Registering patterns of features by adjusting the pitch of image swaths

1. A method for imaging with pixels a repeating pattern of features in aligned relationship to a registration region comprising a repeating pattern of sub-regions, the method comprising:

determining a pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions;

adjusting a size of the pixels;

operating an imaging head comprising an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on a media, each of the imaging beams being operable for imaging the pixels on the media;

while forming the image swath on the media, controlling the individually addressable channels to image the repeating pattern of features;

adjusting a pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions in a direction generally perpendicular to the image swath; and

wherein adjusting the pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating patterns of sub-regions comprises rotating the array of individually addressable channels with respect to the repeating pattern of sub-regions.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions comprises measuring the pitch of the repeating pattern of registration regions.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging head is operable for controlling a plurality of the channels to direct imaging beams to form an imaging line, and the repeating pattern of sub-regions is skewed by an angle with respect to the imaging line, the method comprising additionally rotating imaging head to compensate for the angle.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the repeating pattern of features comprises a repeating pattern of color features of a color filter, and the registration region comprises a matrix.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the color filter includes a plurality of patterns of color features, each pattern of color features corresponding to a given color, the method comprising imaging each of the patterns of color features separately.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein imaging the repeating pattern of features comprises imaging the repeating pattern of features in a laser-induced thermal transfer process.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the laser-induced thermal transfer process comprises a laser-induced dye transfer process.

8. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the laser-induced thermal transfer process comprises a laser-induced mass transfer process.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein imaging the repeating pattern of features comprises transferring an image forming material from a donor element to a receiver element.

10. A method according to claim 1 , imaging the repeating pattern of features comprises transferring a colorant and a binder to the media.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein imaging the repeating pattern of features comprises imaging a repeating pattern of island features.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the repeating pattern of island features comprises a first plurality of features of a first color, some features of the first plurality separated from some other features of the first color by a feature of a different color.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the repeating pattern of island features comprises a first plurality of features of a first color, some features of the first plurality separated from some features of the first color by a feature of a different color in a first direction.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the repeating pattern of island features comprises a first plurality of features of a first color, some features of the first plurality separated from some other features of the first color by a feature of a color other than the first color in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

15. A method for imaging a repeating, pattern of features in aligned relationship to a registration region comprising a repeating pattern of sub-regions, the method comprising:

determining a pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions;

operating an imaging head comprising an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on a media;

while forming the image swath on the media, controlling the individually addressable channels to image the repeating pattern of features;

adjusting a pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions in a direction generally perpendicular to the image swath; and

wherein adjusting the pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating patterns of sub-regions comprises altering a size of the image swath with a zoom mechanism.

16. A method for imaging a repeating pattern of features in aligned relationship to a registration region comprising a repeating pattern of sub-regions, the method comprising:

determining a pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions;

operating an imaging head comprising an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on a media;

while forming the image swath on the media, controlling the individually addressable channels to image the repeating pattern of features;

adjusting a pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions in a direction generally perpendicular to the image swath;

comprising adjusting a size of the imaging beams to adjust the pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions; and

comprising adjusting a size of the imaging beams with a zoom mechanism.

17. A method for imaging with pixels a repeating pattern of features in aligned relationship to a registration region comprising a repeating pattern of sub-regions, the method comprising:

determining a pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions;

adjusting a size of the pixels;

operating an imaging head comprising an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on a media, each of the imaging beams being operable for imaging the pixels on the media;

while forming the image swath on the media, controlling the individually addressable channels to image the repeating pattern of features;

adjusting a pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions in a direction generally perpendicular to the image swath; and

wherein adjusting the size of the pixels comprises rotating the array of individually addressable channels with respect to the repeating pattern of sub-regions.

18. A method for imaging with pixels a repeating pattern of features in aligned relationship to a registration region comprising a repeating pattern of sub-regions, the method comprising:

determining a pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions;

adjusting a size of the pixels;

operating an imaging head comprising an array of individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form an image swath on a media, each of the imaging beams being operable for imaging the pixels on the media;

while forming the image swath on the media, controlling the individually addressable channels to image the repeating pattern of features;

adjusting a pitch of the repeating pattern of features to equal substantially the pitch of the repeating pattern of sub-regions in a direction generally perpendicular to the image swath; and

comprising adjusting the size of the pixels with a zoom mechanism.