A method for introducing a reflective and/or diffractive metallic variable and/or non-variable image to a substrate by use of thermal transfer printing includes simultaneously transferring a defined portion of each of a protective coating layer, a metal layer, and an adhesive layer from a carrier film of a transfer ribbon to the substrate by applying heat to the transfer ribbon. The defined portions of the metal layer and the protective coating layer are adhered to the substrate using the adhesive layer. Subsequent to transferring the protective coating layer, the metal layer, and the adhesive layer, durability is provided to the metal layer by cross-linking the protective coating layer that is over the metal layer by exposing the protective coating layer to a radiation source after the defined portions of the protective coating layer, the metal layer, and the adhesive layer are transferred from the carrier film.

A sparkling fabric includes: a fabric substrate; and a tri-layer adhered to the fabric substrate. The tri-layer includes: an adhesive layer that adheres the tri-layer to the fabric substrate; an exposed design layer; and a metal plating layer between the exposed design layer and the adhesive layer. The tri-layer is distributed as a plurality of separable and identifiable tri-layer pieces across the fabric substrate such that the distribution of tri-layer pieces has a density on the order of 15-25 pieces per centimeter squared (pcs/cm2) and a size of a piece is less than 1 millimeter (mm).

Embodiments include a cap or hat decoration method by providing a press including a lower platen and upper platen, and coupling a pad to the lower platen, where the pad is dimensioned based on one or more dimensions of the cap or hat, and positioning the cap or hat onto at least a portion of the pad. Further, the method includes positioning at least one decoration onto at least a portion of the cap or hat, where the at least one decoration includes a heat-activated adhesive, and heating and compressing the decoration onto the cap or hat by compressing the cap or hat and decoration between the lower platen and upper platen.

An in-mold label includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. When the in-mold label is molded on to, or into, a plastic product, the first surface faces outward with respect to the plastic product and the second surfaces faces inward with respect to the plastic product. The substrate includes a full graphics area on the second surface. Ink is applied in the full graphics area to provide a full graphics image. To facilitate the molding process, each of the substrate and the ink having a complementary property to a property of the plastic product.

A method for producing a polymeric vehicle add-on part having a decorative element is presented. According to one aspect, the method includes provision of a first polymeric material phase and transfer of a decorative element from a carrier film onto a first surface of the first polymeric material phase by hot stamping using a punch. A second polymeric material phase is then applied on the first surface of the first polymeric material phase so to arrange the decorative element between the first polymeric material phase and the second polymeric material phase. According to another aspect, the first polymeric material phase or the second polymeric material phase is transparent.

The device for hot stamping a part of a vehicle body is provided. The device includes a strip including a carrier film and a decorative film; at least one motorized arm capable of moving; at least one head mounted movably in rotation on one end of the arm, the head comprising pressure means capable of applying pressure on the strip; and means for unwinding the strip in front of the head.

The invention provides a method for enhancing printed products (3), wherein the method comprises partially coating a substrate (2) with a varnish (4) on one side (20) such that there are at least one coated area (22) and at least one uncoated area (21) on the side (20). Subsequently, a foil (6) is applied to the side (20) that is coated with the varnish (4) and is adhesively bonded to the substrate (2), wherein the foil (6) is designed so as to adhere to the material of the substrate, but not to the varnish (4), so that the adhesive bonding of the foil (6) occurs selectively in the at least one uncoated area (21). Following the adhesive bonding, the foil (6) is severed along the dividing line (23) between the coated and uncoated areas (21, 22), so that a substrate (2) is obtained which has at least one area (22) of a side (20) coated with varnish (4), and an adjoining area (21) not coated with the varnish (4), wherein a foil (6) is adhesively bonded to the substrate in the area not coated with the varnish (4), with the edge (60) of the foil adjoining the area (22) coated with varnish (4).

A hot-stamping foil which is transferred to a transfer target by applying a transfer thermal pressure, including: a carrier that is a base film or a coated base film; a laminated optical decoration having a laminated optical structure formed on the carrier; a sinking control layer which contains a soft resin and a deformation limiting agent and is formed on the laminated optical structure; and an adhesive layer which is formed on the sinking control layer, wherein the adhesive layer contains a resin component which contains a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature lower than room temperature and defines the thickness of the adhesive layer, and spacer particles which have a particle size larger than the thickness of the adhesive layer and some of which protrude from the resin component, and wherein the spacer particles sink into the sinking control layer after transfer thermal pressing.

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.

Proposed are a pigment-type hot stamping foil, a method of manufacturing the same, and a hot-stamped member including the pigment-type hot stamping foil. The pigment-type hot stamping foil includes a carrier film layer, a release layer formed on a lower surface of the carrier film layer, a pigment-type colored coloring layer formed on a lower surface of the release layer, a pigment-type white coloring layer formed on a lower surface of the pigment-type colored coloring layer, a primer layer formed on a lower surface of the pigment-type white coloring layer, a metal deposition layer formed on a lower surface of the primer layer, and an adhesive layer formed on a surface of the metal deposition layer.