Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing variable pearlescent image elements or portions on image receiving media substrates using a variable digital data offset lithographic architecture which provides for varying lithographic images between cycles of a marking device. Pearlescent inks are provided with a solid particle pearlescent pigment components in a proportion of at least 30% by weight suspended in solution in an ink composition. Pearlescent inks are provided with a solid particle pearlescent pigment components having particle sizes in excess of ten microns suspended in solution in the ink composition. The disclosed systems and methods provide for variable pearlescent image elements or portions to be formed on an image receiving medium substrate separate from, or in combination with, other ink image elements or portions applied using other inks in a single device, and/or in a single pass of the image receiving media substrates through an image forming system.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to a composition of an inverse emulsion acrylate ink for use in variable data digital lithographic image forming devices and methods for preparing and using the ink. The disclosed inverse emulsion acrylate ink includes an acrylate monomer, oligomer, polymer, or mixtures thereof that is a continuous phase, and water dispersed as an emulsion in the continuous acrylate phase. The disclosed inverse emulsion acrylate ink includes one or more of a color pigment component, a rheology modifying agent, a stabilizing agent, and a photoinitiator component. The water may be supplemented with a surfactant to lower a surface tension of the water.

Abstract: A white ink composition for ink-based digital printing includes a white pigment. The white pigment is titanium dioxide. A method for ink-based digital printing includes applying dampening fluid to an imaging member to form a dampening fluid layer, patterning the dampening fluid layer using a laser imaging system, applying a white ink composition to the imaging member surface having the patterned dampening fluid disposed thereon to form an ink image, partially curing the ink image, and transferring the partially cured ink image to a printable substrate.

Abstract: A method for ink-based digital printing includes applying a uniform layer of dampening fluid to a surface of an imaging member; laser patterning the dampening fluid layer by selectively removing portions of the dampening fluid according to digital image data; and inking the laser-patterned dampening fluid layer on the imaging member surface with a aqueous heterogeneous ink to form an ink image, wherein the aqueous heterogeneous ink self-coalesces before the ink is transferred from the imaging member surface.

Abstract: An ink composition or ink concentrate for variable data lithographic printing or ink jet printing includes a nano-particle polymer or blend of nano-particle polymers, wherein the polymer or polymers of the blend are water dispersible at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius; and solids content is in an amount of greater than 25 percent by total weight.

Abstract: A method for continuous production of radiation curable ink suitable for ink-based digital printing includes feeding ingredients suitable for forming a pigment concentrate to an extruder; blending the ingredients in the extruder to form a pigment concentrate paste; feeding additional ingredients to the extruder for blending with the ink concentrate to form an ink product configured for ink-based digital printing, wherein a pigment particle size is less than about 1 micron.

Abstract: An ink composition useful for digital offset printing applications includes a colorant and a radiation-curable water-dilutable compound. A process for variable data lithographic printing includes applying a dampening fluid to an imaging member surface; forming a latent image by evaporating the dampening fluid from selective locations on the imaging member surface to form hydrophobic non-image areas and hydrophilic image areas; developing the latent image by applying an ink composition including an ink component to the hydrophilic image areas, the ink composition having a radiation-curable water-dilutable compound, a colorant component, and water; and transferring the developed latent image to a receiving substrate, wherein the ink transfer efficiency is 90% or higher.

Abstract: Methods for making pigmented, curable, liquid ink compositions, and the ink compositions prepared from the methods are disclosed. The method includes adding at least one monomer and a dispersant to mixing vessel, and metering into the mixing vessel at least one pigment over a period of time. The method further includes adding at least one initiator and at least one curing agent, and then milling the composition. The pigmented, curable, high viscosity liquid ink compositions are suitable for digital offset printing.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing variable pearlescent image elements or portions on image receiving media substrates using a variable digital data offset lithographic architecture which provides for varying lithographic images between cycles of a marking device. Pearlescent inks are provided with a solid particle pearlescent pigment components in a proportion of at least 30% by weight suspended in solution in an ink composition. Pearlescent inks are provided with a solid particle pearlescent pigment components having particle sizes in excess of ten microns suspended in solution in the ink composition. The disclosed systems and methods provide for variable pearlescent image elements or portions to be formed on an image receiving medium substrate separate from, or in combination with, other ink image elements or portions applied using other inks in a single device, and/or in a single pass of the image receiving media substrates through an image forming system.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing variable pearlescent image elements or portions on image receiving media substrates using a variable digital data offset lithographic architecture which provides for varying lithographic images between cycles of a marking device. Pearlescent inks are provided with a solid particle pearlescent pigment components in a proportion of at least 10% by weight suspended in solution in an ink composition. Pearlescent inks are provided with a solid particle pearlescent pigment components having particle sizes in excess of ten microns suspended in solution in the ink composition. The disclosed systems and methods provide for variable pearlescent image elements or portions to be formed on an image receiving medium substrate separate from, or in combination with, other ink image elements or portions applied using other inks in a single device, and/or in a single pass of the image receiving media substrates through an image forming system.

