A retransfer printing method and system where the peel-off of the print receptive material from the retransfer film is improved. The peeling-off or removal of the print receptive material from the retransfer film is improved by adhering the peel-off adhesive material to the print receptive material along a non-straight, non-linear leading edge and/or a non-straight, non-linear trailing edge along which the print receptive material is to be removed from the retransfer film. The use of the non-straight, non-linear leading edge and/or trailing edge helps to manage mechanical and thermal stresses and eliminates tears that may occur in the ribbon when the print receptive material is peeled from the retransfer film by the ribbon.

A retransfer printing method and system where the peel-off of the print receptive material from the retransfer film is improved. The peeling-off or removal of the print receptive material from the retransfer film is improved by adhering the peel-off adhesive material to the print receptive material along a non-straight, non-linear leading edge and/or a non-straight, non-linear trailing edge along which the print receptive material is to be removed from the retransfer film. The use of the non-straight, non-linear leading edge and/or trailing edge helps to manage mechanical and thermal stresses and eliminates tears that may occur in the ribbon when the print receptive material is peeled from the retransfer film by the ribbon.

A tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210) including a body (11, 111, 211) and two spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) and a tape drive apparatus which is operable to transfer tape between spools (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) supported on the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), characterised in that a position of at least one of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) relative to the body (11, 111, 211) is adjustable; and a method of operating such a tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210), including controlling the rotation of each of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) to enable tape to be transferred from one spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on a respective spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), to another spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on the other spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), and controlling a drive mechanism that is operable to adjust the position of at least one of the spool supports relative to the body.

A tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210) including a body (11, 111, 211) and two spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) and a tape drive apparatus which is operable to transfer tape between spools (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) supported on the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), characterised in that a position of at least one of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) relative to the body (11, 111, 211) is adjustable; and a method of operating such a tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210), including controlling the rotation of each of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) to enable tape to be transferred from one spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on a respective spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), to another spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on the other spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), and controlling a drive mechanism that is operable to adjust the position of at least one of the spool supports relative to the body.