Heat transfer printing

A process for printing a heat transferable image, the process comprising:

• electrostatically printing a transparent release composition onto a transfer material to form a release layer disposed on the transfer material;
• electrostatically printing an electrostatic ink composition on the release layer to form an image layer disposed on the release layer;
• and
• laminating a thermoplastic film to the image layer, wherein the thermoplastic film has a thickness of at least 50 μm or wherein the thermoplastic film comprises two or more layers of material.

A heat transferable printed image comprising:

• a transfer material;
• an electrostatically printed transparent release layer disposed on the transfer material;
• an electrostatically printed image layer disposed on the release layer;
• and
• a thermoplastic film laminated to the image layer, wherein the thermoplastic film has a thickness of at least 50 μm or wherein the thermoplastic film comprises two or more layers of material.

A process for heat transfer printing, the process comprising:

• electrostatically printing a transparent release composition onto a transfer material to form a release layer disposed on the transfer material;
• electrostatically printing an electrostatic ink composition on the release layer to form an image layer disposed on the release layer;
• contacting a thermoplastic film with the image layer;
• contacting the thermoplastic film with a fabric substrate under conditions such that the thermoplastic film adheres to the fabric substrate and the release layer is softened;
• and
• separating the fabric substrate and the transfer material such that the thermoplastic film, image layer and release layer are transferred to the fabric substrate.