Transfer printing process and article

In a process for producing a transfer lamination employed to apply an image to a flexible substrate which comprises the steps of forming a first transparent layer, printing an image layer onto the first layer, applying an adhesive layer to the image layer so that the three layers form a transfer lamination which can be adhesively applied to a flexible substrate, and drying and curing said layers, the improvement wherein:

• the first transparent layer is formed on a transfer sheet by applying a layer of transparent polyvinyl chloride plastisol heat resistant thermal elastic stretch ink to a release surface of the transfer sheet and partially curing said layer by infrared heating;
• the image layer is formed on the first layer so as to be visible through the first layer by lithographically printing heat resistant ink which is compatible with the first layer on to said first layer;
• and the adhesive layer is formed by applying a polyvinyl chloride plastisol heat resistant thermal elastic stretch ink over the first layer and the image layer;
• said layers being partially cured such that the first layer and adhesive layers are not tacky at room temperature.