JP7669757B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a print production device, a card set, and a card.

At tourist spots and leisure facilities, a service is known that combines a foreground image of a customer with a background image of a landscape or the like, and provides a print of the composite image. Conventionally, the composite image was printed on one side of the receiving paper, resulting in a flat print that lacked a sense of depth.

JP 2005-208870 A

The present invention aims to provide a print production device capable of producing prints with a three-dimensional effect, as if the foreground image were floating above the background image. Another aim of the present invention is to provide a card set and cards with a three-dimensional effect, as if the foreground image were floating above the background image.

A print production device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a photographing unit that photographs a user and generates a photographed image, an image processing unit that cuts out an image of the person from the photographed image, and a printer that forms the image of the person on a transparent first card substrate to produce a first card and forms a background image on a second card substrate to produce a second card.

The print production device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a photographing unit that photographs a user and generates a photographed image, an image processing unit that cuts out an image of the person from the photographed image, and a printer that forms the image of the person on one side of a transparent card substrate and forms an inverted background image on the other side of the card substrate.

The print production device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a subject image and a background image, an image processing unit that causes a display unit to display a composite image obtained by combining the subject image and the background image, a position designation unit that accepts designation of the position of the subject image on the background image, and a printer that forms the subject image in an area of a transparent first card substrate that corresponds to the designated position to produce a first card, and forms the background image on a second card substrate to produce a second card.

A print production device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a subject image and a background image, and a printer that forms the subject image on one side of a transparent card substrate and forms an inverted version of the background image on the other side of the card substrate.

The print production device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a subject image and a background image, an image processing unit that displays a composite image obtained by combining the subject image and the background image on a display unit, and a printer that forms the subject image on a transparent first card substrate to produce a first card and forms the background image on a second card substrate to produce a second card.

A card set according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first card having a subject image formed on one side of a transparent first card substrate, and a second card having a background image formed on one side of a second card substrate.

A card according to one aspect of the present invention has a subject image formed on one side of a transparent card substrate, and an inverted background image formed on the other side.

The present invention makes it possible to produce printed matter with a three-dimensional effect, in which the foreground image appears to stand out from the background image.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print product production system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an editing screen. FIG. 3a is a plan view of a first card, and FIG. 3b is a plan view of a second card. 4a is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVa-IVa in FIG. 3a, and FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in FIG. 3b. FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the stacked cards, and FIG. 5b is a plan view of the stacked cards as viewed from the first card side. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a print production device. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control unit. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a printer. FIG. 10a to 10e are cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of a method for producing a print product. 11a to 11e are cross-sectional views illustrating the steps of a method for producing a print product. 12a and 12b are perspective views of the fixed base. 13a to 13c are diagrams showing examples of image formation on a first card and a second card. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a card stack according to a modified example. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a print according to another embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a print production system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the print production system includes a print production device K that photographs a user U and prints the image on a transparent card substrate to produce a card (print), and a screen S that is installed behind the user U (subject).

The print production device K stores template data for multiple background images, and the user U operates the touch panel 4 of the print production device K to select a preferred background image. The selection of the background image may be performed before or after the user U takes a photograph.

The screen S is a color suitable for chromakey compositing, such as green or blue. The print production device K photographs the user U with a photographing unit 2 such as a digital camera, and cuts out an image of the person (subject image) from the photographed image. The print production device K displays on the touch panel 4 a composite image in which the image of the person is combined with a background image selected by the user U.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a composite image in which a person image G1 is in the foreground and is composited with a background image G2 is displayed on the touch panel 4. The user U can operate the touch panel 4 to move the position of the person image G1 on the background image G2. After moving the person image G1, the user U presses the done button B1.

When the Complete button B1 is pressed, the print production device K prints the image onto a transparent card substrate. The print production device K prints the portrait image and the background image onto separate card substrates to produce two cards.

For example, create a card C1 with a person image G1 printed on it as shown in Figures 3a and 4a, and a card C2 with a background image G2 printed on it as shown in Figures 3b and 4b.

Cards C1 and C2 are constructed by laminating a card substrate 50, a white layer 94, a receiving layer 95, and a peeling layer 102. In card C1, a person image G1 is formed using a coloring material such as a dye in a partial area of the receiving layer 95, and a white layer 94 is provided to match the person image formation area. In card C2, a background image G2 is formed over the entire surface of the receiving layer 95, and a white layer 94 is also provided over the entire surface.

