Printing system

Abstract

A colour printing system comprising a combination of at least four, and preferably six colouring materials, each of a different colour, wherein these colours are selected from (1) an orange-red; (2) a violet-red; (3) a violet-blue; (4) a green-blue; (5) a green-yellow; and (6) an orange-yellow; as well as white and black. This system may be incorporated into a wide range of printing devices and provides a means of achieving a wide range of colours.

1 . A colour printing system comprising a combination of at least four coloured materials, each of a different colour, wherein at least three of the four colours are selected from
 1. a violet-red;   2. an orange-red;   3. a violet-blue;   4. a green-blue;   5. a green-yellow; and   6. an orange-yellow,   
     provided the combination is other than cyan, magenta, a yellow and black. 
   
   
       2 . A colour printing system comprising a combination of six colouring materials, each of a different colour, wherein at least five of the six colours are selected from
 1. a violet-red;   2. an orange-red;   3. a violet-blue;   4. a green-blue;   5. a green-yellow; and   6. an orange-yellow.   
   
   
       3 . A colour printing system according to  claim 2  which comprises colouring materials of all six of the colours of ( 1 )-( 6 ). 
   
   
       4 . A colour printing system according to  claim 2  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       5 . A colour printing system according to  claim 4  wherein the sixth colouring material is black. 
   
   
       6 . A colour printing system according to  claim 2  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, provided one of said colouring materials is colour ( 3 ) and the sixth colouring material is dark orange. 
   
   
       7 . A colour printing system according to  claim 1  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       8 . A colour printing system according to  claim 7  wherein each colouring material is a coloured printing ink. 
   
   
       9 . A colour printing system according to  claim 8  wherein the coloured printing ink is offset printing ink. 
   
   
       10 . A six-part container each part containing a colouring material of a different colour, said colours being as defined in  claim 2 . 
   
   
       11 . A six-part container according to  claim 10  which is modular. 
   
   
       12 . A method of producing a colour print, said method comprising printing onto a substrate colouring materials of a colour printing system according to  claim 1 , in a manner so as to produce the desired design and colour thereon. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the colour printing system is a six colour system according to  claim 2 . 
   
   
       14 . A method for producing a print using a combination of four different inks, which method comprises scanning a document to be printed, determining the optimum selection of four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red;   (2) an orange-red;   (3) a violet-blue;   (4) a green-blue;   (5) a green-yellow; and   (6) an orange-yellow.   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the job, and using those four colours in a conventional two or four colour printing press. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 12  which comprises a digital printing process, an offset printing process, a screen printing process or a colour photocopier process. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein in a preliminary step, an image is electronically scanned, and a printer is programmed to reproduce the said image using the said colour printing system. 
   
   
       17 . A combination of colouring materials selected for use in the method of  claim 14 , said combination comprising at least three, and suitably four of the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ), provided that the combination is other than a combination of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. 
   
   
       18 . A combination according to  claim 17  comprising at least three of the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ), and white or black. 
   
   
       19 . A combination according to  claim 17  which comprises a selection of four of the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ). 
   
   
       20 . A printing device incorporating a colour printing system according to  claim 1 , said printer being programmed to apply individual colouring materials to a substrate to produce the desired colours on said substrate. 
   
   
       21 . A printer according to  claim 20  which is a digital printer, an offset printing press or a colour photocopier. 
   
   
       22 . A print cartridge for a colour printer, said cartridge comprising six ink compartments, each compartment containing a colouring material of a different colour, said colouring materials comprising a colour printing system according to  claim 2 . 
   
   
       23 . A series of six offset printing plates, each plate having a different colour printing ink thereon, said colours being selected from those defined in  claim 2 . 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A colour printing system according to  claim 1  which comprises colouring materials of four of the said six colours, and the fifth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       28 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of at least four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein red has a highest peak reflectance percentage, followed by violet as next highest peak reflectance percentage and then orange as third highest peak reflectance percentage;   (2) an orange-red, wherein red has a highest peak reflectance percentage, followed by orange as next highest peak reflectance percentage and then violet as third highest peak reflectance percentage;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein blue has a highest peak reflectance percentage, followed by violet as next highest peak reflectance percentage and then green as third highest peak reflectance percentage;   (4) a green-blue, wherein blue has a highest peak reflectance percentage, followed by green as next highest peak reflectance percentage and then violet as third highest peak reflectance percentage;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein yellow has a highest peak reflectance percentage, followed by green as next highest peak reflectance percentage and then orange as third highest peak reflectance percentage; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein yellow has a highest peak reflectance percentage, followed by orange as next highest peak reflectance percentage and then green as third highest peak reflectance percentage,   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 nm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm. 
   
