A method and apparatus for thermal transfer printing onto selected regions of a substrate are disclosed. The method comprises: a) providing a transfer member having an imaging surface; b) coating the imaging surface with particles formed of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer; c) removing substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface; d) applying energy to selected regions of the imaging surface to heat and render tacky particles of corresponding regions of the monolayer coating; and e) pressing at least portions of the imaging surface and the substrate surface against one another, either during and/or after application of energy, to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of the particles of the corresponding regions that have been rendered tacky. The monolayer coating can be replenished with new particles and the cycle repeated.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

A method of indirect digital printing is disclosed herein. The method employs (i) first (e.g. transparent) and second aqueous ink components (comprising colorant particles) and (ii) a target surface (e.g. hydrophobic) of an intermediate transfer member (ITM). A quantity of first ink component is deposited (e.g. by ink-jetting) onto the target surface and partially dried to produce a partially-dried layer thereon. Droplets of the second ink component are deposited onto the partially-dried layer of first ink component to form a wet, colored ink-image. Upon deposition of the droplets of the second ink component, the colorant particles from the second component penetrate into the partially-dried layer of the first ink component. The wet, colored image is dried into a tacky ink-image-bearing residue film which is transferred to the substrate. Physical and/or chemical properties of the first and second ink components as provided by various embodiments are disclosed herein.

An aqueous treatment composition for ITM (Intermediate transfer member) of a printing system and a method of printing comprising the step of applying said treatment composition to the surface of an ITM, wherein said treatment composition comprising: at least 3% wt quaternary ammonium salt, at least 1% wt water soluble polymer, and at least 65% wt water. Also disclosed, a printing system comprising a an ITM and treatment station for forming a thin layer of liquid treatment formulation on the ITM surface.

The present invention relates to a preparation comprising a light stabilizer, its use for the production of a transfer medium, a process making the same, as well as a transfer medium and its use.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section. The image forming section includes a first toner image forming unit and a second toner image forming unit. The first toner image forming unit forms a sublimation toner image with use of a sublimation toner. The sublimation toner includes a sublimation dye. The second toner image forming unit forms a non-sublimation toner image with use of a non-sublimation toner. The non-sublimation toner does not include the sublimation dye. The image forming section transfers the non-sublimation toner image and the sublimation toner image in this order on a print medium and thereby causes a transfer region of the non-sublimation toner image and a transfer region of the sublimation toner image to be overlapped with each other.

A precoat liquid used in an intermediate-transfer image forming method in which an actinic radiation-curable ink and an intermediate transfer member are used, the precoat liquid being applied onto a surface of the intermediate transfer member before the actinic radiation-curable ink is applied onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member, includes a water-soluble organic solvent having two or more hydroxyl groups per molecule. The water-soluble organic solvent has a C value of more than 0.03, the C value being calculated using Expression (1).

Provided is a decorative building material and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a decorative building material which is manufactured by a simple process and has a print layer excellent in sharpness, realism, and stereoscopic effect as well as having a functional layer such as an impact absorbing property and a manufacturing method thereof. The method of manufacturing a decorative material includes the steps of: (S1) preparing a transfer film on which a pattern is printed; (S2) preparing a substrate comprising polyvinyl chloride resin, a white film comprising polyvinyl chloride resin, and a transparent film comprising polyvinyl chloride resin; (S3) laminating the white film, the transparent film, and the transfer film on the substrate in order and at the same time performing a heat treatment under pressure; and (S4) peeling off the transfer film.

There is disclosed a layered article that can be used in indirect printing, in analog or digital processes. The layered article, when configured as a transfer member, may serve to receive an ink in any form, allow the ink to be treated so as to form an ink image, and permit the application of the ink image on a substrate. The transfer member comprises a support layer and an imaging layer, which may be formed of a silicon matrix including dispersed carbon black particles. Methods for preparing the same are also disclosed.

An imaging blanket for variable data lithography. The imaging blanket comprises a substrate. A foam layer is disposed on the substrate. An elastomeric layer is disposed on the foam layer, the elastomeric layer comprising a silicone elastomer. The elastomeric layer has a Shore A hardness ranging from about 50 Shore A to about 100 Shore A.