Selective laser sintering with area exposure localized heating

A selective laser sintering printer for printing a three-dimensional object, the printer comprising:

• a print bed for supporting a first layer of print material;
• a selective heating system for projecting a print pattern on the first layer of print material, wherein the print pattern defines a cross-sectional area of the three-dimensional object, wherein projecting the print pattern heats the first layer print material within the projected print pattern from a first ambient temperature to a second higher temperature below a melting temperature of the print material;
• a laser for melting the heated first layer of print material to form a portion of the three-dimensional object;
• and
• a print volume.

A selective heating system for heating a layer of print material on a print bed of a selective laser sintering printer, the system comprising:

• a computing module, wherein the computing module includes a processor and a memory for storage of a plurality of print patterns;
• a light source configured to emit light corresponding to the plurality of print patterns;
• and
• a lens for receiving the emitted light corresponding to the plurality of print patterns, wherein the lens focuses the plurality of print patterns on the layer of print material disposed on the print bed, and wherein the focused plurality of print patterns heats the layer of print material.