Method and apparatus for embedding a 2-dimensional image in a 3-dimensional model

1. A computer implemented method of embedding 2-dimensional images into 3-dimensional models comprising:

processing a 2-dimensional image using one or more of gray scaling, noise removal, or dithering;

generating an indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image, the indexed color image comprising a pre-determined number of colors based on reflective properties of a 3-dimensional printing material;

generating a 3-dimensional print matrix representing the 2-dimensional image, wherein the 3-dimensional print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, a base plane of each sub-region angled so as to produce a respective one of a plurality of shades, each shade representing a color of the indexed color image; and

embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a 3-dimensional model formed of the 3-dimensional printing material.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each sub-region corresponds to one or more pixels of the 2-dimensional image, and wherein each angled base plane is printed at a respective one angle of a plurality of pre-defined angles.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the 2-dimensional image comprises converting the 2-dimensional image into a grayscale image.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying an error diffusion process to the grayscale image to reduce a number of colors in the grayscale image to a predetermined number of colors.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying the error diffusion process to the grayscale image to convert the grayscale image into a 2-bit image consisting of four distinct gray colors.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a flat surface of the 3-dimensional model.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises:

determining an area on a surface of the 3-dimensional model that is greater than or equal in size and having a depth thereunder, of the size and depth of the 3-dimensional print matrix;

removing the area and volume thereunder from the surface of the 3-dimensional model; and

replacing the removed area and volume with the volume of the 3-dimensional print matrix.

8. An apparatus for embedding 2-dimensional images into 3-dimensional models comprising:

at least one processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

process a 2-dimensional image using one or more of gray scaling, noise removal, or dithering;

generate an indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image, the indexed color image comprising a pre-determined number of colors based on reflective properties of a 3-dimensional printing material;

generate a 3-dimensional print matrix representing the 2-dimensional image, wherein the 3-dimensional print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, a base plane of each sub-region angled so as to produce a respective one of a plurality of shades, each shade representing a color of the indexed color image; and

embed the 3-dimensional print matrix in a 3-dimensional model formed of the 3-dimensional printing material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to process the 2-dimensional image by converting the the 2-dimensional image into a grayscale image.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to generate the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image by applying an error diffusion process to the processed 2-dimensional image to reduce a number of colors in the processed 2-dimensional image to a predetermined number of colors.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to generate the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image by applying an error diffusion process to the processed 2-dimensional image to convert the processed 2-dimensional image into a 3-bit image consisting of eight colors.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a flat surface of the 3-dimensional model.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises:

determining an area on a surface of the 3-dimensional model that is greater than or equal in size and having a depth thereunder of the size and depth of the 3-dimensional print matrix;

removing the area and volume thereunder from the surface of the 3-dimensional model; and

replacing the removed area and volume with the volume of the 3-dimensional print matrix.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform a steps comprising:

processing a 2-dimensional image using one or more of gray scaling, noise removal, or dithering;

generating an indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image, the indexed color image comprising a pre-determined number of colors based on reflective properties of a 3-dimensional printing material;

generating a 3-dimensional print matrix representing the 2-dimensional image, wherein the 3-dimensional print matrix comprises a plurality of sub-regions, a base plane of each sub-region angled so as to produce a respective one of a plurality of shades, each shade representing a color of the indexed color image; and

embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a 3-dimensional model formed of the 3-dimensional printing material.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein each sub-region corresponds to one or more pixels of the 2-dimensional image, and wherein each angled base plane is printed at a respective one angle of a plurality of pre-defined angles.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein processing the 2-dimensional image comprises converting the 2-dimensional image into a grayscale image.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying an error diffusion process to the grayscale image to reduce a number of colors in the grayscale image to a predetermined number of colors.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein generating the indexed color image from the processed 2-dimensional image comprises applying the error diffusion process to the grayscale image to convert the grayscale image into a 2-bit image consisting of four distinct gray colors.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in a flat surface of the 3-dimensional model.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein embedding the 3-dimensional print matrix in the 3-dimensional model comprises:

determining an area on a surface of the 3-dimensional model that is greater than or equal in size and having a depth thereunder, of the size and depth of the 3-dimensional print matrix;

removing the area and volume thereunder from the surface of the 3-dimensional model; and

replacing the removed area and volume with the volume of the 3-dimensional print matrix.