A surface treatment liquid composition for a substrate is provided. The surface treatment liquid composition includes a water-soluble salt, water, and a resin particle including a resin having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

where R.sub.1 represents —COO—; each of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of from 5 to 100.

A method of inkjet printing a colour image including a metallic or pearlescent colour includes the steps of applying on part of an ink receiver a layer containing a pearlescent or metallic pigment having a volume mean particle size of at least 3.0 μm as measured by laser diffraction; and inkjet printing on part of the layer containing the pearlescent or metallic pigment a layer with a white inkjet ink containing a white pigment having an average particle size between 250 and 400 nm as measured by differential centrifugal sedimentation.

An ink set where a droplet of ink is ejected in an amount of not less than 100 pL and not more than 5,000 pL. The ink set includes at least two inks including an ink A and an ink B and the ink set satisfies conditions 1 to 3 as measured, on a surface of a solid image with a 100% print duty which is printed on a polyester film using the ink A and the ink B, respectively, with respect to coordinates (L*.sub.A, a*.sub.A, b*.sub.A) of the ink A and coordinates (L*.sub.B, a*.sub.B, b*.sub.B) of the ink B in CIE L*a*b* color space.

Embodiments of the invention relate to edible ink formulations comprising a fluorophore (e.g. riboflavin phosphate), articles of manufacture (e.g. an ink-jet cartridge containing any edible ink formulation(s) disclosed herein), methods for printing on a edible substrates (e.g. food or beverage) using any edible ink formulation(s) disclosed herein. Methods for manufacturing the edible ink formulation are also provided.

A solvent type curable ink for ink-jet printing obtained by dissolving or dispersing, in a volatile organic solvent, polyesterpolyol having a molecular weight of not more than 8000, a hydroxyl value (KOH mg/g) of 17 to 50 and a glass transition point (Tg) of not higher than 70° C., and blocked polyisocyanate. The ink is capable of forming ink-jet-printed image on the surfaces of various kinds of formed articles without burring and maintaining close adhesion upon being heated at a low temperature for a short period of time.

An image forming method includes: preparing a fabric to which an aggregating agent is attached; applying an aqueous ink containing a pigment, a first resin, and water onto the fabric to which the aggregating agent is attached; and applying a coating liquid containing a second resin and water onto the applied aqueous ink, wherein the second resin is aggregated by the aggregating agent, a content of the second resin in the coating liquid is smaller than a content of the first resin in the aqueous ink, and an amount of the coating liquid attached to the fabric is larger than an amount of the aqueous ink attached to the fabric.

An ink contains water, a coloring material, a resin, two or more types of organic solvents, and a surfactant, wherein the ink is horizontally discharged to a substrate.

A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the first surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate prior to the second portion of the at least one stretchable ink being deposited on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

A base plate for supporting a plurality of interlocking building bricks includes a planar sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of nodes projecting from the top surface. The plurality of nodes includes a node having a vertical cylindrical wall and a horizontal top wall, the vertical cylindrical wall tapering along its vertical height; the node also having a bevel extending around a circumference of the node at an edge where the vertical cylindrical wall transitions to the horizontal top wall. A method of assembling a composite base plate includes securing two component base plates to one another via a common backing material. A method of printing on a base plate includes applying ultraviolet ink to at least the top surface of the base plate from an ultraviolet light printer, the base plate having a plurality of studs or nodes projecting from the top surface.