Abstract: A personalized identification document processing system includes a print station that includes a thermal print head and a print ribbon that is engageable by the thermal print head to thermally transfer material from the print ribbon to personalize the plastic identification document. The print ribbon includes a repeating sequence of panels of thermally transferrable material, with each sequence of panels including at least one panel of thermally transferrable color material followed by at least one panel of thermally transferrable radiation curable protective topcoat material. The color material and the topcoat material are applied to the plastic identification document in a printing process, with the topcoat material applied over at least a portion of the color material. The topcoat material is then cured and once cured enhances the durability of the color material.

Abstract: A personalized identification document processing system includes a print station that is configured as a retransfer printer with a retransfer film having a transferrable print receptive material and a transferrable radiation curable material. An image/data is printed on the transferrable print receptive material, and thereafter the print receptive material containing the printed image/data together with at least some of the transferrable radiation curable material is transferred to a surface of the plastic identification document. The radiation curable material is then cured and once cured enhances the durability of the printed image/data.

Abstract: A material that is curable by radiation is applied over or included in colored material on non-printed machined characters formed on a plastic card. After applying the colored material and the radiation curable material to the machined characters, radiation is used to cure the radiation curable material. The colored material has improved durability due to the radiation cured material.

Abstract: A plastic card personalization system with a drop-on-demand plastic card print station that prints radiation curable material, a plasma treatment station, and a radiation curing station. By using a combination of controlling plasma treatment conditions on the surface of the plastic card prior to DOD printing together with controlling the dwell time of the printed material applied to the plastic card prior to full curing of the printed material, a surprising and unexpected improvement of the adhesion of the printed material to the plastic card is achieved.

Abstract: A topcoat layer that has a defined surface structure on an outer surface thereof once the topcoat layer is laminated to a substrate. The surface structure of the topcoat layer provides a matte surface finish to the underlying substrate. Any attempt to alter the substrate or the topcoat layer will result in disruption or destruction of the surface structure of the topcoat layer making such tampering evident. Replication of the surface structure of the topcoat layer by a counterfeiter is also difficult without the appropriate equipment.

Abstract: A material that is curable by radiation is applied over or included in colored material on non-printed machined characters formed on a plastic card. After applying the colored material and the radiation curable material to the machined characters, radiation is used to cure the radiation curable material. The colored material has improved durability due to the radiation cured material.

Abstract: A topcoat layer that has a defined surface structure on an outer surface thereof once the topcoat layer is laminated to a substrate. The surface structure of the topcoat layer provides a matte surface finish to the underlying substrate. Any attempt to alter the substrate or the topcoat layer will result in disruption or destruction of the surface structure of the topcoat layer making such tampering evident. Replication of the surface structure of the topcoat layer by a counterfeiter is also difficult without the appropriate equipment.

Abstract: Improved printing inks that provide selectively enhanced properties when applied to substrates. In particular, the improved inks use microcapsules to improve the quality, durability, and/or security of printed inks on substrates, for example identification documents. The microcapsules contain property enhancing chemical components that can be released from the capsules before, during or after printing is completed. The property enhancing components bring about a physical interaction and/or chemical reaction at the ink-substrate interface, in the print ink composition, and/or in the print ink surface, which may result for instance in at least one of improved adhesion, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and cohesive strength of the printed ink.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for printing an image on a substrate. An image is printed onto a carrier substrate that has been coated with a receptive layer having at least two layers: a transferable skin layer and an absorptive layer. The image is then transferred to a final substrate using heat and pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for printing an image on a substrate. An image is printed onto a carrier substrate that has been coated with a receptive layer having at least two layers: a transferable skin layer and an absorptive layer. The image is then transferred to a final substrate using heat and pressure.