Abstract:
An original work of art incorporates various layers of different materials in a predetermined order. First, is the base substrate. Next, a relief layer having UV curable ink deposits that present textural and tonal contrasts for the work of art are applied to the substrate. A computerized color print layer is then combined with the relief layer to create the work of art. For substrates having a reflective surface, a white layer can be added between the substrate and the relief layer to selectively reduce reflectivity in the work of art.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 10/658,642, filed Sep. 9, 2003, which is currently pending and which is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 10/459,269, filed Jun. 11, 2003, which is currently pending. The contents of Application Ser. Nos. 10/658,642 and 10/459,269 are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention pertains generally to devices and implements for creating original works of fine art using computerized techniques. More particularly, the present invention pertains to visual works of art having physical enhancements for the presentation of shading depth and definition. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively useful for creating original works of art using ultraviolet (UV) curable inks and a computerized color printer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     All works of art involve the making or doing of things that display form, beauty, and an unusual or unique perception. In the case of fine art, the characteristics of the work are distinguished by their purely aesthetic value. More particularly, insofar as fine art paintings are concerned, the aesthetic value of a particular work is found not only in its presentation, but also in the contrasts that are introduced into the work by the artist. These contrasts can be either textural or tonal in nature, and will include the shadings, depth and definition that make the artwork extraordinary and unique.  
         [0004]     Reproductions of an original artwork, like the original itself, can also be valuable. The value of a reproduction, however, depends in large part on how faithful the reproduction is in its presentation of the original. For instance, in the reproduction of an oil painting, the ability to accurately incorporate the contrasts that were made by the artist in the original, may greatly enhance the value of the reproduction. Depending on the particular work of art, these contrasts can be many and varied, and will include such nuances as brush strokes and color variations. It is almost needless to say that the contrasts which add so much to a work of fine art are often subtle and, accordingly, quite difficult to reproduce.  
         [0005]     Various devices and techniques have been developed over recent years for the reproduction of visual works. Of particular interest here are the so-called color printers that can accurately reproduce the colors of an original subject. In general, color printing is achieved by any of several printing processes wherein each color is printed separately, in a predetermined order. The superimposed impression, when accurately registered, then builds up an image that corresponds in color to the original subject. Recently, color print processes have been greatly improved by incorporating computer control over the printing process.  
         [0006]     Though very effective, color print processes are somewhat limited by the physical characteristics of the inks that are used in the process. Of particular importance in this regard is the viscosity, or resistance to flow, of the inks that are used. Typically, for operational reasons, the inks that are used in color print processes have rather low viscosities, i.e. they are thin and flow easily. Thus, although the colors in an original work of art may be accurately reproduced using a color print process, the result is an essentially two-dimensional presentation. Consequently, a color print process, alone, will not produce the three-dimensional contrasts that are of crucial importance for the accurate presentation of a work of fine art.  
         [0007]     It is known that inks having viscosities which are much greater than the viscosities required for use in a color print process can be used to provide three-dimensional effects for a reproduced work of art. Specifically, it is known that extremely viscous inks (i.e. so-called “thick” inks) can be effectively incorporated into a reproduced work of art by using screen printing processes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,218, which issued to Longobardi for an invention entitled “Sign with Transparent Substrate” discloses the use of screen printing to achieve a three-dimensional effect in an artwork by incorporating an “extremely thick ridge of ink” into the artwork. Ridges alone, however, do not recreate the textural and tonal contrasts found in a work of fine art. Consequently, it may be desirable to conform the viscous ink to a variety of shapes, sizes or configurations. In some instances, however, it may happen that due to an extensive vertical dimension, the variations may deform before the final product can be produced.  
