Three-dimensional model colorization during model construction from computer aided design data

Abstract

A method of generating colorized three-dimensional models with a solid imaging printer is disclosed. The method comprises discharging a model building material to a plurality of compartments in a printerhead assembly, applying simultaneously to a surface the model building material and the differently colored model building materials generated by the solid imaging printer to create the three-dimensional model, and directing an application of the model building material and the differently colored model building materials with a controller for generating the three-dimensional model by a successive layering of the model building material and the differently colored model building materials.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of generating colorized three-dimensional models with a solid imaging printer, comprising: 
 discharging a liquid model building material to a plurality of compartments in a printerhead assembly, wherein at least one of said compartments receives a model building material from an attached conduit, and each of at least three of said compartments retains a differently colored liquid model building material;    applying simultaneously to a surface said model building material and said differently colored model building materials generated by said solid imaging printer to create said three-dimensional model; and    directing an application of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials with a controller for generating said three-dimensional model by a successive layering of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials, wherein said controller accesses model defining information from at least one data file and directs each of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials to be jetted from said compartments on to said model as it is being generated, according to said model defining information;    wherein said differently colored model building materials are substantially deposited near or at an external surface of said generated model, and substantially an entire interior bulk of said model is provided by said model building material.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least three of said differently colored model building materials are three primary colors.  
     
     
         3 . A method of using a solid imaging printer to generate a colorized three-dimensional model, comprising: 
 separating color data of a full color three-dimensional object into data of three primary colors;    using said data of three primary colors to create data for separate shell objects of said three primary colors;    transferring said color data and said data for separate shell objects to said solid imaging printer;    discharging a liquid model building material to a plurality of compartments in a printerhead assembly of said solid imaging printer, wherein at least one of said compartments receives a model building material from an attached conduit, and each of at least three of said compartments retains a differently colored model building material;    applying simultaneously to a surface said model building material and said differently colored model building materials generated by said solid imaging printer to create said three-dimensional model; and    directing an application of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials with a controller for generating said three-dimensional model by a successive layering of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials, wherein said controller accesses model defining information from at least one data file and directs each of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials to be jetted from said compartments on to said model as it is being generated, according to said model defining information;    wherein said differently colored model building materials are substantially deposited near or at an external surface of said generated model, and substantially an entire interior bulk of said model is provided by said model building material.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least three of said differently colored model building materials are three primary colors.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said full color object is a texture map.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said full color object is a three-dimensional color scan.  
     
     
         7 . A method of retrofitting a solid imaging printer to generate a colorized three-dimensional model, comprising: 
 adding a pre-processing module for obtaining data of sub-models prior to activating said solid imaging printer;    separating color data of a full color three-dimensional object in said pre-processing module into data of three primary colors;    using said data of three primary colors to create data for separate shell objects of said three primary colors;    transferring said color data and said data for separate shell objects to said solid imaging printer;    discharging a model building material to a plurality of compartments in a printerhead assembly of said solid imaging printer, wherein at least one of said compartments receives a model building material from an attached conduit, and each of at least three of said compartments retains a differently colored model building material;    applying simultaneously to a surface said model building material and said differently colored model building materials generated by said solid imaging printer to create said three-dimensional model; and    directing an application of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials with a controller for generating said three-dimensional model by a successive layering of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials, wherein said controller accesses model defining information from at least one data file and directs each of said model building material and said differently colored model building materials to be jetted from said compartments on to said model as it is being generated, according to said model defining information;    wherein said differently colored model building materials are substantially deposited near or at an external surface of said generated model, and substantially an entire interior bulk of said model is provided by said model building material.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least three of said differently colored model building materials are said three primary colors.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said full color object is a texture map.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said full color object is a three-dimensional color scan.