Systems and Methods for Improving Color Imaging and Print Head Alignment, Coordination, Registration and/or Re-Registration

A method for improving imaging of a printing process, the method comprising:

• identifying a beginning of a color grid, provided on a top surface of a substrate and obscured by an opaque layer provided on the top surface of the substrate, by sensing one or more revealed image dots of the color grid, wherein the one or more revealed image dots are provided by at least one first application of at least one application selected from heat, pressure and light onto at least one first portion of the opaque layer covering the one or more revealed image dots such that said at least one first portion of the opaque layer becomes transparent to provide the one or more revealed image dots;
• and
• revealing at least one overall image on the substrate positioned thereon by a firing configuration that is based, at least in part, on the identified beginning of the color grid obscured by the opaque layer,
• wherein the firing configuration subjects at least one second portion of the opaque layer to at least one second application of at least one application selected from the heat, pressure and light such that said at least one second portion of the opaque layer becomes transparent to provide the revealed at least one overall image.

A method for improving imaging of a printing process, the method comprising:

• determining a beginning of a color grid, provided on a top surface of a substrate and obscured by an opaque layer provided on the top surface of the substrate, is aligned with at least one print head, positioned downstream in a printing direction of the printing process, wherein the determined alignment is based, at least in part, on one or more revealed image dots sensed by at least one optical sensor located downstream with respect to the at least one print head in view of the printing direction of the print process, wherein the one or more revealed image dots are provided by at least one first application of at least one application selected from heat, pressure and light by the at least one print head onto at least one first portion of the opaque layer covering the one or more revealed image dots such that said at least one first portion of opaque layer becomes transparent to provide the one or more revealed image dots;
• and
• revealing at least one overall image on the substrate positioned thereon by a first firing configuration that is, at least in part, based on the determined alignment of the beginning of the color grid obscured by the opaque layer and the at least one print head,
• wherein the first firing configuration subjects at least one second portion of the opaque layer to at least one second application of at least one application selected from the heat, pressure and light by the at least one print head onto the at least one second portion of the opaque layer such that said at least one second portion of the opaque layer becomes transparent to provide the revealed at least one overall image.

A method for improving imaging of a printing or imaging process, the method comprising:

• providing a bottom substrate layer having one or more colored areas on a top surface thereof, wherein the one or more colored areas on the top surface provide a color grid or matrix thereon;
• applying, via a print head, an opaque print medium onto at least one first section of the top surface of the bottom substrate layer, as the bottom substrate layer moves in a printing direction of the printing or imaging process, such that the color grid or matrix provided at the at least one first section of the top surface is concealed by the applied opaque print medium and one or more second sections of the top surface remain visible so as to provide one or more visible image dots on the top surface of the bottom substrate layer
• sensing the one or more visible image dots via an optical sensor positioned downstream with respect to print head in view of the moving direction of the printing or imaging process;
• and
• determining alignment or misalignment of the bottom substrate layer and the print head based, at least in part, on the sensed one or more visible image dots provided by the one or more second sections of the top surface that remain visible after application of the opaque print medium.