A method of producing a recorded matter including a stereoscopic image includes applying, onto a recording medium including a foamable layer, a first liquid composition containing a foam promoting or preventing component, and applying, onto the recording medium, a second liquid composition that does not contain the foam promoting or preventing component and the coloring material. A region to which the ink has been applied includes a first region and a second region in which amounts of ink applied are different, and a total of volatile solvents contained in the first liquid composition, the ink and the second liquid composition, which have been applied to the first region, is 95% by mass or more to 105% by mass or less with respect to a total of volatile solvents contained in the first liquid composition, the ink and the second liquid composition, which have been applied to the second region.

A printed matter exhibiting metallic gloss is provided and includes: a substrate; and a metallic glossy layer, being formed on the substrate, and the metallic glossy layer containing scaly particles having a metal. In the metallic glossy layer, the scaly particles are oriented to be substantially parallel to a surface of the metallic glossy layer; and the surface of the metallic glossy layer has a DOI value of greater than or equal to 20% and a Sa value of less than or equal to 2 μm.

A first pattern P1 is formed with a first material for converting electromagnetic wave energy into heat energy, on a first surface BS of a print medium M including an expansion layer M2 that expands by heating. A second pattern P2 for expanding the expansion layer M2 to complement expansion of the expansion layer M2 by the first pattern P1 is formed with a second material for converting electromagnetic wave energy into heat energy, on a second surface FS which is an opposite surface of the print medium

M to the first surface BS and is closer to the expansion layer M2 than the first surface BS. The first material forming the first pattern P1 is irradiated with electromagnetic waves from the first surface BS. The second material forming the second pattern P2 is irradiated with electromagnetic waves from the second surface FS.

Provided is a compound that is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized, and is not significantly colored.

Provided is a photoresponsive compound represented by the following general formula (1), the photoresponsive compound being fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized:

R.sub.1—Z.sub.1═Z.sub.2—R.sub.2  General formula (1) wherein Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are N or CH, while Z.sub.1≠Z.sub.2, R.sub.1 contains an aromatic hydrocarbon structure, R.sub.2 contains an aromatic heterocyclic structure, and a hydrogen atom is bonded to at least one carbon atom bonded adjacent to a carbon atom in the aromatic heterocyclic structure bonded to the Z.sub.2.

This image recording apparatus includes a viscosity increasing light irradiator that increases the viscosity of ink ejected onto a recording medium, and a fixing light irradiator that fixes the ink on the recording medium. The fixing light irradiator is disposed behind a first switching part that causes the transport orientation of the recording medium to approach the vertical. This reduces the footprint of the image recording apparatus. Also a second type of irradiation light emitted from the fixing light irradiator is intercepted by the recording medium. This suppresses the unwanted curing of the ink in an image recorder. Also the viscosity increasing light irradiator is disposed at a location upstream from the first switching part in a transport direction. This suppresses the decrease in printing quality resulting from the passage of the ink remaining uncured through the first switching part.

Inkjet printing on a plastic card using a radiation curable ink is described herein. After the ink is applied to the card surface (i.e. the printed surface), radiation, such as UV radiation, is directed onto a non-printed surface of the card (for example, a perimeter side edge surface and/or a surface of the plastic card opposite the printed surface the radiation curable ink is applied to) in order to at least partially cure any of the applied ink that may have flowed onto or that may otherwise be disposed on the non-printed surface. This prevents contamination of a drive mechanism used to transport the plastic card via the perimeter side edge surfaces or via the opposite surface prior to full curing of the ink applied to the printed surface.

A system and method for applying an overcoat to a printed image on a substrate generally includes a radiative source that transmits electromagnetic radiation within a predefined wavelength range to the printed image on the substrate to be absorbed by the printed image and heat the printed image to a predetermined temperature range, a depositing device that deposits an overcoating powder onto the heated printed image, the overcoating powder having a melting point within the predetermined range such that upon deposition thereof, the overcoating powder adheres and/or melts onto the heated printed image, and a residual powder removing device that removes any residual overcoating powder not adhered to the printed image or the substrate.

A liquid supply device includes a first storage unit that stores a first liquid, a second storage unit that stores a second liquid separately from the first liquid, the second liquid containing an infrared absorbing agent, a mixing unit that mixes the first liquid and the second liquid to generate a mixture, and a supply unit that supplies the mixture to an outside of the liquid supply device.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a drying unit, and circuitry. The liquid discharge head performs a liquid discharge operation that includes discharging liquid onto a medium. The drying unit radiates heat to dry the liquid adhering to the medium. The circuitry moves the liquid discharge head. Further, the circuitry changes a drying target position on the medium after the liquid discharge head performs the liquid discharge operation. The drying target position is an area where the heat from the drying unit reaches.

A medium, a container, an object-holding container, a marking, device, and a method of manufacturing the container. The medium includes an image of design, and the design includes a light color portion and a dark color portion, the light color portion including a light reflecting layer, and the dark color portion including a light attenuation layer The container includes a laser beam source to emit a laser beam, a forming unit to make the laser beam perform marking on a container that has transparency and is colorless or colored, and an adjuster to adjust a marking condition according to information about a to-lie-contained object stored in the container. The method includes irradiating the container with a laser beam to form a light reflecting layer and a light attenuation layer, and the light reflecting layer and the light attenuation layer includes an aggregate of microstructures.