Printed materials

Abstract

To provide printed materials that allow for the viewing of high-quality images regardless of the lighting conditions. [Solution] The printed material (31P) comprises a substrate (31), a sublimation ink layer (CL) formed on the first surface (31a) side of the substrate (31), and a molten ink layer (S) formed so as to overlap at least a portion of the sublimation ink layer (CL), wherein the molten ink layer (S) includes a halftone-patterned first region (Zi) and a non-halftone-patterned second region (Zt).

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to printing to things . 【Background Art】 【0002】 Patent Document 1 describes a card in which characters or patterns printed on one surface of a transparent substrate by offset printing or the like can be visually recognized through the substrate from the other surface side of the substrate. Patent Document 2 describes a so-called re-transfer type printing method and printing apparatus for obtaining a card printed with a full-color image by superimposing and transferring an image formed by a plurality of types of sublimation inks arranged in sequence on a surface of an ink film onto an intermediate transfer film to form a full-color image and then re-transferring the full-color image onto one surface of a card substrate. 【0003】 Since the card described in Patent Document 1 allows the image printed on one surface of the transparent substrate to be seen through the substrate, the visible image is said to have transparency and a sense of depth, making it excellent in design, and is expected to be popular as a so-called push-utilization acrylic card. In such applications, high image quality of the image is particularly important. Therefore, printing is preferably performed by a re-transfer method using sublimation inks of vivid colors as described in Patent Document 2 to obtain high resolution. Also, even when the substrate is non-transparent, high image quality of the image printed on one surface side of the substrate and viewed without passing through the substrate is important, and printing is preferably performed by a re-transfer method using sublimation inks of vivid colors to obtain high resolution. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0004】 【Patent Document 1】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-315475 【Patent Document 2】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-330782 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0005】 Often, when printing images onto a card base, a special effect is achieved by adding a single-color ink image, such as a metallic sheen, to a color image. In this case, sublimation ink is typically used for the color image, as described above, while a melt-type ink (hereinafter referred to as melt-type ink) is used for the special color ink. 【0006】 Generally, improving the image quality of printed images requires improving the expression of density gradations. In this respect, sublimation inks excel at expressing density gradations because the density can be continuously changed by controlling the heating temperature. On the other hand, melt-type inks make it difficult to continuously change the density, so there is room for improvement in the expression of density gradations with melt-type inks when it comes to improving the image quality of images printed on cards. 【0007】 Therefore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is printing that can obtain high-quality printed images using sublimation ink and molten ink. things The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem] 【0008】 To solve the above problems, the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: )of It has a particular form. 1 ) comprising a substrate, a sublimation ink layer having an image formed on the first surface side of the substrate, and a molten ink layer having an image that overlaps with at least a portion of the image of the sublimation ink layer, The molten ink layer includes a first region that is halftone-patterned and a second region that is not halftone-patterned. In the area where the image of the sublimation ink layer and the image of the molten ink layer overlap, the gradation of the image of the molten ink layer is inverted relative to the gradation of the image of the sublimation ink layer. [Effects of the Invention] 【0009】 Printing according to an embodiment of the present invention to things According to this method, high-quality printed images can be obtained using sublimation ink and fused ink. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0010】 [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a printing apparatus PR, which is one embodiment of a retransfer type printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] Figure 2A is a block diagram of the PR printing apparatus. [Figure 2B] Figure 2B is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image data generation unit CT1, which is part of the control unit CT of the printing apparatus PR. [Figure 3A] Figure 3A is a plan view of the ink ribbon 11 used in the PR printing device. [Figure 3B] Figure 3B is a side view of the ink ribbon 11. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A is a plan view of the intermediate transfer film 21 used in the PR printing apparatus. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B is a side view of the intermediate transfer film 21. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic side view showing the intermediate image P1 and intermediate image P2 transferred onto the intermediate transfer film 21 using the ink from the ink ribbon 11. [Figure 6A] Figure 6A is a schematic side view showing how the intermediate image body P1T, on which the intermediate image P1 is formed, is transferred to the substrate 31. [Figure 6B] Figure 6B is a schematic side view showing an embodiment in which an intermediate image body P2T, on which an intermediate image P2 is formed, is superimposed onto an intermediate image body P1T to form an image body P12T. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the image P12 formed on the image body P12T. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a feature image Zi based on image P12. [Figure 9A] Figure 9A is a schematic diagram showing the intermediate halftone image Zia used to form image P12. [Figure 9B] Figure 9B is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 9A, illustrating the area gradation of the intermediate halftone image Zia. [Figure 10A]FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a characteristic text image Zt extracted from the image P12. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a tone-inverted image Zta obtained by tone-inverting the characteristic text image Zt. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the characteristic image Z. