A heating article includes a substrate having two opposite surfaces, at least one of which is opaque, and a heat-stable coating arranged on the opaque surface. The heat-stable coating includes an at least two-color decoration having continuous tones and being provided in the form of a continuous or discontinuous layer.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

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.

Ink jet printing on a non-absorbent substrate involves a wet primer having a primer viscosity. The wet primer is applied on the non-absorbent substrate. An ink jet ink having an ink jet viscosity lower than the primer viscosity is jetted over the wet primer while the primer is still wet. The wet primer and ink are simultaneously cured on the substrate.

A coiled metal substrate with a faux galvanized surface appearance. The faux galvanized surface of the substrate including a spangle print pattern of polyvinylidene fluoride (PFDV) flexographically applied to the metal substrate. Atop the PFDV print pattern is semi-transparent coating of fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) flexographically applied atop the spangle print pattern of PFDV.

Provided is an object to be printed which can improve the quality of a printed image in inkjet printing on the object to be printed, regardless of the resolution of an inkjet image. In a method for producing an object to be printed having an area to be printed on a surface thereof, a surface of the area to be printed is adjusted so that the area to be printed has a surface energy E (mN/m) of 30 or more and 50 or less. The object to be printed is selected from a can and a film for containers.

A method for creating colorful patterns on a metal surface by using colorless ink is revealed. First carry out a first anodizing process on a metal substrate to form a first anodic oxide layer on a surface of the metal substrate. Then coat a layer of colorless ink on the first anodic oxide layer on the surface of the metal substrate to form a colorless ink pattern mask. Later perform a second anodizing process to form a second anodic oxide layer on a part of the metal substrate without being covered with the colorless ink pattern mask. Next remove the colorless ink pattern mask and coat a metal film over the first anodic oxide layer and the second anodic oxide layer to get a colorful pattern on the metal substrate.

Provided is an ink composition for an inkjet print steel plate, an inkjet print steel plate using the same, and a method for producing an inkjet print steel plate. The ink composition comprises: a linear acrylate-based oligomer; a reactive acrylate-based monomer; an ultraviolet curable initiator; at least one selected from the group consisting of a dye and a pigment; and at least one selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, an antifoaming agent, and a dispersant.

A printing process for a metal container includes the steps: Heating the metal container, in particular formed as a metal bottle ready for filling, to a pre-treatment temperature lying in an interval between 100° C. and 250° C., cooling the metal container to a temperature below 100° C., locally activating a printing zone, formed on an outer surface of the metal container to increase a surface energy of the printing zone and/or locally heating the printing zone to a printing temperature which is in an interval between 30° C. and 70° C., printing the printing zone with a printing method.

Provided is a metallic image forming method by which a metallic image that assumes sufficient metallic feeling can be acquired. The metallic image forming method is a method of forming a metallic image on a recording medium through use of an ink containing metal particles and includes an ink application step of applying an ink onto a recording medium having an underlayer formed thereon such that the ink overlaps at least a part of the underlayer, the underlayer having a black color or an opposite color with respect to diffusion light of the ink.