A PRODUCTION METHOD OF A FRAGMENTED PAINTING

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a novel production method of a painting. The present invention more specifically relates to a production method of a painting put or hung on a wall, having a large and fragmented area, and being compliant with modern architectures. The present invention further relates to a distribution and sales system of such paintings produced in a fragmented fashion.

Prior Art

Wall paintings are decorative items which beautify places such as homes, offices, as well as exhibition areas, and give color thereto. Since a long time ago, paintings are hung by means of carrier elements such as nails or screws which are fixed to the walls. Some paintings, in turn, are nailed or screwed to walls in a stationary manner. In order to make the paintings more attractive, more precious, or to impart a distinct appearance to the paintings, which are used in harmony with the interior decoration aimed on the walls, either the frames of the paintings are improved and decorated, or some innovations such as illumination are used to change the entire impression of the paintings. Additionally, the appearance of the paintings which are typically rectangular in shape are turned into innovative shapes such as circles, triangles, or other geometric shapes. Such improvements, however, are limited due to the features of the frames or paintings. With the developing architectures and technologies, some paintings are now produced without frames. In order to maintain the forms of the paintings and provide a smooth appearance, a separate framework is used to which the picture or figure of the painting is glued, but not the outer frame of the painting. These frameworks are not visible from the front, as they stay behind the tables. Frameworks, however, both make it hard to carry the paintings and require attachment to a single painting area, as is the case of conventional paintings. In other words, if the painting is a landscape picture, a rectangular appearance or an appearance with a different geometry is displayed again on the wall. This, in turn, restricts the limits of creativity or innovation just as the conventional paintings do.

Fragmental ornaments are known from the prior art, which are glued or hung on the walls. However, such ornaments serve as wall decors, and do not provide a picture or scene on the wall. For instance, patterns on ceramic materials are provided on the wall like a decor. Or, fragmented mirrors put on the walls do not provide more than a wall decor does. The production costs of such wall decors is high and nails or screws are used to fasten the decors to the walls. These limitations considerably reduce the preferability of such wall decors.

Object and Description of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide the applicability of a painting or a decorative design, which may be easily mounted to a wall, in a fragmented manner so as to produce a decor on the wall at the same time. Using the production method according to the present invention and the decorative wall designs obtained thereby, it is made possible to apply paintings or decorative designs, which can be easily used in any kind of settings, in a fragmented manner of any desired number.

Using the production method according to the present invention, it is made possible to apply a painting or a decorative design to wood-, plastic-, metal-, or composite-based plates preferably by means of inkjet printers. These plates with an image applied thereon are cut in any desired number and geometry and thus turned into a fragmented form to be placed to a wall. Thus, a decorative design or an image can function both as a nice painting on the wall, and as a decor, thanks to its fragmented structure and its geometry of any desired size. An advantage of the production method according to the present invention is that any kind of images or decorative designs can be applied to a smooth surface or to an embossed surface.

Another advantage of the production method according to the present invention is that the fragmented paintings produced are easily packaged, transported, and marketed in small sizes.

A further advantage of the production method according to the present invention is that any decorative designs or images preferred by the customers can be ordered, produced, and distributed under the control of a web-based software. An advantage of a painting produced using the production method according to the present invention is that the resulting fragmented painting is both a painting and a wall decoration.

The fragmented painting obtained by the production method according to the present invention is both light-weighing and easily produced, and can be simply mounted to any surface using mounting tapes without using screws, nails, etc..

In order to provide a better understanding of the subject matter of the present invention, it shall be referred to the figures.

Description of Figures Figure 1 illustrates the basic elements for implementing the production method of a fragmented painting according to the present invention.

Figure 2 provides a flowchart proposed for implementing the production method of a fragmented painting according to the present invention.

Figure 3 provides a flowchart proposed for implementing the production method of a fragmented painting according to the present invention, wherein a foil system is used. Figure 4a illustrates a representative printed image (before fragmented) produced by the production method according to the present invention.