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the image body P12T. [Figure 13A] FIG. 13A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional configuration at the S13A - S13A position in FIG. 12. [Figure 13B] FIG. 13B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional configuration at the S13B - S13B position in FIG. 12. [Figure 13C] FIG. 13C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another cross-sectional configuration of the image body P12T. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a graph for explaining the relationship between the metallic luster N and the contrast ratio R of the image P12. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the function of the TH value setting unit C2d provided in the control unit CT. FIG. 15(a) shows the original image, FIG. 15(b) shows the image when the TH value is 1, FIG. 15(c) shows the image when the TH value is 100, and FIG. 15(d) shows the image when the TH value is 254. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image data generation unit CT1. [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A is a schematic side view showing a state in which the intermediate images P3S and P3G are transferred and formed on the intermediate transfer film 21 using the ink of the ink ribbon 11 in Example 2. [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B is a schematic side view showing a mode of transferring the image body P30T to the substrate 31B. [Figure 17C] FIG. 17C is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printed matter 31PB when the substrate 31B is white and opaque. [Figure 17D] FIG. 17D is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printed matter 31PB when the substrate 31B is non-transparent other than white. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0011】 First, the configuration of the printing apparatus PR, which is one embodiment of the retransfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6B. Figure 1 is a structural diagram of the printing apparatus PR, which is one embodiment of the retransfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A is a block diagram of the printing apparatus PR. Figure 2B is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the image data generation unit CT1, which is included in the control unit CT of the printing apparatus PR. Figure 3A is a plan view of the ink ribbon 11 used in the printing apparatus PR. Figure 3B is a side view of the ink ribbon 11. Figure 4A is a plan view of the intermediate transfer film 21 used in the printing apparatus PR. Figure 4B is a side view of the intermediate transfer film 21. Figure 5 is a schematic side view showing the intermediate images P1 and P2 transferred and formed on the intermediate transfer film 21 using the ink of the ink ribbon 11. Figure 6A is a schematic side view showing the transfer of the intermediate image body P1T, on which the intermediate image P1 is formed, to the substrate 31. Figure 6B is a schematic side view showing an embodiment in which an intermediate image body P2T, on which an intermediate image P2 is formed, is superimposed onto an intermediate image body P1T to form an image body P12T. 【0012】 As shown in Figure 1, the printing device PR is a so-called retransfer type card printer and comprises a housing PRa, a display unit PRb, an image forming apparatus 51, and a retransfer apparatus 52. The image forming apparatus 51 and the retransfer apparatus 52 are housed inside the housing PRa. The display unit PRb is positioned on the surface of the housing PRa and displays the operating status of the printing device PR and an input screen for operation to the user. 【0013】 In the following explanation, the directions up, down, left, and right are defined as the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. These directions are defined for the convenience of explanation and do not limit the orientation or direction of use of the structure and components of the printing device PR. 【0014】 The image forming apparatus 51 is designed to allow the attachment of a supply reel 12 and a take-up reel 13 for the ink ribbon 11. The attached supply reel 12 and take-up reel 13 are rotated by the drive of motors M12 and M13, respectively. The rotation speed and direction of motors M12 and M13 are controlled by a control unit CT provided in the image forming apparatus 51. As shown in Figure 2A, the control unit CT includes an image data generation unit CT1, a central processing unit (CPU) CT2, a drive control unit CT3, a transfer method determination unit CT4, and a storage unit MR. Details of the control unit CT will be described later. 【0015】 As shown in Figure 1, the ink ribbon 11 is guided by a plurality of guide shafts 14 between the supply reel 12 and the take-up reel 13 and stretched along a predetermined travel path. The ink ribbon 11 is stretched so that its ribbon base 11a (see Figure 3B) is located on the side that contacts the guide shafts 14. An ink ribbon sensor 15 for leading off is positioned along the travel path of the ink ribbon 11. The ink ribbon sensor 15 detects the color boundary position of the ink ribbon 11 shown in Figures 3A and 3B and sends ribbon detection information J1 (see Figure 2A) to the control unit CT. 【0016】 A thermal head 16 is positioned between the ink ribbon sensor 15 and the take-up reel 13 in the travel path of the ink ribbon 11. The thermal head 16 moves toward and toward the surface of the ribbon base 11a of the stretched ink ribbon 11 (in the left-right direction in Figure 1). This moving toward and toward operation of the thermal head 16 is performed by the head moving toward / apart drive unit D16 under the control of the control unit CT. 【0017】 The image forming apparatus 51 is configured such that a supply reel 22 and a take-up reel 23 for the intermediate transfer film 21 can be detachably attached to the left side of the loaded ink ribbon 11 in Figure 1. The attached supply reel 22 and take-up reel 23 are rotated by the drive of motors M22 and M23, respectively. The rotation speed and direction of motors M22 and M23 are controlled by the control unit CT. 【0018】 The intermediate transfer film 21 is guided by a plurality of guide shafts 24 between the supply reel 22 and the take-up reel 23 and stretched along a predetermined travel path. A frame mark sensor 25 for leading off is positioned along the travel path of the intermediate transfer film 21. The frame mark sensor 25 detects the frame marks 21e (see Figures 4A and 4B) on the intermediate transfer film 21 and sends frame mark detection information J2 (see Figure 2) to the control unit CT. The intermediate transfer film 21 is light-transmitting. For example, the frame mark sensor 25 is an optical sensor, and the frame marks 21e are formed as portions that block light, and the frame mark sensor 25 is configured to detect the position of the frame marks 21e from the difference between light transmission and blocking. 