US3751282A

US3751282A - Methods for color printing and articles made thereby

Info

Publication number: US3751282A
Application number: US00160923A
Authority: US
Inventors: N Massa
Original assignee: Chroma Printing Corp
Current assignee: Chroma Printing Corp
Priority date: 1971-07-08
Filing date: 1971-07-08
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07

Abstract

Methods of color printing of solid areas to create a frosted or shimmering effect including the combining of a layer of colored ink with a layer of finely divided white pigment, optionally supplemented by a small amount of finely divided metallic pigment. In one of the methods, the ink layer is first deposited, and the white pigment layer is applied thereover, using a bronzing machine in which the amount of white pigment applied is carefully controlled to prevent opacity. In another method, the white pigment layer is first applied, and is overprinted with a transparent colored ink.

Description

Massa METHODS FOR COLOR PRINTING AND ARTICLES MADE THEREBY [75] lnventor: Neal N. Massa, Brooklyn, NY.

[73] Assignee: Chroma Printing Corp., New York,

[22] Filed: July 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 160,923

[52] US. Cl 117/13, 117/25, 117/28, 117/29 [51] Int. Cl. B44c 3/02 [58] Field of Search 117/38, 45, 72, 76 P, 117/8, 33,13, 26, 28, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 390,447 10/1883 Brunetti 117/13 978,394 12/1910 Passeau-Feil. 117/33 1,351,885 9/1920 Williams 117/33 1,521,096 12/1924 Hennegan 117/13 2,259,863 5/1952 Grenbel i 117/13 2,906,240 9/1959 Gladwell.... 117/13 3,083,116 3/1963 Berndt 117/13 2,062,865 12/1936 Cleveland 117/45 X 2,243,486 5/1941 Ormond 117/45 X Aug.7, 1973 2,322,928 6/1943 Drewsen et a1. 117/45 X 2,622,991 12/1952 Sturm [17/38 3,025,627 3/1962 Misturini.. 117/38 X 3,049,077 8/1962 Damm 117/38 X 3,192,063 6/1965 Donofrio 117/38 X 3,341,396 9/1967 Iverson 117/45 X 3,355,312 11/1967 Coney 117/45 X 3,450,044 6/1969 Dixon 117/45 X 9/1969 Tyrrell 117/45 X Primary Examiner-William D. Martin Assistant ExaminerM. R. Lusignan Attorney-Charles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, N0 Drawings METHODS FOR COLOR PRINTING AND ARTICLES MADE THEREBY This invention relates generally to the field of color printing, and more particularly to improved methods of creating special effects particularly desirable in the preparation of merchandise packaging and merchandise display printing.

Although the'invention has general application in the field of color printing, it is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the preparation of packaging and display material in the cosmetic field, where very often precise duplication of the color of the cosmetic contained within the packaging is required. In the case of such items as face powders, nail polish, eye shadow and similar cosmetics in liquid, powdered, or creamed form, difficulty has been en-countered in simulating the appearance of the merchandise by printing on a carton enclosing the goods. This duplication has not been so much of a problem in duplicating the required color in terms of hue and tint, as in reproducing the surface texture, which to a very substantial degree effects the resultant tint. Thus, the precise tint as obtained from a printing ink often fails to convey the true character of the merchandise owing to lack of surface texture, with the result that the purchaser who selects the goods on the basis of the color represented on the package is often disappointed in finding that the actual color and texture of the cosmetic is sufficiently different that it no longer matches the desired effect.

Certain nail polishes, for example, have a frosted appearance when applied, and others have a shimmering effect, that is to say a low degree of iridescence which heretofore has not been possible to duplicate by printing processes.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide improved printing methods, in which the above mentioned problems have been substantially solved.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved printing method by which the frosted colors of a cosmetic may be accurately reproduced.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved method for color printing in which the shimmering quality of certain types of luster nail polish may be accurately presented. I

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved printing methods of the class described, and possessed of the above advantages, which may be performed using existing printing techniques and equipment by those possessed of only ordinary printing skills, and using readily obtainable materials.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved printing methods which are compatible with normal color printing operations, including the subsequent lacquering or varnishing of entire printed areas.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In accordance with the invention, the methods consist essentially of combining in successive strata the layers of ink of desired hue with a layer of white pigment, the thickness of which is insufficient to cause opacity, to obtain in addition to the specific required tint, an effeet which differs in appearance from that which is obtainable upon mixing the ink and pigment layer directly. Where a metallic effect is desired, small amounts of metallic pigments may be added to the white pigment to impart a metallic luster to the finished product.

In cases where a frosted appearance is desired, the printing ink layer is first applied to the surface to be printed, and the white pigment layer of controlled thickness is applied thereover to create the frosted effect, the white pigment layer being sufficiently thin as to allow translucency. Where the desired effect is one of shimmer or subdued sparkle, the white pigment is first applied, and the the printed ink layer is applied thereover. The following examples are illustrative.

