Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to an air flow device and system for evaluating fabric integrity and cyclic stress of a media banner, and a method of simulating prolonged wind exposure on a media banner. The device can comprise a duct having an exit opening with an opening area of 100 to 250 in2; a blower in fluid communication with the duct, the blower and the duct adapted to generate an ambient air speed at the exit opening of 35 mph or more, wherein the exit opening is positioned at least 2 feet from the blower; and a programming panel electrically coupled with the blower and adapted to program and cycle operation times and air speeds.

Abstract: A high gloss photo media that has a gloss at 20 degrees equal to or greater than 40% includes a photo media substrate that includes a gloss-enhancement film on a front side of a photo base material. A curl control material is on a back side of the photo base material opposite the front side. The gloss-enhancement film being a multilayer that includes an adherent layer and a layer of one of a polyester composition and a polypropylene composition. A thickness of the gloss-enhancement film is at least 20 microns. The high gloss photo media further includes an image receiving layer on the gloss-enhancement film.

Abstract: A sheet of photo paper comprises a substrate, a top coat deposited on the image receiving side of the substrate, a polyethylene coating deposited on the top coat, and an image receiving coating deposited on the polyethylene coating. A method of making a sheet of photo paper, comprising layering a pre-coat onto a substrate, layering a top coat onto the pre-coat, layering a polyethylene coating onto the top coat, and layering an image receiving coating onto the polyethylene coating.

Abstract: A pre-stressed substrate for a photographic paper includes a base paper having a front surface and a back surface; a top pre-stress coat on the front surface, the top pre-stress coat including a first pre-stress mixture containing at least a first pigment, a first binding material including a first water soluble binder and a first water-dispersible binder; and a back pre-stress coat on the back surface, the back pre-stress coating including a second pre-stress mixture containing at least a second pigment, a second binding material including a second water soluble binder. The weight % of the first water soluble binder in the first binding material is less than the weight % of the second water soluble binder in the second binding material. The pre-stressed substrate has a predetermined degree of curvature toward the back surface and is capable of countering curling forces that occur when the pre-stressed substrate is used.

Abstract: An inkjet recording medium includes a substrate, an intermediate layer disposed on the substrate, and an ink receiving layer disposed on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a binder, an inorganic pigment, and a pigment ink fixing agent chosen from divalent salts, multivalent salts, and combinations thereof. The ink receiving layer includes a non-film forming polymer, a binder chosen from any of water dispersible binders or water soluble binders, and a pigment.

Abstract: Printable articles including a substrate, an image receiving layer over the substrate, and a barrier layer between the substrate and the image receiving layer are useful in the production of fine art reproductions. The image receiving layer comprises at least one pigment and two or more binders, wherein at least one of the two or more binders has a glass transition temperature (Tg) at least 20° C. less than a Tg of at least one other of the two or more binders. Printed articles including a printable article with marking material contained in the image receiving layer may exhibit a textured cracking pattern after application and drying of the marking material or a liquid laminate.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to a method of making a dispersion of polymer binder-encapsulated silica pigments for coating an ink-jet recording substrate. The method includes mixing first components of the dispersion to form a mixture, the first components including binder polymer, treating agents and a vehicle selected from the group consisting of water, a water-miscible organic solvent, and combinations thereof; shear mixing silica pigment into the mixture; and after the silica pigment is added to the mixture, shear mixing the mixture at a higher temperature and an increased grinding rate compared to a temperature and grinding rate of the shear mixing of the silica pigment into the mixture.

Abstract: A print medium for ink-jet printing comprises a base substrate, a micro-porous ink-receiving layer, and a backing layer. The base substrate can include raw base paper and a moisture barrier layer between the raw base paper and ink receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer can be a micro-porous type, and can be applied onto the moisture barrier at the first side of the base substrate and the backing layer can be applied to a second side of the base substrate. The backing layer can include an extruded coated polymer layer and can be configured to transport solvent vapor to the base substrate at the rate of at least 15 g/m2/24 hr.

Abstract: A graphic medium and a method of making same employs a paper core having a normalized opacity within a range of about 0.15 to about 0.4 percent/grams per square meter. The graphic medium includes a first material layer on a first side of the paper core and a second material layer on one or both of the first side between the paper core and the first material layer and a second, opposite side of the paper core. The graphic medium has a translucent opacity between about 40% and about 90%. The method includes mechanically refining a mixture of wood fibers until a paper substrate is formed having the normalized opacity. The paper substrate is calendered using a paper making machine and the first and second material layers are applied to form the graphic medium.

Abstract: An art frame includes a three-dimensional supporting frame, which includes an image receiving surface and an opposed back surface, a center portion defining a perimeter, and at least three foldable extensions extending from the perimeter. Each foldable extension includes two folds to be folded toward the back surface to form a frame portion. Abutting frame portions form respective corners of the three-dimensional supporting frame. A corner mount is to be inserted into the abutting frame portions at the respective corners. Each corner mount includes first and second opposed surfaces, a shaped portion, and two corner mount foldable extensions extending from two sides of the shaped portion. Each corner mount foldable extension includes two tabs to be folded toward the first opposed surface. An adhesive layer is established on the second opposed surface and is to be adhered to the back surface of the three-dimensional supporting frame at the respective corners.

