Method and system of making digital image transfer thermoformed objects
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorLyle S. Simons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system is provided for forming a three-dimensional image and, more particularly, for making three-dimensional digital image transfer thermoformed objects on, e.g., generic molds. The method includes manipulating digital images of a subject into a single image; printing the single image onto a media; and thermoforming the media with the single image using a generic mold. The system comprises a computer infrastructure operable to: receive images of a subject; display the images; stitch together the images to form a single image; adjust portions of the images or single image to compensate for deformation during thermoforming of the single image; register the single image with points on a mold; and print the single image.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- manipulating, by a computer processor, digital images of a subject into a single image;
- selecting a generic mold from a predefined mold matrix, wherein:
- the predefined mold matrix comprises representations of a plurality of generic molds stored in a computer-readable hardware storage device,
- the plurality of generic molds are different, predefined shapes, and
- the representations of the plurality of generic molds include respective registration marks used to orient features of the single image with the plurality of generic molds;
- automatically aligning, by the computer processor, the registration marks of the selected generic mold with the features of the single image;
- printing the single image onto a media;
- and
- thermoforming the media with the single image using the selected generic mold.
A method, comprising:
- stitching together, by a computer processor, digital images of a frontal view and side views of a subject into a single image of a face of the subject;
- registering, by the computer processor, the single image of the face of the subject with eyes, ears, nose, and mouth of a selected one of a plurality of generic face molds;
- printing, by the computer processor, the single image of the face of the subject onto a media;
- thermoforming the media with the single image of the face of the subject using the selected one of the plurality of generic face molds;
- and
- manufacturing an identification badge of the subject including the thermoformed media,
- wherein:
- the selected one of the plurality of generic face molds is a generic mold selected from a predefined mold matrix,
- the predefined mold matrix comprises representations of a plurality of generic molds stored in a computer-readable hardware storage device,
- the plurality of generic molds are different, predefined shapes, and
- the representations of the plurality of generic molds include respective registration marks used to orient features of the single image with the plurality of generic molds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.