A method and alignment system for minimizing errors in the deposition of films of tailored thickness. A first position on a stage is identified for optimal placement of a downward looking microscope (DLM) and an upward looking microscope (ULM) when alignment marks on the DLM and ULM are aligned, where the DLM is attached to a bridge and the ULM is attached to the stage. A second position on the stage is identified when the ULM on the stage is aligned with the alignment marks on a metrology tool. A surface of a chucked substrate affixed to the stage is then measured. A map between a substrate coordinate system and a metrology coordinate system may then be obtained using the measured surface of the chucked substrate with the first and second positions.

A method and alignment system for minimizing errors in the deposition of films of tailored thickness. A first position on a stage is identified for optimal placement of a downward looking microscope (DLM) and an upward looking microscope (ULM) when alignment marks on the DLM and ULM are aligned, where the DLM is attached to a bridge and the ULM is attached to the stage. A second position on the stage is identified when the ULM on the stage is aligned with the alignment marks on a metrology tool. A surface of a chucked substrate affixed to the stage is then measured. A map between a substrate coordinate system and a metrology coordinate system may then be obtained using the measured surface of the chucked substrate with the first and second positions.

Systems for applying low viscosity print coating to a web product using a coating roller and an off-press system are provided herein. An example system includes an unwinding station and a winding station. A motor causes the web product to travel along a web path. A coating roller applies a low viscosity print coating to a first side of the web product at a first position along the web path. The low viscosity print coating comprises a salt solution with a centipoise that is less than or equal to 100 centipoise that is configured to enhance printability. A backing roller applies a backing coating to a second, opposite side of the web product at a second, different position along the web path. The backing coating enhances sheet stability of the web product. A drying station dries the low viscosity print coating and the backing coating to remove moisture.

An apparatus and methods for using coatings for metal applications are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an article comprises a cured polymeric film having a first reaction product of a cationic photoinitiator and a compound suitable for cationic polymerization. The article has a second reaction product of a free-radical photoinitiator and a compound suitable for free-radical polymerization; The article has a metal substrate, wherein the cured polymeric film coats the metal substrate.

An apparatus and methods for using coatings for metal applications are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an article comprises a cured polymeric film having a first reaction product of a cationic photoinitiator and a compound suitable for cationic polymerization. The article has a second reaction product of a free-radical photoinitiator and a compound suitable for free-radical polymerization; The article has a metal substrate, wherein the cured polymeric film coats the metal substrate.

A thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the second ratio is lower than the first ratio.

Compositions for and methods of digitally printing an ink image onto a woven textile material are provided. A base application is applied to the surface of a woven textile material, especially one comprising synthetic resin fibers prior to application of an ink image layer. The base application comprises an acrylic latex material that is formulated to be printed on with a digital ink while still wet, thereby eliminating the need for an intermediate drying cycle in between base application deposit and printing of the ink image.

Compositions for and methods of digitally printing an ink image onto a woven textile material are provided. A base application is applied to the surface of a woven textile material, especially one comprising synthetic resin fibers prior to application of an ink image layer. The base application comprises an acrylic latex material that is formulated to be printed on with a digital ink while still wet, thereby eliminating the need for an intermediate drying cycle in between base application deposit and printing of the ink image.

A method for preparing a printable substrate having a showthrough value of about 0.14 or less, and an opacity value of at least about 88% which includes a paper substrate with a first and second surfaces formed of paper fibers having a basis weight of from about 12 to about 32 lbs/1300 ft.sup.2, and a substrate filler in an amount in the range of from 0 to about 30% by weight of the paper substrate; and a surface size layer on at least one of the first and second surfaces, the surface size layer having about 50 lbs or less per ton of the paper substrate of a starch surface sizing agent and a multivalent metal salt drying agent in an amount sufficient to impart to the at least one of the first and second surfaces a black print density value of at least about 0.8 when inkjet printed with pigmented inks and a waterfastness value of at least about 85% when inkjet printed with dye-based inks, the printable substrate having a MD tensile strength of at least about 12 lbs/in. and a CD tensile strength of at least about 6 lbs/in.

A recording medium, including: an ink-receiving layer configured to receive an ink for inkjet recording; and a transparent sheet having a total luminous transmittance of 50% or more, wherein the recoding medium has a layered structure in which the transparent sheet and the ink-receiving layer are sequentially stacked, and the ink-receiving layer includes a gap-absorption-type ink-receiving layer including a composition including at least inorganic fine particles and polyvinyl alcohol having a weight-average polymerization degree of 2,000 or more and 5,000 or less and a saponification degree of 70 mol % or more and 90 mol % or less.