Coloring of three-dimensional printed objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11059282-B2
Application number	US-201916458072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2019
Priority date	Jan 26, 2014
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) color object, layer-by-layer, comprises: obtaining a 3D CAD specification defining a 3D geometry and a surface color distribution for the color object to be printed, defining regions on a surface of the color object; defining colors for each region based on the CAD specification; determining, using the 3D geometry of the specification, conditions applying at respective regions that are liable to cause color variation, such that using the colors as defined at the respective regions may give rise to a coloration error; selecting color corrections defined for respective determined conditions; correcting the defined colors; and printing the 3D color object with the color corrections.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) color object comprising: constructing a lookup table (LUT) of color values against actual printed color composition under different printing conditions by:
printing color calibration targets using actual printed color compositions while exposing to different printing conditions;
measuring the resulting color value for each of said targets using a colorimetry device; and
tabulating the measured color values against the actual printed color composition and the respective printing conditions
obtaining a 3D CAD file defining a 3D geometry and a color texture for said color object;
dividing said 3D geometry into a core and a color shell;
dividing said color shell into volumetric regions;
calculating expected printing conditions for each of the volumetric regions;
populating each of the volumetric regions with color voxels providing an intended color according to said LUT of color values against actual printed color composition under different printing conditions; and
printing said 3D color object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printing conditions are selected from UV exposure level, sample orientation on tray, gloss/matte print mode, and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said actual printed color compositions are based on C, M, Y, white and black color materials.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said color values are represented by one of RGB color coordinates, CIE Lab coordinates, HSL, LCH and Grey Values.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said color shell is calculated relative to an extinction depth of the color materials used.

6. A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) color object comprising:
constructing a lookup table (LUT) of color values against actual printed color composition under different printing conditions by:
printing color calibration targets using actual printed color compositions while exposing to different printing conditions;
measuring the resulting color value for each of said targets using a colorimetry device; and

tabulating the measured color values against the actual printed color composition and the respective printing conditions obtaining a 3D CAD file defining a 3D geometry and a color value for said color object;
dividing said 3D geometry into volumetric regions;
calculating expected printing conditions for each of the volumetric regions;
populating each of the volumetric regions with color voxels providing an intended color according to said LUT of color values against actual printed color composition under different printing conditions; and
printing said 3D color object.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said printing conditions are selected from UV exposure level, sample orientation on tray, gloss/matte print mode, and any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said actual printed color compositions are based on C, M, Y, white and black color materials.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said color values are represented by one of RGB color coordinates, CIE Lab coordinates, HSL, LCH and Grey Values.

Assignees

• Stratasys Ltd

Inventors

• Dikovsky Daniel
• Shtilerman Stanislav
• Bressler Yoav

Classifications

• B41M5/0082 Primary

  Digital printing on bodies of particular shapes (sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design B41M5/035) · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B33Y10/00 Primary

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/106

  using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material · CPC title

• H04N1/60

  Colour correction or control {(H04N1/54 takes precedence)} · CPC title