Patent Application
20070062388
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention is directed generally to a method for producing soft proof images of product labels, and in particular, to a method for electronically layering product label selections onto a representation of a digital media storage disc to enable accurate reproduction of opaque, white, and transparent inks on the disc background.
Digital media storage discs such as compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs), laser video discs (LVDs) and the like are commonly used to store large quantities of digital data including computer programs, digital image files, audio files, and movies. A conventional digital media storage disc consists of an annular media recording layer embedded within a protective transparent plastic coating. The media recording layer typically consists of a metallic film, having a patterned reflective surface which diffracts incident light across the visible spectrum, often appearing as a rainbow effect to a human observer.
While some digital media storage discs are produced without labeling, it is common to print identifying labels, advertisements, or images onto one surface of the digital media storage disc using conventional printing technology and inks suitable for adhesion to the protective transparent plastic coating of the disc. The inks used in the label print may include opaque inks, Pantone inks, white inks, or transparent inks.
Prior to printing the labels, advertisements, or images onto a surface of the digital media storage disc, a proof or sample of the label artwork is generated to facilitate the layout, design, and layering of the inks. Proofs are commonly generated electronically, and then printed on paper for approval. Each ink color is generated electronically as a separate layer, and may be printed separately as required.
When generating conventional proofs electronically or printing conventional proofs on paper for inspection and approval, the electronic background and paper backgrounds appear white and the digital media storage disc itself is not shown (or shown only in outline form), rendering accurate reproduction of the final appearance of white and transparent inks on a digital media storage disc difficult. Reproductions of the proofs which do not accurately reproduce the appearance of the finished product printed on a digital media storage disc can result in customer dissatisfaction due to unexpected differences between the conventional proof and the printed product on the digital media storage disc. These differences can result in rejection or can require considerable time and expense to change or modify the product to meet customer expectations. An alternative would be to send sample printed discs to the customer for approval, but preparing small quantities of such discs for sample productions needlessly utilizes expensive equipment needed for high-volume production.
Overlay proofs, in which each color is separately printed on transparent sheets which are then overlaid and bound in registration or laminated, are sometimes used.
This type of proof may use a foil background sheet to simulate the metallic appearance of the disc. However, the foil background does not have the diffraction “rainbow” effect and so the appearance does not closely match the actual disc. Also, overlay proofs are expensive to produce because they must be assembled manually after printing each color in the overlay.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a method by which color accurate proofs may be generated electronically and printed or displayed to provide representations of opaque, Pantone, white, and transparent inks as they would appear when printed on the digital media storage discs.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a method for layering product label selections onto a representation of a digital media storage disc to enable accurate reproduction of opaque, white, and transparent inks on the disc background.
In a first method of the present invention, a representation of a product label having an opaque ink is initially generated electronically. An electronic representation of a disc background is selected from a set of representative disc backgrounds. The product label representation and disc background representation are layered and flattened to produce a soft proof image of the finished product label on a digital media storage disc.
In an alternate method, a representation of a product label having a white ink is initially generated electronically. An electronic representation of a disc background is selected from a set of representative disc backgrounds. The product label representation is removed from the disc background representation to produce a soft proof image of the finished product label on a digital media storage disc.
In an alternate method, a representation of a product label having transparent ink is initially generated electronically. An electronic representation of a disc background is selected from a set of representative disc backgrounds. The product label representation and disc background representation are layered and blended to produce a soft proof image of the finished product label on a digital media storage disc.
In an alternate method, a representation of a product label having a plurality of inks is initially generated electronically with a separate layer representative of each type of ink included in the label. An electronic representation of a disc background is selected from a set of representative disc backgrounds. The separate layers of the product label representation are discretely overlaid and, depending upon the associated ink type, either combined, removed, or merged with the disc background representation in a predetermined print order to produce a soft proof image of the finished product label on a digital media storage disc.
The foregoing features, and advantages of the invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color.
Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description is to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.
Turning to
Once a conventional electronic or soft proof of a disc label is generated, such as shown in
Many different methods can be used for creating disc background images. An actual photograph of a disc can be used, but this technique requires careful lighting in order to produce the rainbow effect repeatedly around the disc so that the disc can be readily distinguished from the label print wherever it is not covered by ink. More controlled results can be obtained by creating the disc image as a drawing using graphics software. The disc background should have a neutral silver-gray color like the metal used in optical disc manufacturing. The addition of subtle rainbows can be accomplished by using gradients created using a blend of primary colors in the visible spectrum. Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator both provide this capability, for example. A linear gradient with rainbow-like colors can be distorted into the shape of a narrow circular sector. Using transparency to achieve a subdued color effect, the rainbow images thus created are distributed radially around the disc. Disc metal in areas that do not contain recorded information do not produce the rainbow diffraction effect and so can be represented using shading to simulate the actual appearance. Clear plastic areas of the disc and other feature can also be created as required.
An enhancement of the disc background image uses animation to simulate the movement of the diffraction patterns when an actual disc is held in the human hand and tilted to reflect ambient light in a variable manner. In this embodiment, the disc background becomes a video movie rather than a static image. This animated disc overlay representation would not be used for printing but is a new type of soft proof.
Once the representative disc background 20 has been selected (Box 100), the conventional electronic or soft proof of a disc label (
Once each image layer has been generated, the image layers are sequentially arranged in a desired order of printing (Box 106), corresponding to the particular method of printing which will be used to produce the final images on the digital media storage discs. The first image layer which will be printed is selected (Box 108), and the type of ink associated with the layer is identified (Box 110). To accurately reproduce the appearance of ink printed onto the surface of a digital media storage disc, the method of the present invention alters the representative disc background 20 differently in response to the type of ink associated with each layer.
Opaque inks, including colored, black and gray inks, are illustrated by overlaying and merging or flattening the associated layer with the current disc background (Box 112). For example, as shown in
White inks are illustrated by overlaying and removing the associated areas from the current disc background (Box 114). For example, as shown in
Transparent inks are illustrated by overlaying the associated layer with the current disc background and processing the two using a multiply-blend procedure (Box 116). For example, as shown in
As a representation of an ink layer is processed with the current representative disc background 20, the representative disc background 20 changes to include the corresponding ink layer representation, becoming the new current disc background 20 to be used during the processing of the next ink layer. The process is repeated (Box 118) until each ink layer has been processed in accordance with the predetermined printing order. After each ink layer has been processed, the current disc background represents the completed electronic or soft proof of the disc overlay, providing a visually accurate display of the printed appearance of the product, suitable for display on a graphical user interface or for printing.
The visually accurate display or representation of a finished product digital media storage disc with a printed label may then be distributed to a customer, either in printed form, or in electronic form, for customer feedback. The feedback may include a request for changes, or an approval of the representation, after which the representation may then be utilized to produce actual finished digital media storage discs with printed labels.
The present invention can be embodied in-part in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The present invention can also be embodied in-part in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or an other computer readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into, and executed by, an electronic device such as a computer, micro-processor or logic circuit, the device becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention.
The present invention can also be embodied in-part in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented in a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
