Patent ID: 6209998
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B41J,B41M

Abstract:
A method of forming a high gloss pigmented surface on a sheet of glossy print medium, comprising the steps:applying to a sheet of print medium a sufficient amount of liquid pigmented ink to form a printed image, said sheet of print medium having a smooth upper surface for reflecting light and said liquid pigmented ink having a plurality of particles of pigment for helping to reflect specular light;applying a sufficient first amount of heat for a sufficient first period of time to said liquid pigmented ink to cause loosely packed clumps of discrete pigmented particles to adhere to said smooth upper surface in a first pigmented layer, said pigmented layer having a rough upper surface with a relatively low gloss in comparison with the smooth upper surface of the print medium, but not a sufficient amount of heat to cause said smooth upper surface of said sheet of print medium to be heat distorted; and thenapplying a sufficient second amount of heat for a sufficient second period of time to cause said rough upper surface to soften and form a second pigamented layer, having a relatively smooth upper surface for reflecting substantially specular light with a relatively high gloss in comparison with the rough upper surface of the first pigmented layer;wherein said first sufficient period of time is substantially longer than said second sufficient period of time.