As shown in Figures 5a and 5b, cards C1 and C2 are stacked and viewed from the card C1 side. Specifically, cards C1 and C2 are stacked so that the non-image side of card C1 faces the image-formed side of card C2, and the stack of cards is viewed from the image-formed side of card C1. Because the person image G1 (foreground image) is positioned in front of the background image G2 by the thickness of card C1, the resulting composite image print (card stack) has a three-dimensional feel, as if the person image G1 is floating above the background image G2.

Next, the configuration of the print production device K will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the print production device K has a photographing unit 2, a touch panel 4, a printer 6, and a control unit 10. The photographing unit 2 is, for example, a digital camera. Instead of the touch panel 4, an operation unit such as a mouse or buttons, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display may be provided.

The control unit 10 is a computer equipped with a communication unit, a memory unit, a CPU, etc., and as the CPU executes the card production program in the memory unit, the functions of a background selection unit 11, a photographed image acquisition unit 12, an image processing unit 13, a position designation unit 14, and a print control unit 15 are realized as shown in FIG. 7. The memory unit stores template data for multiple types of background images.

The background selection unit 11 displays background images on the touch panel 4 and accepts a background image selection from the user.

The captured image acquisition unit 12 acquires captured images of the user (subject) from the image capture unit 2.

The image processing unit 13 uses chromakey compositing to cut out a person image (subject image) from the captured image, composites it onto the selected background image, and displays the composite image on the touch panel 4. For example, a default position (initial position) for compositing the person image is set on the background image, and the image processing unit 13 composites the person image at this default position.

The method for cutting out the subject image from the captured image is not limited to chromakey, but may be other methods such as object contour extraction using a distance sensor or AI.

When the position specification unit 14 receives a specification of the position of the person image from the user via the touch panel 4, the image processing unit 13 moves the person image to the specified position to generate a composite image and displays it on the touch panel 4. An instruction to change not only the position of the person image but also the size may be received.

The image processing unit 13 generates person image data in which a person image is placed at a position specified by the user. The image processing unit 13 also generates a transfer pattern (white layer pattern data) for transferring a white layer to the area of the person image.

The print control unit 15 transmits image data and white layer pattern data required for card production to the printer 6 and controls the print process. For example, the print control unit 15 transmits person image data required for producing card C1 and white layer pattern data indicating that a white layer is to be transferred to the person image area to the printer 6. The print control unit 15 also transmits background image data required for producing card C2 and white layer pattern data indicating that a white layer is to be transferred to the entire surface to the printer 6.

Next, the configuration of the printer 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the printer 6 is a card printer, and includes a supply unit 70 that supplies the intermediate transfer medium 100, a card storage unit 40 that stores the card substrate 50, a printing unit 60 that uses a thermal transfer sheet 90 to transfer a white layer and a receiving layer to the intermediate transfer medium 100 and print an image on the receiving layer, and a transfer unit 80 that transfers the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium 100 onto the card substrate 50.

The card substrate 50 is a transparent substrate made of a synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), PETG, or acrylic resin.

The supply unit 70 is loaded with a roll of intermediate transfer medium 100 wound in a ribbon shape. The supply unit 70 rotates the roll of intermediate transfer medium 100 and transports the intermediate transfer medium 100 in a long strip shape to the printing unit 60 and the transfer unit 80 in that order.

As shown in Figures 10a and 11a, the intermediate transfer medium 100 comprises a support 101 and a release layer 102 provided on one surface of the support 101.

The material of the support 101 is not particularly limited, and examples include highly heat-resistant polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, and stretched or unstretched plastic films such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyamide, and polymethylpentene.

Examples of components of the release layer 102 include waxes, silicone wax, silicone resins, silicone modified resins, fluororesins, fluoromodified resins, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resins, thermally crosslinkable epoxy-amino resins, and thermally crosslinkable alkyd-amino resins.

The printing unit 60 has a thermal head 63, a rotatable platen roll 64 provided below the thermal head 63, and a lifting means (not shown) that allows the thermal head 63 to be raised and lowered relative to the platen roll 64. The intermediate transfer medium 100 supplied from the supply unit 70 passes between the thermal head 63 and the platen roll 64.

