A method and apparatus for forming an optical device are described. The optical device is formed by depositing a plurality of ink drops on a surface of a substrate. The plurality of ink drops are contained within a chemical stopper, such that the chemical stopper surrounds each individual ink drop. The chemical stopper is configured to reduce reflow of the ink drops and is a fraction of the height of each of the ink drops. The ink drops are baked after being deposited within the chemical stoppers as liquid ink drops.

A method for printing on at least partially transparent containers, wherein, in a first printing step, a first printing image is printed onto the container by the application of at least one printing ink, and wherein, in a second printing step, a second printing image is printed onto the container by the application of at least one printing ink, wherein the printing images are printed at least partially covering one another, and specifically in such a way that ink layers are applied in a temporal offset sequence onto the container, wherein a first ink layer is allocated to the first printing image and a second ink layer is allocated to the second printing image, and that between the first and second printing image a reflection layer is at least partially provided, by means of which the printing images are at least partially optically separated from one another.

The invention concerns a method and/or a system for personalizing substrates and/or preparing substrates before gold-plating. In particular, the invention consists of a printing method comprising a step in which the substrate is subjected to inkjet printing followed by a gold-plating step in which the regions of the substrate to be gold-plated are brought into contact with the gold-plating leaf, characterized by an additional step performed prior to the gold-plating step and which consists in the preparation of the substrate.

An inkjet printing method is provided. A smear-free printed matter superior in glossiness can be obtained. The inkjet printing method includes: a second ink layer forming step of discharging a second ink on a first ink layer formed on a recording medium and drying the discharged second ink, and a third ink layer forming step of discharging a third ink on the second ink layer and drying the discharged third ink. A drying time during the second ink layer forming step is shorter than a drying time during the third ink layer forming step.

A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

There are provided a printing method and a printing apparatus for increasing visibility and printed matter printed using the printing method. The printing apparatus sprays a light-absorbing composition to form a light-absorbing layer on a print medium, and then sprays a color-variable composition on the light-absorbing layer to form a color-variable layer.

A method for producing a multi-layered absorbent article is disclosed. At least two of the layers include a colored region.

The present invention provides a process for manufacturing a decorative article, typically in the form of a sheet or web, by providing the substrate with a pore pattern layer which is then dried using a first energy curable water-based ink or coating composition which is essentially free of a curing or cross-linking agent and contains a repellant and subsequently applying a topcoat layer over the pore pattern layer using a second energy curable water-based ink or coating composition which is also essentially free of a curing or cross-linking agent.

A nonaqueous inkjet printing method that can provide prints with both high printing density and good gradation is provided. The nonaqueous inkjet printing method comprises printing an image by an inkjet recording system using a first nonaqueous ink comprising at least a coloring pigment, a water-soluble resin having an amino group, and a nonaqueous solvent, and then printing an image so as to overlap with the preceding image by an inkjet recording system using a second nonaqueous ink, wherein the second nonaqueous ink comprises at least a coloring pigment, inorganic particles, and a nonaqueous solvent, and the content of the coloring pigment in the second nonaqueous ink is lower than the content of the coloring pigment in the first nonaqueous ink. The first nonaqueous ink is preferably printed at a higher resolution of printing than the second nonaqueous ink.

An inkjet printing apparatus and a method of making gratings are provided. The inkjet printing apparatus comprises a base; a platform provided on the base configured to carry a substrate to be processed to linearly move in a first direction on the surface of the base; and a printhead assembly provided above the platform, wherein the printhead assembly includes a printhead support and a plurality of printheads provided on a side of the printhead support facing the platform, each of the plurality of printheads is provided with a nozzle, and the printhead assembly can move linearly in the first direction. The present invention is adaptable to using inkjet printing technology to make gratings.