Methods for UV gel ink leveling and direct-to-substrate digital radiation curable gel ink printing, apparatus and systems having leveling member with a metal oxide surface

摘要

A radiation curable gel ink leveling method for digital direct-to-substrate radiation curable gel ink printing includes depositing radiation curable gel ink directly onto a substrate, irradiating the gel ink to increase a viscosity of the gel ink, adding sacrificial release fluid to a hydrophilic leveling roll surface, the leveling roll surface including metal oxide, and leveling the ink with the leveling roll. UV gel ink printing systems and leveling apparatus include a leveling roll having a metal oxide surface suitable for use with water based release fluids that contain a surfactant and/or polymer.