Coating apparatus

A coating apparatus and an endless donor surface, the donor surface being movable so as to pass cyclically through the coating apparatus and the coating apparatus configured to coat the donor surface or portions thereof during each passage with a layer of metal or metal-looking particles for subsequent transfer of the particles from at least selected regions of the donor surface to a substrate, the coating apparatus comprising:

• a) a supply system configured to supply particles suspended in a fluid that does not wet the donor surface, the particles adhering more strongly to the donor surface than to one another,
• b) an application device configured to form a substantially continuous particle coating on the donor surface by applying the fluid to the donor surface such that at least a portion of the particles suspended in the fluid adhere to the donor surface,
• c) an impression station configured to transfer selected portions of the coating to the substrate;
• and
• d) a surplus extraction system configured to extract fluid and remove surplus particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface so as to leave adhering to the donor surface, after each passage through the coating apparatus, the substantially continuous particle coating that is substantially only a single particle deep, the surplus extraction system disposed to perform the extraction between the application device and the impression station.