Method and apparatus for transferring a printing substance onto a substrate by means of laser radiation

A method for transferring a printing substance provided as a coating on a carrier onto a substrate by laser radiation from a laser beam source that comprises an amplifier and has an output power, in which the laser radiation and the carrier are moved relative to one another and in the process the output power of the laser beam source is time modulated such that the printing substance is transferred only during an active phase and no printing substance is transferred during a passive phase, the method comprising:

• initiating the transfer process at the start of the active phase during a first time period of the transfer of the printing substance by a temporary increase in the output power above an upper power threshold of the laser radiation, and
• adjusting the output power during a second time period of the active phase following the first time period,
• wherein the output power is adjusted during the second time period constantly in the range between the upper power threshold and a lower power threshold.