Provided herein are methods and systems for the custom-printing of an item including, e.g., a) accepting customer request data for a workpiece and customer request data for a graphic design to cover at least a portion of the workpiece; b) accepting workpiece identifier data from a workpiece database based on the customer request data; c) accepting print design data from a print design database based on the customer request data for a graphic design; d) associating the print design data with the workpiece identifier data; e) printing the print design data onto a hydrofilm portion; f) placing the hydrofilm portion onto a fluid surface in a dip tank; g) applying an activator to the hydrofilm portion to yield an activated hydrofilm portion; and h) dipping the workpiece into the dip tank, whereby the activated hydrofilm portion is bonded to the workpiece as a result of the dipping.

The invention relates to a system and a method for manufacturing a medical package, in particular a foil bag made of plastic. A print image with variable information is first applied by means of a thermal transfer printer which is formed as a negative print image and comprises blank spaces. The blank spaces are filled by means of a hot stamp printing process.

The invention relates to a system and a method for manufacturing a medical package, in particular a foil bag made of plastic. A print image with variable information comprising blank spaces is first applied by means of a thermal transfer printer. The blank spaces are filled by means of a hot stamp printing process.

Provided are a film cartridge, a film unit, and a layer transfer device capable of restraining a supported layer including a transfer layer from being touched by an operator and restraining the supported layer remaining on the supporting layer remaining on a supporting layer from coming off. A film cartridge includes a supply reel on which a multilayer film including a supported layer with a transfer layer included therein and a supporting layer is wound, and a take-up reel on which to take up the multilayer film. The multilayer film is wound on a supply shaft in such a manner that the supported layer is in contact with the supply shaft, and the multilayer film is wound on the take-up shaft in such a manner that the supported layer is in contact with the take-up shaft.

A thermal transfer foil and also a process for producing a true color image, and a true color image, wherein the thermal transfer foil includes at least one effect pigment layer and a carrier foil which has first effect pigments in one or more first regions.

There is described a sheet-fed stamping press (10*) comprising a foil application unit (2*) designed to allow transfer or lamination of foil material onto successive sheets (S), which foil material is fed to the foil application unit (2*) in the form of a foil carrier (FC) supplied by means of a foil feeding system (3). The foil application unit (2*) comprises a stamping cylinder (21) with at least one circumferential stamping section (210) provided on a circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and comprising successive stamping segments (211*; 211**) distributed one after the other about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21), the stamping cylinder (21) also acting as sheet-transporting cylinder and comprising multiple sheet holding units (21a) distributed about the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and designed to hold successive sheets (S) against the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21). The foil application unit (2*) further comprises a plurality of counter-pressure units (25) distributed about a portion of the circumference of the stamping cylinder (21) and designed to press the successive sheets (S) and the foil carrier (FC) against an outer surface of the stamping segments (211*; 211**), the foil carrier (FC) being supplied by the foil feeding system (3) between the sheets (S) and the stamping segments (211*; 211**). Each counter-pressure unit (25) is designed as a cylinder unit (250, 255) provided with at least one circumferential pressing element (255) positioned to cooperate with the circumferential stamping section (210) of the stamping cylinder (21), and the counter-pressure units (25) are driven into rotation by means of at least one dedicated drive (26).

Described herein is/are cold foil adhesive methods for manufacturing temporary tattoo laminate devices, wherein the tattoos incorporate metallic foil and other decorative components. The methods provide a surprisingly rapid and efficient method for creating tattoo laminate devices which provide crisp, clear multi-color images temporary tattoos for the skin. The methods described herein provide a way to produce, in an offset printing press or flexographic printing press, numerous tattoo laminate devices at very high speeds, with unlimited colors, and crisp, clear images.

The present invention provides a foil applicator assembly for a screen printing press having a support arm extending along a first line. The assembly has a carriage having a leading edge and a trailing edge and is mounted for reciprocating translational motion along the first line. A press roller is mounted to the carriage and has a first axis of rotation generally orthogonal to the first line. A film supply roller is mounted proximate the press by a member that is stationary with respect to the carriage and provides a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation and has a first outer surface. A film guide member is mounted on the carriage and is spaced from the press roller along the first line.

Provided are a film cartridge, a film unit, and a layer transfer device capable of restraining a supported layer including a transfer layer from being touched by an operator and restraining the supported layer remaining on the supporting layer remaining on a supporting layer from coming off. A film cartridge includes a supply reel on which a multilayer film including a supported layer with a transfer layer included therein and a supporting layer is wound, and a take-up reel on which to take up the multilayer film. The multilayer film is wound on a supply shaft in such a manner that the supported layer is in contact with the supply shaft, and the multilayer film is wound on the take-up shaft in such a manner that the supported layer is in contact with the take-up shaft.

A thermal transfer foil and also a process for producing a true color image, and a true color image, wherein the thermal transfer foil includes at least one effect pigment layer and a carrier foil which has first effect pigments in one or more first regions.