Protective overlay bearing a graphic and retroreflective articles comprising the overlay

A method of making a retroreflective article, the method comprising:

• providing an optical layer comprising retroreflective optical elements, the optical layer having a front surface and a rear surface;
• providing an overlay having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface of the overlay being at least partially formed of a bonding material that has a bonding temperature greater than room temperature;
• applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay;
• and
• coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of the optical layer,
• wherein applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay includes at least one of:
• applying a graphic material to the rear surface of the overlay to form the graphic, the graphic material having a bonding temperature greater than room temperature;
• and
• infusing the bonding material with the graphic.

A transfer article comprising:

• an overlay having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface of the overlay adapted to be coupled to a substrate,
• the overlay including a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay,
• wherein the rear surface of the overlay is at least partially formed of a bonding material that has a bonding temperature greater than room temperature, and wherein at least one of:
• the rear surface is further at least partially formed of a graphic material forming the graphic that has a bonding temperature greater than room temperature;
• and
• the bonding material is infused with the graphic.