ILLUMINATED FACIA

1 . A method of making a fascia for an automobile, the method comprising:

providing an article, the article being one of translucent or transparent;

applying a deposited pattern onto at least a first portion of a first side of the article; and

forming the article into a shape, the shape being configured to be consonant with a vehicle exterior configuration.

2 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

using a printing process to accomplish the applying step.

3 . The method of claim 2 comprising:

executing the printing process using an inkjet printing process.

4 . The method of claim 3 comprising:

executing the printing process using a flatbed printer.

5 . The method of claim 2 comprising:

executing the printing process using a multi-axis robotic system.

6 . The method of claim 5 comprising:

using an inkjet head mounted to the multi-axis robotic system to print the deposited pattern onto a non-flat three-dimensional surface of the article.

7 . The method of claim 6 comprising:

drying the deposited pattern on the article using ultraviolet (UV) light.

8 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

depositing a protective coating atop the ink once deposited.

9 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

selecting a flat member to serve as the article in the providing step; and

configuring the article into a non-flat shape during the forming step.

10 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

selecting a substantially transparent material to comprise the article in the providing step;

allowing the first portion, once subjected to the deposited pattern, to retain at least portions of transparency or translucence; and

depositing a substantially occlusive ink or paint onto a second portion of the first side of the article.

11 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

configuring the shape of the article during the forming step such that the first side of the article is internal, thus protecting the deposited pattern against the elements.

12 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

selecting, in the providing step, a clear thermoplastic as a material for which the article is constructed.

13 . The method of claim 12 comprising:

selecting one of Polycarbonate, Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Polypropylenes (PPs), Natural PP, Polycarbonate (PC) blended with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene polymer (ABS), or Natural PC/ABS as the thermoplastic.

14 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

installing the article onto a vehicle after the forming step and causing the deposited pattern to be animated by illumination created behind the article.

15 . The method of claim 14 comprising:

creating the animation by selectively turning on and off different LEDs in a plurality of LEDs.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the providing step comprises:

cutting the article from a sheet to create an initial flat shape.

17 . The method of claim 16 comprising:

cutting the article such that the flat shape is irregular having a plurality of sides meeting at corners.

18 . The method of claim 1 comprising:

using one of a lithographic press or digital press to accomplish the applying step.

19 . The method of claim 1 wherein the forming step further comprises:

heating, molding, and then cooling the article to create a permanent fold in the article, the fold contributing to an ultimate configuration of the article, the ultimate configuration being consonant with surrounding fascia configurations in an automotive design.

20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the heating, molding, and then cooling steps further comprise:

leaving first and second planar portions on either side of the permanent fold, the permanent fold serving as a transition between the deposited pattern and a remaining portion of the article.

21 . The method of claim 20 comprising:

depositing a different pattern onto the remaining portion of the article.

22 . A fascia system comprising:

a transparent member mounted on a vehicle, the member having printed matter on one side of the member; and

the member being included into a vehicle exterior design, the member being oriented in front of an illumination device, the printed matter being illuminated by the device.

23 . The fascia system of claim 22 comprising:

different portions of the member being configured to be all of: (i) substantially occlusive, (ii) patterned, and (iii) either transparent or translucent.

24 . The fascia system of claim 22 comprising a homogenizing optical sheet between the illumination device and the transparent member.