Images in solid surfaces

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for forming images in solid surfaces, and to solid surfaces containing an image. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for forming images in polymeric materials, and polymeric materials containing an image with novel optical density characteristics.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A method of making a filled polymeric material with a fixed image, comprising; 
 a) providing; 
 i) a production facility comprising a central control unit, wherein said central control unit comprises a computer processor and a printing apparatus,  
 ii) a filled polymeric material comprising a polymer component and an inorganic filler, and  
 iii) a digital image that has been passed to said central control unit via a communication network; and  
   b) printing a transfer image onto transfer medium with said printing apparatus, wherein said transfer image corresponds to said digital image; and    c) contacting at least a portion of said filled polymeric material with at least a portion of said transfer medium such that a filled polymeric material comprising a fixed image is generated.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said central control unit is linked to said communication network.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said central control unit is operably connected to said printing apparatus.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said digital image has been selected by a customer.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said digital image has been selected by said customer from a home computer.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said digital image has been selected by said customer from a computer in a retail store.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising; d) shipping said filled polymeric material comprising a fixed image to said customer.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said communication network comprises the Internet.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said digital image comprises a digital photograph.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said digital image comprises an artistic work.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said transfer medium comprises paper.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed image has a fixed image optical density value within 1.5 of the optical density value of said transfer image before said contacting.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed image has a fixed image optical density value within 1.0 of the optical density value of said transfer image before said contacting.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed image has a fixed image optical density value within 0.5 of the optical density value of said transfer image before said contacting.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed image has a fixed image optical density value of at least 0.7.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed image has an optical density value of at least 1.0.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said fixed image has an optical density value of at least 1.5.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said polymer component comprises polymethyl methacrylate.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said inorganic filler comprises alumina trihydrate.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein 55-80 percent by weight of said filled polymeric material comprises alumina trihydrate.