US5074597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computerized method of generating film masters for embossing and printing color images
Assignee: Lehigh Press LLC
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Filing: 1990-08-28
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Granted: 1991-12-24
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Expires: 2010-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A computerized technique for generating masters for embossing and printing color images with local regions of variation of an optical characteristic such as reflectance is disclosed. The color image is read into a computer and displayed on the computer screen. An electronic embossing mask is created for each local region which is to have a preselected optical variation. The line pattern is designated for each local region mask and an embossing film is exposed with each electronic embossing mask for creating in the embossing film a composite image including each line pattern in each local region. A plurality of electronic color separation masks are generated from the original color image, and each of these is combined with an electronic embossing mask to form an electronic line color separation mask having line patterns which correspond to those designated for the local regions. A plurality of color separation films are then exposed with each electronic embossing mask separation image for creating on each color separation film a single color image with the designated line patterns in local regions.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Mancuso
- 👤 Mark Chandler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:34
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D15/00; B41; B41M; B41M1/00; B41M1/14; B41M3/00; B41M3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A computerized method of generating film masters for embossing and printing color images with local regions of preselected variations in an optical characteristic, comprising: reading a color image into a computer; displaying the color image on a computer screen; creating an electronic mask for each local region which is to have a preselected optical variation; designating a line pattern for each of said masks created; exposing an embossing film with each electronic embossing mark thereby creating, on the embossing film, a composite image including each line pattern in each of said local regions; generating a plurality of electronic color separation masks from the color image; combining each electronic embossing mask with each electronic color separation mask thereby forming an electronic lines color separation mask having line patterns corresponding to said line patterns designated for said local regions; and exposing a plurality of color separation films with each electronic lined color separation mask thereby creating, on each color separation film, a single color image with the line patterns designated in said local regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A computerized method of generating film masters for embossing and printing color images with local regions of preselected variations in an optical characteristic, comprising: reading a color image into a computer; displaying the color image on a computer screen; creating an electronic mask for each local region which is to have a preselected optical variation; designating a line pattern for each of said masks created; exposing an embossing film with each electronic embossing mark thereby creating, on the embossing film, a composite image including each line pattern in each of said local regions; generating a plurality of electronic color separation masks from the color image; combining each electronic embossing mask with each electronic color separation mask thereby forming an electronic lines color separation mask having line patterns corresponding to said line patterns designated for said local regions; and exposing a plurality of color separation films with each electronic lined color separation mask thereby creating, on each color separation film, a single color image with the line patterns designated in said local regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which designating a line pattern includes identifying tonal levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which designating a line pattern includes outlining objects.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which designating a line pattern includes identifying color values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which the line pattern includes lines inclined at an angle from zero to 180°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 in which the optical characteristic is reflectance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 in which the embossing film is exposed sequentially with each embossing mask.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computerized system for generating film masters for embossing and printing color images with local regions of variation of an optical characteristic, comprising: means for reading a color image into a computer; means for displaying the color image; means for creating an electronic embossing mask for each local region which is to have a preselected optical variation; means for designating a line pattern for each of said masks created; means for exposing an embossing film with each electronic mask thereby creating, on the embossing film, a composite image including each line pattern in each of said local regions; means for generating a plurality of electronic color separation masks from the color image; means for combining each electronic embossing mask with each electronic color separation mask thereby forming an electronic line color separation mask having line patterns corresponding to said line patterns designated for said local regions; and means for exposing a plurality of color separation films with each electronic lined color separation mask thereby creating, on each color separation film, a single color image with the line patterns designated in said local regions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computerized system for generating film masters for embossing and printing color images with local regions of variation of an optical characteristic, comprising: means for reading a color image into a computer; means for displaying the color image; means for creating an electronic embossing mask for each local region which is to have a preselected optical variation; means for designating a line pattern for each of said masks created; means for exposing an embossing film with each electronic mask thereby creating, on the embossing film, a composite image including each line pattern in each of said local regions; means for generating a plurality of electronic color separation masks from the color image; means for combining each electronic embossing mask with each electronic color separation mask thereby forming an electronic line color separation mask having line patterns corresponding to said line patterns designated for said local regions; and means for exposing a plurality of color separation films with each electronic lined color separation mask thereby creating, on each color separation film, a single color image with the line patterns designated in said local regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 in which said means for designating a line pattern includes means for identifying tonal levels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 in which said means for designating a line pattern includes means for outlining objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8 in which said means for designating a line pattern includes means for identifying color values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 8 in which said means for the line pattern includes lines inclined at an angle from zero to 180°.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 8 in which said optical characteristic is reflectance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 in which the embossing film is exposed sequentially with each embossing mask.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-06-24 | 1995-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-23 | 1999-06-24 | 1999-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-23 | 2003-06-24 | 2003-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |