Device, system and method for making custom printed products

Abstract

A device, system and method for making custom printed products. In one embodiment of the method, input selecting one or more vector graphics is received from a user device along with a size of for the printed product. Pixel edge detection is performed on the image to generate a plurality of polygons corresponding to all shapes in the image. Polygons below a size threshold are removed. An offset is applied to each polygon. The polygons are combined. A smoothing algorithm is applied to the combined polygon. A set of curves that define the smoothed polygon is determined. A cut path is dynamically generating for the printed product in real-time in dependence on the modified vector graphic cut path and the received size so that the cut path has a shape dependent on the modified vector graphic cut path and a size dependent on the received size. The image is printed on a substrate for the image product in dependence on the received size and the offset so that the printed image has a printed size equal to the received size less the offset. The substrate is cut in dependence on the cut path.

1 . A computer-implemented method for making a printed product, comprising:
 receiving, via a communication subsystem of the computer, input selecting one or more vector graphics;   receiving, via the communication subsystem, a size of the printed product;   obtaining a cut path for each vector graphic having a pre-defined cut path;   combining the cut paths to form a combined vector graphic cut path;   applying an offset to the combined vector graphic cut path to obtain a modified vector graphic cut path;   dynamically generating a cut path for the printed product in real-time in dependence on the modified vector graphic cut path and the received size so that the cut path has a shape dependent on the modified vector graphic cut path and a size dependent on the received size;   causing a printer to print a graphic based on the one or more vector graphics on a substrate for the image product in dependence on the received size and the offset so that the printed graphic has a printed size equal to the received size less the offset; and   causing a cutter to cut the substrate in dependence on the cut path.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating the graphic based on the one or more vector graphics.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting and removing any internal shapes defined by the combined vector graphic cut path.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying a simplification algorithm to the modified vector graphic cut path.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a rectangular cut path defined by an outbound rectangle for each vector graphic that does not have a pre-defined cut path;   combining the rectangular cut paths to form a combined rectangular cut path;   applying the offset to the combined rectangular cut path to form a modified rectangular cut path; and   merging the modified vector graphic cut path and the modified rectangular cut path to generate the cut path of the printed product, wherein the shape of the cut path of the printed product is defined by the result of merging the modified vector graphic cut path and the modified rectangular cut path.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vector graphics having a pre-defined cut path comprise vector graphic images and the vector graphics not having a pre-defined cut path comprise vector graphic text. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dynamically determining the offset in dependence on the received size.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printed product is chosen from one of a sticker, a label, a decal, a temporary tattoo, an iron-on, a patch, a cling, a magnet, a badge. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printed product has a format chosen from a page with a single design, a page with multiple designs, a roll, a kiss-cut, a die-cut or a transfer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cut path is a kiss-cut or a die-cut. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a dynamic preview of the printed product, the dynamic preview illustrating the graphic and the cut path;   sending the dynamic preview of the printed product to a user device for display thereon via the communication subsystem.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the offset is between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the communication module of the computer, an image for the printed product;   performing pixel edge detection on the image to generate a plurality of polygons corresponding to all shapes in the image;   detecting and removing any polygons in the plurality of polygons having a size below a size threshold to generate a reduced set of polygons;   applying an offset to each polygon in the reduced set of polygons to generate a set of modified polygons;   combining the polygons in the set of modified polygons to generate a combined polygon;   applying a smoothing algorithm to the combined polygon;   determining a set of one or more curves that define the smoothed polygon;   wherein the graphic is based on the one or more vector graphics and the received image;   wherein the set of one or more curves and the modified vector graphic cut path are merged to generate the cut path of the printed product, wherein the shape of the cut path of the printed product is defined by the result of merging the set of one or more curves and the modified vector graphic cut path.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the communication module of the computer, an image for the printed product;   performing pixel edge detection on the image to generate a plurality of polygons corresponding to all shapes in the image;   detecting and removing any polygons in the plurality of polygons having a size below a size threshold to generate a reduced set of polygons;   applying an offset to each polygon in the reduced set of polygons to generate a set of modified polygons;   combining the polygons in the set of modified polygons to generate a combined polygon;   applying a smoothing algorithm to the combined polygon;   determining a set of one or more curves that define the smoothed polygon;   wherein the graphic is based on the one or more vector graphics and the received image;   wherein the set of one or more curves, the modified vector graphic cut path, and the modified rectangular cut path are merged to generate the cut path of the printed product, wherein the shape of the cut path of the printed product is defined by the result of merging the set of one or more curves, the modified vector graphic cut path, and the modified rectangular cut path.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the set of one or more curves that define the smoothed polygon are determined by applying spline approximation to the combined polygon. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the spline approximation is Bezier spline approximation and the curves in the set of one or more curves are Bezier curves. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the smoothing algorithm is a polygon smoothing algorithm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before performing pixel edge detection on the image, decreasing a resolution of the image from a base resolution to a lower resolution.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before performing pixel edge detection on the image, applying filters to the image to reduce an amount of noise and a number of colors in the image.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the communication module of the computer, an image for the printed product;   performing pixel edge detection on the image to generate a plurality of polygons corresponding to all shapes in the image;   detecting and removing any polygons in the plurality of polygons having a size below a size threshold to generate a reduced set of polygons;   combining the polygons in the set of modified polygons to generate a combined polygon;   applying an offset to the combined polygon to generate a modified polygon;   applying a smoothing algorithm to the modified polygon;   determining a set of one or more curves that define the smoothed polygon;   wherein the graphic is based on the one or more vector graphics and the received image;   wherein the set of one or more curves and the modified vector graphic cut path are merged to generate the cut path of the printed product, wherein the shape of the cut path of the printed product is defined by the result of merging the set of one or more curves and the modified vector graphic cut path.   
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for making a printed product, comprising:
 receiving, via a communication subsystem of the computer, input selecting one or more vector graphics;   receiving, via the communication subsystem, a size of the printed product;   generating a rectangular cut path defined by an outbound rectangle for each vector graphic that does not have a pre-defined cut path;   combining the rectangular cut paths to form a combined rectangular cut path;   applying an offset to the combined rectangular cut path to form a modified rectangular cut path;   dynamically generating a cut path for the printed product in real-time in dependence on the modified rectangular cut path and the received size so that the cut path has a shape dependent on the modified vector graphic cut path and a size dependent on the received size;   causing a printer to print a graphic based on the one or more vector graphics on a substrate for the image product in dependence on the received size and the offset so that the printed graphic has a printed size equal to the received size less the offset; and   causing a cutter to cut the substrate in dependence on the cut path.   
     
     
         22 . A system for making printed products, comprising:
 a computer comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory has executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to:
 receive, via a communication subsystem of the computer, input selecting one or more vector graphics; 
 receive, via the communication subsystem, a size of the printed product; 
 obtain a cut path for each vector graphic having a pre-defined cut path; 
 combine the cut paths to form a combined vector graphic cut path; 
 apply an offset to the combined vector graphic cut path to obtain a modified vector graphic cut path; and 
 dynamically generate a cut path for the printed product in real-time in dependence on the modified vector graphic cut path and the received size so that the cut path has a shape dependent on the set of one or more curves and a size dependent on the received size; 
   a printer coupled to the computer for printing a graphic based on the one or more vector graphics on a substrate in dependence on the received size and the offset so that the printed image has a printed size equal to the received size less the offset; and   a cutter coupled to the computer for cutting the substrate in dependence on the cut path.