System and method for ink jet printing of water-based inks using aesthetically pleasing ink-receptive coatings

1 . A method of printing an aqueous ink on at least one selected area of a nonabsorbent and semi-nonabsorbent substrate, comprising steps of:

applying an ink-receptive coating having an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the selected area of the substrate,

at least partially drying the coating,

and printing an aqueous ink jet ink on the coating.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the ink-receptive coating is applied using a flexographic printing station, a gravure printing station, or pad printing.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the ink-receptive coating includes a colorant.

4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the ink-receptive coating has a semi-gloss or glossy appearance.

5 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein the coating is at least partially dried with heat or is cured by exposure to actinic radiation or thermally or both by exposure to actinic radiation and thermally.

6 . A method of printing variable print in selected areas on a nonabsorbent or semi-nonabsorbent web or roll of a substrate, comprising steps of:

applying an ink-receptive coating having an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the selected areas,

at least partially drying the coating,

and printing an aqueous ink jet ink on the coating in variable print.

7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the ink-receptive coating is applied using a print station of a web flexographic or gravure press or by pad printing.

8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein repetitive print is applied at one or more additional print stations of the press.

9 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the ink-receptive coating has a glossy or semi-gloss appearance and further wherein the print station includes a thermal dryer.

10 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the ink-receptive coating has a glossy or semi-gloss appearance and further wherein the ink-receptive coating is cured.

11 . A method of continuously printing variable print in selected areas on sheets of nonabsorbent or semi-nonabsorbent substrate, comprising steps of:

applying to the selected area on each sheet an ink-receptive coating having an aesthetically pleasing appearance;

at least partially drying the coating; and

printing an aqueous ink jet ink in variable print in the area by a continuous ink jet printer.

12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the ink-receptive coating includes a colorant.

13 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the ink-receptive coating is colored to match a highlighted area on which it is applied.

14 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the ink-receptive coating has a gloss with an acceptable match to gloss in an adjacent area of each sheet.

15 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein, in the variable print is selected from the group consisting of variable text, variable numbers, variable bar codes, and variable graphics.

16 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein the method is carried out using a mail table.

17 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein the applied coating is at least partially dried or cured before printing the aqueous ink jet ink.

18 . A method of printing variable text on nonabsorbent or semi-nonabsorbent printed substrate using a printing press having multiple print stations, comprising steps of:

applying repetitive print with one to less than all of the print stations;

applying an ink-receptive coating in a selected area of the substrate with one of the print stations;

at least partially drying or curing the ink-receptive coating; and

applying a waterborne ink in the area of the ink receptive coating to form a variable print using an ink jet printer,

wherein the ink-receptive coating has an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

20 . A method according to claim 19 , wherein the coating is applied over a part of the substrate having a highlight color, and further wherein the coating is colored to have an acceptable color match to the highlight color.

21 . A printed web comprising variable print in a desired area, wherein the desired area is coated with an ink-receptive coating having an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

22 . A printed web according to claim 21 , wherein the aesthetically pleasing appearance has an acceptable color match to an area adjacent to the desired area.

23 . A printed web according to claim 21 , wherein the aesthetically pleasing appearance has an acceptable match in gloss to an area adjacent to the desired area.