GB2274086A - White marble effect finish. - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for producing a white marble effect finish, e.g. on domestic cookers, includes photographing real marble to provide a visual image for producing artwork. The artwork is applied to a silk screen of comparatively fine mesh and the screen is used with free-flowing ink to print the marble effect on a substrate. Ink of only one colour may be used, e.g. grey.

Description

WHITE MARBLE EFFECT FINISH This invention relates to a white marble effect finish, which may be used, for example, on domestic electrical cookers.

Attempts have been made in the past to produce a marble effect finish on, e.g. glass-fronted cookers, but these attempts were only satisfactory in producing either red or brown finishes. These previous attempts relied on using a comparatively coarse silk-screen to print a computergenerated marble effect, on a glass substrate, using a combination of different colours (since real marble has a combination of different colours in its surface). Attempts to produce a white marble effect in this way were unsatisfactory, because the finish had very obvious dots and a random pattern which was unlike most marbles, the appearance being more like dirty patches. These effects can be appreciated by comparing the representations filed with Design Registrations Nos. 2019119 (White), 2019120 (Brown) and 2019121 (Red).

A marble effect pattern not only has to look realistic, i.e. it has to contain at least some veining, but also to fit in with the peculiarities of cooker layout; in particular it should not obscure or interfere with control graphics, but still be visible in small areas.

The present invention solves this problem by a process comprising the steps of: making a visual image of the surface of real white marble, using the visual image to produce artwork representing a required marble effect, applying the artwork to a silk-screen having a comparatively fine mesh, and employing the silk-screen, with free-flowing ink, to print said marble effect on a substrate.

By making the visual image of real marble and using the artwork on a fine silk-screen with free-flowing ink, a white marble effect can be produced of surprising reality.

The visual image may be produced, for example, by a black-and-white photographic technique or by video imaging techniques. A computer may be used to produce the artwork, i.e. where the original visual image of real marble is retouched and/or modified to produce the required marble effect.

Ink of only one colour namely, grey, may be used with a white background. (The grey would be of a suitable hue and tone to optimise the marble effect). This still provides a surprisingly good marble effect, e.g. by using gradations of grey and it is advantageous in simplifying the printing process besides being less expensive.

In the preferred method of the invention, a white marble finish was produced on heat resistant glass panels used for oven doors and the control fascia of a cooker. A slab of real white marble was photographed so as to produce a blackand-white photographic image which was intended to extend over the area of the respective glass panel. This step of the invention differs from the prior art in that previous marble effects were produced by computer-generated patterns.

In accordance with the invention, the photographic image is primarily used to produce artwork representing a marble effect, but the photographic image can be enhanced or modified, with the aid of a computer, so as to introduce or to omit veining in certain areas of the image so that the marble effect has the most pleasing appearance on the finished panel. The finished artwork is then applied to a silk-screen, for example, by converting the artwork into a dot matrix image where the dots correspond to holes in the silk-screen. In order to produce a satisfactory marble effect, the screen has a comparatively fine mesh, compared with the mesh size of screens used heretofore in producing marble effects on glass substrates (such as those described above). For example, the mesh size may be such that it corresponds with 24 dots for every one centimetre. This is equivalent to a mesh hole size of approximately 1/64 inches or 0.416 mm. Previously, it was not thought possible to print with a silk-screen having this finer mesh and the use of silk screens with a conventional mesh size gave very disappointing results due to the dot pattern being discernible in the marble finish. However, by using a freer-flowing ink it is possible to print with the finer mesh and thereby provide a marble effect in which a dot pattern cannot be readily perceived.

By using ink of one colour, i.e. grey, various gradations of grey can be used in the silk-screen printing so as to simulate the veining in real marble. This has the advantage of facilitating printing, since previous attempts to produce white marble finishes have relied on using different colours, as may be seen in marble.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A process for producing a white marble effect finish, the process comprising the steps of: making a visual image of the surface of real white marble, using the visual image to produce artwork representing a required marble effect, applying the artwork to a silk-screen having a comparatively fine mesh, and employing the silk-screen, with free-flowing ink, to print said marble effect on a substrate.

2. A process according to Claim 1 wherein the ink is of a grey colour, of a suitable hue and tone, on a white background, gradations of grey being used to produce veining in the marble effect.

3. A process according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the visual image is made by a black-and-white photography.

4. A process for producing a white marble effect finish according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

5. Cooker panels having a white marble effect finish produced according to the process of Claim 1.