Actinic radiation curable inks are selectively applied to flexible films which allow the transmission of actinic radiation and then are applied such that the side of the flexible films on which the curable inks are applied contact surfaces of three dimensional substrates. Actinic radiation is applied to the flexible films which cause the ink to cure on the three dimensional substrate. The flexible films are removed leaving the cured ink on the substrates.

A method of forming a metallic pattern on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying onto a metallic surface, a chemically surface-activating solution having an activating agent that chemically activates the metallic surface; non-impact printing an etch-resist ink on the activated surface to produce an etch resist mask according to a predetermined pattern, wherein at least one ink component within the etch-resist ink undergoes a chemical reaction with the activated metallic surface to immobilize droplets of the etch-resist ink when hitting the activated surface; performing an etching process to remove unmasked metallic portions that are not covered with the etch resist mask; and removing the etch-resist mask.

A device for structuring the surface of a metal pressed sheet or of an endless strip, comprising a support device adapted to support the metal pressed sheet or endless strip during structuring, and a spray head and a slideway adapted to permit movement of the spray head into a desired position within a plane defined by an X and a Y coordinate. The spray head is further adapted to move in a Z direction with reference to a work surface which is spanned by the X and Y direction, and the spray head is guided by means of a digitalized template that is identical to the printed image of an impregnated paper used in a further pressing process. Independent drive elements are connected to a control unit and configured to move the spray head into the desired position.

An image processing apparatus is provided for generating data used to form on a recording medium an uneven layer on which a plurality of unit areas each having a projection are arranged, including: a first obtaining unit that obtains first brightness information regarding a brightness of a predetermined area of an object observed in a first viewing direction and a brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a second viewing direction having an elevation angle different from that of the first viewing direction; and a first generation unit that generates first recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of recording material used to form the uneven layer on the recording medium, the uneven layer being formed such that at least one of a width of each of the unit areas and a height of the projection changes, on a basis of the first brightness information.

At least one embodiment of an image processing apparatus is provided for generating data used to form on a recording medium an uneven layer having a plurality of projections, including: a first obtaining unit that obtains first brightness information regarding a brightness of a predetermined area of an object observed in a first viewing direction and regarding a brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a second viewing direction, the second viewing direction having an azimuth angle different from an azimuth angle of the first viewing direction; and a first generation unit that generates first recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of recording material used to form the uneven layer on the recording medium, the uneven layer having the projections each having a base in a shape that changes, on a basis of the first brightness information.

Precision screen printing is described that is capable of sub-micron uniformity of the metallization materials that are printed on green sheet ceramic. In some examples, puck is formed with electrical traces by screen printing a paste that contains metal on a ceramic green sheet in a pattern of electrical traces and processing the printed green sheet to form a puck of a workpiece carrier. In some example, the printing includes applying a squeegee of a screen printer to the printed green sheet in a squeegeeing direction while the green sheet is on a printer bed of the screen printer. The method further includes mapping the printer bed at multiple locations along the squeegeeing direction, identifying non-uniformities in the printer bed mapping, and modifying a printer controller of the screen printer to compensate for mapped non-uniformities in the printer bed.

Precision screen printing is described that is capable of sub-micron uniformity of the metallization materials that are printed on green sheet ceramic. In some examples, puck is formed with electrical traces by screen printing a paste that contains metal on a ceramic green sheet in a pattern of electrical traces and processing the printed green sheet to form a puck of a workpiece carrier. In some example, the printing includes applying a squeegee of a screen printer to the printed green sheet in a squeegeeing direction while the green sheet is on a printer bed of the screen printer. The method further includes mapping the printer bed at multiple locations along the squeegeeing direction, identifying non-uniformities in the printer bed mapping, and modifying a printer controller of the screen printer to compensate for mapped non-uniformities in the printer bed.

A system or machine is disclosed which takes pre-stretched emulsion coated screens, digitally prints thereon and exposes them before further processing and use in a screen printing machine.

A system or machine is disclosed which takes pre-stretched emulsion coated screens, digitally prints thereon and exposes them before further processing and use in a screen printing machine.

A method of fabricating a thin film structure includes printing, using an electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing apparatus, a first layer comprising a first liquid ink, such that the first layer is supported by a substrate, curing the first layer; printing, using the e-jet printing apparatus, a second layer comprising a second liquid ink, such that the second layer is supported by the first layer, and curing the second layer.