Abstract: An apparatus and method for imprinting articles such as tiles by the sublimation transfer of dyes into a dye receptive surface coating provided thereon. A platen having a press member formed of liquid metal and a flexible confining membrane is utilized to heat and press a sheet having the dye imprinted design thereon so as to sublimate such designs into the adjacent coated surface of the articles. The press member is accordingly both capable of transmitting heat and pressure to the surface coating of such articles so as to simultaneously transfer said design and the texture of the membrane, sheet or separate texturing member disposed therebetween to the surface of the article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting sublimation printing of a substrate wherein a matrix comprising the design to be printed is electrostatically charged in a given polarity and then a fine disperse dye powder, oppositely charged, is brought into contact with said matrix wherein the charged matrix attracts the oppositely charged dye particles to effect coating of the matrix with the dye, after which the coated matrix is moved into registry with the substrate to be printed, and specifically in overlying relation with respect to a surface of the substrate that has been coated with a dye receptive coating, after which the matrix is brought into pressurized contact with the coated surface of the substrate to cause sublimation of the dye pattern into said coated substrate surface.