Method and system for transfer printing of films

A transfer printing method for adhering a film onto a substrate, comprising:

• placing said film on the surface of a liquid so that said film floats or otherwise rests on the surface of the liquid, said film including a proximal edge and a distal edge;
• wherein the y-axis is defined as perpendicular to the plane of the surface of the liquid, wherein below the plane of the surface of the liquid is the negative y-axis and above the plane of the surface of the liquid is the positive y-axis;
• moving said film and said substrate relative to one another until at initial contact said proximal edge of said film makes contact with said substrate across a transfer front (P) of said substrate;
• advancing or retracting said substrate at a specified velocity (U), with a specified force (F), relative to the location of the liquid and at a specified substrate angle (α) relative to the negative y-axis so that said film elastically deforms onto said advancing or retracting substrate due to capillary force between the liquid and said film;
• and
• detaching said film from the surface of the liquid and adhering said film onto said advancing or retracting substrate along said transfer front (P), wherein said film gradually transits across the transfer front (P) among said advancing or retracting substrate, wherein said transfer front (P) is defined as a single line segment or arc wherein said substrate, said film, and the surface of the liquid all simultaneously intersect one another and physically contact one another;
• and
• wherein said film which has been adhered onto said substrate defines a transfer printed substrate, wherein said method further comprises the following steps:
• a) placing a subsequent film or separation layer on the surface of said liquid so that said subsequent film or separation layer floats or otherwise rests on the surface of said liquid, said subsequent film or separation layer including a proximal edge and a distal edge;
• b) moving said subsequent film or separation layer and said transfer printed substrate relative to one another until at initial contact said proximal edge of said subsequent film or separation layer makes contact with said transfer printed substrate across a transfer front (P) of said transfer printed substrate;
• c) advancing or retracting said transfer printed substrate at a specified velocity U, with specified force (F), relative to the location of said liquid and at a specified transfer printed substrate angle (α) relative to the negative y-axis so that said subsequent film or separation layer elastically deforms onto said advancing or retracting transfer printed substrate due to capillary force between said liquid and said subsequent film or separation layer;
• and
• d) detaching said subsequent film or separation layer from said liquid and adhering said subsequent film or separation layer onto said advancing or retracting transfer printed substrate along said transfer front (P), wherein said subsequent film or separation layer gradually transits across the transfer front (P) among said advancing or retracting transfer printed substrate, wherein said transfer front (P) is defined as a single line segment or arc wherein said transfer printed substrate, said subsequent film or separation layer, and the surface of said liquid all simultaneously intersect one another and physically contact one another.