Figure 4b illustrates a representative fragmented painting produced by the production method according to the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates a cross-section of the fragmented painting produced by the production method according to the present invention.

Figure 6 provides a schema illustrating the basic elements in case the production method according to the present invention is implemented through an online ordering method. Figure 7 provides a flowchart proposed for implementing the production method according to the present invention through an online ordering method.

Figure 8a illustrates another representative printed image (before fragmented) produced by the production method according to the present invention.

Figure 8b illustrates another representative fragmented painting produced by the production method according to the present invention.

Reference Numbers of Parts and Sections in Figures Illustrating the Present Invention

1- Image

2- Computer system

3- Plate

4- Printer

5- Printed image

6- Cutter

7- Fragmented painting

7a- First part

7b- Second part

7c- Third part 7d- Forth part

7e- Fifth part

7f- Sixth part

8- Packaged painting

9- Printing surface

10- Mounting tape

11- internet

12- Image model

13- Logistics service

14- User

15- User computer

16- Satellite system

17- Base station

18- Modem

19- Firewali

20- Database server

21- Web application server

22- Software

Steps of the flowchart illustrated in figure 2:

30- Selecting an image

35- Selecting a plate according to the image

40- Determining a cutting pattern

45- Printing the image on the plate 50- Cutting the image through the cutting pattern

55- Cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image

60- Applying mounting tapes to the painting 65- Packaging

Steps of the flowchart illustrated in figure 3:

100- Selecting an image 110- Selecting a plate according to the image

120- Determining a cutting pattern

130- Printing the image to a foil

140- Applying the foil to the plate

150- Cutting the image through the cutting pattern 160- Cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image

170- Applying mounting tapes to the painting

180- Packaging

Steps of the flowchart illustrated in figure 7:

200- Signing up for membership 210- Selecting an image

220- Proposing image models according to the image 230- Placing an order for the selected image and image model 240- Selecting a plate according to the order placed and setting up the printer 250- Printing the image on the plate or foil 260- Cutting the image through the cutting pattern 270- Cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image

280- Applying mounting tapes to the painting 290- Packaging, shipment and notification

Detailed Description of invention

In the fragmented painting production system according to the present invention, basically paintings are produced and applied in fragmented special models without a painting frame or a painting-bearing framework used in conventional paintings. Thus, basically, the production system according to the present invention and a painting produced thereby will be described. Then, an alternative production system and an electronic online ordering and distribution system will be described. Accordingly, figure 1 illustrates the basic elements for carrying out the production method according to the present invention. Figure 2 and figure 3 provide flowcharts of the production method according to the present invention. Figure 4a and figure 4b illustrate the states of an image before and after it is fragmented. Figure 6a, in turn, is a representative view of a product obtained using the production method according to the present invention.

