Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a decal assembly comprising a decal support, a releasable covercoat, a heat activatable layer, and an ink layer. The ink layer forms a digital image. The heat activatable layer has a high adhesion to a ceramic substrate at high temperatures and a low adhesion to the substrate at lower temperatures. Thus the adhesive properties of the decal are activated by heat. The resulting image has excellent adhesion to the substrate and resists the effects of washing.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method and apparatus for uniformly heating a substrate, comprising the steps of disposing a substrate over heating elements, irradiating the bottom side of the substrate, thus producing a non-uniformly heated substrate. Thereafter the transporter moves the substrate such that the unheated sections are disposed over heating element and heated sections are disposed over the transporter. The substrate is then re-irradiated such that the unheated section becomes uniformly heated. Heat is allowed to radiate from the bottom side to the top side of the substrate, such that the top side achieves a uniform temperature.

Abstract: A thermal transfer assembly that comprises a thermal transfer ribbon and a covercoated transfer sheet. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a support and a ceramic ink layer. The ceramic ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter, and it includes from about 15 to about 94.5 percent of a solid carbonaceous binder, and at least one of a film-forming glass frit, an opacifying agent and a colorant (at a combined level for the film forming glass frit, the opacifying agent and the colorant of at least 0.5 weight percent).

Abstract: A thermal transfer assembly that comprises a thermal transfer ribbon and a covercoated transfer sheet. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a support and a ceramic ink layer. The ceramic ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter, and it includes from about 15 to about 94.5 percent of a solid carbonaceous binder, and at least one of a film-forming glass frit, an opacifying agent and a colorant (at a combined level for the film forming glass frit, the opacifying agent and the colorant of at least 0.5 weight percent).

Abstract: A thermal transfer assembly that comprises a thermal transfer ribbon and a covercoated transfer sheet. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a support and a ceramic ink layer. The ceramic ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter, and it includes from about 15 to about 94.5 percent of a solid carbonaceous binder, and at least one of a film-forming glass frit, an opacifying agent and a colorant (at a combined level for the film forming glass frit, the opacifying agent and the colorant of at least 0.5 weight percent).