【0019】 Between the frame mark sensor 25 and the supply reel 22 in the travel path of the intermediate transfer film 21, a platen roller 26 is positioned, which is rotated by the drive of motor M26. The rotation speed and direction of motor M26 are controlled by the control unit CT. 【0020】 The thermal head 16 moves toward and toward the ink ribbon 11 by the left-right separation movement shown in Figure 1, driven by the head separation drive unit D16. This separation movement may also be performed by the platen roller 26, as long as the thermal head 16 and the platen roller 26 move toward and toward each other relatively. Specifically, the thermal head 16 moves between a contact position where it presses the ink ribbon 11 toward the platen roller 26, sandwiching the intermediate transfer film 21 and the ink ribbon 11 between the platen roller 26 and the thermal head 16, and a separation position (the position shown in Figure 1) where it is separated from the ink ribbon 11. When the thermal head 16 is in the contact position, the transfer described later takes place. 【0021】 With the thermal head 16 in a separated position, the ink ribbon 11 and the intermediate transfer film 21 can be independently wound onto the take-up reels 13 and 23 and unwound onto the supply reels 12 and 22, respectively, by the operation of motors M12, M13 and M22, M23. 【0022】 The ink ribbon 11 and the intermediate transfer film 21 are able to move toward the supply reel side or the take-up reel side while in close contact with each other when the thermal head 16 is in the pressure-contact position. This movement is performed by the rotation of the supply reels 12, 22, take-up reels 13, 23, and platen roller 26, driven by motors M12, M13, M22, M23, and motor M26, which are controlled by the control unit CT. 【0023】 When the thermal head 16 is in the pressure contact position, the image data generation unit CT1 of the control unit CT supplies image data SN1 to be transferred to each frame F (see Figures 4A and 4B), which constitutes the transfer area of ​​one image on the intermediate transfer film 21, to the thermal head 16 at an appropriate timing. This timing is determined by the entire control unit CT based on frame mark detection information J2, etc. The image data generation unit CT1 generates the image data SN1 based on the transfer image information J3 supplied to the control unit CT via the communication unit 37 from an external data device 38, etc., as shown in Figure 2A. Details of the method of generating image data SN1 by the image data generation unit CT1 will be described later. 【0024】 As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the ink ribbon 11 has a strip-shaped ribbon base 11a and an ink layer 11b coated on the ribbon base 11a. The ink layer 11b is formed by repeatedly coating an ink set 11b1, which is a set of multiple colored (six colors in this example) ink layers arranged in the strip direction. 【0025】 Ink set 11b1 consists of a yellow ink layer Y, a magenta ink layer M, a cyan ink layer C, a black ink layer K, a glossy ink layer S, and a white ink layer W, which are applied in this order in a striped direction. The inks in each layer are yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, cyan ink IC, black ink IK, glossy ink IS, and white ink IW, respectively. 【0026】 Yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC are sublimation dye inks, while black ink IK, gloss ink IS, and white ink IW are melt-type pigment inks. Gloss ink IS is an ink containing metallic powders of gold, silver, pearl, etc., so that a metallic sheen is visible. Accordingly, the ink ribbon 11 has layers of dye ink and layers of pigment ink repeatedly formed in a planar sequence on the ribbon base 11a. In the following description, gloss ink IS refers to silver ink IS, which is visible as silver. 【0027】 Hereinafter, the yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC will be collectively referred to as the dye ink group ISG, and the black ink IK, gloss ink IS, and white ink IW will be collectively referred to as the pigment ink group IGG. Furthermore, the yellow ink layer Y, magenta ink layer M, and cyan ink layer C will be collectively referred to as the dye ink group layer LS, and the black ink layer K, gloss ink layer S, and white ink layer W will be collectively referred to as the pigment ink group layer LG. In addition, the yellow ink layer Y, magenta ink layer M, cyan ink layer C, black ink layer K, silver ink layer S, and white ink layer W will simply be referred to as ink layer Y, ink layer M, ink layer C, ink layer K, ink layer S, and ink layer W, respectively. 【0028】 The lengths La in the band direction of each ink layer Y, M, C, K, S, and W are the same. Therefore, the pitch Lap of the ink set 11b1 is six times the length La. Each region of ink layers Y, M, C, K, S, and W is set to a size that encompasses the printed material 31P described later. The ink ribbon sensor 15 detects the boundary position of each ink layer based on the difference in color. The position of the ink ribbon sensor 15 is such that, for example, when the ink ribbon sensor 15 detects the boundary between the white ink layer W and the ink layer Y, the pressure contact position of the thermal head 16 coincides with the position of the leading edge in the running direction of the ink layer Y. 【0029】 As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the intermediate transfer film 21 has a strip-shaped film base 21a and a release layer 21b, a protective layer 21c, and a transfer image-receiving layer 21d, which are laminated on the film base 21a. The release layer 21b has the function of causing peeling from the protective layer 21c during the transfer operation described later, thereby promoting the separation of the protective layer 21c and the transfer image-receiving layer 21d from the film base 21a side. 【0030】 The protective layer 21c is a colorless, transparent resin film that, after the transfer operation from the intermediate transfer film 21 to the substrate 31 described later, becomes the outer surface layer of the intermediate image bodies P1T and P2T that are laminated on the substrate 31, protecting the transfer image receiving layer 21d. The protective layer 21c also functions as a dye ink migration prevention layer that prevents the migration of dye ink, as described in Patent Document 3. 【0031】 The width of the film base 21a is the same as the width of the ribbon base 11a of the ink ribbon 11. The frame marks 21e are repeatedly formed on the transfer image receiving layer 21d in the band direction at a predetermined pitch Lb. The frame marks 21e are formed across the entire width. The pitch Lb is the same as the length La in the ink ribbon 11 (La = Lb). 