Abstract: Various embodiments concern inkjet printing systems designed for multilayer imaging with a high-gloss clear ink layer. More specifically, the inkjet printing systems are designed so that clear, curable inks are provided additional time to level out before being cured. The settling process enables the inkjet printing systems to produce multilayer images having high gloss values. For example, a bracket could be attached to a curing assembly that prevents radiation from striking a certain portion of the substrate onto which clear ink has recently been deposited. As another example, an inactive array of light-emitting diodes may be disposed in line with the print head(s) responsible for depositing clear ink. Moreover, various embodiments also allow for true multilayer printing of a color coat and a high-gloss clear coat in a single step (e.g., by arranging print heads into rows within a printer carriage).

Abstract: A user defines the real costs for each of the individual inks used in printer and also defines a tolerance level for visual acceptance, defined in CIE units of DeltaE2000. Then, an algorithm performs a search through all nodes of the device link profile and for each node it tries to find an ink combination that creates less costs and is still within the given visual tolerance (<dE2000).

Abstract: Large format print jobs are previsualized in context. A print job source image is received. At least one 3D environment is received, including one or more designated insertion sites to receive the print job source image. One or more images or videos are produced, visualizing the 3D environment with the print job source image integrated into one or more of the designated insertion sites.

Abstract: The smoothness of a toner layer is reduced and thus the gloss of a resulting print is reduced. A single toner, the original high gloss version, is enabled to print all images. A finishing option is provided which, through application of a combination of heat and pressure with a textured roller, reduces the specular gloss of the toner surface by imprinting a high frequency texture onto the smooth toner layer. By adjusting the temperature/pressure of the textured roller, the effective gloss of the press can be adjusted through software as desired.

Abstract: Techniques described herein automatically discover the IP address of a first network device such as but not limited to a multifunction printer. Such techniques use a unique identifier of the first network device, such as for example a multifunction printer serial number. Such unique number is used in the configuration of a second network device, such as for example a Digital Front End/External Print Controller that may need the IP address of the first network device. The unique number may be entered once into the second network device or may be received from the first network device through a data interface by the second network device. Techniques then may use any available broadcast technology such as but not limited to Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to determine from available network devices which network device therefrom has the same unique number, thereby obtaining the IP address of the first network device.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a printer having a printing area configured to receive distinct mediums, and printer heads arranged relative to the printing area. The printer heads are collectively configured to print independent images onto the distinct mediums. The printer heads include at least one shared printer head configured to simultaneously print portions of the independent images onto each of two adjacent mediums.

Abstract: Compensation algorithms are applied to hide failed nozzles or, at least, reduce the objectionable effect of such nozzles in a printed image. Once a failed nozzle or under-performing nozzle is detected in a single-pass printing system, it is shut-off and the image data that was intended to be printed by this nozzle is redistributed to its neighboring nozzles. Embodiments of the invention use of a 1-D look-up table and stochastically distribute the duty cycle to each neighboring nozzle. In this way, failed nozzles are effectively hidden in the final print.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention combine pigmented and soluble salt digital ink technologies by dispersing water-soluble metal salts as particles in a non-aqueous inkjet ink fluid. The metal salts are dispersed as pigment-like particles, and not as a dissolved solute.

Abstract: A proxy software service determines all I/O devices independent of subnet location, on a network; provides a network interface on a wireless subnet that can receive and respond to requests; responds to such requests for each I/O device so identified so that the I/O device is available to the wireless device user for device selection; transfers and translates, if necessary, the IPP stream received from the wireless device to the network address of the I/O device so that the I/O device simulates a compliant I/O device; and transfers and translates, if necessary, all necessary status and command messages from the present protocol to the protocol supported by a legacy I/O device.

Abstract: Individually controllable ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to cure ink and generate different effects. The UV LEDs only expose specified areas to generate the different effect and can create multiple effects on the same substrate by exposing different areas to varying amounts of time or by performing a curing stage and post-dosage curing stages. The different effects include generating a glossy surface, a matte surface, and sharper images.

