PICTURE MAKING KIT

Abstract: The kit comprises a base sheet (2) carrying a predetermined outline or ''graphic grid'', a plurality of filling elements such as pieces of adhesively backed coloured diffraction foil for fitting in different areas (R, B, E) of the outline, and an overlay sheet of transparent material which carries correspondingly outlined clear areas separated by opaque (preferably black) areas. The superimposition of the overlay sheet over the colour filled base sheet produces a finished picture in which the colours are highlighted by the surrounding black areas.

Description: 'Picture Making Kit' This invention relates to a kit for making pictures, of the kind comprising a graphic pattern which is adapted to be filled in by the user to produce a finished picture. Various types of pre-designed picture kits have previously been proposed, such as the well-known "Painting by Numbers" types in which the different areas of the predetermined outline are filled in with different coloured paint which are identified by numbers printed in the different areas of the graphic pattern. The results achieved by the use of such kits are of extremely variable quality, and considerable care is required to achieve a good result. Furthermore, they can be extremely messy to use, and thus are not particularly suitable for young children. Accordingly, the present invention provides a picture making kit comprising a base sheet carrying a predetermined pattern or "graphic grid", a plurality of filling elements which can be applied to the pattern by the user, and an overlay sheet or "master graphic" which is superimposed on the base sheet after the filling elements have been applied, and which carries a pattern of transparent, translucent, or cut-out "windows" so as to create a finished picture made up of separate areas visible through the "windows" of the overlay. Preferably, the filling elements comprise small pieces of coloured paper, cloth, foil or plastic sheeting, which are preformed in uniform shapes such as squares, so that the picture is built up as a "mosaic". In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of backing sheets are provided, each carrying a number of "peelable" filling elements, the rear surface of which carries an adhesive whilst each backing sheet is coated with a suitable release agent. ' Alternatively, the base sheet may carry the adhesive, and the filling elements themselves may be dry. Preferably, the filling elements comprise pieces of diffraction foil, so that the finished picture will have a "sparkling" appearance. Preferably, the "master graphic" overlay comprises clear or cut-out areas each corresponding to the major part of an area of the base sheet which is designated to be filled with the filling elements, and opaque (preferably black) areas which cover the unfilled areas of the base sheet. This arrangement results in a final picture having an attractive quality of colour and depth. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the respective areas of the base sheet are larger than the corresponding areas of the "master graphic* and may also be less accurately defined, so that the final form of the picture only appears clearly after the overlay has been added. One embodiment of the picture kit in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a base sheet carrying the approximate outline of a picture; Figure 2 shows a transparent overlay sheet carrying a corresponding pattern ? and Figure 3 shows an alternative form of base sheet. Referring to Figure 1, the base sheet 2 carries a "grid" defining in approximate outline, the different coloured areas of the final picture. It will be seen from this drawing, that the areas are labelled with letters such as "R", "B", and "G", indicating the respective colours of the filling elements to be applied to those areas. Alternatively, the colours may be indicated in suitable half-tones. The filling elements themselves, not shown, are simply squares of diffraction foil which are applied to the respective areas so as to fill them with the corresponding colour. It will be noted that the outlines on the base sheet 2, for example the area 4 in the centre of the picture which will, in fact, correspond to the head of a turtle in the final illustration, are only general outlines, and in fact the filling elements need not be particularly accurately lined up with the outlines, in order to achieve a very high quality final result. This is because, once all of the different coloured filling elements have been applied to the respective areas of the picture, a sheet of transparent plastic material, as shown in Figure 2, is laid over the base sheet, and the exact pattern of the final picture is carried on this sheet in the form of a "separation overlay", that is to say it carries clear (or cut-out) areas where each colour is allowed to show through, separated by completely opaque areas. The result is a finished picture in which the individual coloured areas are sharply defined and highlighted, by the surrounding opaque areas of the overlay. In the arrangement of Figure 1 the outline is quite similar to that of the intended final picture. As shown in the example of Figure 3, however, the outline on the base sheet may be made very much more abstract or "cubist", for example, particularly if the filling elements are squares. In this way the final effect of adding the "master graphic" becomes more dramatic.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A picture making kit comprising a base sheet carrying a predetermined outline or pattern, a plurality of filling elements which can be applied to the pattern by the user, and an overlay sheet which is superimposed on the base sheet after the filling elements have been applied, and which carries a pattern of transparent translucent, or cut¬ out "windows" so as to create a finished picture made up of separate areas visible through the "windows" of the overlay. 2. A picture making kit according to claim 1, in which the filling elements comprise pieces of coloured paper, cloth, foil or plastic. 3. A picture making kit according to claim 2, in which the filling elements are preformed in uniform shapes so that the picture is built up as a "mosaic". 4. A picture making kit according to claim 2 or claim 3 further comprising a plurality of backing sheets, each carrying a number of "peelable" filling elements, the rear surface of which carries an adhesive whilst each backing sheet is coated with a suitable release agent. 5. A picture making kit according to any preceding claim in which the filling elements comprise pieces of diffraction foil. 6. A picture making kit according to any preceding claim in which each "window" of the overlay corresponds to the major part of a corresponding area of the base sheet which is designated to be filled with the filling elements, the remainder of the overlay being opaque so as to cover the unfilled areas -of the base sheet. 7. A picture making kit according to any preceding claim in which -the respective picture areas of the base sheet are larger than the corresponding areas of the "master graphic" overlay, so that the final form of the picture only appears clearly after the overlay has been added. 8. A picture making kit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: GRANT MICHAEL, GRANT, MICHAEL
Applicants: GRANT MICHAEL, GRANT, MICHAEL
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B44C3
IPC codes: B44C3