         [0008]     In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reproduction of an original work of art, and a method for manufacturing the same, which includes the textural and tonal contrasts that are presented in the original work of art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reproduction of an original work of art, and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein a screen printing process and a color printing process are used together, in combination, to recreate the contrasts that are found in a work of fine art, and to incorporate these contrasts into a reproduction of the original. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reproduction of an original work of art, and a method for manufacturing the same, which includes the use of inks that can be presented in a variety of shapes, sizes or configurations and maintained without premature deformation before the final product has been produced. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a reproduction of an original work of art, and a method for manufacturing the same, which is easy to implement and comparatively cost effective.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     In accordance with the present invention a method for creating a reproduction of an original work of art is disclosed wherein the textural and tonal contrasts created by the artist in the original artwork are presented in the reproduction. In overview, the methods and products that are disclosed for the present invention involve the creation and combination of various layers of materials. Importantly, the combination of these various layers subsequently serve as the foundation for a color print process.  
         [0010]     For the present invention, a base substrate is provided that has a substantially flat surface. The surface may be either reflective or non-reflective, and it may be of any desired color. Also, the base substrate may be made of paper stock or it may be made of a reflective material, such as aluminum sheeting. Further, if made of paper stock, the base substrate may be coated, or uncoated, or covered with a metallic foil.  
         [0011]     A key aspect of the present invention is that a relief layer is applied to the surface of the substrate. Importantly, this relief layer has ink deposits that are dimensioned and arranged to correspond with the contrasts that were created by the artist in the original work of art. Preferably, the relief layer will include a clear plastic sheet on which the ink deposits have been placed. This clear plastic sheet, along with the ink deposits, can then be bonded directly onto the surface of the base substrate. Alternatively, the clear plastic sheet need not be used and, instead, the ink deposits can be placed directly onto the base substrate. In either case, the ink deposits of the relief layer are created by a screen printing process using a thick, extremely viscous ink. In cases where the art presentation requires significant three dimensional variations in the ink work, it may be desirable to use a viscous, ultraviolet (UV) curable ink. If used, after it has been formed on the relief layer, the UV curable ink may be “set-up” by exposure to ultraviolet radiation before proceeding with subsequent steps in the manufacture of the final product.  
         [0012]     After being screen printed, but before UV curing, the viscous ink deposits of the relief layer can be further refined by manually using other tools, such as a brush or spatula. The purpose in using these various tools is to refine the contrasts that are being incorporated into the reproduction. For example, in the specific case of an oil painting, the contrasts may be refined to give an impression of brush strokes in the reproduction. Further, in order to give the reproduction additional texture, depth and definition, the relief layer can be made by selectively using clear or color tinted inks for the viscous UV curable ink deposits.  
         [0013]     Whenever the surface of the base substrate is reflective in nature, an optional white layer can be used for the present invention. If used, this white layer will be positioned between the reflective surface of the substrate and the relief layer to provide an opacity that will diminish the reflectivity of selected portions of the reflective surface. Like the relief layer, this white layer is preferably created by a screen printing process. Also, like the relief layer, the white layer may include a clear substrate which can then be bonded to the surface of the base substrate. If a white layer is used, the relief layer would be applied onto the white layer.  
         [0014]     Once the various layers have been combined as indicated above, a color print layer is positioned over the relief layer to provide the reproduction with a color replication of the work of art being reproduced. Preferably, for all embodiments of the present invention, the relief layer is located between the surface of the substrate and the color print layer. In this combination, the ink deposits of the relief layer are incorporated into the color replication of the color print layer as contrasts from the original work of art.  
         [0015]     As envisioned for the present invention, the positioning of the color print layer can be computerized. Specifically, the color print layer will include a plurality of variously colored ink dots that are deposited onto the relief layer according to the instructions of a computer program. The computer program is also employed to register the color print layer with the relief layer.  
