A PTSM-coated expandable microsphere comprises a polymer shell enclosing an interior volume containing at least one blowing agent. The polymer shell has an outer surface with photothermal susceptor material disposed on at least a portion thereof. If heated to at least one temperature greater than 25° C., each of the expandable microspheres expands, but does not rupture, the polymer shell by a sufficient amount to at least double the interior volume. A markable comprises a substrate and a viewable layer secured thereto. The viewable layer comprises a binder material retaining the PTSM-coated expandable microspheres. A method of marking a markable article comprises imagewise exposing the PTSM-coated expandable microspheres of the markable article to at least sufficient electromagnetic radiation to cause the PTSM-coated expandable microspheres to expand thereby creating a predetermined image. A marked article preparable according to the method is also disclosed.

A method produces a printed product, where the method includes applying a curable composition including a volume expansion agent and a polymerizable compound, to form a volume expansion layer; applying a colorant composition including a colorant, to form a colorant layer; and applying energy to the volume expansion layer and the colorant layer.

Provided is printed matter producing method including: forming a foamable layer containing a foaming agent; applying a defoaming agent to a predetermined region of the foamable layer to bring the defoaming agent into contact with the foamable layer; forming an ink receiving layer over the foamable layer to which the defoaming agent is applied; acquiring image data and shape data representing a shape of a bossed-recessed region of the foamable layer after foamed, and generating print data assigning a greater amount of an ink to a portion in the image data corresponding to an inclined portion of the bossed-recessed region based on the shape data; applying an ink over the ink receiving layer based on the print data to form an image; and applying energy to the foamable layer to form bosses and recesses.

Provided is a printed matter producing method including: a volume expansion layer forming step of forming a volume expansion layer containing a volume expansion agent; a volume expansion suppressor applying step of applying and contacting a volume expansion suppressor containing a multifunctional monomer to the volume expansion layer while increasing an amount of the multifunctional monomer to be applied to a predetermined region of the volume expansion layer in accordance with a degree of suppressing volume expansion of the predetermined region of the volume expansion layer; and a volume expanding step of heating the volume expansion layer after the volume expansion suppressor applying step to volume-expand the volume expansion layer.

Provided is a printed matter producing method including: a foamable layer forming step of forming a foamable layer containing a foaming agent, an ink receiving layer forming step of forming an ink receiving layer containing a polymer of a polymerizable compound a over the foamable layer, an image forming step of applying an ink containing a colorant and a polymerizable compound b over the ink receiving layer to form an image, and a foaming step of heating the foamable layer to foam the foamable layer.