Variable printing process using soft secondary plates and specialty inks

A method of using a flexible transfer plate in a printing process to decorate an exterior surface of a metallic container, comprising:

• forming a first image on a predetermined portion of a face portion of the flexible transfer plate by removing at least some of the face portion in a laser engraving process, wherein the flexible transfer plate is comprised of a saturated chain of polymethylene;
• removably affixing the flexible transfer plate with the first image onto a blanket cylinder of a decorator;
• attaching a plurality of first printing plates to a first plate cylinder of the decorator;
• attaching a plurality of second printing plates to a second plate cylinder of the decorator, the second printing plates including relief areas that align with the first image of the flexible transfer plate;
• applying a first ink from a first inker to at least one of the plurality of first printing plates;
• transferring at least some of the first ink from the at least one of the plurality of first printing plates to at least a portion of the flexible transfer plate;
• and
• transferring the first ink from the flexible transfer plate to the exterior surface of the metallic container, wherein the metallic container is decorated.