Patent ID: 8910575

Claim:
A method of printing which comprises: a) applying a layer of a first fluid ink onto a surface of a substrate, which first fluid ink comprises an admixture of at least one colorant, and at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or ethylenically unsaturated polymer, which first fluid ink has a maximum of 10% volatile components; thereafter b) applying a layer of a second fluid ink onto the layer of the first fluid ink, which second fluid ink comprises an admixture of at least one colorant, and at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or ethylenically unsaturated, polymer, which second fluid ink has a maximum of 10% volatile components; thereafter c) optionally sequentially applying one or more additional layers of additional fluid ink onto at least one prior layer, which additional fluid ink comprises an admixture of at least one colorant, and at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or ethylenically unsaturated polymer, which additional fluid ink has a maximum of 10% volatile components; and thereafter d) simultaneously exposing said layers with sufficient electron beam radiation to cause the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or ethylenically unsaturated polymer in said layers to polymerize or crosslink such that they become dried; wherein the first fluid ink, the second fluid ink, and each additional fluid ink, if present, have a viscosity of from about 5,000 cps or more; and wherein the first fluid ink, the second fluid ink, and each additional fluid ink, if present, maintain a maximum 10% increase in viscosity prior to electron beam radiation; wherein at least one of steps i) and ii) is conducted: i) after step c) but before step d), applying a layer of a substantially visually transparent coating composition which coating composition has a viscosity of about 2000 cps or less onto at least one prior layer; and ii) after step d), applying and drying a layer of a substantially visually transparent coating composition which coating composition has a viscosity of about 2000 cps or less onto at least one prior layer.