Abstract: A sheet of photo paper comprises a substrate, a top coat deposited on the image receiving side of the substrate, a polyethylene coating deposited on the top coat, and an image receiving coating deposited on the polyethylene coating. A method of making a sheet of photo paper, comprising layering a pre-coat onto a substrate, layering a top coat onto the pre-coat, layering a polyethylene coating onto the top coat, and layering an image receiving coating onto the polyethylene coating.

Abstract: An art frame includes a three-dimensional supporting frame, which includes an image receiving surface and an opposed back surface, a center portion defining a perimeter, and at least three foldable extensions extending from the perimeter. Each foldable extension includes two folds to be folded toward the back surface to form a frame portion. Abutting frame portions form respective corners of the three-dimensional supporting frame. A corner mount is to be inserted into the abutting frame portions at the respective corners. Each corner mount includes first and second opposed surfaces, a shaped portion, and two corner mount foldable extensions extending from two sides of the shaped portion. Each corner mount foldable extension includes two tabs to be folded toward the first opposed surface. An adhesive layer is established on the second opposed surface and is to be adhered to the back surface of the three-dimensional supporting frame at the respective corners.

Abstract: A method of forming a surface treated medium in which a surface treatment solution is formed comprising a number of water soluble, multi-valent salts, a number of water dispersible, multi-valent salts, a binder that binds the water dispersible, multi-valent salts to a medium and to the elements within the surface treatment solution, and an organosilane, and the surface treatment solution is applied to a medium. A surface treatment solution comprises a number of water soluble, multi-valent, organic acid salts, a number of water dispersible, multi-valent, organic acid salts, a binder that binds the water dispersible, multi-valent, organic acid salts to a medium and to the elements within the surface treatment solution, and an organosilane.

Abstract: Printable articles including a substrate, an image receiving layer over the substrate, and a barrier layer between the substrate and the image receiving layer are useful in the production of fine art reproductions. The image receiving layer comprises at least one pigment and two or more binders, wherein at least one of the two or more binders has a glass transition temperature (Tg) at least 20° C. less than a Tg of at least one other of the two or more binders. Printed articles including a printable article with marking material contained in the image receiving layer may exhibit a textured cracking pattern after application and drying of the marking material or a liquid laminate.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to a method of making a dispersion of polymer binder-encapsulated silica pigments for coating an ink-jet recording substrate. The method includes mixing first components of the dispersion to form a mixture, the first components including binder polymer, treating agents and a vehicle selected from the group consisting of water, a water-miscible organic solvent, and combinations thereof; shear mixing silica pigment into the mixture; and after the silica pigment is added to the mixture, shear mixing the mixture at a higher temperature and an increased grinding rate compared to a temperature and grinding rate of the shear mixing of the silica pigment into the mixture.

Abstract: A pre-stressed substrate for a photographic paper includes a base paper having a front surface and a back surface; a top pre-stress coat on the front surface, the top pre-stress coat including a first pre-stress mixture containing at least a first pigment, a first binding material including a first water soluble binder and a first water-dispersible binder; and a back pre-stress coat on the back surface, the back pre-stress coating including a second pre-stress mixture containing at least a second pigment, a second binding material including a second water soluble binder. The weight % of the first water soluble binder in the first binding material is less than the weight % of the second water soluble binder in the second binding material. The pre-stressed substrate has a predetermined degree of curvature toward the back surface and is capable of countering curling forces that occur when the pre-stressed substrate is used.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a coated substrate for ink-jet ink printing. The substrate can have an ink-receiving coating on the imaging side. On the opposite, or back, surface, the substrate can have two coatings: a curl control coating and a photo feel coating designed to provide scratch resistance. The curl control coating can be nearest the substrate, with the photo feel coating coated over the curl control coating. The photo feel coating can have a contact angle greater than about 90 degrees and a water vapor transport rate of greater than about 5 g/m2/12 hour.

Abstract: An embodiment of a media sheet has a barrier layer formed on a first surface of a substrate. An image-receiving layer is formed on the barrier layer. A porous pigment layer is formed on a second surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An image recording medium has a substrate having a hot melt extruded ink-receiving layer formed on a first side of the substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes at least 50% of a hydrogel by weight. The hydrogel is capable of absorbing at least 50% of its dry weight of water.

Abstract: An image supporting medium includes a raw base paper, and a film forming resin disposed on at least one side of the raw base paper, wherein the raw base paper is formed of fibers from between 0.5 and 3.0 mm in weighted average length. Additionally, the image supporting medium includes from between 1 and 40% filler by weight.