Generation of texture in continuous tone digital images

Mccallion, Peter

Abstract

In a digital age where artists and printers are required to learn a wide range of skills, from graphic design to colour science, is it possible to return to a more artistic application of colour, tone and texture with a mechanically printed image using CAD software? The reproduction of digitally generated works is divided between the onscreen (RGB) representation of colour and a colorimetric translation through an imaging pipeline to a printing device (CMYK). The developers’ goal of inkjet hardware and software is to match printed colour and texture as close as possible to its on screen representation. The texture in this case is a simulation though contrast, tone and through the illusional properties of halftoning. So far inkjet has not fully addressed the three dimensional rendering of texture.
As touch-screen devices develop and evolve to replicate the creative methods of the artist, can an onscreen difference in appearance between a thickly applied paint or watercolour, be replicated in the same way through the printing hardware? Drawing tablets have made digital imput devices closer to how an artist would intuitively generate the image, so now is it the turn of the digital printer to bring the prints closer to how artists would apply the colour? The research includes a survey of 19th Century photomechanical methods of low relief continuous tone images, these methods translated a two-dimensional tonal gradation present in the image to a three dimensional model in gelatine. The research moves into the 21st century investigating alternative methods that incorporates vector based software and 3D printing technologies.

Citation

Mccallion, P. (2012, December). Generation of texture in continuous tone digital images. Poster presented at Institute of Physics IOP Printing and Graphics Science Group Annual Student Conference, Institute of Physics, 6 Portland Place, London

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Conference Name: Institute of Physics IOP Printing and Graphics Science Group Annual Student Conference
• Conference Location: Institute of Physics, 6 Portland Place, London
• Start Date: Dec 6, 2012
• End Date: Dec 6, 2012
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: mechanically printed image, CAD software, halftoning, RGB representation of colour, CMYK, three dimensional rendering of texture, texture
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/954701
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Institute of Physics IOP Printing and Graphics Science Group Annual Student Conference