Aspects of the present disclosure relate to color compositions and methods of making a printed layer using the color composition as well as an article that can include the printed layer.

An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the surface, so as to leave only a substantially single particle layer adhering to the surface on exiting the apparatus.

A method for creating controlled scattering effects including (a) disposing at least one curable ink layer onto a substrate in an imagewise fashion or in a continuous film fashion; (b) applying a first cure to partially cure the ink layer (a); (c) disposing at least one scattering material onto the ink layer (a); and (d) applying a second cure to fully cure the ink layer (a); wherein the first cure and the second cure are applied in a manner to control the disposition of the scattering material on top of and penetration into the curable ink layer to control surface and subsurface scattering properties.

The present invention relates to a method for producing water-insoluble quantum dot patterns on and/or within a substrate. The method comprises a step of depositing a deliquescent salt, quantum dots and an acid or salt thereof onto at least one surface region of a substrate such that the deliquescent salt, the quantum dots and the acid or salt thereof are at least partially contacted to form said at least one water-insoluble pattern.

The present invention relates to method of manufacturing a tamper-proof medium for thermal printing, wherein a liquid treatment composition comprising at least one acid is deposited on a substrate which comprises a thermochromic coating layer comprising at least one halochromic leuco dye.

A leuco dye pastel marking device for use with a substrate treated with an activator of the leuco dye, such that drawing upon the substrate will reveal a color, but drawing on a normal surface will have no visible effect. A solvent such as dimethyl adipate is used to store the leuco dye in a longer-lived, more stable, solid form, and varying hardnesses and consistencies may be achieved by the addition of 12 hydroxystearic acid and ethyl cellulose. The substrate may be treated selectively with the activator such that a texture, image, or hidden message is revealed by the application of the leuco dye pastel to the substrate. One or more substrates and one or more leuco dye pastel marking devices may be presented to a child as a coloring book with pastels that only visibly mark the coloring book and no other surface.

The present invention relates to a method for creating a hidden pattern on a substrate, wherein a liquid treatment composition comprising at least one acid is deposited by inkjet printing onto a substrate, which comprises at least one external surface comprising a salifiable alkaline or alkaline earth compound.

A method for producing an electrically conductive thin film on a substrate is disclosed. Initially, a reducible metal compound and a reducing agent are dispersed in a liquid. The dispersion is then deposited on a substrate as a thin film. The thin film along with the substrate is subsequently exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic emission to chemically react with the reducible metal compound and the reducing agent such that the thin film becomes electrically conductive.

A leuco dye pastel marking device for use with a substrate treated with an activator of the leuco dye, such that drawing upon the substrate will reveal a color, but drawing on a normal surface will have no visible effect. A solvent such as dimethyl adipate is used to store the leuco dye in a longer-lived, more stable, solid form, and varying hardnesses and consistencies may be achieved by the addition of 12 hydroxystearic acid and ethyl cellulose. The substrate may be treated selectively with the activator such that a texture, image, or hidden message is revealed by the application of the leuco dye pastel to the substrate. One or more substrates and one or more leuco dye pastel marking devices may be presented to a child as a coloring book with pastels that only visibly mark the coloring book and no other surface.

An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.