A method is provided for manufacturing panels having a substrate and a decorative top layer that may include a printed motif and a transparent or translucent protective layer formed there above. The method may involve providing the substrate including the printed motif. A first finishing layer may be applied for forming a first portion of the protective layer. Recesses may be formed at a surface of the first finishing layer. A second finishing layer may be applied on top of the first finishing layer for forming a second portion of the protective layer. Recesses may be formed at a surface of the second finishing layer.

A vehicle panel arrangement that has a first appearance during the daylight but is capable of being backlight in a dark environment causing the badge to have a second appearance as light is transmitted through micro-apertures formed through the vehicle panel arrangement. The vehicle panel arrangement is such that the micro-apertures a not visible in the first appearance due to their small size, which is created using laser ablation, screen printing or digital printing techniques.

A timepiece dial including a base having a first region having a coating film provided at the surface of the base, a second region where laser light is radiated to the first region to remove the coating film, and a third region, in part of the first region, where the coating film is penetrated and the base is dug down, and the surface roughness of the third region is smaller than the surface roughness of the second region.

Described herein a heat transfer label comprising a support portion comprising a release layer having a first side and a second side and a first carrier at least partially disposed on the first side of the release layer; and a transfer portion comprising a engravable first ink layer having a first side and a second side; and an adhesive layer having a first side and a second side, wherein a graphic design is engraved on the first ink layer using the laser light after the heat transfer label is at least partially bonded onto a substrate. Also described herein are methods of laser engraving a heat transfer label comprising at least partially bonding the heat transfer label described herein onto a substrate; and at least partially laser engraving the ink layer.

Described herein a heat transfer label comprising a support portion comprising a release layer having a first side and a second side and a first carrier at least partially disposed on the first side of the release layer; and a transfer portion comprising a engravable first ink layer having a first side and a second side; and an adhesive layer having a first side and a second side, wherein a graphic design is engraved on the first ink layer using the laser light after the heat transfer label is at least partially bonded onto a substrate. Also described herein are methods of laser engraving a heat transfer label comprising at least partially bonding the heat transfer label described herein onto a substrate; and at least partially laser engraving the ink layer.

A method for decorating a substrate which includes the succession of the following steps: provide the substrate; deposit a layer of a sacrificial material over a surface of the substrate; structure the sacrificial material layer so as to create in this sacrificial material layer a plurality of cavities to form a decorative or technical pattern; eliminate the sacrificial material layer except at the location where the pattern is provided.

A method for manufacturing an item (1) comprising a through-decoration (2) forming a so-called backlit plique--jour enamel, the method including obtaining a blank (5); removing part of the blank (5) from the inner face (5b) of the blank (5) to produce a decoration (2a) that does not pass through to the outer face (5a); depositing, from the inner face (5b), one or more layers of enamel (3) within the non-through decoration (2a); depositing, from the inner face (5b), a layer of luminescent material (4) on the enamel (3); depositing a protective layer (6) on the layer of luminescent material (4); and machining the outer face (5a) to reveal the enamel. Also, the related item.

A decorative component includes a plurality of metal finish layers deposited over a substrate and a plurality of sub-layers. The outermost metal finish layer is selectively deposited or removed to define one or more recesses to create different appearances of the component. The outer metal layer may undergo laser ablation to remove at least a portion of the outer layer while still exposing the outer layer in the area of removed material. The recess may extend fully through the outer layer to expose the underlying metal finish layer, and/or the recess may have a sloped bottom surface to define a gradient appearance. The outer layer may be applied over a mask that is applied to the underlying layer, such that the outer layer is selectively applied. The outer layer may be removed to expose the underlying finish layer without exposing a nickel sublayer and without requiring a top coat.

A method for manufacturing a structure on a surface of a workpiece (1) is disclosed, the method having the following steps: applying a liquid base layer (2) onto the surface of the workpiece (1); spraying on at least one droplet (3) into the not yet congealed base layer (2), wherein the at least one droplet (3) at least partially, preferably completely, penetrates into the base layer (2); fixing the base layer (2); and at least partially removing the at least one droplet (3).

Further, a second method having the following steps is disclosed: spraying on at least one droplet (3) onto the surface of the workpiece (1); applying a liquid base layer (2) onto the surface of the workpiece (1), wherein the base layer (2) flows around the at least one droplet (3) and preferably at least partially covers the at least one droplet (3); fixing the base layer (2); at least partially removing the at least one droplet (3).

Finally, a device for performing the methods is disclosed.

A method for laser treatment of a horology component (10) including an operation for treating a surface of the horology component (10) inscribed in an orthonormal XYZ coordinate system, in which a laser (20) is controlled to emit a laser beam (21) and to move a focal point (210) of the laser beam (21) in order to impact a surface to be treated (100) on the horology component (10) in response to control instructions from a computer program, in order to follow a scanning strategy including a plurality of paths (31), each having a component in a Z direction and a component in at least one of the X or Y directions, the scanning strategy being defined such that the energy density emitted by the laser beam (21) varies over the entire surface to be treated (100).