【0032】 In the intermediate transfer film 21, the regions separated at regular intervals by pitch Lb are the transfer frames F. Hereinafter, the transfer frames F will simply be referred to as frames F. That is, frame marks 21e are applied to the boundary portions of adjacent frames F, dividing the frames F so that multiple frames F are arranged side by side in the strip direction. 【0033】 The position of the frame mark sensor 25 is set so that when the frame mark sensor 25 detects the frame mark 21e, the contact position of the thermal head 16 coincides with the leading edge of the frame mark 21e in the direction of travel. In other words, the travel path length from the contact position to the detection position of the frame mark sensor 25 is set to an integer multiple of the pitch Lb. 【0034】 In the image forming apparatus 51 shown in Figure 1, the intermediate transfer film 21 and the ink ribbon 11 are stretched across each other in a direction where the transfer image receiving layer 21d and the ink layer 11b are directly facing each other. The transfer image receiving layer 21d has the property of receiving and fixing the ink from the ink layer 11b that has sublimated due to heating. As a result, when the thermal head 16 is pressed against and heated, ink is transferred from the ink layer 11b pressed against the transfer image receiving layer 21d, and an image is formed on the transfer image receiving layer 21d. The ink is transferred in a heating pattern corresponding to the image data SN1 (see Figure 2A) supplied to the thermal head 16. 【0035】 The image forming apparatus 51 described in detail above is designed to move the ink ribbon 11 and intermediate transfer film 21, which have been set by the user, while ensuring they are in close contact with each other by the pressure of the thermal head 16. 【0036】 As shown in Figure 2A, the thermal head 16 has n heating resistors 16a, numbered #1 to #n (where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2), arranged in alignment in the width direction of the ink ribbon 11. The thermal head 16 also has a head driver 16b that independently energizes each of the heating resistors 16a according to the image data SN1. For example, 600 heating resistors 16a are arranged in parallel per inch. 【0037】 The head driver 16b energizes each of the plurality of heating resistors 16a based on the image data SN1 to be transferred sent from the image data generation unit CT1. Normally, the heating resistors 16a corresponding to the image to be formed are not all n, but m (m is an integer of 1 or more where m < n) adjacent ones with a margin at both ends in the parallel arrangement direction. That is, (n - m) of the plurality of parallel heating resistors 16a are not used for image formation as a margin. Also, the m heating resistors 16a are selected as m consecutive ones excluding at least one of the heating resistors at one end among the n. Therefore, if the number of lines (corresponding to the number that can select ON and OFF of energization) in the band direction (vertical) of the image to be transferred is the line number LNa, on the intermediate transfer film 21 which is the image formation object, the image is formed by dots of width × length = m × LNa. For example, when forming a 600 dpi image on the substrate 31 with an outer shape of 86 mm × 54 mm which is the re-transfer object as the printing device PR, m is about 2000 and the value of LNa is about 1200. 【0038】 The image forming apparatus 51 appropriately heats each of the plurality of heating resistors 16a of the thermal head 16 based on the image data to be transferred while moving the ink ribbon 11 and the intermediate transfer film 21 in a close contact state, and transfers the ink of the ink layer 11b of the ink ribbon 11 to the transfer receiving layer 21d of the intermediate transfer film 21. Thereby, a desired image can be transferred and formed as an intermediate image P on the transfer receiving layer 21d of the frame F. 【0039】 Returning to FIG. 1, the printing device PR includes a re-transfer device 52 that re-transfers all or a part of the intermediate image P formed by the image forming device 51 to another transfer object on the transfer receiving layer 21d of the intermediate transfer film 21 which is the transfer object. The other transfer object is the substrate 31 of a rectangular resin plate. The substrate 31 is, for example, a transparent acrylic resin plate with a length of 85.6 mm, a width of 54.0 mm, and a thickness of 2.0 mm. In FIG. 1, the substrate 31 during conveyance is shown by a thick line. The substrate 31 can use both transparent and non-transparent ones. The re-transfer device 52 shares the control unit CT with the image forming device 51. 【0040】 The retransfer device 52 includes a retransfer section ST1 provided between the platen roller 26 and the take-up reel 23 in the travel path of the intermediate transfer film 21, a supply section ST2 that supplies the base 31 to the retransfer section ST1, and an output section ST3 that outputs the card 31P as a printed material, which has been printed on the base 31 by passing through the retransfer section ST1. 【0041】 The retransfer unit ST1 includes a heat roller 41 that is rotated by a motor M41, an opposing roller 42 positioned opposite the heat roller 41, and a heat roller drive unit D41 that moves the heat roller 41 toward and away from the opposing roller 42 in the vertical direction shown in Figure 1. 【0042】 The supply unit ST2 has a posture changing unit ST2a that rotates 90° to change the orientation of the base body 31 from vertical to horizontal while holding the base body 31. The supply unit ST2 further has a lifting roller 33 that rotates to lift upward the rightmost base body 31 in Figure 1 from among the multiple base bodies 31 loaded in an upright position in the stacker 32. The supply unit ST2 also has a pair of feeding rollers 34 that grip and feed the base body 31 lifted by the lifting rollers 33 into the posture changing unit ST2a located above, and a plurality of pairs of transport rollers 35 that feed the base body 31, which has been placed in a horizontal position by the posture changing unit ST2a, to the retransfer unit ST1 on the left. 【0043】 The operation of motor M41 is controlled by control unit CT. Additionally, the lifting roller 33, feeding roller 34, and transport roller 35 are each rotated by motors (not shown) under the control of control unit CT. 【0044】 As described above, the retransfer apparatus 52 takes one base body 31 vertically upward from the stacker 32 in the supply unit ST2, converts it to a horizontal position in the orientation conversion unit ST2a, and transports and supplies it to the retransfer unit ST1. In the retransfer unit ST1, the base body 31 is pressed and clamped together with the intermediate transfer film 21 between the heated heat roller 41 and the opposing roller 42 by the operation of the heat roller drive unit D41, and moves toward the discharge unit ST3 by the drive of the motor M41. The transfer image receiving layer 21d of the intermediate transfer film 21 is pressed against the base body 31. Through this pressing movement, the image forming apparatus 51 transfers all or part of the intermediate image P formed on the transfer image receiving layer 21d of the frame F to the base body 31. For example, as shown in Figure 6A, an image PZ is formed on the first surface 31a of the base body 31 by retransfer. 