Abstract: An energy curable foam inhibition ink composition comprises an oligomer component consisting of 5-15% by weight of the ink composition, a photoinitiator component consisting of 5-15% by weight of ink composition, a monofunctional monomer component consisting of 20-40% by weight of ink composition, a difunctional monomer component consisting of 10-20% by weight of the ink composition, and an inhibitor additive consisting of 5-20% of the ink composition.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments concern printing systems configured to deposit flexible dye sublimation inks onto flexible transfer materials. Together, the flexible ink and transfer material allow images to be transferred onto complex-shaped, i.e. non-planar, surfaces of a substrate. The flexible ink may be, for example, a thermoformable UV dye sublimation ink or a superflexible UV dye sublimation ink. In order to transfer an image onto the substrate, the transfer material is pressed onto the surface of the substrate. The substrate, transfer material, or both are heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the ink to sublimate. During the sublimation process, dye is able to permeate the substrate and form a transferred image. The flexible ink formulation may also include a soluble or solvent-sensitive component. In such embodiments, a solvent can be jetted onto the substrate and/or transfer material to remove residual ink.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, such as inkjet inks, for jetting onto a ceramic substrate, and associated methods and systems. The compositions comprise a pigment compound that is configured to be jetted on a ceramic substrate during a ceramic inkjet process to impart a color effect to the ceramic substrate, and a reduction agent which, when exposed to a firing temperature, reacts with the pigment compound to cause a reduction reaction. In some embodiments, the pigment compound comprises jettable copper particles, which can cause the fired composition to take on a red or oxblood color, which can be used for decoration.

Abstract: A radiation-curable ink composition for application to glass, ceramic, or metal by an inkjet printer. The ink composition can be applied to a glass, ceramic, or metal substrate to decorate, protect, etc. the substrate. In some embodiments, the ink composition includes a glass frits component, a chromophore component, and a UV-curable component. The glass frits component facilitates the fusing of the ink component with a glass, ceramic, or metal substrate to which the ink composition is applied. The chromophore component is the primary colorant of the ink composition. The UV-curable component facilitates activation of polymerization upon exposure to ultra-violet (UV) radiation, which causes the ink composition to cure and fix/pin to the underlying substrate. After the ink composition is applied to a substrate and cured by exposure to UV radiation, the substrate is heated to a temperature that causes the ink composition to fuse with the substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the automatic measuring of such qualities of a printed sheet as reflectance excluding specular reflectance, reflectance including specular reflectance, e.g. gloss, transmittance, half-tone coverage, and the like.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments concern removable ultraviolet (UV) curable dye sublimation ink to be used in various printing systems and printing methods. In some embodiments, the ink includes a dye component, a UV curable component, and a soluble or solvent-sensitive component. In order to print an image on a substrate, the ink is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause sublimation of at least the dye component. During the sublimation process, the dye is able to permeate the substrate and form a printed image. After the transfer process has been completed, a solvent can be jetted onto the substrate that causes the soluble component to dissolve. The washing process ensures that any residual ink remaining on the surface of the substrate is substantially removed.

Abstract: Limitations of conventional dimensional printing techniques are addressed to provide features and flexibility not presently available, including extracting images selectively from a Postscript® or PDF file and thus enable texturing of individual images within a page; constructing the texture automatically directly from the image using image processing techniques; visualizing the texture to be applied to an image via construction of a bump map or normal map in openGL and DirectX®; adjusting texturing parameters via visual feedback in openGL and DirectX®; and inserting a clear texture back into a PDF file for printing automatically.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a page description language (“PDL”) data stream are provided. The methods and apparatus divide the PDL data stream to provide a plurality of PDL segments, create associated first and second data files for each of the PDL segments, and assign the first data file or the second data file associated with each of the PDL segments to at least one of a plurality of PDL processors.

Abstract: A system and methods for printing and curing ink deposited on a substrate using a first light source and a second light source. In various embodiments, the first light source emits one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation subtype C (UVC), and the second light source emits one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation subtype A (UVA), subtype B (UVB), subtype V (UVV), or a combination thereof. The substrate is configured such that any ink deposited on the substrate by a printer head is predominantly exposed to the first light source prior to the second light source.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention take advantage of the change in gloss caused by overprinting a printed image with clear ink. Embodiments of the invention thus implement gloss control functionality in a printer without the requirements of a pin and cure or other known systems.