Patent ID: 6059404
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B41J,B41M,C09D

Abstract:
A method for generating a printed image having variable color intensities comprising the steps of:a) mixing a black colored phase change ink with a clear ink base in a plurality of ratios, wherein the ratios are selected to form desired gray scale level black inks;b) forming solid ingots of the gray scale level black inks;c) forming solid ingots of the clear ink base;d) placing the solid ingots of the gray scale level black inks and the clear ink base in a plurality of ink reservoirs fluidically coupled to a drop-on-demand phase change ink jet printer print head;e) melting the solid ingots of gray scale level black inks and the clear ink base in the ink reservoirs and feeding the gray scale level black inks and the clear ink base to the print head; andf) ejecting the drops of the gray scale level black inks and the clear ink base from the print head onto a recording medium at a plurality of locations to generate the printed image.