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).

A method of forming an array of microimage elements that vary in their material composition is provided. The method comprises: applying a first region of a layer of a first material to a surface of a first material carrier; applying a second region of a layer of a second material, different from the first material, to a surface of a second material carrier; blending together the first and second regions of the layers of first and second material such that a blended region of the layers of first and second material exhibits a gradual change in relative concentration of the first and second materials along a first direction, the step of blending together the first and second regions of the layers of first and second material comprising bringing a first blending surface into contact with the first material on the surface of the first material carrier and moving the first blending surface relative to the surface of the first material carrier along a direction corresponding to the first direction to spread the layer of first material along the direction corresponding to the first direction, and bringing a second blending surface into contact with the second material on the second material carrier and moving the second blending surface relative to the surface of the second material carrier along a direction corresponding to the first direction to spread the layer of second material along the direction corresponding to the first direction; bringing the blended layers of first and second material in the blended region into contact with a patterned material carrier, the surface of the patterned material carrier defining a pattern corresponding to the array of microimage elements, the patterned material carrier selectively removing the first and second material in at least the blended region in accordance with the pattern; and transferring the blended layers of first and second material defining the array of microimage elements on to a support layer.

A coiled metal substrate with a faux galvanized surface appearance. The faux galvanized surface of the substrate including a spangle print pattern of polyvinylidene fluoride (PFDV) flexographically applied to the metal substrate. Atop the PFDV print pattern is semi-transparent coating of fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) flexographically applied atop the spangle print pattern of PFDV.

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.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink formulation applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein.

Provided are an ink jet image forming method and an ink jet image forming apparatus in which a complex elastic modulus (Pa) before an intermediate image comes into contact with a liquid absorbing member is 4.0 or more in the common logarithm, and a complex elastic modulus (Pa) before the intermediate image comes into contact with the recording medium is 7.0 or less in the common logarithm.

A printing system is disclosed for thermal transfer printing onto a surface of a substrate. The system comprises a transfer member having opposite front and rear sides with 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 energy is applied by a thermal print head via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the imaging surface to render particles coating the selected regions tacky, and a transfer station at which the imaging surface of the transfer member and the substrate surface are pressed against each other to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of the particles that have been rendered tacky.

A printing system is disclosed for thermal transfer printing onto a surface of a substrate. The system comprises a transfer member having opposite front and rear sides with 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 energy is applied by a thermal print head via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the imaging surface to render particles coating the selected regions tacky, and a transfer station at which the imaging surface of the transfer member and the substrate surface are pressed against each other to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of the particles that have been rendered tacky.

A printing system is disclosed which comprises a writing module, and a member having an imaging surface configured to carry a polymer and movable relative to the writing module. The writing module is configured to direct onto the imaging surface a plurality of individually controllable light beams that are spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the imaging surface, incidence of a light beam on a spot on the imaging surface serving to soften or liquefy the polymer carried by the imaging surface at the spot. The polymer softened or liquefied at the spot can transfer to a substrate or serve as an adhesive on the imaging surface. The writing module comprises a plurality of integrated electronic modules each having an array of individually controllable light sources, each light source producing a respective one of the light beams. In the invention, each light source comprises at least two Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) light-emitting semiconductor junctions connected in series with one another and configured to direct light onto the imaging surface at the same spot as one another.

The present invention relates to a carrier film for transferring a microelement, wherein, when a microelement is pressurized, a uniform pressurizing force is provided to the entire microelement, and a damage to the microelement can be prevented. The carrier film for transferring a microelement comprises: a load control layer having a first elastic modulus and having a space formed in a part of the interior thereof; and an adhesive layer having a second elastic modulus that is smaller than the first elastic modulus, the adhesive layer being provided on the upper portion of the load control layer and configured such that a microelement supposed to be transferred to a target substrate is attached thereto. The load control layer has a first zero-rigidity area that maintains a first stress in a first deformation range from a first strain to a second strain.