The present invention provide a multi-layered heat transfer sheet comprising a plurality of distinct pieces forming one or more consecutive patterns that form shapes or objects having discontinuous peripheries, as well as a method for producing and/or making said item. The method for forming the heat transfer decorations includes ablating one or more layers of a heat transfer sheet using a defocused laser to define at least one plurality of discrete pieces that together define a heat transfer decoration. A single pass of the defocused laser may ablate the one or more layers of the heat transfer sheet so as to define the discrete pieces.

An apparatus for texturing a plastic substrate, while forming a dye sublimation image in the plastic substrate, wherein the plastic substrate has a first side and a second side, is provided. A textured cover is on a side of a platen, wherein the platen is on a first, untextured side of the textured cover. A first side of the dye carrier is on a second, textured side of the textured cover, and wherein the plastic substrate is supported on a second side of the dye carrier, wherein a first side of the plastic substrate is supported by the dye carrier, wherein the textured side of the textured cover has a texture to be transferred to the plastic substrate. A membrane is on the second side of the plastic substrate. A vacuum pump provides a vacuum between the membrane and the platen. A heater is positioned to heat the plastic substrate.

A method for producing a decorated molded part, a decorated molded part, as well as the use of a transfer film for producing a decorated molded part includes: Producing an intermediate product in the form of a composite body by applying a transfer ply of a transfer film to a first surface of a polypropylene film, wherein the transfer ply of the transfer film has at least one decorative layer. Forming the composite body having the polymer film with applied transfer ply of the transfer film. Inserting the formed composite body into an injection mold and back injection molding and/or overmolding and/or insert molding the formed composite body with a plastic material, containing or consisting of polypropylene. Optionally, the back injection-molded and/or overmolded and/or insert-molded formed composite body is coated, in a step, over the whole surface or over part of the surface with one or more primer layers and/or one or more varnish layers.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles of manufacture and components of articles that incorporate an optical element that imparts a structural color to the component or the article. The component comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, and can include or be made to have a textured surface.

Provided is a decorative molded article that uniformizes the brightness of an uneven surface and inhibits whitening. The decorative molded article is provided with a protective layer having an uneven surface on an adherend, and satisfying the following requirement 1-1: <Requirement 1-1> A black plate is stuck to the surface of the article on the adherend side thereof via a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to prepare a sample A. A visible light inclined by 10 degrees from the normal direction of the sample A is made to run into the uneven surface, and based on the specular direction of the incident light as a reference angle, a luminous reflectance is measured every 0.2 degrees within a range of the reference angle±5.0 degrees.

A thermal transfer sheet includes a substrate and a transfer layer, in which the transfer layer after transfer has a reduced peak height (Spk) of 0.6 μm or more. A method for producing a printed material using a thermal transfer sheet including a particle layer disposed on a substrate and an image-receiving sheet including a thermal protrusion-and/or-recess forming layer and a receiving layer stacked in that order on a second substrate, the receiving layer including an image that has been formed, includes the steps of heating the image-receiving sheet to form a protrusion and/or a recess at the image-receiving sheet, and heating the thermal transfer sheet to transfer the particle layer to at least part of the protrusion of the image-receiving sheet.

A method for the refinement of a panel and an apparatus for the refinement of a panel according to a method of this type. The method for the refinement of a panel includes: unpacking of a panel having a core made from wood material from a transport-safe packaging, a grounding in the form of at least one synthetic resin layer pressed together with the core and, if appropriate, a primer being arranged on a top side of the core, and a coating being arranged on a core underside lying opposite the top side of the core, and connection and locking means being attached to at least two mutually opposite side faces; application of a decorative layer having a decoration to the grounding or primer; and application of at least one wear layer to the decorative layer.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure provide articles of manufacture and components of articles that incorporate an optical element that imparts a structural color to the component or the article. The component comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material, and can include or be made to have a textured surface.

An apparatus for texturing a plastic substrate, while forming a dye sublimation image in the plastic substrate, wherein the plastic substrate has a first side and a second side, is provided. A textured cover is on a side of a platen, wherein the platen is on a first, untextured side of the textured cover. A first side of the dye carrier is on a second, textured side of the textured cover, and wherein the plastic substrate is supported on a second side of the dye carrier, wherein a first side of the plastic substrate is supported by the dye carrier, wherein the textured side of the textured cover has a texture to be transferred to the plastic substrate. A membrane is on the second side of the plastic substrate. A vacuum pump provides a vacuum between the membrane and the platen. A heater is positioned to heat the plastic substrate.

In some embodiments, a printed laminate comprises a first substrate having a first side and a second side, an ink layer at least partially adhered through direct printing to the first side of the first substrate, and a second substrate comprising a heat activatable adhesive and having a first side and a second side. The first side of the second substrate may be at least partially laminated to the second side of the first substrate.