【0045】 In the printing apparatus PR operating as described above, the transfer image information J3 includes dye image information JS for forming an intermediate image P1 (see Figure 5) using a sublimation-type dye ink group ISG as a color image ink, and pigment image information JG for forming an intermediate image P2 (see Figure 5) using a melt-type pigment ink group IGG as a spot color ink. The dye image information JS includes image data to be printed with yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC, respectively. The pigment image information JG includes image data to be printed with spot color inks. The spot color inks are, for example, black ink, gloss ink, and white ink, and the transfer image information J3 includes image data to be printed with these inks. One embodiment of the method for manufacturing a printed material according to an embodiment of the present invention performs a transfer operation as follows using the printing apparatus PR described above, based on this transfer image information J3. In the following description, the case where the substrate 31 is transparent will be described as Example 1, and the case where the substrate 31 is opaque will be described as Example 2. 【0046】 (Example 1) As shown in Figure 5, the control unit CT selectively transfers the sublimation dye inks of the ink ribbon 11—yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC—to the transfer image receiving layer 21d of the first frame F1 of the intermediate transfer film 21, in that order, based on the transfer image data Dy, Dm, and Dc, respectively. This transfers and forms a color intermediate image P1 on the first frame F1. On the transfer image receiving layer 21d, the image layers of yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC are stacked from the protective layer 21c side in the order of transfer. Figure 5 schematically shows the stacking state of each ink. 【0047】 Next, the control unit CT selectively transfers the molten pigment inks of the ink ribbon 11—black ink IK, silver ink IS, and white ink IW—to the transfer image receiving layer 21d of the second frame F2, in that order, based on the transfer image data Dk, Ds, and Dw, respectively. As a result, the image layers of black ink IK, silver ink IS, and white ink IW are stacked on the transfer image receiving layer 21d of the second frame F2 from the protective layer 21c side, forming the intermediate image P2. 【0048】 Thus, the intermediate image P1 is formed by a dye ink group layer LS, which is an image layer of a dye ink group selectively containing the dye inks yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC. The intermediate image P2 is formed by a pigment ink group layer LG, which is an image layer of a pigment ink group selectively containing the spot color inks black ink IK, silver ink IS, and white ink IW. 【0049】 As described above, once intermediate images P1 and P2 are formed on the first frame F1 and second frame F2 of the intermediate transfer film 21, respectively, the control unit CT operates the retransfer unit ST1 to retransfer these intermediate images P1 and P2 to the base 31. 【0050】 Specifically, as shown in Figure 6A, the transfer operation of the first frame F1 is first performed (see arrow DR61). That is, in the first frame F1, the protective layer 21c separates from the peeling layer 21b, and the transfer image receiving layer 21d, which has formed the intermediate image P1, is transferred to the first surface 31a of the substrate 31 along with the protective layer 21c to form the intermediate image body P1T. As a result, the protective layer 21c is positioned on the outer surface of the intermediate image body P1T so as to cover the transfer image receiving layer 21d. Hereinafter, the protective layer 21c of the intermediate image body P1T will also be referred to as the protective layer Pa for distinction. Similarly, the protective layer 21c of the intermediate image body P2T will also be referred to as the protective layer Pb for distinction. 【0051】 Next, as shown in Figure 6B, the transfer operation of the second frame F2 is performed. Specifically, first, the intermediate transfer film 21 is moved relative to the substrate 31 by one frame to align the intermediate image P2 with the intermediate image P1 of the intermediate image body P1T that was previously transferred and formed on the substrate 31 (see arrow DR62). Once the alignment is complete, the transfer operation is performed (see arrow DR63). That is, in the second frame F2, the protective layer 21c separates from the release layer 21b, and the transfer image receiving layer 21d, on which the intermediate image P2 is formed, is superimposed and transferred onto the protective layer of the previously transferred intermediate image body P1T, i.e., the dye ink migration prevention layer Pa, along with the protective layer 21c, to form the intermediate image body P2T. As a result, the protective layer 21c is positioned on the outer surface of the intermediate image body P2T so as to cover the transfer image receiving layer 21d. 【0052】 Through these multiple transfer operations (twice in this example), an image body P12T is formed on the substrate 31 by superimposing intermediate image bodies P1T and P2T. The image body P12T allows for the visualization of image P12 (details will be described later), which is a composite of intermediate image P1 and intermediate image P2. 【0053】 Thus, the base 31 becomes a printed material 31P formed by transfer printing of the image body P12T. The base 31 is made of a transparent acrylic resin plate, and hereafter the printed material 31P will also be referred to as a card CD. 【0054】 As shown in Figure 6B, in the image body P12T, the pigment ink group layer LG of the intermediate image body P2T and the dye ink group layer LS of the intermediate image body P1T are arranged adjacent to each other with a protective layer Pa in between. Normally, when a dye ink layer and a pigment ink layer are arranged adjacent to each other, there is a risk that the dye ink from the dye ink layer will migrate to the pigment ink layer, causing problems such as fading of the dye ink layer. However, according to one embodiment of the printing method of the present invention, the migration of the dye ink to the pigment ink layer is prevented by the protective layer Pa, which has a function to prevent the migration of dye ink, so problems such as fading of the intermediate image P1 do not occur. 