A method for providing a prepared for print (PFP) light-blocking element, comprising the following steps A), B), C), and D), in order, unless otherwise indicated:
- A) providing a scoured fabric having a face side and a back side;
- B) disposing a non-foamed color-masking composition on the back side of the scoured fabric to form a coated fabric;
- C) drying the coated fabric to form a dried and non-foamed color-masking composition at a coverage of at least 5 g/m2 and up to and including 75 g/m2;
- and
- D) either heat-setting the scoured fabric between step A) and step B), or heat-setting the coated fabric during or after step C),
- to form a treated fabric having an uncoated face side and a coated back side,
- wherein the dried and non-foamed color-masking composition comprises one or more tinting components and a film-forming polymeric binder having a Tg of less than 25° C.,
- wherein the dried and non-foamed color-masking composition effectively reduces visual perception on the uncoated face side of the treated fabric when a cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer has been disposed on the coated back side, the reduced visual perception being measured by a ΔE value as determined from ΔL*, Δa*, and Δb* CEILAB color values, to be <2, compared to visual perception on the uncoated face side of the same treated fabric when the cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer has been omitted, and
- wherein the cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer comprises the following components (a) through (e):
- (a) porous particles that are present in an amount of at least 0.1 weight % and up to and including 35 weight %, each porous particle comprising a continuous polymeric phase and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase, the porous particles having a mode particle size of at least 2 μm and up to and including 50 μm and a porosity of at least 20 volume % and up to and including 70 volume %;
- (b′) a binder matrix derived from a (b) binder material that has a glass transition temperature that is less than 25° C., and which (b′) binder matrix is present in an amount of at least 10 weight % and up to and including 80 weight %;
- (c) two or more additives that are present in a total amount of at least 0.0001 weight % and up to and including 40 weight %, the two or more additives comprising at least one foaming surfactant and at least one compound that is a foam stabilizer;
- (d) less than 5 weight % of an aqueous medium;
- and
- (e) an opacifying colorant that is present in an amount of at least 0.0001 weight % and up to and including 3 weight %, the opacifying colorant being a different material from all of the (a) porous particles, (b′) binder matrix, and (c) two or more additives, and which opacifying colorant absorbs electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of at least 380 nm and up to and including 800 nm,
- all amounts of the (a) porous particles, (b′) binder material, (c) two or more additives, (d) aqueous medium, and (e) opacifying colorant being based on the total weight of the cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer, and
- after completion of steps A), B), C), and D), carrying out the following steps E) through I), in order, unless otherwise indicated:
- E) disposing a foamed aqueous opacifying composition onto the dried and non-foamed color-masking composition of the treated fabric;
- F) drying the disposed foamed aqueous opacifying composition to form a dried foamed opacifying composition;
- G) crushing the dried foamed opacifying composition while the dried foamed opacifying composition and the dried and non-foamed color-masking composition of the treated fabric are passed in intimate contact between a pair of pressure rollers to provide a crushed and dried foamed opacifying layer on the coated back side of the treated fabric;
- H) curing the crushed and dried foamed opacifying composition during or after step G) to form the cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer on the coated back side of the treated fabric;
- and
- I) after step E), disposing a non-foamed functional composition on the cured, crushed, and dried foamed coating to provide a coverage of at least 0.5 g/cm2 and up to and including 10 g/cm2,
- to form a prepared for print (PFP) light-blocking element, wherein:
- the cured, crushed, and dried foamed opacifying layer comprises the identified components (a) through (e), and
- the non-foamed functional composition comprises glass particles or organic polymeric particles having a mode particle size of at least 5 μm and up to and including 100 μm, in an amount of at least 5 weight % and up to and including 99 weight %, and one or more water-soluble or water-dispersible organic polymeric binders, the amounts being based on the total weight of the non-foamed functional composition.