Direct to substrate printing assembly, methods of use thereof and compositions produced thereby

A method of direct to substrate printing comprising:

• printing an ink onto a substrate to form an ink layer;
• disposing a binder onto the ink layer,
• wherein the substrate with the ink layer and the binder layer forms a composition;
• curing or partially curing the ink layer and binder layer to provide i) a cured ink layer and a cured binder layer, ii) a partially cured ink layer and a partially cured binder layer, iii) a cured ink layer and a partially cured binder layer, or iv) a partially cured ink layer and a cured binder layer;
• orienting the partially cured binder layer or the cured binder layer of the composition to face towards an article to be printed and disposing the composition onto the article to be printed;
• transferring the partially cured ink layer or the cured ink layer and the partially cured binder layer or the cured binder layer onto the article to be printed to provide a printed article;
• and
• removing the substrate from the printed article,
• wherein the substrate is transported automatically throughout the method.

A transferable image composition for direct to substrate printing comprising:

• a substrate;
• a printed ink layer comprising an image to be printed on an article;
• and
• a binder layer comprising a jettable binder or a powder adhesive disposed on the printed ink layer.