'Pre-distortion' system aids printing on deep-draw formed parts.When printing images on sheet to be thermoformed into signs, retail displays, packaging, or consumer products, graphic designers must take into account the optical distortion that will occur when the flat printed image is formed into a 3D surface. The deeper the draw and the higher the relief of formed details, the greater the distortion. The solution is to "pre-distort" the original image (a technique called anamorphosis anamorphosis Drawing or painting technique that gives a distorted image of the subject when seen from the usual viewpoint, but when viewed from a particular angle or reflected in a curved mirror shows it in true proportion. Its purpose is to amuse or mystify. ) so that subsequent stretching produces an undistorted Adj. 1. undistorted - without alteration or misrepresentation; "his judgment was undistorted by emotion" artless, ingenuous - characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious; "an ingenuous admission of responsibility" final image. The difficulty is that, until now, there has been no means of determining how to achieve the anamorphic See anamorphic lens and anamorphic DVD. pre-distortion except through trial and error. Computer science now presents a more efficient solution, thanks to technology developed by Elastic elastic Of or relating to the demand for a good or service when the quantity purchased varies significantly in response to price changes in the good or service. Image, Inc., Terre Haute Terre Haute (tĕr`ə hōt, tĕr`ē hŭt), city (1990 pop. 51,483), seat of Vigo co., W Ind., on the Wabash River; inc. 1816. , Ind. This technology arrives when thermoforming of preprinted sheet is enjoying a surge of growth, thanks to the popularity of in-mold decorating for injection molded and thermoformed automotive and appliance parts. How it works As explained by founder and chief technology officer John S. Davidson, the technique involves printing a rectangular rec·tan·gu·lar adj. 1. Having the shape of a rectangle. 2. Having one or more right angles. 3. Designating a geometric coordinate system with mutually perpendicular axes. grid pattern on plastic sheet, forming a part using the customer's tool, and then measuring the distortion of the grid with a proprietary 3D scanner. The firm's special software then calculates how to pre-distort the original image to counteract the stretching of the surface during thermoforming. Elastic Image offers a range of services, which can include comprehensive project management from initial image design to printing and forming. Some customers provide an image design as a digital graphic file and Elastic Image supplies printed and formed products. In some cases, customers provide an image in electronic form, plus a forming tool or sample part, and Elastic Image performs its distortion analysis and then returns a pre-distorted electronic image file to the customer, which conducts its own printing and forming. Elastic Image has worked closely with Eastman Chemical Co., Kingsport, Tenn., which is helping to promote this anamorphic technology. As Davidson explains, this association arose because most of his initial applications in signs and displays have involved Eastman's thermoplastic A polymer material that turns to liquid when heated and becomes solid when cooled. There are more than 40 types of thermoplastics, including acrylic, polypropylene, polycarbonate and polyethylene. copolyester materials, which have good printability and formability. Elastic Image: (812) 238-1549/PTDirect: 991EV * Eastman: 800-EASTMAN/PTDirect: 771QK [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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