The present invention relates to a method of forming an image on a substrate comprising a transparent or translucent composition applied thereto, wherein the transparent or translucent composition comprises a protein in a non-denatured state, and the method comprises applying radiation to the transparent or translucent composition to denature the protein and thereby form an image on the substrate. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a substrate on which an image can be formed, and related substrates, compositions and uses thereof.

Powdering on a front surface of a printed matter or the like is appropriately performed. A printing apparatus configured to perform printing on a medium includes: an ink ejection portion configured to eject an ink to the medium; and a powdering portion configured to perform powdering that applies powder to the medium. The powdering portion includes: a liquid applying device configured to apply, to the medium, a powder containing liquid that is a liquid including the powder and a solvent and an energy ray emitting portion configured to irradiate the powder containing liquid applied to the medium with energy rays. The powder containing liquid is a liquid that generates heat when irradiated with energy rays. The energy ray emitting portion irradiates the powder containing liquid applied to the medium with energy rays to evaporate the solvent of the powder containing liquid, so that the powder adheres to the medium.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyer that conveys a recording medium supporting an image; a softener that softens the image; and a powder applicator that applies powder to the surface of the softened image, in which the applied powder adheres to a range that is narrower in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyer than a maximum width of the image to be supported by the recording medium.

An image forming apparatus includes a conveyer that conveys a recording medium supporting an image; a softener that softens the image; and a powder applicator that applies powder to the surface of the softened image, in which the applied powder adheres to a range that is narrower in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyer than a maximum width of the image to be supported by the recording medium.

An image-forming device includes a printing portion that forms images on the media being transported using ink, a varnish application portion that applies aqueous varnish to the media on which the images are formed, a treatment portion that performs a treatment on the media so that a stickiness evaluation value which is a stickiness evaluation value indicating a degree of stickiness of the aqueous varnish applied to the media when the media to which the aqueous varnish is applied are output from the varnish application portion and is derived using a damped vibration percentage of a pendulum caused to do pendulum motions from an arbitrary location of the media to which the aqueous varnish is applied as a pivot reaches 0.24 or less, and an accumulation portion that accumulates the media to which the aqueous varnish is applied and on which the treatment is performed.

A method of producing a molded part comprising a decorative coating with a molded part front side designed as visible side and a rear side opposing the front side and a substrate arranged on the rear side of the decorative coating, wherein the decorative coating comprises (or is formed from) a decorative layer, wherein the method comprises: providing the decorative layer or decorative coating, attaching the substrate to the rear side of the decorative layer or coating, applying a resist lacquer to the front side of the decorative layer by means of a digital printing machine, the resist lacquer being applied in sections to the front side of the decorative layer to form a pattern or symbol or a negative of a pattern or symbol such that lacquer-free surface areas and surface areas covered with resist lacquer are created on the front side of the decorative layer.

A method of producing a molded part comprising a decorative coating with a molded part front side designed as visible side and a rear side opposing the front side and a substrate arranged on the rear side of the decorative coating, wherein the decorative coating comprises (or is formed from) a decorative layer, wherein the method comprises: providing the decorative layer or decorative coating, attaching the substrate to the rear side of the decorative layer or coating, applying a resist lacquer to the front side of the decorative layer by means of a digital printing machine, the resist lacquer being applied in sections to the front side of the decorative layer to form a pattern or symbol or a negative of a pattern or symbol such that lacquer-free surface areas and surface areas covered with resist lacquer are created on the front side of the decorative layer.

A method for safely differentiating a three dimensional object subsequent to its creation and varnish protection by means of applying and sealing a decoration and/or data between the original and a final varnish layers. The three dimensional object may be decorated and/or contain data from its original manufacturing process but it may also be protected by a varnish prior to utilizing this process. The method enables the addition of decoration and data at any time or location subsequent to the original manufacturing process. The process takes place on top of the original varnish and may be subsequently sealed by applying another varnish layer.

A system and method for applying an overcoat to a printed image on a substrate generally includes a radiative source that transmits electromagnetic radiation within a predefined wavelength range to the printed image on the substrate to be absorbed by the printed image and heat the printed image to a predetermined temperature range, a depositing device that deposits an overcoating powder onto the heated printed image, the overcoating powder having a melting point within the predetermined range such that upon deposition thereof, the overcoating powder adheres and/or melts onto the heated printed image, and a residual powder removing device that removes any residual overcoating powder not adhered to the printed image or the substrate.

Powdering on a front surface of a printed matter or the like is appropriately performed. A printing apparatus configured to perform printing on a medium includes: an ink ejection portion configured to eject an ink to the medium; and a powdering portion configured to perform powdering that applies powder to the medium. The powdering portion includes: a liquid applying device configured to apply, to the medium, a powder containing liquid that is a liquid including the powder and a solvent and an energy ray emitting portion configured to irradiate the powder containing liquid applied to the medium with energy rays. The powder containing liquid is a liquid that generates heat when irradiated with energy rays. The energy ray emitting portion irradiates the powder containing liquid applied to the medium with energy rays to evaporate the solvent of the powder containing liquid, so that the powder adheres to the medium.