A method for providing a textured surface finish to a substrate includes providing an image having a contrast ratio; altering the image to increase the contrast ratio; determining an engraving profile for an ink transfer tool based on the contrast ratio of the image; etching the ink transfer tool in accordance with the engraving profile; coating the ink transfer tool with an ink; transferring the ink from the ink transfer tool to a substrate; applying a top coat to the substrate while the ink is set; and curing the ink and top coat on the substrate in an oven. The etching creates a plurality of wells in the ink transfer tool for holding the ink. The engraving profile is not identical to the altered image.

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 first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

A method for inkjet printing glass to have a metallic appearance by an inkjet process is disclosed herein. It comprises the following steps of cleaning and drying a glass to be inkjet printed; inkjet printing an ink bottom layer on a surface of the glass and a metallic ink layer on the ink bottom layer; and inkjet printing a transparent protective ink layer on the metallic ink layer.

A can curing oven including a housing assembly, a transfer assembly, and a number of heating units. The housing assembly defines a generally enclosed space. The transfer assembly is structured to support and move a number of can bodies. The transfer assembly includes an elongated transfer belt. The transfer belt is movably coupled to the housing assembly and is structured to move through the housing assembly enclosed space. The number of heating units are structured to generate an effective amount of received heat.

A method for producing a decorative surface having different gloss levels preferably comprising the following steps: (C) feeding of a workpiece (1.0), which is coated with at least a first lacquer layer (1.4) to a digital printing station; (D) provision of digital control data for the digital printing station; (E) digital spraying of droplets on partial areas of the first lacquer layer (1.4) on the workpiece (1.0) with an at least partially transparent lacquer in order to apply a second lacquer layer (1.5) on the first lacquer layer (1.4), wherein after curing the second lacquer layer (1.5) has a different gloss level than the first lacquer layer (1.4).

Further disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out this method.

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 first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

The inventions relates to a method for producing a decorative workpiece with a structured surface comprising the following steps: (B) applying a first liquid lacquer having a coarse structuring over the entire surface, wherein a difference in thickness between thicker regions and thinner regions is at least 50 m, in particular at least 100 m; (E) applying a second liquid, at least partially transparent lacquer for producing a fine structuring in some regions.

Furthermore, an apparatus for performing the method and a workpiece produced by the method are claimed.

A method for producing a decorative and structured surface with different gloss levels is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: feeding of a workpiece (1.0) to a lacquer application device, application of a first liquid lacquer layer (1.4) over the entire surface with a coarse structure in which a difference in thickness between thicker areas and thinner areas is at least 50 m, in particular at least 100 m, in particular digital spraying of droplets on partial areas of the first lacquer layer (1.4) on the workpiece (1.0), preferably with an, at least partially transparent, lacquer in order to apply a second lacquer layer (1.5) on the first lacquer layer (1.4), wherein after curing the second lacquer layer (1.5) has a different gloss level than the first lacquer layer (1.4).

Further disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention.

In one example, a system for a partially dried inkjet media conditioner includes a partially dried Inkjet media conditioner, including: a first connector to couple a first end of the conditioner to a printing device, a second connector to couple a second end of the conditioner to a finishing device, and a constrained path extending through the conditioner to receive partially dried inkjet media from the printing device and provide the partially dried Inkjet media to the finishing device.

A method for producing a decorative surface on a workpiece (1) is disclosed, the method comprising the following steps: - feeding (S10) of the workpiece (1) coated with a liquid layer (2) to a digital printing station; - application (S12) of an agent capable of at least partially absorbing electromagnetic radiation, at least on a partial area of the surface of the liquid layer (2), or which, in contact with the surface, produces a reaction product which is capable of at least partially absorbing electromagnetic radiation; - irradiation (S14) of the surface of the liquid layer (2) and of the agent with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of less than 300 nm, preferably less than 250 nm, particularly preferably less than 200 nm. Furthermore, an apparatus (1) for carrying out this method is disclosed.