Abstract:
A method of creating a substrate containing multiple holographic images. The method includes dividing the substrate into a plurality of equally sized print surfaces and placing a holographic image on each of the print surfaces. Wherein the holographic image is placed at substantially the same location on each of the print surfaces.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/239,540, filed on Sep. 3, 2009, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to printer register holographic images and more specifically to creating sheets of multiple holographic images that are in printer register allowing for tighter print tolerances. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Game tickets, such as scratch-off lottery tickets, are generally designed to be attractive to a potential purchaser. As will be appreciated, the more attractive a ticket is, the more likely it will be purchased. To enhance the desirability of game tickets, high-quality color graphics are often applied to the game face of a ticket. 
     More recently, lottery tickets have included holographic images to further increase their attractiveness and marketability. Such images may be created through the use of a transfer lamination process in which a metallized film is first bonded to a substrate, such as a paper board, and then, after a curing process, removed to leave the metal, i.e., the hologram, on the substrate. The metallized substrate may then be printed to create a lottery ticket. 
     Holograms used for game tickets are currently printed with a “wallpaper” pattern. That is, the hologram for a single game ticket includes a two-dimensional repetitive pattern that includes symmetrical elements. Such patterns are typically created on relatively large sheets that include enough substrate material for multiple tickets. These sheets are printed with the game data and scratch off layer, if present, and cut to form individual tickets. 
     While wallpaper hologram patterns are generally attractive and create salable tickets, they do not allow for the alignment of specific printed elements with corresponding holographic elements. For example, the alignment of a printed sun with a specific hologram sunburst pattern on the substrate is not possible using conventional wallpaper patterns. 
     As such, the use of wallpaper style holographic images to create lottery tickets provides only a limited range of potential designs. This is undesirable as ability to create new designs for lottery tickets increases the marketability of such tickets and the resulting revenue generated from sales of the tickets. 
     In view of the above, a need exists for printer register holographic images that allow printed elements can be precisely aligned with holographic elements on a substrate. As discussed in detail herein, the present invention addresses this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide printer register holographic images. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide printer register holographic images that allow for a range of potential designs presently unknown in the art. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide printer register holographic images that allow for a range of potential lottery ticket designs presently unknown in the art. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide printer register holographic images that allow for tighter print to register tolerances. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide printer register holographic images that allow for tighter print to register tolerances and a range of potential designs unknown in the art, through the use of specific individual holographic design elements that are repeated at a specific and intended distance on a sheet of substrate containing multiple individual cards. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide printer register holographic images that allow for tighter print to register tolerances, and a range of potential designs unknown in the art, through the use of markers to assist the printer in locating specific holographic design elements for printing. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the detailed description of the best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is a method of creating a substrate containing multiple holographic images. The method includes dividing the substrate into a plurality of equally sized print surfaces and placing a holographic image on each of the print surfaces. Wherein the holographic image is placed at substantially the same location on each of the print surfaces. 
     An additional embodiment of the present invention is a method of printing a plurality of images on a substrate. The substrate has a plurality of print surfaces each containing at least one holographic image. The method includes sensing a location of the holographic image on the print surface. Printing an image on the print surface once the location has been determined. The printed image being at a fixed distance from the holographic image, the fixed distance being substantially the same for each print surface receiving a printed image. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a substrate for use in printing a plurality of game cards. The substrate includes a plurality of print surfaces on a side of the substrate, the print surfaces being of substantially equal size. The substrate further includes at least one holographic image on each of the print surfaces. Each holographic image is located in substantially the same location on each print surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a graphical illustration of prior art wallpaper style holographic images. 
         FIG. 2  is a graphical illustration of a sheet of substrate containing printer register holographic images in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , known methods of generating holographic images for use with game cards involve the application of a wallpaper style holographic image to a paper substrate. The application of such an image is usually accomplished through a transfer lamination process in which a metallized film containing the holographic imagery is bonded to a substrate, cured and stripped away to leave the imagery on the substrate. 