         [0016]     In addition to making reproductions of other works of art, the methods and processes of the present invention are also applicable for the creation of original works of art. To do this, the artist prepares a computer program for the color print layer according to his/her desires. This computer program is then used to control a color printer for the generation of the color print layer. The relief layer is also prepared by the artist according to his/her desires and, in a first step, is placed or applied to the substrate by a silk screening process. The silk screening can then be enhanced by whatever further refinements may be wanted by the artist. As mentioned above, refinements to the relief layer can be manually introduced by the artist. Specifically is can be done using tools, such as a brush or spatula. If UV curable ink is used, the relief layer can then be set by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Similarly, an optional white layer can be prepared by the artist and incorporated in the manner discussed above. The substrate with its relief layer and white layer (optional) can then be run through the color printer to create the original work of art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a reproduction of a work of fine art in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the reproduction as seen along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the fine art reproduction according to the present invention, showing various layers of the reproduction positioned for combined incorporation; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of a method for manufacturing a fine art reproduction in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a reproduction of fine art that has been manufactured in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated  10 . More particularly, the construction of the reproduction  10  will be best appreciated with reference to  FIG. 2 . There it will be seen that the reproduction  10  essentially includes a base substrate  12  on which a white layer  14  has been deposited. Additionally, there is a relief layer  16  and a color print layer  18  which overlies the base substrate  12  to place both the white layer  14  and the relief layer  16  between the base substrate  12  and the color print layer  18 . The actual construction of the reproduction  10  will, perhaps, be best appreciated by cross referencing  FIG. 2  with  FIG. 3 , and by individually considering each portion of the construction.  
         [0023]     For purposes of the present invention, the base substrate  12  may be made of paper stock, metal sheeting (e.g. aluminum), or any other type of suitable material known in the pertinent art. Regardless of the material used for base substrate  12 , and although the base substrate  12  may be shaped as desired (the rectangular shape shown in  FIG. 3  is only exemplary), the base substrate  12  will preferably have a substantially flat surface  20 . As envisioned for the present invention, the surface  20  may be either reflective or non-reflective.  
         [0024]     In the event that the surface  20  of base substrate  12  is reflective in nature, the reproduction  10  may include the white layer  14 . Use of the white layer  14 , however, is optional. If used, the white layer  14  will include a white opaque ink  22  that may be selectively placed on a clear plastic sheet  24 . The white layer  14  is then placed against the surface  20  of base substrate  12  with the white ink  22  covering selected portions of the surface  20 . Alternatively, the white layer  14  need not include the clear sheet  24  and, instead, the white ink  22  may be applied directly to the selected portions of the surface  20 . In either case, the purpose of the white ink  22  of white layer  14  is to provide an opacity that will effectively diminish the reflectivity of the selected portions of the surface  20 . Recall, this white layer  14  is optional. If the surface  20  of base substrate  12  is not reflective, the white layer  14  may not be needed.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows that the relief layer  16  will include deposits of a viscous ink  26 . Preferably, the ink  26  will be clear and will have a relatively high viscosity. The ink  26  may, however, be color tinted. Importantly, and regardless of color, the viscosity of ink  26  must allow the deposits of ink  26  to be configured as needed. Specifically, the deposits of ink  26  in relief layer  16  must be capable of being varied in extent, depth and orientation within the relief layer  16 . The purpose here is to have the deposits of ink  26  replicate, or mimic, the textural and tonal contrasts that are found in the original artwork. Further, it will be appreciated that the deposits of ink  26  in the relief layer  16  may need to be presented in a variety of shapes, sizes or configurations. If so, in order to obviate the possible premature deformation of the deposits of ink  26 , the ink  26  may be a UV curable ink, of a type well known in the pertinent art.  
         [0026]     As also shown in  FIG. 3 , the deposits of ink  26  may be placed on a clear plastic sheet  28 . Like the white layer  14  discussed above, however, the relief layer  16  need not include the clear sheet  28 . In any event, with or without the clear sheet  28 , the deposits of ink  26  in relief layer  16  are placed over the white layer  14 . If the white layer  14  is not used, the relief layer  16  may be placed directly against the surface  20  of base substrate  12 .  
         [0027]     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , it will be appreciated that the color print layer  18  covers the other layers  14  (if used) and  16 . The sole purpose of the color print layer  18  is to provide a faithful color replication of the artwork being reproduced. Preferably, the color variations of the original artwork are replicated in the color print layer  18  by a computer program that has been prepared and written in accordance with techniques that are well known in the computer art. Thus, as envisioned for the reproduction  10  of the present invention, the color print layer  18  is digitally colorized using known computer techniques.  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a schematic representation of a process for manufacturing a reproduction  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown. With reference to  FIG. 4  it is to be appreciated that, if used, the white layer  14  is placed on the surface  20  to create a base substrate  12 ′. Preferably, this is done by a screen printing process wherein the white ink  22  is passed through a mask (not shown) that has been positioned on a mesh  30 . As is well known in the pertinent art, this process will result in the white ink  22  being applied to only the selected portions of the surface  20  that are not covered by the mask.  
