An ink set which is used for sublimation transfer includes a first ink, and a second ink. The first ink has a color after transfer of |a*|10 and |b*|10 in a CIELAB color space, and contains a first disperse dye dispersed by a first dispersion resin. The second ink has a color after transfer of |a*|>10 or |b*|>10 in the CIELAB color space, and contains a second disperse dye dispersed by a second dispersion resin. A glass transition temperature of the first dispersion resin and is different than that of the second dispersion resin.

A sublimation transfer ink jet ink composition includes: a disperse dye; a dispersing resin; a silicone-based surfactant; and a solubilizer. The ink composition has a surface tension of 30 mN/m or less, and a cloud point of a mixture which includes all the components other than the disperse dye and the dispersing resin is 40 C. or more.

A sublimation transfer paper for sublimation transfer printing with water-based dye sublimation inks, comprising a fibrous substrate and at least one printable transfer layer, characterized in that the printable transfer layer comprises at least one polyurethane.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new polymer coating for low temperature plastics and plastic foams that allows for the application of disperse dyes in a sublimation process that preserves the original properties of the underlying plastic substrate. The composition includes an optically clear synthetic organic polymer base holding two layers, a first reflective layer supported by the low temperature plastic substrate that includes IR radiation reflecting additives, and a second layer supported by the first layer having light scattering particulate additives. The disperse dyes utilized in the invention may include additives to absorb IR radiation provided by an external IR source positioned above the disperse dyes causing the dyes to sublimate and diffuse quickly into the light scattering layer. The combination of these layers allows for diffusion of the disperse dye ink into the light scattering layer while protecting the low temperature plastic below.

An ink set which is used for sublimation transfer includes a first ink, and a second ink. The first ink has a color after transfer of |a*|10 and |b*|10 in a CIELAB color space, and contains a first disperse dye dispersed by a first dispersion resin. The second ink has a color after transfer of |a*|>10 or |b*|>10 in the CIELAB color space, and contains a second disperse dye dispersed by a second dispersion resin. A glass transition temperature of the first dispersion resin and is different than that of the second dispersion resin.

Transfer paper for transfer printing has an image formed on its surface with a water-based transfer-printing ink containing a pigment and a fixing resin ejected from an ink-jet recording device, and is then, with cloth laid over it, heated so that the image is transferred to the cloth. The transfer paper has a base layer and a surface layer. The surface layer is composed of a hydrophilic ink reception layer laid on the base layer and a releasing layer forming agent containing an emulsion of hydrophobic particles having their surface coated with a hydrophilic emulsifier.

A sublimation transfer ink jet ink composition includes: a disperse dye; a dispersing resin; a silicone-based surfactant; and a solubilizer. The ink composition has a surface tension of 30 mN/m or less, and a cloud point of a mixture which includes all the components other than the disperse dye and the dispersing resin is 40 C. or more.

A transfer-printing method includes a transfer paper preparing step, a transferring step, and a releasing step. The transfer paper preparing step involves forming an image using transfer-printing ink containing a pigment and a fixing resin by ejecting the ink onto a transfer paper base and then drying at a temperature lower than the cross-linking temperature of the fixing resin to obtain transfer paper. The transferring step involves transferring the image formed on the transfer paper to cloth by pressing, while heating at a temperature higher than the cross-linking temperature of the fixing resin. The releasing step involves releasing the transfer paper from the cloth having the image fixed to it. The layer thickness of the ink layer formed on the transfer paper base is 50 nm to 500 nm, and, in the transferring step, the ink layer is transferred in the form of film to the surface of the cloth.

A thermal indicia transfer comprises a fixing layer between a carrier sheet and a printed ink layer. The ink comprises plastic particles, a solvent, an indicia additive, a dispersing agent, and optionally a binder. The fixing layer is coated onto the carrier sheet and cured. The ink layer is printed onto the fixing layer where the plastic particles are held in place by the tackiness and structure of the fixing layer. The printed ink layer is dried at a temperature high enough to remove the solvent from the ink layer, but low enough to prevent melting of the plastic particles.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material from a transfer component 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 embodiments, the method may utilize a printer such as an inkjet printer. In some cases, the transfer material may be a UV curable ink and/or adhesive. When the transfer material is UV curable, the transfer component may be permeable to UV radiation to allow curing of the ink and/or adhesive therethrough. UV curable adhesives including thiol-acrylate and thiol-ene acrylate inkjet-able adhesives are disclosed.