Patent ID: 7267055

Claim:
A method of transferring a membrane image by membrane image transfer to a substrate, the method comprising: providing an ink comprising: a hydrocarbon solvent having a predetermined evaporation rate; a synthetic polymeric resin; and a thixotrope for forming a thixotropic network in the ink, the thixotropic network having a thixotropic network magnitude of between 3×10 4 and 6×10 5 dynes/cm 2 -sec −1 and a thixotropic network strength of at least 35.0 gm-cm; applying a printed decoration of the ink through a screen to a membrane, defining the membrane image on the membrane; forming the membrane to the geometry of the surface of the substrate; adhering the membrane image to the substrate by pressing the membrane and the substrate together in forced contact; maintaining pressure between the membrane and the substrate to transfer the membrane image from the membrane to the substrate; and separating the membrane from the substrate.