Surface marked articles, related methods and systems

摘要

A method of surface marking an article, especially a building product, is provided. One described method includes the steps of laser marking a first graphic design element on a surface of an article and ink-jet printing a second graphic design element in registry with the first graphic design element on the surface of the article to create a high quality overall graphic design. Also provided are articles made according to this method, and systems for carrying out the method.

主权项

1. The method of replicating the look of any surface comprising:
obtaining a digital pattern which defines the look of a surface; converting the digital pattern to a DXF vector file with a software program; importing the DXF vector file to a software program which instructs the laser to etch the pattern at specific operating parameters; laser etching the graphic or pattern on the substrate; importing the digital pattern to a raster-rendering program; converting the digital graphic to a raster file using the raster-rendering program; converting the raster file to the ink jet controller language; and ink jet printing the digital pattern on the laser-etched substrate.