US 5,476,540 A · Gel-forming inks for use in the alleviation of bleed

Abstract

A method for controlling color bleed between adjacent multi-color ink regions on a print medium is disclosed. Color bleed involves the migration of color agents between adjacent zones in a multicolored printed image on a print medium. A first composition containing a gel-forming species and a color agent is brought into contact on a region of the print medium with a second composition having a color agent and a gel-initiating species or chemical conditions which bring about gelation. In alternative embodiments, the print medium may be pretreated with either a gel-initiating species or a gel-forming species (with no colorant), followed by treatment with a gel-forming species or gel-initiating species (with colorant), respectively. The formation of the gel upon the print medium impedes the movement of the color agent or agents and thus reduces the color bleed between adjacent zones.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for printing multi-color images on a print medium in which color bleed between adjacent colored regions is controlled comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two compositions, a first composition comprising a gel-forming species and a second composition comprising a gel-initiating species which is capable of reacting with said first composition in order to form a gel therefrom, provided that at least one of said two compositions includes at least one coloring agent;
(b) applying said first composition to said print medium in a first region thereon;
(c) applying said second composition to said print medium in a second region thereon, said second region being directly adjacent to and in contact with said first region;
and
(d) allowing said gel-initiating species in said second composition to react with said gel-forming species in said first composition at a position on said print medium where said first region comes in contact with said second region so that said gel is formed at said position in order to prevent color bleed between said first composition in said first region and said second composition in said second region.

2 more elements

A method for printing multi-color images on a print medium in which color bleed is controlled comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two compositions, a first composition comprising a gel-forming species and a second composition comprising a gel-initiating species which is capable of reacting with said first composition in order to form a gel therefrom, provided that one of said two compositions includes at least one coloring agent;
(b) pretreating a first region of said print medium with either said first composition or said second composition and applying the other composition to said print medium in said first region thereon;
(c) allowing said gel-initiating species in said second composition to react with said gel-forming species in said first composition at said first region of said print medium so that said gel is formed at said position in order to prevent color bleed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gel-forming inks for use in the alleviation of bleed

Life of this patent

Gel-forming inks for use in the alleviation of bleed

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20