In the printing section 60, the thermal transfer sheet 90 passes from the supply roll 61 side through the guide roll 65, between the thermal head 63 and the platen roll 64, and through the guide roll 66 before being wound up on the take-up roll 62. As shown in FIG. 9, the thermal transfer sheet 90 has a transfer-type receiving layer 95, a yellow color material layer 91 containing a yellow color material, a magenta color material layer 92 containing a magenta color material, a cyan color material layer 93 containing a cyan color material, and a white layer 94 repeatedly arranged in surface order.

The white layer 94 functions as a concealing layer that conceals the image. The white layer 94 contains a white pigment and a resin material. Examples of white pigments include titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, barium sulfate, and calcium carbonate. Among these, titanium oxide is preferred from the viewpoint of whiteness.

The receiving layer 95 is a layer that receives the color material (sublimable dye) that migrates from the color material layer and maintains the formed image. The receiving layer 95 contains a resin material. The resin material is not limited as long as it is a resin that is easily dyed by the dye, and examples of the resin material include olefin resin, vinyl resin, (meth)acrylic resin, cellulose resin, ester resin, amide resin, carbonate resin, styrene resin, urethane resin, and ionomer resin.

The color materials contained in the yellow color material layer 91, the magenta color material layer 92, and the cyan color material layer 93 are, for example, sublimation dyes. The thermal transfer sheet 90 may also include a color material layer that contains a heat-meltable ink.

The thermal head 63 of the printing unit 60 heats the receiving layer 95 of the thermal transfer sheet 90 and transfers the receiving layer 95 onto the peeling layer 102 of the intermediate transfer medium 100, as shown in Figures 10b and 11b.

Then, the thermal head 63 heats the yellow colorant layer 91, the magenta colorant layer 92, and the cyan colorant layer 93 based on the image data, transferring the dye to the receiving layer 95 to form an image. For example, as shown in Figures 10c and 11c, a person image G1 and a background image G2 are formed on the receiving layer 95. The person image G1 is formed in a partial area of the receiving layer 95. The background image G2 is formed over the entire surface of the receiving layer 95.

The thermal head 63 then heats the white layer 94 of the thermal transfer sheet 90 from the back side based on the white layer pattern data, and transfers the white layer 94 onto the receiving layer 95 so as to cover the image, as shown in Figures 10d and 11d. For example, when making card C1, as shown in Figure 10d, the white layer 94 is transferred so as to cover the person image G1, and the white layer 94 is not transferred to areas other than the person image G1. When making card C2, the white layer 94 is transferred onto the entire surface of the receiving layer 95, as shown in Figure 11d.

In the printing section 60, an image is formed on the receiving layer 95, and the intermediate transfer medium 100 onto which the white layer 94 has been transferred is transported to the transfer section 80 via the guide roll 72.

The transfer section 80 includes a heat roller 81 and a pressure roll 82 disposed below the heat roller 81. The transfer section 80 transfers the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium 100 to the card substrate 50 discharged from the card storage section 40. Specifically, the transfer section 80 heats the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 100 to which the white layer 94 has been transferred, by superposing it on the card substrate 50 between the heat roller 81 and the pressure roll 82. The transfer layer including the white layer 94, the receiving layer 95, and the peeling layer 102 is peeled off from the support 101 and transferred to the card substrate 50. The intermediate transfer medium 100 from which the transfer layer has been peeled off is taken up by the take-up roll 71.

As a result, as shown in Figure 10e, a card C1 is produced in which a person image G1 is formed on the card substrate 50, a white layer 94 is provided on the back side of the person image G1 (between the person image G1 and the card substrate 50), and no white layer 94 is provided in other areas. Also, as shown in Figure 11e, a card C2 is produced in which a background image G2 is formed on the card substrate 50, and a white layer 94 is provided on the back side of the background image G2 (between the background image G2 and the card substrate 50).

The printer 6 produces cards C1 and C2 in order. When the produced cards C1 and C2 are stacked and the stack of cards is viewed from the card C1 side, the person image G1 appears as a three-dimensional composite image floating above the background image G2.

