Provided is a method for applying an ink for applying an oil-based ink to a resin composition layer of a target including a base and the resin composition layer formed over a surface of the base, the method including: a pretreatment step of pre-treating the target before the oil-based ink is applied, with at least one surface treatment for improving a wetting/spreading property of the oil-based ink; a step of applying the oil-based ink to the target that has undergone the pretreatment step; and a post-treatment step of post-treating the target after the oil-based ink is applied, with at least one surface treatment for improving a wetting/spreading property of the oil-based ink.

Provided is a method for applying an ink for applying an oil-based ink to a resin composition layer of a target including a base and the resin composition layer formed over a surface of the base, the method including: a pretreatment step of pre-treating the target before the oil-based ink is applied, with at least one surface treatment for improving a wetting/spreading property of the oil-based ink; a step of applying the oil-based ink to the target that has undergone the pretreatment step; and a post-treatment step of post-treating the target after the oil-based ink is applied, with at least one surface treatment for improving a wetting/spreading property of the oil-based ink.

A method for producing a foamed body includes: forming a foamed layer precursor including applying a coating liquid onto a base to form a liquid film and applying an ink onto the liquid film by an inkjet method, where the coating liquid contains a foaming agent and an active energy ray curable material having a radical-polymerizable functional group, the active energy ray curable material contains a multifunctional active energy ray curable material having two or more radical-polymerizable functional groups, and the ink contains a foaming accelerator having a radical-polymerizable functional group; and foaming a desired position of the foamed layer precursor by heating to form a foamed layer. A functional group equivalent of the radical-polymerizable functional group in the foaming accelerator is greater than a functional group equivalent of the radical-polymerizable functional group in the active energy ray curable material.

A concave and convex pattern forming apparatus, includes a pattern forming unit that forms a pattern with a transparent infrared absorbing material on a surface of a foam body that is foamed by heating; and an irradiation unit that irradiates, with infrared rays, the surface having a pattern formed by the pattern forming unit.

Provided is a printed matter producing method including a foaming liquid layer forming step of applying a foaming agent-containing composition, which contains: a foaming agent; and a polymerizable compound containing a multifunctional monomer, over a print target, to form a foaming liquid layer, a defoaming agent applying step of applying a defoaming agent containing a polymerizable compound selectively over the foaming liquid layer, a defoaming agent curing step of curing the defoaming agent applied, a foaming step of heating the foaming liquid layer after the defoaming agent curing step to foam the foaming liquid layer, and a curing step of performing curing by electron beam irradiation after the foaming step.

Provided is a printed matter producing method including a foaming liquid layer forming step of applying a foaming agent-containing composition, which contains: a foaming agent; and a polymerizable compound containing a multifunctional monomer, over a print target, to form a foaming liquid layer, a defoaming agent applying step of applying a defoaming agent containing a polymerizable compound selectively over the foaming liquid layer, a defoaming agent curing step of curing the defoaming agent applied, a foaming step of heating the foaming liquid layer after the defoaming agent curing step to foam the foaming liquid layer, and a curing step of performing curing by electron beam irradiation after the foaming step.

A method of manufacturing a water-insoluble pattern on and/or within a substrate is described. Also described, is a substrate obtained by such a method, a product including such a substrate and the use of the substrate in different applications.

Provided is a method for coating inks, the method including coating a plurality of kinds of inks on a target by an inkjet method individually, wherein the target includes a base and a gel layer provided on the base and containing a vinyl chloride resin and a plasticizer, wherein the plurality of kinds of inks are oil-based inks and include an ink x and an ink y that is to be discharged after the ink x is discharged, and wherein an interpenetration ratio Pxy of the inky to the ink x is 7.0% or greater but 13.0% or less.

Provided is a method for coating inks, the method including coating a plurality of kinds of inks on a target by an inkjet method individually, wherein the target includes a base and a gel layer provided on the base and containing a vinyl chloride resin and a plasticizer, wherein the plurality of kinds of inks are oil-based inks and include an ink x and an ink y that is to be discharged after the ink x is discharged, and wherein an interpenetration ratio Pxy of the inky to the ink x is 7.0% or greater but 13.0% or less.

Provided is printed matter producing method including: forming a foamable layer containing a foaming agent; applying a defoaming agent to a predetermined region of the foamable layer to bring the defoaming agent into contact with the foamable layer; forming an ink receiving layer over the foamable layer to which the defoaming agent is applied; acquiring image data and shape data representing a shape of a bossed-recessed region of the foamable layer after foamed, and generating print data assigning a greater amount of an ink to a portion in the image data corresponding to an inclined portion of the bossed-recessed region based on the shape data; applying an ink over the ink receiving layer based on the print data to form an image; and applying energy to the foamable layer to form bosses and recesses.