Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Imaging affecting physical property of radiation sensitive... – Readily visible image formation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-28
2004-09-21
McPherson, John A. (Department: 1756)
Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th
Imaging affecting physical property of radiation sensitive...
Readily visible image formation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06794117
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to methods for making a custom-color overlay for use in an overlay proof, and methods for making an overlay proof including a custom-color overlay.
BACKGROUND
Pre-press or off-press color proofing is used by printers to simulate the images that will be produced by a printing process. Pre-press color proofing systems include overlay proofing systems and surprint, or single sheet, systems. Both overlay proofs and surprint proofs are commonly used as “contract proofs.” A contract proof serves as a promise by the printer to a customer that a proofed image will be duplicated by the printing process when the press prints are made. Therefore, the printer desires to have proofs that can most accurately predict the image that will be reproduced by the press prints. The need for accurate proofs is especially critical where custom colors are employed in the printing process.
In an overlay proof, each printing color is generally segregated onto a separate transparent sheet or film, known as an overlay. The number of overlays in an overlay proof will usually equal the number of inks that will be used in the printing process. The individual overlays are assembled in registration to make the overlay proof, which is viewed as a composite against an appropriate background (e.g., an opaque reflective white sheet), to predict the appearance of a printed image. In an overlay proof the individual overlays remain separable and can be viewed separately or superimposed. A number of commercial overlay proofing systems are described in detail in “Principles of Color Proofing,” by Michael H. Bruno, GAMA Communications (Salem, N.H. 1986); see especially Chapter V: “Off-Press Color Proofing System-Overlay” (pp 133-146).
Each overlay is made from an overlay proofing film. A typical overlay proofing film construction includes a substrate and a colored photosensitive layer. Photosensitive proofing films which can be used in image-reproduction processes are well-known in the graphics arts industry. Proofing films are usually exposed to radiation through an image-bearing transparency, such as a color-separation transparency, to reproduce the image onto the proofing film. After imagewise exposure, the photosensitive layer may be developed to produce an imaged overlay. Developing is generally done by washout of soluble image areas, by peeling apart, by toning with a colorant, or combinations of these techniques.
Conventional overlay proofing films are made in large volume and are precolored at a factory. Thus, in the production of an overlay proof, the end user is generally limited to those stock colors that are available from the manufacturer. Because of the cost of manufacturing, storing, and distributing overlay proofing film materials, necessarily only a limited range of colors will be available from a manufacturer. The limited range of colors provided by the manufacturer is adequate for many purposes, but does not enable an end user to accurately mimic difficult-to-match colors. For example, many fluorescent or metallic colors are virtually impossible to mimic using the standard process colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Methods for making overlay proofs including a custom color are known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,001,037 and 5,122,437 to Matthews, et al report a process for preparing a multi-layered, multi-colored overlay proof comprising at least one precolored overlay image and at least one toned image. The process includes the steps of exposing a non-colored tonable photosensitive overlay element, developing the exposed overlay element, and toning the developed photosensitive element using a toner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,814 to Graves, et al reports color proofing elements for producing images in non-standard colors, and in particular metallic-appearing images. The proofing elements include a support layer and require two layers of pigment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for making an imaged custom-color overlay. The method includes the steps of a) providing a photosensitive water-soluble ink of a selected custom color; b) providing a carrier sheet comprising a transparent support sheet and an ink-receiving layer; c) custom-coating the ink-receiving layer with a substantially uniform layer of the ink; d) drying the ink to produce a custom-coated ink-receiving layer; e) imagewise exposing the custom-coated ink-receiving layer, to produce an exposed custom-coated layer; and f) developing the exposed custom-coated layer, to provide the imaged custom-color overlay.
The steps of custom-coating and drying are carried out by an end user rather than by a manufacturer. The end user is therefore able to conveniently prepare a custom-coated ink-receiving layer in any color that is desired, and is not limited to those colors that are provided by a manufacturer.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for making an overlay proof including an imaged custom-color overlay. The method includes the steps of making an imaged custom-color overlay according to a method described herein, and assembling in registration the imaged custom-color overlay with at least one other proof component to produce the overlay proof.
The present invention further provides a custom-color overlay made by the methods described herein, and an overlay proof including a custom-color overlay made by the methods described herein.
Practice of the present invention permits an end user of a proofing system to make a custom-color overlay in a multitude of custom colors on an as-needed basis. The end user is no longer limited to overlays of only the stock colors available as precolored overlay proofing films. For example, there are presently fewer than twenty-five stock colors available in precolored proofing films for negative COLOR KEY applications. The present invention, in contrast, allows an end user to mix a photosensitive ink in any of hundreds of custom colors according to known or custom ink formulations, or to make a specially targeted color, and to prepare an imaged custom-color overlay in that color. The invention thus eliminates the need for an end user to special-order large quantities of a factory-precolored overlay film in the selected custom color.
The present invention enables an end user to produce an overlay proof of high accuracy. The end user may make an imaged custom-color overlay in any of hundreds of custom colors, and may thereby accurately simulate images that will be produced by a printing process. Overlay proofs of high accuracy for use as contract proofs may therefore be made according to the methods of the invention.
Another advantage is that the invention enables an end user to prepare custom-color overlays in multiple custom colors, and to test the suitability of each color by interchanging overlays in an overlay proof. For example, an end user desiring to make a specific color of red could make custom-color overlays in two or more shades of red, and could interchange the colors to aid in choosing the most suitable color.
In an embodiment of the invention, the photosensitive ink is water-based. This feature makes the invention easy to implement by an end user without special precautions or equipment that would be required for solvent-based inks.
All consumable materials that are necessary for the practice of the present invention are commercially available at the present time. Therefore, the invention may be readily practiced by any end user that has access to the necessary equipment. Furthermore, the imaged custom-color overlay can be made with equipment and materials that are ordinarily used for making surprint proofs. An advantage of the methods of the invention, therefore, is that an end user is provided the flexibility of making either surprint proofs or overlay proofs with the same equipment and the same set of consumable materials.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Imaged Overlay
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for making an imaged custom-color overlay. The method includes the
Faegre & Benson LLP
Kodak Polychrome Graphics
McPherson John A.
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