2.5D印刷為紙張帶來豐富紋理

✪世新大學馬亞靜同學 翻譯

想像一個沒有顏色和陽光的世界，但對於世界各地的許多視障人士來說，這便是他們的日常生活。為了能夠成為社會的一份子，他們通常會需要一些輔助。尤其是在教育方面，視力欠缺是一個嚴重的障礙。卡西歐（CASIO）公司已經研發出了全新的2.5D印刷技術來應對這一挑戰。

是的，你沒聽錯。繼2D和3D印刷後，2.5D印刷已經成為印刷工業的新夥伴。日本卡西歐公司設計了一款介於普通印刷工藝和新3D印刷技術之間印刷裝置。這種裝置旨在提供教育材料，特別是針對視障人士的觸感學習和製圖，以及動態圖形。

儘管2.5D印刷機看上去似乎和普通噴墨打印機一樣，但在用紙上卻有些許特殊。這種紙基本上由多層不同的材料構成；其中包含了一層可以受熱延展的塑料膜片，其目的在於產生紋理。印刷機利用黑色墨水來吸附高溫，在一些區域使用更多的黑色墨水可以增加紋理效果，這也意味著需要施加更大熱能。在暴露於90攝氏度高溫的鹵素燈下後，紙張可以增加至2毫米厚。

日本的電子產品製造商宣稱，2.5D印刷有著廣泛的應用可能。他們主要著眼於視障人士的教育問題。這種印刷機不僅能打印高質量的盲文，還可以用來製作觸感圖像。這種寶貴的附加功能讓視障學校的孩子們得以感受到人體解剖結構或動物的形狀，也可以用來展示數學圖形和商業圖表。

這項新技術已經於近日在日本公布，但2.5D印刷機卻暫未上市。欲了解更多有關卡西歐的信息請點擊此處。

在2D、2.5D、3D、甚至4D之后，我们会迎来什么？印刷技術又有哪些侷限性？除了在視障人士的教育領域，2.5D印刷還有哪些應用可能？您可以通過下面的聯繫方式告訴我們！

2.5D Printing Brings Rich Texture on Paper

Imagine a world without colors or sunlight. For many visually impaired people around the world this is everyday life. Mostly they need assistance in order to be able to be a part of society. Especially in education, the lack of sight can be a great hindrance. CASIO has developed a brand new 2.5D printer which tackles this challenge.

Yes, you heard right. After 2D and 3D printing, 2.5D printing is the newest companion in printing industry. The Japanese company Casio designed a printing mechanism that falls right in between a regular painting process and new 3D printing technologies. It is aimed to provide education material, especially for the blind, tactile learning and mapping as well as dynamic graphics.

Even though the 2.5D printers look almost like regular ink printers, the paper used is somewhat special. Basically consists of several layers of different material; one containing plastic capsules that expand when heated up. The printer uses heat absorbing black ink on areas that are supposed to have a texture later. More black ink on certain areas means a greater embodiment of heat which increases the textural effect. After being exposed to 90 centigrade under a halogen lamp, the paper can rise up to 2 millimeter.

The Japanese electronics manufacturer proclaimed that a broad variety of applications are possible for 2.5D printing. Their main focus lays on education for visually impaired people. Not only can the printer produce high quality Braille text but it can also be used to print tactile images. This valuable addition makes it possible for blind school children to experience the shapes and forms of human anatomy or animals or to showcase mathematical graphs and business charts.

This new technology has been presented to the public recently in Japan but the 2.5D printers are not marketable yet. For more information on Casio’s invention click here.

What comes after 2D, 2.5D, 3D and even 4D? Are there limitations in print technology? And how can 2.5D printing be used besides in education for visually impaired people? Let us know in a comment below！