【0055】 As described above, the card 31P has an image body P12T formed on a substrate 31, which is an intermediate image body P1T having a color image layer on which a color intermediate image P1 can be seen, and an intermediate image body P2T having an image layer made of special ink, which is laminated from the side of the intermediate image body P1T. Various visual effects are exhibited in the image P12 of the image body P12T formed in this way, depending on whether a single color or a combination of multiple colors of special ink is used. 【0056】 Thus, according to one embodiment of the printing method for printed materials using the printing device PR, an image body PZTn (see Figure 6B) can be formed on the first surface 31a of the substrate 31 by superimposing and transferring n intermediate image bodies PT through n re-transfer operations (where n is an integer of 2 or more). In other words, a card CD, which is a printed material with the image body PZTn on the substrate 31, can be obtained. 【0057】 When k and m are integers greater than or equal to 0, the image body PZTn is a laminate of the k layer of the dye ink group layer LS and the m layer of the pigment ink group layer LG, respectively. Therefore, the above-mentioned image body P12T is an image body PZTn with n=2 and k=m=1. 【0058】 In Figure 1, the card 31P on which the image body PZTn is formed is transported to the discharge unit ST3 and stacked and stored, for example, in an external stocker 36. 【0059】 The timing of the superimposed transfer from the intermediate transfer film 21 to the substrate 31 is not limited. All intermediate images P that form a single image body PZTn may be formed first, and then the image body PZTn may be formed each time. Alternatively, all intermediate images P that form multiple image bodies PZTn may be formed first, and then the image bodies PZTn may be formed one by one. Furthermore, multiple image bodies PZTn may be formed all at once, such as performing the first transfer of multiple image bodies PZTn, followed by a second superimposed transfer. 【0060】 Returning to Figure 1, the image forming apparatus 51 has a control unit CT with a memory unit MR and a communication unit 37, as previously described. As shown in Figure 2A, the memory unit MR stores an operation program PGa for executing the operation of the entire printing apparatus PR including the image forming apparatus 51, a setting program PGb (details to be described later), and transfer image information J3, which is information about the image to be transferred. The contents of the memory unit MR are referenced as appropriate by the central processing unit (CPU) CT2. The operation program PGa, the setting program PGb, and the transfer image information J3 are supplied to the control unit CT via the communication unit 37 from an external data device 38 or the like, as shown in Figure 2A, and stored in the memory unit MR. 【0061】 Next, one embodiment of a method for manufacturing printed materials for producing card 31P using the printing apparatus PR described above will be described in detail. As previously stated, the operation of the image forming apparatus 51 and the retransfer apparatus 52 is controlled by the control unit CT, which comprises an image data generation unit CT1, a central processing unit (CPU) CT2, a drive control unit CT3, a transfer method determination unit CT4, and a storage unit MR. First, the details of the control unit CT will be explained mainly with reference to Figures 2A and 2B. 【0062】 (Drive Control Unit CT3) The drive control unit CT3 controls the operation of the drive system. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2A, it independently controls the operation of motors M12, M13, M22, M23, M26, and M41, the operation of the head contact drive unit D16, and the operation of the heat roller drive unit D41. (Central Processing Unit (CPU) CT2) The central processing unit CT2 controls the operation of the image data generation unit CT1, the drive control unit CT3, and the transfer method determination unit CT4 based on the operation program PGa and the setting program PGb stored in the memory unit MR, as well as the transfer image information J3 and the transfer operation information J5 (described later). (Transfer method determination unit CT4) The transfer method determination unit CT4 determines the transfer operation in a time series based on the image data information J4 output from the image data generation unit CT1, and outputs the transfer operation information J5 to the central processing unit CT2. 【0063】 (Image data generation unit CT1) As shown in Figure 2B, the image data generation unit CT1 includes a color data generation unit CT11, a spot color data generation unit CT12, and a data output unit CT13. The color data generation unit CT11 includes a generation menu selection unit C1a and a spot color area extraction unit C1b. The spot color data generation unit CT12 includes a separation unit C2a, a binarization processing unit C2b, a gradation processing unit C2c, a TH value setting unit C2d, a mask data generation unit C2e, a gradation data generation unit C2f, and a data synthesis unit C2g. The TH value is the threshold value. The operation of the image data generation unit CT1 will be explained below with reference to Figures 7 to 12. 【0064】 Figure 7 shows the image P12 formed on the image body P12T. Figure 8 shows the spot color image Zi based on the image P12. Figure 9A is a schematic diagram showing the intermediate halftone image Zia for forming the image P12. Figure 9B is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 9A to explain the area gradation of the intermediate halftone image Zia. Figure 10A shows the spot color text image Zt extracted from the image P12. Figure 10B shows the inverted gradation image Zta obtained by inverting the gradation of the spot color text image Zt. Figure 11 shows the spot color image Z. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the image body P12T. 【0065】 As shown in Figure 7, in this example, image P12 includes an image region P12i, which is a glossy color image region, and a text image region P12q, which is a monochrome text region using only spot ink. In this example, the text image region P12q is the string "GOOD DAY! ID:012345". In image P12 shown in Figure 7, the spot ink is a glossy ink that gives a metallic sheen (for example, silver ink), and the image region P12i is created by superimposing a color ink image and a spot ink image to achieve a glossy appearance. 【0066】 The following describes the operation performed by the control unit CT to generate image data SN1 from the transferred image information J3, primarily referring to Figure 2B and the flowchart Figure 16. In Figure 16, the spot color image data and spot color text data are denoted as SMD and SXD, respectively. 