An intermediate transfer medium that allows formation of high-density images on a transfer layer while suppressing printing unevenness and provides good foil cutting properties of the transfer layer, a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, and a method for forming a print using the intermediate transfer medium. In an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer on a substrate, the transfer layer has a single layer structure including only a receiving layer or a layered structure including the receiving layer. When the transfer layer has the layered structure, the receiving layer is located furthest from the substrate among layers constituting the transfer layer. The receiving layer contains a binder resin having a number average molecular weight of 8000-32000 and a release agent. The content of the release agent based on the total mass of the receiving layer is 6% by mass or more.

Dynamic pattern transfer printing systems and method are provided, which decouple the design of the trench patterns on a source substrate for pattern transfer printing, from the resulting metallic paste lines patterns transferred to a receiving substrate, such as PV cells. The receiving substrate may be moved forward (along the scanning direction of the laser illumination used to transfer the paste from the trenches onto the receiving substrate) to reduce the pattern pitch with respect to the source substrate, and/or the receiving substrate may be moved backward (against the scanning direction) to increase the pattern pitch with respect to the source substrate. For example, dynamic pattern transfer printing may be used to accommodate different widths of the substrates for more effective pattern transfer, and/or to enable one-to-many pattern transfer technologies with high wafer throughput. Also, pattern transfer sheet with separate multiple groups of trenches are provided.

An illustrative dye sublimation apparatus may include a texture sheet with a pattern to be applied to a substrate. More specifically, the texture sheet is pressed into the substrate during the dye sublimation process in order to apply the pattern from the texture sheet while the substrate is heated and simultaneously being infused with an image from a printed sheet. The pressure applied to the texture sheet can vary, for example based on the temperature. Compared to the conventional systems in which substrates are pre-textured, the embodiments disclosed herein describe a process for simultaneous image-infusion and texture-application, which results in a substrate that is both infused and textured.

Methods and systems for adjusting formulation of pigments for dye sublimation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving, by a processor, a selection of the substrate and the image to be dye sublimated into the substrate. The method also includes determining, by the processor, an amount of each pigment of sublimation ink to be used to print the image on a sheet based on a characteristic of the substrate. The method further includes printing, by a dye sublimation apparatus, the image on the sheet using the amount of each pigment of sublimation ink and infusing, by the dye sublimation apparatus, the image from the sheet into the substrate.

An illustrative dye sublimation apparatus may include a pair of printed sheets placed on either side of a substrate that allows for image infusion on both sides of the substrate. A second heat source, such as a heated plate, is included in order to heat the second printed sheet. Compared to the conventional systems in which a single heat source heats a single printed, the embodiments disclosed herein describe a process for simultaneous double-sided image infusion, which results in a substrate with sublimated images on both sides.

The present invention further relates a sublimation printing process of a multilayer system comprising a polyester top layer and at least one heat sensitive polymer layer whereby a temperature gradient is applied during sublimation printing such that the heat sensitive polymer layer is maintained at a temperature below its melting temperature and the polyester top layer is maintained at a temperature above its glass transition temperature to allow diffusion of a sublimation dye into the polyester top layer. The temperature gradient is maintained by using a heat sink element beneath the heat sensitive polymer layer. The temperature gradient can also be maintained by cooling the heat sink element. The cooling preferably occurs with a circulating coolant. The heat sink element comprises a polymer, a ceramic or a metal. The invention further relates to a sublimation printed multilayer system comprising a polyester top layer and at least one heat sensitive polymer layer. The present invention also relates to the multilayer system in the manufacturing of textile, tents, outdoor gear, apparel, clothing, bags, jackets, gloves.

The invention relates to an inkless printing method. The invention also relates to an inkless printing device, in particular configured to perform at least a part of the method according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a substrate provided with at least one printed marking realised by applying the method according to the invention and/or the device according to the invention.

A method for direct transfer printing is disclosed. The method for direct transfer printing includes applying a fountain solution to an imaging blanket in a negative imagewise manner using an inkjet printhead, contacting the imaging blanket with a printing substrate, transferring the fountain solution from the imaging blanket to the printing substrate, contacting the printing substrate with an inking station, and depositing an ink film from the inking station to the printing substrate in one or more locations on the printing substrate where there is no fountain solution. A module for a direct transfer marking process and a direct transfer printing system are also disclosed.

A method for direct transfer printing is disclosed. The method for direct transfer printing includes applying a fountain solution to an imaging blanket in a negative imagewise manner using an inkjet printhead, contacting the imaging blanket with a printing substrate, transferring the fountain solution from the imaging blanket to the printing substrate, contacting the printing substrate with an inking station, and depositing an ink film from the inking station to the printing substrate in one or more locations on the printing substrate where there is no fountain solution. A module for a direct transfer marking process and a direct transfer printing system are also disclosed.

An inkjet ink for a glass substrate can enable formation of an aesthetic image with high concealability on the surface of the glass substrate. The inkjet ink disclosed here can include: an inorganic solid including an inorganic pigment that develops a color except for black and a glass frit; a monomer component having a photocuring property; and a photoinitiator. In the inkjet ink, a volume ratio of the inorganic solid in a case where an ink total volume is 100 volume % can be 35 volume % or less, a volume ratio of the inorganic pigment in the case where a total volume of the inorganic solid is 100 volume % can be 15 volume % or more and less than 90 volume %, and a volume ratio of the inorganic pigment to the photoinitiator can be 11 times or less.