A photocurable composition can comprise a polymerizable material and an initiator. The polymerizable material can include at least one first multi-functional monomer containing an allyloxymethyl methacrylate structure in an amount at least 5 wt % and not greater than 20 wt % based on the polymerizable material. The photocurable composition can be suitable for use in inkjet adaptive planarization and may be adapted to form cured layers having a glass transition temperature of at least 120° C.

A method for manufacturing decorative surfaces includes the steps of a) inkjet printing a color pattern on a paper substrate with one or more aqueous inkjet inks of an aqueous inkjet ink set; and thereafter b) impregnating the paper substrate with a thermosetting resin, wherein the aqueous inkjet ink set includes a cyan aqueous inkjet ink containing a copper phthalocyanine pigment; a red aqueous inkjet ink containing a pigment C.I Pigment Red 254 or a mixed crystal thereof; a yellow aqueous inkjet ink containing a pigment C.I Pigment Yellow 151 or a mixed crystal thereof; and a black aqueous inkjet ink containing a carbon black pigment; with the proviso that the aqueous inkjet inks do not include a polymer latex binder; and that the paper substrate includes one or more ink receiving layers for improving the image quality of the aqueous inkjet inks jetted thereon.

A dye discharge composition exhibiting extended shelf life and/or pot life and high suitability for inkjet printing on dyed substrates, is disclosed. The composition comprises a reducing agent such as, for example, a sulfur-based reducing agent, and a chelating agent, such as a sodium salt of a polyamino carboxylic acid chelating agent. Use of the dye discharge composition in combination with a translucent colored composition and an optional opaque underbase composition, for forming an image on a dyed substrate is also disclosed. Processes for inkjet printing of an image on a dyed surface using the dye discharge composition, kits for use in such processes or an ink formulation containing same are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the invention take advantage of the change in gloss caused by overprinting a printed image with clear ink. Embodiments of the invention thus implement gloss control functionality in a printer without the requirements of a pin and cure or other known systems.

A method of manufacturing an embossing element for decorative surfaces includes the steps of: a) UV curable inkjet printing a decorative pattern on a metallic surface; and b) forming a relief by etching metal from the metallic surface.

In an embodiment a method includes providing a workpiece, attaching a marking to the workpiece such that the marking is integrally bonded to the workpiece, wherein attaching the marking includes applying at least one raw material for the marking, heating the workpiece with the at least one raw material such that the marking is formed from the at least one raw material and performing a surface treatment of the workpiece at least in an area with the marking, wherein performing the surface treatment includes shot peening, sand blasting or material-removing etching against which the marking is resistant to, wherein the marking remains readable on the workpiece at least until after performing the surface treatment, and wherein the marking has, in at least a part of a near ultraviolet, a visible and/or a near-infrared spectral range relative to the workpiece, at least one of a degree of reflection difference, a reflectance difference or an albedo difference of at least 10 percentage points.

A composition for forming a patterned thin metal film on a substrate is presented. The composition includes metal cations; and at least one solvent, wherein the patterned thin metal film is adhered to a surface of the substrate upon exposure of the at least metal cations to a low-energy plasma.

A system for applying a coating composition is provided herein. The system includes a first high transfer efficiency applicator defining a first nozzle orifice and a second high transfer efficiency applicator defining a second nozzle orifice. The system further includes a reservoir. The system further includes a substrate defining a first target area and a second target area. The first high transfer efficiency applicator and the second high transfer efficiency applicator are configured to receive the coating composition from the reservoir and configured to expel the coating composition through the first nozzle orifice to the first target area of the substrate and to expel the coating composition through the second nozzle orifice to the second target area of the substrate.

Provided is an image forming method including a step of imagewisely applying, onto a base material by an inkjet method, at least two inks containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, a chiral compound, and a polymerization initiator and having reflection wavelengths different from each other, such that the total application amount of the inks provides an image area ratio of 50% or more in an image forming region.

Provided are an active energy ray-curable ink including a photopolymerization initiator including a compound represented by Formula (1) and at least one of a monomer A composed of a photopolymerizable monomer having a molecular weight of 400 or more or a monomer B composed of a photopolymerizable monomer having a molecular weight of 130 or more and less than 400, and an image recording method. L.sup.1 represents an organic group having 20 or less carbon atoms and a valence of n, and n represents an integer of 3 to 8. AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, and m represents an integer of 0 to 15. L.sup.2 represents a single bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or —NR.sup.11—. R.sup.11 represents a substituent. X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and n R.sup.1's and n R.sup.2's each independently represent a substituent.

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