ENGRAVING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A method and apparatus for engraving a plurality of cells in a surface of a cylinder (14). The method and apparatus provide for processing a plurality of image data; modifying at least a portion of the image data and generating a signal corresponding thereto; and then exciting an engraving device (10) in response to the signal in order to engrave a pattern of engraved areas. The method and apparatus facilitate adjusting a characteristic of at least one of the plurality of engraved areas in order to change a spatial relationship between said at least one of the plurality of engraved areas and another of the plurality of engraved areas to provide, for example, a non-regular or non-periodic spacing of engraved areas. The method and apparatus provides a shaping data generator for generating shaping data to be used to modify the image data corresponding to an area to be engraved to redefine at least a portion of said data to provide an engraved area having a desired shape.