The fragmented painting production method according to the present invention basically comprises an image (1) in the form of a painting or a decorative design. This image (1) can either be digital image or a printed image. If it is digital, it should be directly transferable and executable to/on a computer. If a printed image is to be used, which may be the work of a painter or a painting with historical value, it may be digitalized using an image capturing device such as a camera or a scanner. When the image (1) to be used in the painting is transferred to a computer system (2) with the required software, the image (1) can be transferred to a surface by means of a printing machine or a printer. Thus, the image (1) transferred to the computer system (2) is transmitted to a printer (4) and printed on a surface. The printer (4) may be an inkjet printer, a laser printer, or an industrial printing machine operated in connection with the computer system (2), provided that the printer (4) is capable to transfer the image (1) on a piate (3). The plate (3) is a straight wooden-based, preferably an DF, with a surface onto which the image (1 ) is to be transferred or printed, and the size of the plate (3) should be equal to or larger than the size of the image (1). However, the plate may alternatively be a regular wooden plate, plastic plate, composite plate, aluminum piate or a glass piate. The plate (3) has normally a smooth structure with a flat surface. On the other hand, if the painting to be produced is not a smooth, but an embossed painting, the surface may not be flat, but an embossed surface. In other words, a flat surface is used if a two-dimensional image (1 ) is to be produced on the plate (3), whereas if a three-dimensionai image (1) is to be produced, the surface should have a depth which is capable to provide the three-dimensional image. The three-dimensional image can be produced using three-dimensionai printers. It is even possible to use a piate (3) composed of a thick material, wherein an embossed painting is obtained by means of a three-dimensional printer (2). First, the surface of the plate (3) to which the image is to be printed is cleaned. Norma!iy, the image (1) is processed on the computer system (2) and then printed on the plate (3) using the printer (4). However, since the piate (3) here is to be systematically fragmented and its size will be changed afterwards, also the image mode! (12) should be determined while the image (1) is printed. The image mode! (12) may have a rectangular, circular, triangular, oval or any other geometric shape into which the plate (3) is to be cut afterwards. Whiie the image (1) is printed on the plate (3), the regions of the plate (3) to be cut afterwards are marked in the form of cutting patterns. The image (1) should be printed on the printing surface (9) which corresponds to the front surface of the plate (3). Accordingly, if an inkjet printer is to be used, the printing surface should have an adequate dullness and absorbing capacity, if the printing surface (9) is to be processed, it should have an adequate hardness and material density. This marking operation can be carried out using lines or other marks formed during the printing process. After the image (1) is printed on the plate (3) by means of the printer (4) under the control of the computer system (2), a printed image is formed on the plate so as to give a semi-finished printed image (5). The printed image (5) is cut according to the respective image mode! (12) either manually or under the control of the computer system (2). A cutter (6) is used here, which may be a metallic cutter or a conventional cutter with a sinter tip, or plotter cutter, for performing the cutting operation in line with the target shapes. The cutter (6) may even be a laser cutter. The printed image (5) which is cut by means of the cutter (6) according to the target image model (12) is fragmented now. The printed image (5) which is shown in figure 4a in an uncut form is cut and fragmented into target parts and models using the cutter (6). As illustrated in figure 4b, these parts may be a first part (7a), a second part (7b), a third part (7c), a forth part (7d), and a fifth part (7e). According to another embodiment, there may also be provided a sixth part (If), or more parts. While these parts may be endless theoretically, they shall have a limited number in terms of commercializing this technology. If desired, another printed image (5) illustrated in figure 8a can be cut according to any desired image model (12) illustrated in figure 8b. The printed image cut into parts using the cutter (6) is not turned into a fragmented painting (7). The fragmented painting (7) is subjected to a cleaning operation in order to clean it from chips or dusts which may result from the cutting operation. Following the cleaning operation, at least one or a sufficient number of mounting tape(s) (10) is/are mounted to the back side of the fragmented painting (7). The mounting tape (10) is varied according to the weight of the fragmented painting (7) and is preferably a double-sided tape which is capable to carry light-weighing materials. One surface of the mounting tape (10) is fixed to the rear side of the fragmented painting (7) and the other side thereof is kept covered. The other side is only uncovered as the fragmented painting (7) is mounted to a wall. The parts of the fragmented painting (7) with the mounting tape (10) on their rear side are placed one on the top of the other, or stacked, according to the image and packaged using transparent packages preferably by means of vacuum machines. Thus, the fragmented painting (7) is turned into a product composed of a plurality of parts with their rear sides equipped with mounting tapes (10) and their front printing surfaces (9) provided with an image (1). The image (1) can be provided on the printing surface (9) by printing, or alternatively by applying a foil as described below. The production method of the fragmented painting (7) can be summarized with the following steps, as illustrated in figure 2.

- Selecting an image (30),

- selecting a plate according to the image (35),

- determining a cutting pattern (40),

- printing the image on the plate (45),

- cutting the image through the cutting pattern (50),

- cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image (55),

- applying mounting tapes to the painting (60),

- packaging (65).

