Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system includes a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

An offset printing method is provided that, while using an ink with a viscosity that allows for printing of a print image on a printing plate by an ink-jet process, enables a precise print image to be transferred from the printing plate to a print medium by use of a printing blanket. The offset printing method includes a printing-plate making step of printing an inked image on a printing plate by an ink-jet process, an ink drying step of evaporating a solvent contained in the ink of the inked image to increase the viscosity of the ink, a transferring step of transferring the inked image to the surface of a printing blanket, and a printing step of pressing the printing blanket against a print medium.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. Three-dimensional articles have a surface having two or more portions that each have a radius of curvature that are at least partially separated by an intermediate portion that has a lesser radius of curvature. The transfer material may be pre-formed and transferred to the surface of the articles and may extend continuously across at least parts of the two portions and the intermediate portion.

Provided in one example herein is a method of printing. The method includes disposing onto a transfer paper an ink composition to form thereon an image, the ink composition including pigments and latex particulates. The method includes transferring the image from the imaged transfer paper onto a substrate comprising fabric by a lamination process. The lamination process includes: laminating together the substrate, the imaged transfer paper, and a release paper, whereby the image is transferred from the transfer paper onto the substrate.

Provided in one example herein is a method of printing. The method includes disposing onto a transfer paper an ink composition to form thereon an image, the ink composition including pigments and latex particulates. The method includes transferring the image from the imaged transfer paper onto a substrate comprising fabric by a lamination process. The lamination process includes: laminating together the substrate, the imaged transfer paper, and a release paper, whereby the image is transferred from the transfer paper onto the substrate.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein. Some embodiments relate to an aqueous treatment formulation for use with an intermediate transfer member of a printing system. In some embodiments, the system comprises a treatment station disposed downstream of the impression station and upstream of the image forming station for forming a uniform thin layer of a liquid treatment formulation onto a surface of an intermediate transfer member (ITM) at a lower run thereof.

A liquid absorbing apparatus for absorbing a liquid component from an ink image formed on a transfer member before transferring the ink image to a print medium includes a liquid absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid component, a support unit configured to support the liquid absorbing member to be movable cyclically, and at least one recovery unit arranged in a moving path of the liquid absorbing member and configured to recover liquid absorption performance of the liquid absorbing member.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

An apparatus and methods of monitoring and adjusting a decorator for metallic containers are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration on a predetermined portion of a metallic container body. The decorator includes a sensor that senses decorations on metallic containers. A control system receives information related to the sensed decorations from the sensor and then determines if the decorations at least meet predetermined color, density, thickness, orientation, and consistency targets. The control system can optionally automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically send a signal to the decorator to adjust the color, density, orientation, positioning, and consistency of decorations transferred to the metallic containers. In another embodiment, the control system can send a signal to adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a ductor roller a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.

An apparatus and methods of monitoring and adjusting a decorator for metallic containers are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration on a predetermined portion of a metallic container body. The decorator includes a sensor that senses decorations on metallic containers. A control system receives information related to the sensed decorations from the sensor and then determines if the decorations at least meet predetermined color, density, thickness, orientation, and consistency targets. The control system can optionally automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically send a signal to the decorator to adjust the color, density, orientation, positioning, and consistency of decorations transferred to the metallic containers. In another embodiment, the control system can send a signal to adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a ductor roller a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.