A method of processing a sheet material (20) for use in the manufacture of products such as, but not limited to, a shoe upper blank (10). The method comprises providing a sheet material (20); providing a two-dimensional mark (30) on a surface of the sheet material (20); imposing an indentation (40) on said surface of the sheet material (20), wherein at least part of the indentation (40) is arranged with respect to at least part of the two-dimensional mark (30) to create a three-dimensional mark (50) on said surface. A blank for such a product is also related. The blank (10) comprises a sheet material (20) shaped in accordance with the product such as a shoe upper, the sheet material (20) comprising a two-dimensional mark (30) is provided thereon and is positioned with respect to an indentation (40) formed in the sheet material (20) to thereby provide a three-dimensional mark (50) on said surface.

The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing an artificial leather shoe upper which comprises steps of preparing plural pieces of artificial leather upper material, setting a thermoforming machine, placing the plural pieces of artificial leather upper material in the thermoforming machine, pumping out excess air of a lower die block of the thermoforming machine, thermoforming the plural pieces of artificial leather upper material to obtain a semi-finished product, and demoulding, image recognition, laser cutting and coloring the semi-finished product to obtain the artificial leather shoe upper.

A method for printing a three-dimensional object includes printing a structural layer onto a three-dimensional object, printing a first color layer onto a first region of the structural layer, and printing a second color layer onto a second region of the structural layer. The first region includes a first structural thickness, and the second region includes a second structural thickness, which is different than the first structural thickness. The first color layer includes a first color and a first color thickness, and the first color thickness and the first structural thickness in combination form a target thickness. The second color layer includes a second color and a second color thickness, and the second color thickness and the second structural thickness in combination form the target thickness.

A method for printing a three-dimensional object includes printing a structural layer onto a three-dimensional object, printing a first color layer onto a first region of the structural layer, and printing a second color layer onto a second region of the structural layer. The first region includes a first structural thickness, and the second region includes a second structural thickness, which is different than the first structural thickness. The first color layer includes a first color and a first color thickness, and the first color thickness and the first structural thickness in combination form a target thickness. The second color layer includes a second color and a second color thickness, and the second color thickness and the second structural thickness in combination form the target thickness.

An article of footwear can include a sole structure, an upper, and a printed layer. The upper can be coupled to the sole structure. The printed layer can be disposed on the upper and include a plurality of printed materials each having a different hardness than an adjacent printed material. The plurality of printed materials can be arranged on the upper such that a stiffness of the upper is gradated from a toe portion of the upper to a heel portion of the upper, and a stiffness of the heel portion is greater than a stiffness of the toe portion.

A method for printing a three-dimensional object includes printing a first color layer having a first color in a first region of a three-dimensional object, printing a second color layer having a second color in a second region of the three-dimensional object, printing a first structural layer directly onto the first color layer, the first structural layer having a first structural thickness which in combination with a first color thickness forms a first target thickness, and printing a second structural layer directly onto the second color layer, the second structural layer having a second structural thickness which in combination with a second color thickness forms the first target thickness. The first color thickness and the second color thickness are different, and the first structural thickness and the second structural thickness are different.

A method for printing a three-dimensional object includes printing a first color layer having a first color in a first region of a three-dimensional object, printing a second color layer having a second color in a second region of the three-dimensional object, printing a first structural layer directly onto the first color layer, the first structural layer having a first structural thickness which in combination with a first color thickness forms a first target thickness, and printing a second structural layer directly onto the second color layer, the second structural layer having a second structural thickness which in combination with a second color thickness forms the first target thickness. The first color thickness and the second color thickness are different, and the first structural thickness and the second structural thickness are different.

An article of footwear can include a sole structure, an upper, and a printed layer. The upper can be coupled to the sole structure. The printed layer can be disposed on the upper and include a first printed material and a second printed material. The first printed material can have a plurality of spaced-apart first segments and have a first hardness. The second printed material can have a plurality of spaced-apart second segments and have a second hardness that is less than the first hardness of the first printed material. Each of the second segments can be disposed adjacent to one or more of the first segments.

A method of customizing dressy or formal footwear with a discreet design or logo on a specific area of a shoe, then painting the design in paint and sealing the design with varnish.

Stitching is applied to a shoe or shoe component and then printed. The stitching may be formed from a continuous thread. After printing, a portion of the continuous thread may have a different color or appearance from other portion(s) of the continuous thread.