Thermal transfer printing

A support for an article onto which an image is to be printed by thermal transfer printing from a retransfer intermediate sheet, comprising:

• an engagement surface generally shaped for engagement with the article;
• and a body formed from an elastomeric material and provided with a structure that substantially prevents deformation of the parts of the body other than the engagement surface, wherein at least a portion of the engagement surface is formed from the elastomeric material.

A method of making a support for an article onto which an image is to be printed by thermal transfer printing from a retransfer intermediate sheet, the method comprising forming a body from an elastomeric material and providing said body with a structure that substantially prevents deformation of the parts of the body other than an engagement surface, the engagement surface generally being shaped for engagement with the article, and forming at least a portion of the engagement surface from the elastomeric material.

An apparatus for thermal transfer printing of an image from a retransfer intermediate sheet onto an article, the apparatus including heating means adapted to supply a flow of heated gas for causing dye transfer, a pump adapted to establish a pressure difference across the sheet, and at least one support for the article, the support having an engagement surface generally shaped for engagement with the article, the support having a body formed from an elastomeric material and provided with a structure that substantially prevents deformation of the parts of the body other than the engagement surface, and wherein at least a portion of the engagement surface is formed from the elastomeric material.

A method of printing an image from a thermal retransfer sheet onto an article, comprising causing the sheet and article to come into contact;

• and heating the sheet by exposure to a flow of heated gas to cause dye transfer from the sheet to the article, wherein the article is engaged with an engagement surface of a support, the support having a body formed from an elastomeric material and provided with a structure that substantially prevents deformation of the parts of the body other than the engagement surface, the support having the engagement surface generally shaped for engagement with the article, and wherein at least a portion of the engagement surface is formed from the elastomeric material.