   
       32 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of at least four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 ) ( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein red has a higher peak reflectance percentage than violet, and violet has a higher peak reflectance percentage than orange;   (2) an orange-red, wherein red has a higher peak reflectance percentage than orange, and orange has a higher peak reflectance percentage than violet;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein blue has a higher peak reflectance percentage than violet, and violet has a higher peak reflectance percentage than green;   (4) a green-blue, wherein blue has a higher peak reflectance percentage than green, and green has a higher peak reflectance percentage than violet;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher peak reflectance percentage than green, and green has a higher peak reflectance percentage than orange; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher peak reflectance percentage than orange, and orange has a higher peak reflectance percentage than green;   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 nm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm n, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm. 
   
   
       36 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of at least four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein red has a higher intensity than violet, and violet has a higher intensity than orange;   (2) an orange-red, wherein red has a higher intensity than orange, and orange has a higher intensity than violet;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein blue has a higher intensity than violet, and violet has a higher intensity than green;   (4) a green-blue, wherein blue has a higher intensity than green, and green has a higher intensity than violet;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher intensity than green, and green has a higher intensity than orange; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher intensity than orange, and orange has a higher intensity than green;   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 nm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm. 
   
   
       40 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of at least four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 ) ( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein red has a higher peak intensity than violet, and violet has a higher peak intensity than orange;   (2) an orange-red, wherein red has a higher peak intensity than orange, and orange has a higher peak intensity than violet;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein blue has a higher peak intensity than violet, and violet has a higher peak intensity than green;   (4) a green-blue, wherein blue has a higher peak intensity than green, and green has a higher peak intensity than violet;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher peak intensity than green, and green has a higher peak intensity than orange; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher peak intensity than orange, and orange has a higher peak intensity than green;   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those at least four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 40  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 mm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm. 
   
   
       44 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of at least four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein red has a higher dominant intensity than violet, and violet has a higher dominant intensity than orange;   (2) an orange-red, wherein red has a higher dominant intensity than orange, and orange has a higher dominant intensity than violet;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein blue has a higher dominant intensity than violet, and violet has a higher dominant intensity than green;   (4) a green-blue, wherein blue has a higher dominant intensity than green, and green has a higher dominant intensity than violet;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher dominant intensity than green, and green has a higher dominant intensity than orange; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein yellow has a higher dominant intensity than orange, and orange has a higher dominant intensity than green;   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those at least four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 44  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 nm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm. 
   
   
       48 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 )-( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein for such colour, red has a greatest area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength, followed by violet as having a next greatest area under said graph, and then orange as having a third greatest area under said graph;   (2) an orange-red, wherein for such colour, red has a greatest area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength, followed by orange as having a next greatest area under said graph, and then violet as having a third greatest area under said graph;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein for such colour, blue has a greatest area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength, followed by violet as having a next greatest area under said graph, and then green as having a third greatest area under said graph;   (4) a green-blue, wherein for such colour, blue has a greatest area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength, followed by green as having a next greatest area under said graph, and then violet as having a third greatest area under said graph;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein for such colour, yellow has a greatest area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength, followed by green as having a next greatest area under said graph, and then orange as having a third greatest area under said graph; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein for such colour, yellow has a greatest area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength, followed by orange as having a next greatest area under said graph, and then green as having a third greatest area under said graph,   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those at least four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 48  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       50 . A method according to  claim 48  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       51 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 nm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm. 
   
   
       52 . A method for producing a print using a combination of at least four different inks, which method comprises recording or scanning an image to be printed, determining the optimum selection of four colours from amongst the colours listed as ( 1 ) ( 6 ) below:
 (1) a violet-red, wherein for such colour, red has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than violet, and violet has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than orange;   (2) an orange-red, wherein for such colour, red has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than orange, and orange has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) than violet;   (3) a violet-blue, wherein for such colour, blue has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than violet, and violet has a greater areas under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than green;   (4) a green-blue, wherein for such colour, blue has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than green, and green has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than violet;   (5) a green-yellow, wherein for such colour, yellow has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than green, and green has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than orange; and   (6) an orange-yellow, wherein for such colour, yellow has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than orange, and orange has a greater area under a graph of reflectance (percent) versus wavelength than green;   
     as well as black or white as a fifth ink colour for carrying out the printing, and 
     using those four colours and black or white to produce a print of the image. 
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52  which comprises colouring materials of five of the said six colours, and the sixth colouring material is black or white. 
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 52  wherein each colouring material is an ink, dye, toner or pigment. 
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein violet reflects light in the wavelength range of about 400-440 nm, blue reflects light in the wavelength range of about 420-490 nm, green reflects light in the wavelength range of about 490-550 nm, yellow reflects light in the wavelength range of about 550-590 nm, orange reflects light in the wavelength range about 590-620 nm, and red reflects light in the wavelength range of about 610-630 nm.