PRINT PRESENTATION

Abstract
A method of providing a print representation of a document which, when printed, has at least one region the appearance of which is dependent on viewing conditions. The method comprises generating a representation of the document and then modifying the appearance of the at least one region to thereby simulate the appearance of the document when printed. This is achieved by animating the representation of the at least one region or at least partially combining the at least one region with an image.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—



FIG. 1 is a flow chart outlining an example of a process for providing a print representation;



FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a computer system;



FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example of a process for providing a print representation;



FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of an example of an image to be printed;



FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of an example of a selected region in the image of FIG. 4A;



FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of an example of a template defining a region in the image of FIG. 4A;



FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram of an example of a graphical user interface for viewing a print representation;



FIG. 5A is a flow chart of a specific example of providing a print representation when printing a document using a reflective substance;



FIG. 5B is an example of the flow chart of a FIG. 5A ordered to show relative dependencies between the steps;



FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of the process of combining pictures with a template;



FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example of a set of templates;



FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a graphical user interface for presenting a series of templates;



FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example of a picture and an automatically selected template;



FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a first example of a 3-D environment;



FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a second example of a 3-D environment;



FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an example of an image modified with light sources;



FIG. 13 is a graphical representation of scattered filtering in 2-D;



FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic diagrams of an example of the use of blooming in producing print representations;



FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an example of an animated print representation showing a viewing angle dependent colour region; and,



FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of an example of an animated print representation showing a region visible under certain illumination wavelengths.


Claims
  • 1) A method of providing a print representation of a document which, when printed, has at least one region the appearance of which is dependent on viewing conditions, the method comprising, in a processing system: a) generating a representation of the document; and,b) modifying the appearance of the at least one region to thereby simulate the appearance of the document when printed by at least one of: i) animating the representation of the at least one region; and,ii) at least partially combining the at least one region with an image.
  • 2) A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one region is to be printed using a spot colour.
  • 3) A method according to claim 2, wherein the spot colour is formed from at least one of inks, dyes, toners, paints, films, lacquers and other printing substances having a reflective metallic appearance.
  • 4) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, animating the representation of the at least one region by moving the image.
  • 5) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, animating the representation in accordance with at least one of: a) a cursor position;b) input commands from a user;c) movement of the user detected using a sensing system; and,d) in response to signals from a motion sensing device.
  • 6) A method according to claim 1, wherein the image is at least one of: a) indicative of a light source effect;b) a time varying image;c) captured using a camera system;d) a simulation of a three dimensional environment including a number of objects; and,e) indicative of a reflection.
  • 7) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system: a) determining first parameters relating to the document; and,b) modifying the appearance of the region in accordance with the determined first parameters.
  • 8) A method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, determining the first parameters using at least one of: a) document content; and,b) differences between the at least one region and other regions of the document.
  • 9) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system: a) determining second parameters relating to the image; and,b) modifying the appearance of the region in accordance with the determined second parameters.
  • 10) A method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, determining the second parameters based on at least one of: a) objects within the image; and,b) at least one light source.
  • 11) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system: a) determining third parameters relating to the combination of the image and the region; and,b) modifying the appearance of the region in accordance with the determined third parameters.
  • 12) A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, determining the third parameters based on at least one of: a) reflectivity;b) diffusivity;c) specular values;d) bump maps;e) blooming; and,f) scattering filters.
  • 13) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, animating the image by varying at least one of: a) first parameters relating to the document; and,b) second parameters relating to the image; and,c) third parameters relating to the combination of the image and the region.
  • 14) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system modifying the appearance of the at least one region by applying at least one of bumpiness, height variations, shading, warping and folding to at least part of a surface upon which the said image is rendered to thereby simulate at least one of grain, texture, shininess, reflection, embossing, diffusion, scattering, and specular reflection.
  • 15) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, modifying regions other than the at least one region by at least one of blooming and bleeding of a bright portion of the at least one region into the other regions.
  • 16) A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one region is to be printed using at least one of: a) a reflective substance;b) a substance having a metallic appearance;c) a substance that is at least partially translucent;d) a substance whose appearance is dependent on the viewing angle; and,e) a temperature sensitive substance.
  • 17) A method according to claim 1, wherein the viewing condition is at least one of: a) viewing incidence angle;b) viewing distance;c) viewing orientation;d) temperature;e) time;f) position of the at least one region upon the print;g) size of the spot colour region,h) shape of a print medium;i) distortion of a print medium;j) proximity to other substances;k) proximity to light sources;l) application of electrical currents;m) wavelengths of illuminating light.
  • 18) A method according to claim 1, wherein the document is formed from an image and a template, the template defining the at least one region.
  • 19) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system: a) causing the print representation to be displayed to the user; and,b) causing the document to be printed in accordance with input commands from the user.
  • 20) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, in the processing system, determining the at least one region in accordance with at least one of: a) document content; and,b) user input commands.
  • 21) Apparatus for providing a print representation of a document which, when printed, has at least one region the appearance of which is dependent on viewing conditions, the apparatus comprising a processing system for: a) generating a representation of the document; and,b) modifying the appearance of the at least one region to thereby simulate the appearance of the document when printed by at least one of: i) animating the representation of the at least one region; and,ii) at least partially combining the at least one region with an image.
  • 22) A computer program element for use in providing a print representation, the computer program element comprising executable code which when executed on a suitable processing system causes the processing system to: a) generate a representation of the document; and,b) modify the appearance of the at least one region to thereby simulate the appearance of the document when printed by at least one of: i) animating the representation of the at least one region; and,ii) at least partially combining the at least one region with an image.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2006200969 Mar 2006 AU national