BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the enhancement of 2D artwork by the creation and addition of a 3D artwork enhancer .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Posters are often used to liven up a room or to advertise a product or service. Flat, 2D posters have limited eye-appeal so professional advertising displays often try to enhance a 2D presentation with 3D effects. These can be difficult or expensive to prepare, making them unsuitable for novelty posters in the home. What is needed is a simple method for enhancing a 2D poster in 3D that will still be of

professional quality but also be quick and cheap enough to produce that it is suitable for novelty posters.

[0003] Greetings cards, calendars and other typically 2D artworks would also benefit from being enhanced with 3D effects .

[0004] The present invention provides a kit for making a 3D enhanced artwork, the kit comprising: a 2D artwork; and an artwork enhancer comprising a 2D net having a plurality of panels and a plurality of tabs, the 2D net being assemblable such that the panels form a 3D surface and the tabs extend from an edge of the 3D surface; wherein the artwork enhancer is attachable to the 2D artwork by passing the tabs through corresponding holes in the 2D artwork to make the 3D enhanced artwork .

[0005] The present invention also provides a kit for making a 3D enhanced artwork, the kit comprising: a 2D artwork comprising an image; and a 2D net comprising a plurality of panels, the panels printed with a modified portion of the image; wherein the 2D net is assemblable to form a 3D surface having the modified portion of the image on it, the 3D surface being attachable to the 2D artwork to make the 3D enhanced artwork .

[0006] Optionally, the 2D net comprises a plurality of tabs, the tabs capable of interlocking to lock the assembled 3D surface together.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for making a 3D enhanced artwork, comprising: selecting a 2D image for a 2D artwork and printing a 2D artwork

comprising the image; selecting a portion of the 2D image and creating a 3D model of the selected portion of the image formed from a plurality of panels and using the selected portion of the image as a texture for the 3D model; creating a 2D net of the 3D model; and assembling the 2D net into a 3D surface and attaching the 3D surface to the 2D artwork to create the 3D enhanced artwork.

[0008] Embodiments of the invention provide an enhanced artwork (such as a poster) having a 2D image and a special 3D "pop-out" zone. The enhanced artwork may be aimed at children and the home market, with images of popular children's characters. Enhanced posters may also be aimed at cinemas or digital media stores with images are of their products. The enhanced artwork, comprising the 2D artwork and the 2D net, can be packaged flat or rolled up into a tube for delivery and assembly at the desired location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates 2D artwork;

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates 2D net for an artwork enhancer;

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates the 2D net folded to create a 3D shape;

[0013] Figure 4 illustrates the 3D shape attached to the artwork;

[0014] Figure 5 illustrates a 2D net for an artwork enhancer in more detail;

[0015] Figure 6 illustrates a 3D frame; and

[0016] Figure 7 illustrates 2D net for a 3D frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Embodiments of the invention relates to artwork having two sections which are assembled to create a single enhanced artwork. One application is in the creation of enhanced 3D posters. The described embodiments focus on this application as an example. The application to other artworks such as greetings cards, calendars and novelty items is also possible .

[0018] The first section of the enhanced 3D poster is a 2D poster 10 as illustrated in Figure 1. The 2D poster 10 may be any size or shape and may have any desired image on it.

[0019] The second section of the enhanced poster is an artwork enhancer comprising a 2D net or map 20 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. The net 20 is made of either a single piece or multiple pieces of paper, card or other suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. Preferably the material is elastic such that, after bending, it has a natural tendency to spring back to being flat. The net 20 comprises a set of panels 30 having tabs 40. The net 20 can be assembled or shaped, e.g. by bending the panels and/or folding and bending along lines 35 between the panels 30, to form a 3D surface 50, as illustrated in Figure 3.

[0020] Generally speaking, 2D nets are assembled to form a 3D surface by bending and/or folding the 2D net. The resulting 3D surface 50 is optionally held together by providing

additional tabs (not shown) between the panels 30. Any such additional tabs preferably interlock with each other so that the locking mechanism is invisible from the front and avoiding the use of adhesives such as glue or adhesive tape.

