Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing patterns of materials, as for color printing. A support member (30) has groups of surface areas (40A,40B, etc.) with each surface area in a given group (e.g. 40A) facing generally in a direction different from that faced by the surface areas in any other group (e.g. 40B, etc.), and an energy-modifiable material (41A,41B, etc.) adjacent to the surface areas in each group. Energy (A,B,C) is directed onto the material adjacent to the surface areas in each group in such manner as to substantially modify some of the material without substantially modifying the material adjacent to the surface areas of the other groups. A receiver member (32) may be positioned with a surface (31) thereof adjacent to the groups of surface areas; and a substantial proportion either of the modified materials or of the remaining unmodified materials may be transferred to the receiver surface (31) to form the desired patterns thereon, or electromagnetic radiation (A,B,C) may be directed to the patterns formed by the modified materials and be modulated thereby to project images on the receiver surface (31).

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First Claim