Abstract: A structure forming apparatus includes a printing unit which prints a photo-thermal conversion material, a white material, and a coloring material in order on an expanding layer in an overlapping manner, where the expanding layer is expanded when heated with thermal energy of light. The apparatus also includes a heating unit which irradiates light on the expanding layer from a side of the coloring material to expand the expanding layer, and a controlling unit which sets a printing density of the photo-thermal conversion material lower by a level corresponding to a quantity of heat conducted from the coloring material than the printing density of the photo-thermal conversion material to be printed when the coloring material has no photo-thermal conversion characteristic in the case in which the coloring material has photo-thermal conversion characteristic, and prints the photo-thermal conversion material of the set printing density.

Abstract: A structure forming method of present invention includes a first step including forming a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including forming a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.

Abstract: A structure forming method of present invention includes a first step including forming a first pattern serving as a fine pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a first surface, on the side on which an expansion layer which expands by heating is provided, of a medium including the expansion layer and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the first pattern, of the expansion layer, and a second step including forming a second pattern including a coarser pattern than the first pattern using an electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material on a second surface, on the opposite side to the side on which the expansion layer is provided, of the medium and then irradiating an electromagnetic wave toward the electromagnetic wave thermal conversion material to expand a portion, corresponding to the second pattern, of the expansion layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image forming system includes a high congestion area specifying unit that specifies, in print data for printing a grayscale image used to thermally expand a desired area on a thermally expandable sheet, a high congestion area which is an area having higher congestion of a density pattern included in the grayscale image than a predetermined value and a density adjusting unit that adjusts the density of the grayscale image such that the expanding height of the high congestion area is to be a desired height.

Abstract: An irradiation device for causing distension of a thermally distensible sheet that distends due to heat, comprising: a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; an irradiation unit that irradiates the thermally distensible sheet with electromagnetic waves; and a controller configured to: estimate an amount of moisture contained in the thermally distensible sheet on the basis of values of measurements from the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, set a relative speed between the irradiation unit and the thermally distensible sheet in accordance with the estimated amount of moisture in the thermally distensible sheet, and cause the irradiation unit or the thermally distensible sheet to move relative to each other at the relative speed that has been set while irradiating the thermally distensible sheet with the electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: For creating a surface-textured image on a thermally expandable sheet, an image editor edits the original image data in a plurality of editing manners to generate a plurality of edited image data, the plurality of edited image data corresponding to mutually different textured surface profiles to be created on the thermally expandable sheet, and the image editor causes a display unit to display a plurality of preview images that are generated in accordance with the plurality of edited image data, respectively, in such a manner as to enable a comparison of differences among the plurality of editing manners by a user.

Abstract: An irradiation device for causing distension of a thermally distensible sheet that distends due to heat, comprising: a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; an irradiation unit that irradiates the thermally distensible sheet with electromagnetic waves; and a controller configured to: estimate an amount of moisture contained in the thermally distensible sheet on the basis of values of measurements from the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, set a relative speed between the irradiation unit and the thermally distensible sheet in accordance with the estimated amount of moisture in the thermally distensible sheet, and cause the irradiation unit or the thermally distensible sheet to move relative to each other at the relative speed that has been set while irradiating the thermally distensible sheet with the electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: A structure forming apparatus includes a printing unit which prints a photo-thermal conversion material, a white material, and a coloring material in order on an expanding layer in an overlapping manner, where the expanding layer is expanded when heated with thermal energy of light. The apparatus also includes a heating unit which irradiates light on the expanding layer from a side of the coloring material to expand the expanding layer, and a controlling unit which sets a printing density of the photo-thermal conversion material lower by a level corresponding to a quantity of heat conducted from the coloring material than the printing density of the photo-thermal conversion material to be printed when the coloring material has no photo-thermal conversion characteristic in the case in which the coloring material has photo-thermal conversion characteristic, and prints the photo-thermal conversion material of the set printing density.

Abstract: A method of forming a structure, including forming a photo-thermal conversion material on a medium having an expanding layer by printing, before the expanding layer is expanded, wherein the expanding layer is expanded when heated, forming at least one of a white material and a coloring material on the photo-thermal conversion material formed on the medium, by printing, and expanding the expanding layer by heating.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image forming system includes a high congestion area specifying unit that specifies, in print data for printing a grayscale image used to thermally expand a desired area on a thermally expandable sheet, a high congestion area which is an area having higher congestion of a density pattern included in the grayscale image than a predetermined value and a density adjusting unit that adjusts the density of the grayscale image such that the expanding height of the high congestion area is to be a desired height.

Abstract: For creating a surface-textured image on a thermally expandable sheet, an image editor edits the original image data in a plurality of editing manners to generate a plurality of edited image data, the plurality of edited image data corresponding to mutually different textured surface profiles to be created on the thermally expandable sheet, and the image editor causes a display unit to display a plurality of preview images that are generated in accordance with the plurality of edited image data, respectively, in such a manner as to enable a comparison of differences among the plurality of editing manners by a user.

Abstract: A method of forming a structure, including forming a photo-thermal conversion material on a medium having an expanding layer by printing, before the expanding layer is expanded, wherein the expanding layer is expanded when heated, forming at least one of a white material and a coloring material on the photo-thermal conversion material formed on the medium, by printing, and expanding the expanding layer by heating.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an imaging lens, an area image sensor having solid-state imaging elements arranged in a planar manner, and an imaging device for converting an image of an imaging object read by the area image sensor into image information. The imaging device is switchable between an electronic camera function mode and image scanner function mode. When the device is switched into the electronic camera function mode, the image information for one frame is outputted, whereas when the imaging device is switched into the image scanner function mode, the image information derived when an object to be read is manually scanned by the area image sensor in response to a moving amount of the manual scanning operation is outputted as continuous image information. Image information may thus be acquired over a wide range by employing a single image information processing apparatus.