Abstract: A method of printing indicia on a golf ball having a dimpled surface including the steps of providing a color image having a plurality of colors; saving the color image into computer memory as a digital image; creating at least six digital copies of the digital image and assigning at least one digital copy to each of at least six color channels; filtering the plurality of colors into the at least six color channels by removing all but an assigned color of that color channel from each corresponding digital copy resulting in at least six color separations; creating a film positive for each of the at least six color separations; placing the film positive on a pad-printing cliché; etching the film positive into the pad-printing cliché creating a transfer image; distributing a layer of ink over the pad-printing cliché; and printing the transfer image from the surface of the pad-printing cliché to the dimpled surface of the golf ball.

Abstract: A method of printing indicia on a golf ball having a dimpled surface including the steps of providing a color image having a plurality of colors; saving the color image into computer memory as a digital image; creating at least six digital copies of the digital image and assigning at least one digital copy to each of at least six color channels; filtering the plurality of colors into the at least six color channels by removing all but an assigned color of that color channel from each corresponding digital copy resulting in at least six color separations; creating a film positive for each of the at least six color separations; placing the film positive on a pad-printing cliché; etching the film positive into the pad-printing cliché creating a transfer image; distributing a layer of ink over the pad-printing cliché; and printing the transfer image from the surface of the pad-printing cliché to the dimpled surface of the golf ball.

Abstract: A method for etching a pad-printing cliché and printing an image therefrom on a golf ball comprising providing a film positive of an image; placing the film positive on a pad-printing cliché having a variable relief photocurable pre-polymer surface; curing the pre-polymer that is not blocked by the film positive; removing the film positive from the polymer surface; washing the pad-printing cliché for a first predetermined time sufficient to remove any uncured pre-polymer, such that the pad-printing cliché has the image etched into the pre-polymer surface, the etched image having a substantially homogeneous bottom surface that is free of protrusions formed by screens, normally required for variable relief material, heating the pre-polymer for a second predetermined time sufficient to fully dry the pre-polymer; further curing the pre-polymer exposed by the washing step; providing a golf ball having a dimpled surface; distributing a layer of ink over the etched image in the pad-printi

Abstract: A method of printing indicia on a golf ball having a dimpled surface including the steps of providing a color image having a plurality of colors; saving the color image into computer memory as a digital image; creating at least six digital copies of the digital image and assigning at least one digital copy to each of at least six color channels; filtering the plurality of colors into the at least six color channels by removing all but an assigned color of that color channel from each corresponding digital copy resulting in at least six color separations; creating a film positive for each of the at least six color separations; placing the film positive on a pad-printing cliché; etching the film positive into the pad-printing cliché creating a transfer image; distributing a layer of ink over the pad-printing cliché; and printing the transfer image from the surface of the pad-printing cliché to the dimpled surface of the golf ball.