During the step of selecting an image (30) in the production method of a fragmented painting (7) according to the present invention, an image (1) is chosen and transferred to a computer system (2). in the step of selecting a plate according to the image (35) following the aforesaid step, a proper plate (3) is chosen according to the form of the selected image (1) which is to be printed. In the step of determining a cutting pattern (40) after this step, the preferred image model (12) is determined and cutting zones are marked by the computer system (2) in order to perform a cutting operation according to this image model (12). Thereafter, in the step of printing the image to the plate (45), the image (1) is printed on the plate (3) by means of a printer (4) under the control of the computer system (2). in this system, the image (1) is provided on the plate (3) and is in the form of a printed image (5). Then, in the step of cutting the image through the cutting pattern (50), a cutting operation is performed through the cutting pattern marked on the image (1) according to the image model (12) by means of a cutter (6). Afterwards, in the step of cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image (55), the printed image (5) is now fragmented and turned into a fragmented painting (7). In this step, the fragmented painting (7) is cleaned and the parts thereof are stacked according to the first image (1). Then, in the step of applying mounting tapes to the painting (60), mounting tapes (10) are applied to the rear side of the fragmented painting (7). Afterwards, in the packaging step (65), the fragmented painting (7) is packaged in order to protect it from deformation.

In the printing step of the production method of a fragmented painting (7) according to the present invention, the printing operation is not applied to the plate (3), but to a foil or paper, and then this foil or paper is applied to the plate. Here, no separate references numbers are given to the foil or paper. The function of the folio or paper here is that of a plate material (3) on which printing is performed by means of a inkjet or laser printer. In result, both are turned into a printed image (5) following the printing process. In this case, a foil onto which the image is printed is applied to the printing surface (9) on the plate (3), while in the other case the printing operation is directly applied to the printing surface (9) on the plate (3). Thus, the flowchart in figure 2 can be changed in this sense only to give the flowchart in figure 3.

- Selecting an image (100),

- selecting a plate according to the image (110),

- determining a cutting pattern (120),

- printing the image to a foil (130),

- applying the foil to the plate (140),

- cutting the image through the cutting pattern (150),

- cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image (160),

- applying mounting tapes to the painting (170),

- packaging (180).

Here, printing an image (1) to a foil or paper in a printer (4) and applying the foil to a plate are defined as the steps of printing an image to a foil (130) and applying the foil to a plate (140); i.e. the difference to figure 2 lies here. The rest is identical or similar.

It is possible to implement the fragmented painting production method according to the present invention and a product obtained thereby through an e-commerce system more automatically according to customer wishes. For this purpose, a system illustrated in figure 6 can be used. Here, in addition to the means in the system given in figure 1 , an internet network (11) for e-commerce, and at least one user (14) connecting to the internet network (11) via a user computer ( 5) are comprised. Here, the user (14) may be a customer or a company demanding a product in the supply chain. The user (14) connects to the internet (11) using a user computer such as a personal computer, smart phone, tablet, etc.. Internet

(11) communication is ensured by means of a satellite system (16) and base stations (17). In order for a user (14) to be included in the system, a database connected to the internet (11) should be kept on a server (20) and a software (22) should be kept on a web application server (21). The software (22) will manage the e-commerce system and optionally the production of the fragmented painting (7). Images (1), or image models (12) which may be applied to the images (1) are maintained on the database server (20) or on a different server. The management of the system is ensured by the software (22) or by the computer system (2). For managing the system, the database server (20) and the web application server (21) gain access to the internet (11) through a firewall (19) and a modem (18). The user can sign up for membership using the web application server (21) within the rights granted to users on the software (22), retrieve images (1) and image models

(12) , place orders and complete purchase transactions. The implementation of the e-commerce system may be as follows, as illustrated in figure 7:

- signing up for membership (200),

- selecting an image (210)

- proposing image models according to the image (220),

- placing an order for the selected image and image model (230),

- selecting a plate according to the order placed and setting up the printer (240),

- printing the image on the plate or foil (250).

