Patent ID: 6977650

Claim:
A process for the generation of a computer image of a coated, three-dimensional object comprising the steps of, in appropriate order: (a) applying at least a relevant coating layer on at least two test panels under the influence of a set of coating parameters which differs with respect to each panel, wherein the coating parameters are conditions under which the test panels are coated, (b) taking a plurality of measurements of at least one optical surface property as a function of the set of coating parameters selected on application of the relevant coating layer on each panel, (c) storing the optical data in a datafile with assignment of the relevant set of coating parameters, (d) faceting the visible surface(s) of a three-dimensional object by computer into a sufficient number of flat polygonal areas each being sufficiently small for the sufficiently accurate description of the surface topography, (e) assigning the relevant set of coating parameters and associated optical data in each case to each individual polygonal area by computer, and (f) assembling the polygonal areas into a computer image of the three-dimensional object.