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.

There is disclosed a print construction comprising: (a) a printing substrate having an image-receiving surface; (b) a receptive layer, at least partially covering said image-receiving surface, and having a particle reception surface distally disposed to said image-receiving surface, said receptive layer optionally having a thickness of at least 1000 nanometer (nm); and (c) a plurality of individual particles adhered to said particle reception surface, and forming a monolayer thereon, the features of which are described herein.

There is disclosed a print construction comprising: (a) a printing substrate having an image-receiving surface; (b) a receptive layer, at least partially covering said image-receiving surface, and having a particle reception surface distally disposed to said image-receiving surface, said receptive layer optionally having a thickness of at least 1000 nanometer (nm); and (c) a plurality of individual particles adhered to said particle reception surface, and forming a monolayer thereon, the features of which are described herein.

A decoration made from a plurality of colored objects arranged in a regular pattern on a colored substrate, individual colored objects discernable at arm's length, with the decoration recognizable at greater distance as corresponding to a digital image. The colored objects may be pushpins, and no colored objects are placed at positions where the substrate color is the desired color. Embodiments also include an apparatus to select a single pushpin from a container of pushpins, and an apparatus to orient a pushpin in preparation for insertion into the substrate.

A decoration made from a plurality of colored objects arranged in a regular pattern on a colored substrate, individual colored objects discernable at arm's length, with the decoration recognizable at greater distance as corresponding to a digital image. The colored objects may be pushpins, and no colored objects are placed at positions where the substrate color is the desired color. Embodiments also include an apparatus to select a single pushpin from a container of pushpins, and an apparatus to orient a pushpin in preparation for insertion into the substrate.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparatus and method for creating pixelated artwork composed of coloring element pixels. In some embodiments, a system converts the millions of pixels and colors of a digital image to a simplified color template with numbers assigned to particular colors. In one embodiment, a plastic grid is configured to cover the color template and receives crayons whose arrangement is determined by the numbers/colors of the color template.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparatus and method for creating pixelated artwork composed of coloring element pixels. In some embodiments, a system converts the millions of pixels and colors of a digital image to a simplified color template with numbers assigned to particular colors. In one embodiment, a plastic grid is configured to cover the color template and receives crayons whose arrangement is determined by the numbers/colors of the color template.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to an apparatus and method for creating pixelated artwork composed of coloring element pixels. In some embodiments, a system converts the millions of pixels and colors of a digital image to a simplified color template with numbers assigned to particular colors. In one embodiment, a plastic grid is configured to cover the color template and receives crayons whose arrangement is determined by the numbers/colors of the color template.

A method of making pre-grouted mosaic panels, wherein each panel (1) is formed from a plurality of mosaic tiles (2) each having a upper surface (4) and a lower surface (5), the tiles (2) being laid over a substantially horizontal support base (S) in mutually spaced positions, to define a plurality of grooves (3). The method includes a step of placing a first thermoformable polymeric sheet element (10) on the upper (4) and lower (5) surfaces of the mosaic tiles (2) and a later step of thermoforming the first sheet element (10) for the latter to at least partially fill the grooves (3) when it is thermoformed. A pre-grouted mosaic panel that can be obtained by such method.

A method of making pre-grouted mosaic panels, wherein each panel (1) is formed from a plurality of mosaic tiles (2) each having a upper surface (4) and a lower surface (5), the tiles (2) being laid over a substantially horizontal support base (S) in mutually spaced positions, to define a plurality of grooves (3). The method includes a step of placing a first thermoformable polymeric sheet element (10) on the upper (4) and lower (5) surfaces of the mosaic tiles (2) and a later step of thermoforming the first sheet element (10) for the latter to at least partially fill the grooves (3) when it is thermoformed. A pre-grouted mosaic panel that can be obtained by such method.