The stack of cards C1 and C2 may be placed on a fixed table J1 having one groove as shown in Figure 12a. Alternatively, cards C1 and C2 may be placed apart on a fixed table J2 having two grooves as shown in Figure 12b.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13a, the card set consisting of cards C1 and C2 has images G1 and G2, which are non-inverted normal images, formed on the surface (front) of the card substrate 50, i.e., the surface on the near side in the direction in which the images are viewed. However, as shown in FIG. 13b, card C2 may have an inverted (left-right) image G2' formed on the back side of the card substrate 50. Image G2' is seen through the card substrate 50 of card C1 and the card substrate 50 of card C2. In the card stack configured as shown in FIG. 13b, image G1 is located in front of image G2' by the thickness of two card substrates 50, so that it appears as a composite image with a more three-dimensional feel.

When forming a reverse image, the card is prepared by stacking the card substrate 50, the receiving layer 95 on which the reverse image is formed, and the white layer 94 in that order.

As shown in FIG. 13c, card C1 may also have an inverted image G1' formed on the back side of the card substrate 50. Image G1' is seen through the card substrate 50 of card C1.

As shown in FIG. 14, a card C3 may be produced in which an effect image G3, such as a blur, is formed on a card substrate 50, and cards C1, C3, and C2 may be stacked together to produce a card laminate.

As shown in FIG. 15, a person image G1 may be formed as a normal image on one side of a card substrate 50, and an inverted background image G2' may be formed on the other side. Even with such a card, the person image G1 is located in front of the background image G2', and it appears as a composite image with a three-dimensional effect. For example, two printers may be prepared, and the person image G1 may be formed on one side of the card substrate 50 by the first printer, and an inverted background image G2' may be formed on the other side of the card substrate 50 by the second printer. Alternatively, one printer may be used to form the person image G1 on one side of the card substrate 50, and then the card substrate 50 may be inverted and guided to the transfer section 80, and an inverted background image G2' may be formed on the other side of the card substrate 50.

In the above embodiment, the white layer 94 of the card C1 may be omitted. This allows the background image G2 to be seen through the person image G1 in the card stack.

The card storage section 40 of the printer 6 may store and dispense transparent and white card substrates alternately. A transparent card substrate is used for card C1, and a white card substrate is used for card C2.

The print production device K may have two printers: a first printer that produces card C1, and a second printer that produces card C2. A white card substrate may be set in the second printer. The second printer may also print a background image on photographic paper instead of a card substrate.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a user is photographed, a person image cut out from the photographed image is used as a foreground image, and the foreground image and background image are formed on different cards or different sides of the same card, but a subject image prepared in advance in the print production device K may also be used as the foreground image. In this case, the photographing unit 2 can be omitted. The subject image data is stored in the memory unit of the control unit 10 together with the background image data.

Multiple subject images may be prepared, and the user may select the subject image to be used as the foreground image. The subject images prepared in advance may be content images such as images of celebrities or athletes, or character images.

The user looks at a composite image in which the subject image is in the foreground and is combined with a background image, and specifies the position and size of the subject image on the background image. The print production device K prints the subject image and background image with the specified positions onto separate card substrates, producing two cards. Alternatively, the print production device K forms a normal subject image on one side of a card substrate, and an inverted background image on the other side.

Although the present invention has been described in detail using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

2 Photographing unit 4 Touch panel 6 Printer 10 Control unit

Claims (2)

an image capturing unit that captures an image of a user and generates a captured image;
an image processing unit that cuts out a person image from the captured image;
a printer for forming the portrait image on a transparent first card substrate to produce a first card, and for forming a background image on a transparent second card substrate to produce a second card;
Equipped with
The printer includes:
transferring a receiving layer onto a support of an intermediate transfer medium, forming the portrait image on the transferred receiving layer, transferring a white layer onto an area on the receiving layer corresponding to the portrait image, peeling off the transfer layer including the white layer and the receiving layer on which the portrait image is formed from the support and transferring it to the first card substrate;
A print production device laminates, in this order, a receiving layer on which an inverted image obtained by inverting the background image is formed and a white layer on the transparent second card base material . A storage unit that stores template data for a plurality of background images;
a background image selection unit that accepts a selection of a background image from a user;
Further equipped with
The print producing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the printer forms a selected background image on the second card substrate.

Images