Patent ID: 8017297

Claim:
A method for imaging an article, comprising the steps of: providing a substantially planar electrically conductive substrate, wherein the substrate can withstand heating to 400° F. without significant change of physical or chemical properties; applying a white powder coating layer to a surface of the electrically conductive substrate; applying a clear coat powder coating over the white powder coating layer, wherein the clear coat powder coating exhibits a cure temperature ranging from about 280° F. to about 450° F. and is within about 20° F. of the temperature for dye sublimation; heating the clear coat powder coating near the cure temperature for the clear coat powder coating for a time ranging from about 10% to about 50% beyond the time required for initially curing the clear coat powder coating to provide an over cured clear coat layer; positioning a dye sublimation transfer medium containing the image to be transfer over the over cured, clear coat layer; after positioning the dye sublimation transfer medium over the over cured, clear coat layer, applying heat to the electrically conductive substrate to a dye sublimation temperature ranging from about 280° F. to about 450° F. and for a time sufficient to transfer the image from the dye sublimation transfer medium to the over cured clear coat layer, wherein the electrically conductive substrate is positioned between the heat source and the over cured, clear coat layer to provide a substantially planar imaged article.