Hydrographic sheets and dip and decorator activity-kits are provided. The dip and decorator activity-kits comprise one or more hydrographic sheet formed of a water-soluble film, having decoration art formed from a non-aqueous ink or dye disposed on at least one side of the sheet, and an instruction for imparting an artistic effect to the article using the one or more hydrographic sheets. The hydrographic sheet leaves floating decoration art upon dissolution in water and wherein the floating decoration art comprises a softened and at least partially solubilized water-soluble film with decoration art for adhering to an article.

A transfer sheet includes a base sheet and a transfer body. The transfer body includes a liquid-soluble adhesive layer and a liquid-insoluble sheet main body layer laminated on the liquid-soluble adhesive layer. The sheet main body layer includes a sticking layer adjacently laminated on the adhesive layer and a design layer adjacently laminated on the sticking layer. The sticking layer includes a protruding portion protruding outward beyond an end edge of the design layer. The protruding portion is transparent.

The present invention relates to a decal for producing a decoration, comprising a non-leafing pigment layer and a first protective layer, characterized in that the decal is designed so that the non-leafing pigment layer can be applied closer to a substrate that the first protective layer. Furthermore, the present invention describes a method for producing the decal as well as its use.

Provided are a water-soluble film that causes less deformation of the package during storage, while maintaining excellent solubility in water, and is capable of suppressing the occurrence of tears and the like, a production method thereof, and a package using the water-soluble film. A water-soluble film of the present invention includes a polyvinyl alcohol resin. The water-soluble film has an amount (A1) of crystalline component of 60% or less and an amount (A2) of constrained amorphous component from 10% to 50%, the amounts being obtained from a spin-spin relaxation curve by .sup.1H pulse NMR measurement of the water-soluble film in deuterated methanol. A ratio (A1/A2) of the amount (A1) of crystalline component to the amount (A2) of constrained amorphous component is preferably from 0.1 to 5.

The present invention provides a monolayer base film for hydraulic transfer printing that is excellent in water solubility and allows high resolution transfer printing without rupture even in high speed printing and a film for hydraulic transfer printing using the same. The present invention is a base film for hydraulic transfer printing comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, the base film forming a printing layer to be transferred to an article by hydraulic transfer printing. In this base film for hydraulic transfer printing, the base film for hydraulic transfer printing has an amount (A1) of crystalline component of 60% or less and an amount (A2) of constrained amorphous component from 10% to 50%, the amounts being obtained from a spin-spin relaxation curve by .sup.1H pulse NMR measurement of the base film in deuterated methanol, and a moisture content from 1 to 5 mass %.

A digitally printed, water-activated, peel-off and slide-on permanent transfer decal includes a base layer of gum-coated decal paper comprising a cornstarch and dextrose coating having a thickness of between approximately 10 microns to approximately 30 microns, a layer of lacquer over the cornstarch and dextrose coating of the base layer, and a full-color artwork comprising a digital, UV-LED-cured printing ink printed onto the lacquer layer to form a ready-decal sheet having a decal formed by the ink and the lacquer layer. The lacquer layer has a thickness of between approximately 150 microns and approximately 300 microns, is sandwiched between the cornstarch and dextrose coating and the ink, and is bonded to the ink. The decal is permanently bonded to a surface of an object comprising at least one of ceramic, metal, stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, acrylic, wood, and glass.

A method for decorating a surface, in order to apply a predefined image to a destination surface, includes the steps of a) preparing a base sheet, which contains an adhesive, b) reproducing the predefined image on the base sheet, c) applying a backing film to the predefined image, and d) covering the backing film with an additional stiffening film, which is adapted to increase the rigidity of the predefined image and/or of the backing film.

The method further includes the steps of e) wetting the decal, in order to allow the transfer of the adhesive toward the predefined image, f) applying the decal to the destination surface, by bringing the base sheet into contact with the destination surface, g) sliding away the base sheet, while keeping the predefined image positioned on the surface, and h) removing the backing film and the film.

A method for producing a decal with at least one decoration includes: providing a transfer paper, printing, by means of inkjet printing, a primer onto the transfer paper and/or onto a stamping film having a carrier ply and a decorative ply, and applying, at least in areas, the stamping film to the transfer paper by means of hot or cold stamping. A decal includes a transfer paper and a decoration that can be separated from the transfer paper, wherein the decoration has a primer printed by means of inkjet, a decorative ply of a stamping film and optionally an ink and/or ink layer printed by means of inkjet and/or a protective varnish printed by means of inkjet. A device for producing a decal and a method for decorating surfaces of object, in particular three-dimensional objects.

A transfer sheet includes a base sheet and a transfer body. The transfer body includes a liquid-soluble adhesive layer and a liquid-insoluble sheet main body layer laminated on the liquid-soluble adhesive layer. The sheet main body layer includes a sticking layer adjacently laminated on the adhesive layer and a design layer adjacently laminated on the sticking layer. The sticking layer includes a protruding portion protruding outward beyond an end edge of the design layer. The protruding portion is transparent.

An environmentally friendly water transfer printing method is provided that includes applying water-based primer to a surface of a subject; using a water transfer printing membrane including a modified water-based ink multi-color printing pattern, so that a water-soluble film of the water transfer printing membrane absorbs water and dissolves to swell the modified water-based ink, and the water-based primer is combined with the modified water-based ink to make the surface of the object attach a pattern. The environmentally friendly water transfer printing method and a corresponding surface structure of a component uses modified water-based ink in the water transfer printing membrane during the water transfer printing. No activator, which is a mixed solvent of multiple solvents or multiple mixed solvents, is used during the method, so there is no VOC discharge.