Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for filling a void in a printed image which has been printed by a thermal transfer printing process employs of a heat-sensitive pigmented material on a foil. A piece of the foil is provided with a dot of the pigmented material having the same color as that bordering the void to be filled and approximately the same size as the void. The foil is positioned on the printed image, with the dot facing and superposed over the void. Heat is applied to the back of the foil, opposite to the dot, while at least the heated portion of the foil is pressed against the image to transfer the pigmented material from the foil to the void in the image. Instead of a dot, the pigmented material can take the form of an image and be transferred from the foil to a receptor material. A heater for simultaneously applying heat and pressure to the foil comprises a handle, a heater element projecting from the handle, and a generally planar registration shield fixed to the handle and resiliently carried in spaced relation to the heater element, such that the heater element may be brought into contact with the shield by pressing the handle toward the shield.

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First Claim