SIMULATED COLOR IMAGING USING ONLY TWO DIFFERENT COLORANTS/TONERS

Simulated color imaging using gray level patterns produced from two differently colored materials by employing fine patterns of dots. The dots blend with the background and yield a gray or colored appearance when seen from a distance. The imaging process utilizes ink pattern designs in conjunction with registered two-color imaging to thereby form simulated color images. Digital information representing two sets of gray-level producing patterns, set A for color A and set B for color B, is electronically stored in computer memory. The patterns in set B are complementary to those of set A. An apparent or simulated color image is produced by overlaying, combining or juxtapositioning a pattern from set A with a complementary pattern from set B, the combined image being subsequently rendered visible using two different colorants. A gray level pattern is produced for each elemental area of an original image.