Method for cold film transfer with dynamic film tensioning

A method for at least partially transferring a transfer layer from a transfer film onto a printing material, the method comprising the following steps:

• guiding the transfer film and the printing material together through a transfer nip for releasing the transfer layer from a carrier layer of the transfer film under action of pressure and transferring the transfer layer onto the printing material;
• unwinding the transfer film from a supply reel and guiding the transfer film to the transfer nip with at least one first actuating element upstream of the transfer nip in a movement direction of the transfer film and/or transporting the transfer film away from the transfer nip with at least one second actuating element downstream of the transfer nip in the movement direction of the transfer film;
• substantially following a predefined movement profile and providing an active effect on the transfer film with the first actuating element for at least intermittently varying an advancing speed of the transfer film and/or adjusting the second actuating element as a function of web movement;
• acting on the movement profile of at least one of the actuating elements with a control system including a control circuit;
• mapping a first process variable in the control circuit, the first process variable being a function of a force acting on at least one of the actuating elements as a result of the transfer film or being a function of an actual current movement profile of the at least one actuating element;
• and
• calculating a measure of a web tension as a function of the first process variable and/or at least limiting an amplitude of the web tension with the control system.