【0067】 First, as shown in Figure 2B, the color data generation unit CT11 of the image data generation unit CT1 acquires the transfer image information J3 (Figure 16: S1). The generation menu selection unit C1a of the color data generation unit CT11 allows the user to change the settings of the dye image information JS corresponding to the color image and the pigment image information JG corresponding to the spot ink image included in the transfer image information J3. Specifically, for example, the display unit PRb presents the user with options to choose from: 1) use the settings of the transfer image information J3 as a preset, 2) modify some of them, or 3) specify all of them. 【0068】 If the user selects either 2) or 3) to change at least some of the settings, the generation menu selection unit C1a works in cooperation with the spot color area extraction unit C1b to display image P12 on the display unit PRb and guides the user to change the color image area using dye ink and the spot color image area using pigment ink according to the setting program PGb. The setting program PGb is pre-stored in the memory unit MR. If the operator selects 2) or 3), they change the settings according to the operation instructions based on the setting program PGb, and the color data generation unit CT11 rewrites and updates the transfer image information J3 with the changed content (Figure 16: S2). If the operator selects 1), the history is updated to indicate that no setting changes were made. 【0069】 As shown in Figure 2B, the color data generation unit CT11 outputs image data SN1c, which includes transfer image data Dy, Dm, and Dc, which are the transfer image data of the color inks in the updated transfer image information J3, to the data output unit CT13. The color data generation unit CT11 also outputs image data SN1t, which includes transfer image data Dk, Ds, and Dw, which are the transfer image data of the spot color inks, to the spot color data generation unit CT12 (Figure 16: S2). 【0070】 The image data SN1t contains the data for the image region P12i and the text image region P12q, which are included in the original transcription image information J3. These data can also be modified by the operator, similar to (S2) in Figure 16. 【0071】 The separation unit C2a of the spot color data generation unit CT12 separates the spot color image data SMD and the spot color text data SXD from the incoming image data SN1t (Figure 16: S3). The image created with spot color ink is divided into a spot color image, such as an image or pattern, and a spot color text image, such as characters or symbols, and the respective data is supplied in the image data SN1t. An image created with spot color ink is shown, for example, in Figure 8. Figure 8 shows a spot color image Zi, and in the spot color image Zi, the portion corresponding to the spot color text image is shown as the cut-out spot color text region Zit. 【0072】 In Figure 2B, the spot color image data SMD separated by the separation unit C2a is output to the gradation processing unit C2c, and the spot color text data SXD is output to the binarization processing unit C2b. The separated spot color image data SMD and spot color text data SXD are combined after each undergoes its own processing. First, the processing of the spot color image data SMD will be explained. 【0073】 (SMD processing) At this stage, the gradation processing unit C2c converts the spot color image data SMD, which is, for example, 24-bit bmp format RGB data with 256 gradations, to grayscale (Figure 16: S4), and then inverts the gradation (Figure 16: S5). The conversion formula to grayscale is, for example, the general formula (Equation 1). Y=0.299*R+0.587*G+0.114*B (Formula 1) To invert the grayscale, use (Equation 2) and subtract the Y value, which is the luminance component value obtained in (Equation 1), from 255 to obtain a new Y value. Y = 255 - Y ... (Equation 2) 【0074】 The gradation processing unit C2c converts the gradation-inverted (negative-positive inversion) data into halftones using area gradation processing (Figure 16: S6). As a result, the image of the spot color image data SMD is converted into a halftone-dot intermediate halftone image Zia. Figure 9A is a schematic diagram of this intermediate halftone image Zia. Figure 9B is an enlarged view of part A of Figure 9A, showing that gradation is represented by halftones, and there is a first halftone image region Zia1 corresponding to the hair, and a second halftone image region Zia2 corresponding to the skin, with a lower halftone density than the first halftone image region Zia1, resulting in a lighter print. As shown in Figure 2B, the gradation processing unit C2c generates the image data of the intermediate halftone image Zia as spot color image data Zis and outputs it to the gradation data generation unit C2f (Figure 16: S7). 【0075】 (SXD processing) Figure 10A shows a spot color text image Zt obtained from spot color text data SXD. The spot color text image Zt includes a background area Ztb, which is the background portion not used for printing, and a text area Ztt, ​​which is the text portion, such as characters or symbols, used for printing. In this example, the text is a positive image of "GOOD DAY!ID:012345". 【0076】 The binarization processing unit C2b binarizes the spot color text image Zt. During this process, the TH value setting unit C2d allows the user to set a threshold value. The setting of this threshold value will be described later with reference to Figure 15. 【0077】 The binarization processing unit C2b binarizes the spot color text data SXD of the spot color text image Zt using the threshold value set by the user, and inverts the grayscale (Figure 16: S8, S9). As a result, the spot color text image Zt becomes a grayscale inverted image Zta (see Figure 10B) in which the text area is treated as a negative image and further binarized. The binarization processing unit C2b outputs the image data of the grayscale inverted image Zta as spot color text image data Zts to the mask data generation unit C2e and the data synthesis unit C2g (see Figure 2B). The spot color text image data Zts will also be referred to as the first image data Zts below. 【0078】 The mask data generation unit C2e generates mask image data Ztms from the spot color text image data Zts output from the binarization processing unit C2b (Figure 16: S10) and outputs it to the grayscale data generation unit C2f. The mask image data Ztms is image data obtained by grayscale inverting the image after setting the threshold value, and the resulting image has a positive color in the text area. 【0079】 In Figure 2B, the grayscale data generation unit C2f combines the spot color image data Zis output from the grayscale processing unit C2c and the mask image data Ztms output from the mask data generation unit C2e. This generates spot color image data Zis2, which corresponds to the image obtained by removing the text region Ztt that has been binarized with threshold settings from the spot color image Zi, and outputs it to the data synthesis unit C2g (Figure 16: S11). Hereinafter, the spot color image data Zis2 will also be referred to as the second image data Zis2. 