         [0029]     Even though a white layer  14  may not be used, the relief layer  16  is applied to create a base substrate  12 ″. As indicated in  FIG. 4 , the relief layer  16  can be applied to the base substrate  12 ″ in a variety of ways using the viscous ink  26 . Specifically, deposits of the viscous ink  26  can be applied to the base substrate  12  using a screen printing process. In  FIG. 4 , this screen printing process is represented by the mesh  32  which can be used with a mask (not shown) in a manner similar to that disclosed above with reference to the white layer  14 . Alternatively, or in addition to the screen printing process, deposits of the viscous ink  26  can be manually applied to the base substrate  12  by using a brush  34  or a spatula  36 . Regardless of the particular tool that is used in this task, it is most important that the contrasts found in the original artwork are replicated by the deposits of viscous ink  26  in the relief layer  16  for the reproduction  10 . As mentioned above, these contrasts will be both tonal and textural in nature.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  also indicates that in the event that the viscous ink  26  is a UV curable ink, a UV source  44  can be used to radiate the base substrate  12 ″ with ultraviolet light. As is well known in the pertinent art, the exposure of UV curable ink to ultraviolet light will cause it to “set up” quickly, and thereby avoid a deformation of the deposit of ink  26  that might otherwise occur.  
         [0031]     Once the relief layer  16  has been applied to the base substrate  12 ″, the color print layer  18  is then incorporated to create the reproduction  10 . Specifically, as indicated in  FIG. 4 , the process of incorporating the color print layer  18  into the reproduction  10  is computerized. As with any well known color print process, the present invention envisions the use of a plurality of variously colored inks  38 , of which the colored inks  38   a,    38   b  and  38   c  shown in  FIG. 4  are only exemplary. The individual sources of these colored inks  38 , as well as a computer  40 , are respectively connected to a sprayer  42 . More specifically, the computer  40  is electronically connected to the sprayer  42  and, in accordance with a previously prepared computer program (not shown), the computer  40  controls the flow of the respective colored inks  38  through the sprayer  42  to create the color print layer  18 . Thus, in order from front to rear, a reproduction  10  in accordance with the present invention includes, the color print layer  18 , the relief layer  16 , the white layer  14  (optional), and the substrate  12 .  
         [0032]     When using the techniques and methods of the present invention for the creation of an original work of art, the artist assumes total control over the creation of the various layers  14 ,  16  and  18 . In particular, by exploiting the relatively thick viscosity of the ink  26  that is used to create the relief layer  16 , the artist is able to incorporate physical enhancements for the color print layer  18  that would not be possible, otherwise. More specifically, as envisioned by the present invention, for the creation of an original work of art, the artist is free to separately and individually manipulate the white layer  14 , the relief layer  16 , and the color print layer  18 , as desired. Moreover, by introducing variations in at least one of the other layers (e.g. the white layer  14 , or the relief layer  16 ), while using a same color print layer  18 , the artist is able to create different original works which all have a same theme or color scheme, but which all have different contrasts. More specifically, the computerized color print layer  18  can be used to establish a same theme or color scheme for different works. With a common theme or color scheme, reconfigurations of the white layer  14  and/or the relief layer  16  can be made from work to work, to create variations in extent, depth and orientation that will give each work its own original textural and tonal contrasts. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the color scheme of a theme, or the theme itself, can also be changed from work to work, while the relief layer  16  or the white layer  14  (if used) remain the same. In each case, for each new work of art, the color print layer  18  is applied using a computerized color printer (i.e. computer  40  and sprayer  42 ).  
         [0033]     While the particular Method for Manufacturing a Work of Art Using UV Curable Ink as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.