     As shown, a relatively large sheet  10  that contains enough substrate material to yield multiple individual cards  30  is transfer laminated. The wallpaper style holographic images  20  include repeated two-dimensional design elements  25  which create a wallpaper pattern that is present on each individual card  30 . Score lines, perforations and the like may be used to delineate individual cards  30  if desired. 
     Once the holographic images  20  have been applied to the substrate, the other design elements  40 , e.g., the graphics, title and scratch off layer, are printed over the wallpaper patterned holographic imagery  20  to result in a completed game card. The completed game card is then distributed and sold. 
     With these known methods, the design elements  40  are printed without regard to the location of specific holographic design elements  25 . This is a result of the repetitive wallpaper pattern  20  that is devoid of individual, i.e., non-repetitive, design elements placed at specific locations on each card, and also the inability to precisely locate a printed design element with a holographic design element. 
     As stated, the use of wallpaper patterned holographic imagery constrains the design of lottery tickets as one cannot precisely locate print elements with respect to specific holographic elements. The present invention addresses this issue as described in greater detail below. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the inventive printer register holographic images are also applied to relatively large sheets of substrate  50  containing multiple print surfaces that yield multiple cards. The inventive holographic images may also be applied through a transfer lamination process in which a metallized film containing the holographic images is bonded to a substrate, cured and then stripped away leaving the image on the substrate. Preferably, the resulting substrate/metallized film is then rolled for distribution to a printer to create the printed design elements. 
     Importantly, the inventive holographic images are not in a conventional wallpaper pattern but contain individual design elements  70  that are repeated at a specific distance so that the elements  70  are in the same location on each individual card/print surface  60 . 
     The ability to precisely locate individual holographic design elements  70  on a ticket is an important aspect of the present invention. As will be appreciated, by placing individual holographic design elements in a predeteremined location on a ticket, one is able to print a graphic or text, i.e., a printed image, in a location proximate or relative to the holographic element. This facilitates the creation of a wider range of possible graphic designs for lottery tickets than is presently available with wallpaper-style holographic imagery. The greater the range of designs, in turn, increases the marketability and sales of lottery tickets. 
     The location and spacing of the individual holographic design elements  70  can vary depending on the desired look of the ticket. For example, the holographic design elements  70  may be spaced apart by 40 inches so that there is one element  70  per ticket  60 . 
     The inventive holographic film also includes markers  80  or “I-marks”. The markers  80  are at a fixed distance from the specific holographic imagery  70  and assist the printer in printing in register with the imagery  70 . The markers  80  are generally configured with one marker  80  per lottery ticket  60 . It may be possible, however, to use more than (or fewer than) one marker per ticket. Moreover, the markers  80  are depicted in a specific shape but, as will be appreciated, other markers may be employed. 
     It is anticipated that the markers  80  will be scanned or read by an optical sensor that is in operative association with a printer. In operation, the sensor shines a beam of light onto the paper and assesses the contrasting reflectivity at predetermined positions on the sheet to detect the position of the holographic images on the substrate. 
     The markers  80  are another important aspect of the present invention as they allow printers to locate and print images in register with holographic design elements present on the substrate. As mentioned, this allows for a greater range of potential ticket designs, which increases marketability and sales of such tickets. 
     In particular, using the markers  80 , printed design elements  90 ,  92 ,  94  can be printed in register with specific holographic design elements, such as the depicted sun design  70 , to create unique, marketable designs not presently possible with wallpaper style holographic imagery. In the depicted example, a decorative printed element  92  is located within the holographic sun design  70 . Other printed elements  90 ,  94  are printed on the ticket  60  at pre-selected distances from the holographic sun design  70 . 
     In sum, the inventive holographic images are in printer register through the use of uniformly spaced holographic imagery and markers. This provides a wider range of potential designs and a cost savings that are currently unavailable with known imagery and processes. 
     Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.