Abstract: An image is printed on a medium by means of a computer driven printer using an ink composition comprising heat activated dye solids, without activating the dye solids during the process of printing onto the medium. The image is transferred from the medium to the object on which the image is to permanently appear by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate the dye and transfer the image to the object. The liquid form of the ink composition uses a liquid carrier and an emulsifying enforcing agent which has an affinity for the dye. The emulsifying enforcing agent shields the heat activated dye both prior to, and during, the printing process.

Abstract: An image is permanently transferred to a substrate having a cotton component, or other component which is absorbent or porous, from a medium printed with the image by a thermal printer using heat activated ink. A polymer surface preparation material and the ink are transferred by the thermal printer to the medium from a ribbon containing the ink and the surface preparation material, without activating the ink or the surface preparation material. The image is transferred from the medium to the substrate by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate and transfer the ink and the surface preparation material, with the surface preparation material bonding the ink to the substrate.

Abstract: An image is printed on a medium by means of a computer driven printer using an ink composition comprising heat activated dye solids, without activating the dye solids during the process of printing onto the medium. The image is transferred from the medium to the object on which the image is to permanently appear by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate the dye and transfer the image to the object. The liquid form of the ink composition uses a liquid carrier and an emulsifying enforcing agent which has an affinity for the dye. The emulsifying enforcing agent shields the heat activated dye both prior to, and during, the printing process.

Abstract: An image is permanently transferred to a substrate having a cotton component, or other component which is absorbent or porous, from a medium printed with the image by a thermal printer using heat activated ink. A polymer surface preparation material and the ink are transferred by the thermal printer to the medium from a ribbon containing the ink and the surface preparation material, without activating the ink or the surface preparation material. The image is transferred from the medium to the substrate by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate and transfer the ink and the surface preparation material, with the surface preparation material bonding the ink to the substrate.

Abstract: An image is permanently transferred to a substrate having a cotton component, or other component which is absorbent or porous, from a medium printed with the image by a thermal printer using heat activated ink. A polymer surface preparation material and the ink are transferred by the thermal printer to the medium from a ribbon containing the ink and the surface preparation material, without activating the ink or the surface preparation material. The image is transferred from the medium to the substrate by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate and transfer the ink and the surface preparation material, with the surface preparation material bonding the ink to the substrate.

Abstract: An image is permanently transferred to a substrate having a cotton component, or other component which is absorbent or porous, from a medium printed with the image by a thermal printer using heat activated ink. A polymer surface preparation material and the ink are transferred by the thermal printer to the medium from a ribbon containing the ink and the surface preparation material, without activating the ink or the surface preparation material. The image is transferred from the medium to the substrate by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate and transfer the ink and the surface preparation material, with the surface preparation material bonding the ink to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of printing a liquid ink which is produced from a heat activated dye which is selected from a limited group of dyes which are capable of transfer at low energy. A printer which uses liquid ink, such as an ink jet printer, prints an image onto an intermediate substrate medium. The dyes contained in the ink are not substantially activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image formed by the printed ink is transferred from the medium to a final substrate by the application of heat and pressure for a short period of time to activate the ink. The dye and dispersing/emulsifying agent(s) are selected from a limited group to produce an ink which permits thermal transfer at low energy, with the resulting image, as deposited on the final substrate, having an optical density of 1.0 or greater. Liquid ink is produced using heat activated dyes selected from a limited group of dyes that are capable of heat activation. The dyes are not substantially soluble in the liquid carrier, such as water.