Printed articles and methods and systems of producing same

1. A method comprising:

providing a substantially transparent film having a first side and a second side;

applying a coating material to the first side of the film, the coating material having a first glass transition temperature;

curing the coating material by a process using one of radiant heat and ultraviolet light;

heating the coating material above the first glass transition temperature;

printing on the first side of the film using an ink having a second glass transition temperature that is higher than the first glass transition temperature, wherein printing the image comprises printing an image using a digital offset printer; and

coating the second side of the film with a pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the first side of the film, the image having a line quality of greater than or equal to about 100 lines per inch.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the first side of the film, the image having a line quality of greater than or equal to about 230 lines per inch.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the first side of the film, the image having a resolution greater than or equal to about 300 dots per inch.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the first side of the film, the image having a resolution in the range of about 300 dots per inch to about 812 dots per inch.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the first side of the film, the image having a resolution of about 812 dots per inch.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing an image on the first side of the film, the image having alphanumeric characters with a font of greater than or equal to 4 points.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coming material altars the pH of the film.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating material altars the dyne level of the film.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive is hypoallergenic.

11. A method comprising:

providing a substantially transparent film having a first side and a second side;

coating the first side of the film with a primer that facilitates an application of a printed image on the first side of the film, wherein printing the image comprises printing an image using a digital offset printer;

physically modifying the surface of the first side of the film;

heating the primer above a glass transition temperature of the primer;

applying a printed image on the first side of the film while the temperature of the primer is above the glass transition temperature of the primer;

coating the second side of the film with a pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive that facilitates a temporary application of the film to a material selected from the group consisting of skin, glass, paper, wood, plastic, metal, fabric, and neoprene;

cutting the film in a longitudinal direction to remove excess material; and

feeding the film onto a spool.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein physically modifying the surface of the first side of the film comprises a corona treatment.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein physically modifying the surface of the first side of the film comprises sputter etching.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing a release liner on the second side of the film.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

printing an image on the first side of the film to create a printed article.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein printing the image comprises printing an image using a flexographic printer.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein printing the image comprises printing an image with an ink selected from the group consisting of: phosphorescent ink, fluorescent ink, dye-based ink, pigment-based ink, color ink, black ink, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the printed article is selected from the group consisting of a camouflage, a temporary tattoo, a decal, surgical instruction, corporate advertising, a bar code, a security device, a watermark, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the printed article has a resolution of about 812 dots per inch and a line quality of about 230 lines per inch.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive is hypoallergenic.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the primer comprises isopropyl alcohol and polyethylene imine.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the primer comprises isopropyl alcohol in an amount of about 10-20% by weight of the primer and polyethylene imine in an amount from about 0.1-2.5% by weight of the primer.

23. The method of claim 11 , wherein the primer is water-soluble.

24. A method of producing printed articles, comprising the steps of:

printing a first side of a transparent film, wherein the film further includes a second side coated with a pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive;

applying a release liner to the adhesive;

coating the first side with a coating before printing the first side, wherein the coating has a glass transition temperature lower than that of ink applied on the first side of the transparent film during a digital printing process;

curing the coating by a method chosen from: radiant heat, ambient air, forced air flow, and ultraviolet light;

heating the coating above its glass transition temperature during printing, whereby the coating bonds to ink dispersed in the printing process;

die-cutting the printed articles;

peeling away excess film from the printed articles;

cutting the release liner and the adhesive of the printed articles in the longitudinal direction of feed of the printed articles; and

rolling the printed articles onto a spool.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the printed article is chosen from: camouflage, a temporary tattoo, a decal, surgical instruction, corporate advertising, a bar code, a security device, a watermark, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the transparent film is chosen from one of: polyester, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), coextruded EVA and white polyethylene, and moisture vapor permeable polyurethane (PU) plastic.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the adhesive is hypoallergenic.

28. The method article of claim 24 , further comprising printing the first side with an image having a resolution greater than or equal to approximately 300 dots per inch.

29. The method of claim 24 , further comprising printing the first side with an image having a line quality greater than or equal to approximately 100 lines per inch.

30. The method of claim 24 , further comprising printing the first side with alphanumeric lettering having a font greater than or equal to 4 points.

31. The method of claim 24 , further comprising printing the first side with a digital offset printer.

32. The method of claim 24 , further comprising printing the first side with a flexographic printer.

33. The method of claim 24 , further comprising printing the first side with an ink chosen from: phosphorescent, fluorescent, color, and black, and combinations thereof.

34. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating comprises:

isopropyl alcohol; and

polyethylene imine.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the coating comprises:

isopropyl alcohol in an amount from about 10-20% by weight of the coating; and

polyethylene imine in an amount from about 0.1-2.5% by weight of the coating.

36. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating facilitates imaging of the printed article by a digital printer.

37. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating facilitates imaging of the printed article by a flexographic printer.

38. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating alters the pH of the film to thereby enable the film to be more receptive to the ink.

39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the coating alters the pH of the film from a pH of about 4-5 to a pH of about 7.

40. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating comprises a component that increases the surface tension of the film to thereby enable the film to be more receptive to the ink.

41. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating comprises a component that alters the surface tension of the film from about 20-32 dynes to about 42-44 dynes.

42. The method of claim 24 , wherein the coating is water-soluble.

43. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

providing the film on a roll; and

paying off the film from the roll directly in a printer.