SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ON-SITE PRINTING OF CUSTOM ARTICLES
This invention relates to the on-site creation of custom articles. Systems and methods of the invention are provided for receiving personalized artwork such as digitally-input freehand drawings and printing the artwork on-site and substantially immediately onto articles of apparel, merchandise, and the like.
1 . A system for creating a customized article, the system comprising:
an input device to receive data corresponding to a freehand drawing;
a tangible, non-transitory memory coupled to the input device and configured to store a digital file comprising the data;
a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute a software program to render the data to create an image file for printing and send the image file to the printer;
a printer coupled to the processor and configured to print the image file; and
an apparatus for transferring the printed file to an article.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the input device comprises an infrared device and a projection screen.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image file is printed on transfer paper, and the apparatus operates by applying heat and pressure to the transfer paper on the article.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory and processor are provided by a computer, and the input device, the computer, the printer, and the apparatus are housed at one location.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a t-shirt, a sweat-shirt, a jacket, sweatpants, a hat, and a scarf.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital drawing is a vector image format.
6 . A system for creating a customized temporary tattoo in real-time, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, via a digital input device, a digital drawing;
storing the digital drawing in a tangible, non-transitory memory coupled to the digital input device; and
rendering, using a processor coupled to the memory, the digital drawing in a medium that can be employed to cause the drawing to appear on the skin of a person.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the digital input device comprises a rear-projection screen.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the received digital drawing is created through the use of a computer graphics software program executed by the processor.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the receiving step comprises translating an infra-red signal into a digital signal defining the digital drawing.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the rendering step comprises printing the digital drawing onto tattoo transfer paper.
11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the rendering step comprises printing a decal.
12 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the rendering step comprises projecting the digital drawing onto skin using a projector.
13 . A method for creating a customized article, the method comprising:
receiving, via a digital input device, digital input at a location;
storing the digital input in a tangible, non-transitory memory coupled to the digital input device;
rendering, using a processor coupled to the memory, the digital input as an image file; and
printing the image file onto an article.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digital input is created by using the digital input device for freehand drawing.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the digital input device comprises an infrared device.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the digital input device comprises a rear-projection screen sensitive to infrared input.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the location is a site of a business and the printing occurs at the location.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the printing occurs within one hour of the receiving.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the article is a garment.
20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising sending the image file to a recipient.