Method of hot marking, and a multilayer structure for implementing such a method

A hot marking method enabling decoration to be made on an article, comprising:

• supplying a multilayer structure comprising a layer of varnish that hardens under the effect of radiation, a backing layer, and a layer of decoration, the varnish layer being situated between the backing layer and the decoration layer;
• bringing said multilayer structure into contact with the article;
• applying pressure and heat to the backing layer at a location where it is desired to transfer the decoration layer onto the article, the varnish layer being transferred locally onto the article together with the decoration layer;
• withdrawing the backing layer;
• and
• causing the layer of varnish that has been transferred onto the article to harden by exposing it to said radiation,
• wherein the varnish layer and the decoration layer both remain on an external surface of the article after the transfer, and wherein the varnish layer is exposed to said radiation while temperature thereof is still close to maximum temperature thereof at time when pressure and heat are applied to the backing layer, a temperature difference between the temperature and the maximum temperature being less than 30% of the maximum temperature.