Method for manufacturing an engineered stone and an engineered stone

A method for manufacturing an engineered stone, the method comprising:

• providing a mixture comprising at least a particulate material and a binder;
• adding a coloring agent to the mixture in such a manner to provide a basic décor;
• compacting the mixture;
• curing the binder to form an engineered stone;
• polishing a top surface of the cured engineered stone;
• printing a pattern with at least one ultraviolet (UV) curable inorganic ink on the top surface of the cured engineered stone, the printed pattern having a resolution up to 600 dots per inch (dpi);
• and
• curing the printed pattern,
• wherein the printing is an inkjet digital printing step comprising applying a plurality of dots of ink to the top surface of the cured engineered stone,
• wherein the basic décor is a veined effect imitating a natural stone,
• wherein the basic décor is created on the entire thickness of the engineered stone,
• wherein the basic décor and the printed pattern are both visible on at least the top surface of the cured engineered stone,
• wherein the basic décor is created before the compacting step, and
• wherein the printing step is performed after the compacting step.