacity of the electronic panel, and wherein selecting the opacity of the electronic panel varies a gloss effect 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 initially passing said second layer through said variable gap, wherein said second layer remains uncured while said second layer clears said variable gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.