- cutting the image through the cutting pattern (260),

- cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image (270),

- applying mounting tapes to the painting (280),

- packaging, shipment and notification (290). According to the flowchart given in figure 7 of the subject production method, the system is initiated by a step wherein a user signs up for membership (200) to let the system proceed according to an e-commerce system. Here, the sing up procedure of the user (14) to the system is effected with user computers (15) using the internet (11) under the management of the software (22) by gaining access to the web application server (21) and database server (20). Following this step, the image selection step (210) is implemented. In order for the user to form the desired fragmented painting (7), the user gains access to images (1) on the database server (20) or on another server under the control of the software (22). Here, the image (1) may be a panting, a decorative design or a picture. Or alternatively, the user can use an image (1) generated or captured by his-/herself under the control of the software (22). Afterwards, the step of proposing image models according to the image (220) is implemented. In this step, the system proposes an image model (12) according to the selected image. This is because any image (1) cannot fit to any image model (12). For instance, while an image model composed of rectangular parts which are large at the center and become smaller towards the periphery may be proper in a landscape picture, a circular or puzzle-like image model may be proper for an image (1) on which a human figure is present. This can be better understood by referring to the image models in figure 4a, figure 4b, figure 8a and figure 8b. Then, the step of placing an order for the selected image and image model (230) is implemented. In this step, the user (14) can select a proposed image model (12) and place an order or purchase the respective image (1) and image model (12). Then, the step of selecting a plate according to the order placed and setting up the printer (240) is implemented. Afterwards, the production step starts, wherein the plate (3) is selected according to the selected image (1) and image model (12) by the computer system (2) automatically or by an operator. Then, the step of printing the image on the plate or foil (250) is implemented. In this step, the image (1) is converted into a proper format in the computer system (2) and printed on the plate (3) or foil. The printing operation is carried out on the printer (4). The printer (4) may be an Inkjet printer, laser printer, or a three-dimensional printer. The step of converting into a proper format also comprises determining the cutting pattern. If the printing operation is to be carried out directly on the plate (3), the process is continued with a cutting operation. If the printing operation is carried on a paper or foil, however, the cutting operation is conducted after this paper or foil is applied to the plate (3). With the printing operation, the image (1) is brought onto the plate (3) and is turned into a semi-finished product in the form of a printed image (5). Then, the step of cutting the image through the cutting pattern (260) is implemented. Here, the plate (3) is cut through the cutting pattern previously determined or marked on the plate during the printing process. Then, the step of cleaning the surface and stacking the parts of the fragmented painting according to the image (270) is implemented. In this step, chips or dusts which may result from the cutting operation are cleaned and the parts of the fragmented painting are stacked according to the image (1). Then, the step of applying mounting tapes to the painting (280) is implemented. Here, mounting tapes (10) are applied to the rear side of the fragmented painting (7). Thus, the fragmented painting (7) is turned into a final product. It is subjected to a packaging, shipment and notification step (290) to be delivered to the user (14). In this step, the fragmented painting (7) is cleaned, the parts thereof are stacked according to the image, and packaged and submitted to a logistics service (13) to be shipped to the user. With this step, the user (14) may be notified via messages before or during delivery, and thus the e-commerce cycle is completed. As a matter of course, the control of the production process is carried out by humans via the software which manages the computer system (2) and the e- commerce system.

Using the fragmented painting production method according to the present invention, any image of any model can be applied to any plate and put on the market accordingly. This system allows both to produce fragmented paintings (7) comprising 3, 5, 7, 10 or more parts, and to convert fragmented images (1) such as puzzles into a painting and use as a painting accordingly. This production method and fragmented paintings produced by this method are applicable in homes, offices, schools, and other dosed or open spaces.