Abstract: A siloxane-containing ink composition for variable data lithographic printing includes a nano-particle polymer or blend of nano-particle polymers, wherein the polymer or polymers of the blend are water dispersible at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius; and solids content is in an amount of greater than 25 percent by total weight.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to functionalized carbon black material that may be particularly usable for as a filler material to a number of beneficial uses, particularly in image forming devices. The disclosed functionalized carbon black material compositions include hydrophobic carbon black particles passivated with polymerized pentafluorostyrene. The disclosed surface passivated carbon black particles have a diameter in a range of 50 nanometers to 1 micron, and enable dispersion in fluorinated polymers, and fine dispersion in solvent. The disclosed surface passivated carbon black particles are particularly usable for improving operational characteristics of fluorosilicone-based reimageable surface layers of imaging members employed in variable data digital lithographic image forming devices.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to a composition of an inverse emulsion acrylate ink for use in variable data digital lithographic image forming devices and methods for preparing and using the ink. The disclosed inverse emulsion acrylate ink includes an acrylate monomer, oligomer, polymer, or mixtures thereof that is a continuous phase, and water dispersed as an emulsion in the continuous acrylate phase. The disclosed inverse emulsion acrylate ink includes one or more of a color pigment component, a rheology modifying agent, a stabilizing agent, and a photoinitiator component. The water may be supplemented with a surfactant to lower a surface tension of the water.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods provide an ink-based digital printing system for printing high quality images on a wide latitude of image receiving media. The disclosed systems and methods employ a UV curable base (transfix) layer deposited on an intermediate image transfer member that is then at least partially cured prior to an aqueous ink being deposited on the base layer to form a digital image thereon. Once the images are formed on the base layer, a drying device is optionally used to reduce a water content of the aqueous ink images on the base layer prior to transfer of the images to an image receiving media substrate. At transfer, the images and at least a portion of the base layer are transferred to the image receiving media substrate, the images being sandwiched between the portion of the base layer and the image receiving media substrate.

Abstract: An ink composition or ink concentrate for variable data lithographic printing or ink jet printing includes a nano-particle polymer or blend of nano-particle polymers, wherein the polymer or polymers of the blend are water dispersible at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius; and solids content is in an amount of greater than 25 percent by total weight.

Abstract: A siloxane-containing ink composition for variable data lithographic printing includes a nano-particle polymer or blend of nano-particle polymers, wherein the polymer or polymers of the blend are water dispersible at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius; and solids content is in an amount of greater than 25 percent by total weight.

Abstract: A method for ink-based digital printing includes applying a uniform layer of dampening fluid to a surface of an imaging member; laser patterning the dampening fluid layer by selectively removing portions of the dampening fluid according to digital image data; and inking the laser-patterned dampening fluid layer on the imaging member surface with a aqueous heterogeneous ink to form an ink image, wherein the aqueous heterogeneous ink self-coalesces before the ink is transferred from the imaging member surface.

Abstract: An aqueous latex ink comprising a polystyrene copolymer latex, a co-solvent; and a colorant, which is suitable for use in an indirect printing method.

Abstract: A white ink composition for ink-based digital printing includes a white pigment. The white pigment is titanium dioxide. A method for ink-based digital printing includes applying dampening fluid to an imaging member to form a dampening fluid layer, patterning the dampening fluid layer using a laser imaging system, applying a white ink composition to the imaging member surface having the patterned dampening fluid disposed thereon to form an ink image, partially curing the ink image, and transferring the partially cured ink image to a printable substrate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) characters on image receiving medium substrates using a variable digital data offset lithographic architecture which provides for varying lithographic images between cycles of a marking device. MICR inks are provided with a solid particle magnetizable pigment components in a proportion of at least 20% by weight suspended in solution in the ink composition. MICR inks are provided with a solid particle magnetizable pigment components having particle sizes in excess of one micron suspended in solution in the ink composition. The disclosed systems and methods provide for MICR characters to be formed on an image receiving medium substrate over background images applied using other inks in a single device, and/or in a single pass of the image receiving medium substrate through the device.