Film transfer apparatus with variable film web guidance

An apparatus for transferring a transfer layer onto a printing material, the apparatus comprising:

• a printing press for printing images on the printing material, wherein the printing material is guided along a printing material transport path through the printing press and through a transfer nip formed between an impression cylinder and a film transfer cylinder;
• a film module disposed in a machine room of a print shop containing said printing press and at least one further sheet-processing machine, said film module having at least one transfer film supply roller for storing and unwinding therefrom at least one transfer film web with a carrier film and a transfer layer;
• a transfer film guiding device for guiding the transfer film web from the transfer film supply roller to the transfer nip along a film transport path, the transfer nip being configured to transfer the transfer layer onto the printing material as the printing material is guided through the transfer nip along the printing material transport path;
• and
• said guiding device including web guiding elements positioned and configured to selectively guide the transfer film web to at least one position in said printing press and at least one position in said at least one further sheet processing machine.