[0021] When the net is assembled, the 3D surface 50 is preferably unbroken to create the appearance of a solid 3D object bounded by an outer edge. The outer edge lies within a single plane so that the edge can be placed flat against the surface of the 2D poster. The tabs 40 extend from the outer edge of the 3D surface 50.

[0022] The assembled artwork enhancer 50 is then attached to the 2D poster 10 to form an enhanced poster, as illustrated in Figure 4. The tabs 40 point backwards from the 3D surface and engage with corresponding holes 60 in the 2D poster 10. Each tab 40 has a rounded shape, comprising a narrow portion where it connects to a panel 30 and a wider tab portion.

Similarly, each hole 60 has a wider portion for receiving the wider tab portion of the corresponding tab 40 and a narrow portion that is narrower than the tab portion, but wider than the narrow portion of the tab 40. The holes 60 are aligned such that, once the tabs 40 are inserted into the holes 60, the natural spring (i.e., elastic forces) in the 3D surface pushes each tab 40 into the narrow portion of the

corresponding hole 60. This enables the tabs 40 to interlock with the poster 10 and to hold the shape of the 3D surface 50 together. In this way, the artwork enhancer 50 is both held in its 3D shape and secured in place on the 2D poster 10 without having to use adhesives. However, adhesives may be used to strengthen the attachment if desired.

[0023] The panels 30 on the 2D net 20 are printed with a portion of the image from the 2D poster 10. The portion of the image is adjusted so that, when the net 20 is assembled to form the 3D surface 50, the 3D surface presents a 3D version of the image. In this way, the enhanced poster provides an eye-catching three dimensionally enhanced version of the 2D poster 10.

[0024] Creating the 2D net 20 can be done in many different ways. One preferred technique is to first select a 2D image that will be used for the 2D poster 10. A section of the image that is suitable for enhancing in 3D is selected. Using any suitable computer software, e.g. a 3D CAD program, the section of the image is converted into a 3D model formed from a plurality of flat panels. The section of the image is

modified, e.g. by stretching and cutting, to map or fit onto the 3D model to provide a texture and to give the appearance of a 3D object.

[0025] Suitable computer software is then used to design the 2D net 20, with suitably located tabs 40 and holes, from the 3D model. The 2D net 20 can then be manufactured from a suitable material and the section of the image digitally printed onto the panels 30. The poster 10 is also digitally printed with the image and holes 60 cut into the required places. Optionally, to save ink, the region (s) of the 2D poster that are to be covered by the 3D artwork enhancer need not be printed. However, printing the full image helps give visual cues for assembling the 3D artwork enhancer and ensures that the 2D poster is eye-catching even before assembly.

[0026] Once assembled, the enhanced 3D artwork can be mounted on a wall or used as desired. For wall mounted

artworks, particularly posters, the tabs 40 emerging from the back of the artwork may prevent the artwork from lying flat against the wall. The tabs can be folded out of the way, but another solution is to provide a 3D frame 100 around the 2D image or poster 10, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

[0027] Figure 6 shows the 3D frame from the rear 100. The 3D frame 100 comprises a plurality of 3D box shapes around and behind the 2D poster that define a 3D volume for containing the tabs 40 of the 3D artwork enhancer 50. The frame spaces the back of the poster away from a wall or other mounting surface to provide room for the tabs 40. The frame also makes the assembled enhanced artwork is sturdier.

[0028] As illustrated in Figure 7, the 3D frame is

assemblable from a 2D net comprising the 2D poster 10 and a set of foldable elements 110. The foldable elements 110 are foldable to form the 3D box shapes and optionally lock

together without the use of adhesives. Holes 120 in the foldable elements 110 can receive hooks or other hanging means when the frame is assembled for mounting the enhanced artwork.