EXAMPLE 1 Using a suitably coated paper, a letter press image of desired color is made. Standard printing ink, either pigment-ed or transparent is employed. The color value is that which will appear at the completion of the operation, the specific tint being somewhat darker than that desired.

Using a corresponding plate, and a conventional bronzing machine, the printed image is coated with a wax free color-less printing varnish to a thickness of from approximately .0005 to .00l inch, and subsequently subjected to a bronzing action to deposit a layer of powdered white pigment to a thickness ranging from .001 to .002 inch, depending upon the degree of transparency required and the size of particles of the white pigment. The pigment applied is in dry form, and

is commercially available under the term sparkle grade, containing particles sizes ranging from 15 to 40 microns. Particles of pigment not adhered by the varnish are subsequently brushed away, and the overprinted image may then be lacquered, varnished, or otherwise finished over the entire surface thereof in any manner required and known in the art. In the thickness employed, the white pigment layer will be insufficient to totally mask the color imprinted therebeneath, and depending upon the density of the white pigment layer, the tint of the underprinted color will be substantially lightened. By adjusting the density of the overprinted layer, the desired tint is obtained.

EXAMPLE 2 Where a metallic appearance is required, the steps of Example 1 are followed, using a white pigment to which l0 to 15. percent of a metallic pigment, such as a copper colored, gold colored or silver colored metallic pigment has been added. These pigments are also of sparkle grade, with particles size ranging from 15 to 40 microns and in such cases, the hue of the resultant printed color will be varied depending upon the amount and color of the metallic pigment added. The result is a metallic sparkle quite different from that obtained by conventional bronzing operations, owing to the fact that "the base color of the printing ink layer is visible.

1 EXAMPLE 3 In cases where a subdued luster or shimmer effect is desired, the method of Example I is altered to the extent of depositing the white pigment layer first, and subsequently overprinting with an at least partially transparent printing ink, the ink being of a substantially non-particulate nature, and overlying the particulate layer. This causes an en-hancement of the color tint without the effect of frosting. This variation may be employed using either a pure white pigment or white pigment with from to percent metallic pigment added.

I wish it to be understood that 1 do not consider the invention limited to the precise details set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. The method of printing solid color areas upon a surface including the steps of: providing a printing ink of desired color and hue, providing a particulate sparkle grade white pigment in which the particle size varies from approximately 15 to 40 microns, depositing a first layer of printing ink over a desired area; coating the printed image with a wax free colorless printing varnish to a thickness of from approximately 0.0005 to 0.001 inch, subjecting said varnish to a bronzing action to deposit a layer of said pigment to a thickness ranging from 0.001 to 0.002 inch, and removing particles of pigment not adhered to the varnish, whereby the pigment layer will be insufficient to totally mask the color imprinted therebeneath.

2. 1n the method of claim 1, the additional step of adding between 10 to 15 percent by volume ofa metallic pigment to the white pigment.

3. In the method of claim 1, the additional step of applying a protective coating over the white pigment.

4. The method of printing solid color areas upon a surface including the steps of: providing a printing ink of desired color and hue, providing a particulate sparkle grade white pigment in which the particles size varies from approximately 15 to 40 microns; applying to the desired area a layer of wax free colorless printing varnish to a thickness of from approximately 0.0005 to 0.001 inch, subjecting said coated area to a bronzing action to deposit a layer of said pigment to a thickness ranging from 0.001 to 0.002 inch, removing particles of pigment not adhered by the varnish, and over printing the adhered particles of pigment with said ink.

5. In the method of claim 4, the additional step of coating the ink printed area with a clear transparent protective layer.

6. In the method of claim 4, the additional step of mixing from 10 to 15 percent by volume of metallic pigment to the white pigment prior to application.

Claims

2. In the method of claim 1, the additional step of adding between 10 to 15 percent by volume of a metallic pigment to the white pigment.
3. In the method of claim 1, the additional step of applying a protective coating over the white pigment.
4. The method of printing solid color areas upon a surface including the steps of: providing a printing ink of desired color and hue, providing a particulate sparkle grade white pigment in which the particles size varies from approximately 15 to 40 microns; applying to the desired area a layer of wax free colorless printing varnish to a thickness of from approximately 0.0005 to 0.001 inch, subjecting said coated area to a bronzing action to deposit a layer of said pigment to a thickness ranging from 0.001 to 0.002 inch, removing particles of pigment not adhered by the varnish, and over printing the adhered particles of pigment with said ink.
5. In the method of claim 4, the additional step of coating the ink printed area with a clear transparent protective layer.
6. In the method of claim 4, the additional step of mixing from 10 to 15 percent by volume of metallic pigment to the white pigment prior to application.