The invention provides a method of assembling a shoe including a printed design for providing flat material having a first designated area and a second designated area, printing a first portion of the design on the first designated area and printing a second portion of the design on the second designated area, separating the designated areas into individual panels and assembling each panel, so that the first portion of the design joins the second portion of the design when each panel is arranged side by side to form an uninterrupted and complete design.

An article, such as an article of footwear or an article of apparel, includes an upper having a gradient-like coloring pattern. The article further includes protruding elements configured in a pattern that corresponds to the coloring pattern. The article may have a layered structure including a base layer, a coloring ink layer and a layer of protruding elements.

An article, such as an article of footwear or an article of apparel, includes an upper having a gradient-like coloring pattern. The article further includes protruding elements configured in a pattern that corresponds to the coloring pattern. The article may have a layered structure including a base layer, a coloring ink layer and a layer of protruding elements.

Methods and systems are provided for printing a three-dimensional object. For example, a method includes determining a target thickness for a region of the three-dimensional object. A color for the region is determined. The color is assigned a color density. A color thickness for the color is determined based on the color density. The target thickness is independent from the color thickness. A color layer having the color thickness in the region is printed. A structural thickness for a structural layer of the region is determined based on the color thickness and the target thickness. The structural layer having the structural thickness is printed directly onto the color layer. A combination of the color layer and the structural layer has the target thickness.

Provided is a shoe that includes a sole and an upper extending above the sole. The upper has an outer surface and is made of a base material that is partially covered with a coating material, such that the coating material covers at least 90% but not more than 98% of the outer surface of the upper.

The invention provides a method for applying a pattern onto the upper of a shoe or other footwear. The footwear is preferably made by injection molding where raw materials are injected into a mold to form the shape of a footwear.

The invention provides a method for applying a pattern onto the upper of a shoe or other footwear. The footwear is preferably made by injection molding where raw materials are injected into a mold to form the shape of a footwear.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An example method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser or the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic or a structural feature on the surface of the object.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An example method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser or the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic or a structural feature on the surface of the object.

An article, such as an article of footwear or an article of apparel, includes an upper having a gradient-like coloring pattern. The article further includes protruding elements configured in a pattern that corresponds to the coloring pattern. The article may have a layered structure including a base layer, a coloring ink layer and a layer of protruding elements.