Embedded Color Bar and Method

Abstract

A printed substrate is provided. The printed substrate includes a plurality of color bars printed on a substrate, a space between each of the plurality of color bars and an image printed in the space between at least two of the color bars. An embedded color bar and a method of printing an embedded color bar are also provided.

Claims

1. A printed substrate comprising: a plurality of color bars printed on a substrate; a space between each of the plurality of color bars; and an image printed in the space between at least two of the color bars.

2. The printed substrate as recited in claim 1, wherein each color bar includes at least one target.

3. The printed substrate as recited in claim 2, wherein each color bar includes at least two targets.

4. The printed substrate or embedded color bar as recited in claim 3 wherein each target is a different color.

5. The printed substrate as recited in claim 1, wherein the color bar is incorporated into the printed image.

6. An embedded color bar comprising: at least one color bar printed on a substrate; an image printed adjacent the at least one color bar on the substrate.

7. The embedded color bar as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one color bar includes two color bars and the image is printed in a space between the at least two color bars on the substrate.

8. The embedded color bar as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one color bar includes at least one target.

9. The printed substrate as recited in claim 8, wherein each color bar includes at least two targets.

10. The embedded color bar as recited in claim 9, wherein each target is a different color.

11. The embedded color bar as recited in claim 6, wherein the color bar is incorporated into the printed image.

12. A method of printing an embedded color bar comprising the steps of: printing at least one color bar on a substrate; and printing an image adjacent the at least one color bar.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein at least two color bars are printed on the substrate and the image is printed in an area between the at least two color bars.

14. The method recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of: printing a second color bar adjacent the image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0012] FIGS. 1 and 4A show color bars printed on a substrate as known in the art; and

[0013] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4B show a printed substrate having an embedded color bar in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of standard color bars 10 printed on a substrate 14 with an unprinted space 12 between each color bar 10. Each color bar may include multiple targets 11 and each target may represent a color, for example, cyan, magenta, black or yellow.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a plurality of color bars 110 are printed on a substrate 114. Each color may include a plurality of targets 112, for example, three, four or seven. Each target may be a solid density block of a different color, for example, cyan, magenta, black and yellow, green, blue, orange. A printed image 116 is also printed on the substrate, the printed image is the desired image for the substrate. The image 116 is printed in space 120 between two color bars 110 or adjacent a single color bar 110. Thus, color bars 110 are embedded in printed image 116. Consequently, the portion of the substrate 114 with color bars 110 is notcut away and discarded as waste.

[0016] A height of color bar 110 may be, for example, 0.095″. This dimension can also be decreased to approximately 0.065.″ A width of color bar 110 varies with the number of targets 112. For example, a color bar 110 including four targets 112 may have a width of 0.300″ whereas a color bar 110 having seven targets 112 may have a width of 0.450″. A distance between the center points of two color bars 110 adjacent one another may be, for example, 40 mm for bars having seven targets 112.

[0017] Each target may be, for example, 0.025″ by 0.035″. A space between each target may be as small as 0.015″, however 0.020″ may be preferable in order to accommodate for fan out on wide presses. Since each color is print by a different print unit it may also be beneficial to have approximately 0.020″ of space between targets 112 to accommodate for any variation in registration or alignment between print units. The total area of targets 112 is important in order to get an accurate reading. There can be variation in the length and width dimensions of targets 112, but it is preferable to keep the minimum dimensions to 0.020″ to maintain integrity of the print quality. Smaller dimensions may be more difficult for a closed loop color control system to find the targets 112 if are in the printed image. So the limit on reducing the size of color bar 110 is the ability to print a good quality mark. If the mark is too small, a print defect may affect the accuracy of the measurements. Color bars 110 and targets 112 may be increased in size and the field of view closed loop color control system may be scaled accordingly.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, small color bars 110 may be used which also reduces waste. Printing an image 116 in the space 120 between color bars 110 provides for maximum image space and allows for the flexibility to provide automatic color control of the color of image 116 that was not previously possible.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the difference between the embedded color bars 110 in accordance with the present invention and the color bars 10 as known in the art is immediately visible. The unprinted stripe 20 of FIG. 4A stands out against the printed substrate.

[0020] In contrast, the embedded color bars 110 of the present invention are designed to blend into the printed image 116 by printing the area 120 between bars 110 or adjacent a bar 110. The embedded color bars 110 may also be designed to be incorporated into printed image 116. The visual advantage provided results from a small color bar 110 having small targets 112 with minimal white space therebetween and having color bar 110 surrounded by the image 116.

[0021] The color bars 110 may also be used for register control and alignment.

[0022] A method of printing embedded color bars is also provided. The color bars 110 are printed on a substrate with a space 120 between each color bar 110 and a printed image 116 is printed in the space 120 between each color bar or adjacent a single color bar 110. Each target 112 in a color bar may be printed by a separate print unit.

[0023] In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.