【0080】 (SMD and SXD combination) As described above, the data synthesis unit C2g receives the spot color image data Zis2 and the spot color text image data Zts as input. The data synthesis unit C2g synthesizes these data to generate the spot color image data Zs (Figure 16: S12) and outputs it to the data output unit CT13. The image obtained from the spot color image data Zs is the spot color image Z shown in Figure 11. That is, the spot color image Z shown in Figure 11 is an image synthesized from the intermediate halftone image Zia and the grayscale inverted image Zta. 【0081】 As shown in Figure 2B, the data output unit CT13 combines the image data SN1c for the color ink output from the color data generation unit CT11 and the spot color image data Zs, which is the image data for the spot color ink output from the data synthesis unit C2g, to output image data SN1 (Figure 16: S13). Image data SN1 includes both the transfer image data Dy, Dm, Dc for the color ink and the transfer image data Dk, Ds, Dw for the spot color ink. 【0082】 As shown in Figure 2A, the image data SN1 is output from the data output unit CT13 to the thermal head 16. The data output unit CT13 also outputs image data information J4 corresponding to the image data SN1 to the transfer method determination unit CT4. The image data information J4 includes the number and type of color inks used for printing, as well as the number and type of spot color inks, as information necessary for determining the transfer method. 【0083】 The transfer method determination unit CT4 determines, based on the image data information J4, the dye inks to be transferred from the color ink group ISG and their transfer order, and also determines the pigment inks to be transferred from the spot color ink group IGG and their transfer order as the transfer method. The transfer method determination unit CT4 outputs the determined transfer method as transfer operation information J5 to the central processing unit (CPU) CT2. 【0084】 The central processing unit (CPU) CT2 controls the transfer operation of the drive control unit CT3 based on the transfer operation information J5. That is, if the special ink to be transferred is, for example, only the gloss ink IS, the drive control unit CT3 selects and transfers only the gloss ink IS of the ink ribbon 11 during the transfer operation to the second frame F2. 【0085】 Thus, the image data generation unit CT1 processes the spot color image data SMD, converts it into halftone image data (spot color image data Zis2) by applying area gradation processing and removing the text area Ztt of the spot color ink. The image data generation unit CT1 also processes the spot color text data SXD, converts it into binarized image data (spot color text image data Zts) by setting a threshold value. Finally, the image data generation unit CT1 combines the processed spot color image data Zis2 and spot color text image data Zts to generate spot color image data Zs. 【0086】 The image obtained by the image data SN1 is the image P12 shown in Figures 7 and 12. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the image body P12T, in which the image P12 is transferred and formed on the first surface 31a (the back surface in Figure 12) of a transparent card-shaped substrate 31. Next, the cross-sectional configuration of the image body P12T will be described with reference to Figures 13A and 13B. Figure 13A is a cross-sectional view at the S13A-S13A position in Figure 12, and Figure 13B is a cross-sectional view at the S13B-S13B position in Figure 12. 【0087】 In other words, Figure 13A is a cross-sectional view of the portion corresponding to the symbol "!" in image P12 in Figure 12. This portion is the area where the color layer CL, which is a sublimation ink layer, is not formed, and only the glossy ink layer S, which is a molten ink layer and a special color ink layer, is formed. With this cross-sectional configuration, the light G1 that enters through the substrate 31 and is reflected by the glossy ink layer S can be directly seen by the eye E, and the vivid metallic gloss of the symbol and characters can be seen. 【0088】 Figure 13B is a cross-sectional view of the portion spanning the face and hair of the person in Figure 12. This portion is formed so that the color layer CL, which is a sublimation ink layer, and the glossy ink layer S, which is a molten ink layer, overlap. Specifically, the color layer CL is formed with a first color layer CLa for the face portion with high brightness and a second color layer CLb for the hair portion with low brightness, separated by a boundary position PL. The glossy ink layer S is defined as the first glossy ink layer S1 for the portion corresponding to the first color layer CLa and the second glossy ink layer S2 for the portion corresponding to the second color layer CLb, with each region having a different halftone density. In this cross-sectional configuration, light G1 incident through the substrate 31 and reflected by the color layer CL, and light G2 transmitted through the color layer CL, reflected by the glossy ink layer S, and transmitted through the color layer CL again can be directly observed by the eye E. Therefore, by making the combined light of light G1 and light G2 visible, and by changing the density of the glossy ink according to the brightness or saturation of the color image, the resulting color image will be a high-quality image with high contrast while maintaining a glossy appearance. 【0089】 Figure 13C does not have a corresponding section to Figure 12, but it is an example in which a white ink layer W and a glossy ink layer S are formed in this order on the side opposite to the substrate 31 relative to the color layer CL, and used as a base for the color layer CL. The white ink layer W and the glossy ink layer S are each independently subjected to halftone dots using area gradation according to the color image visible from the color layer CL, as described above. In this cross-sectional configuration, the light G1 incident through the substrate 31 and reflected by the color layer CL, and the light G2 and G3 that pass through the color layer CL, are reflected by the white ink layer W and glossy ink layer S respectively, and then pass through the color layer CL again can be directly seen by the eye E. 【0090】 In this case, the difference in halftone density between the white ink layer W and the glossy ink layer S allows for the addition of various features to the visible color image. Specifically, for ease of understanding, if we consider only two types of halftone density, large and small, then, as shown in Figure 13C, there are four combinations of halftone density between the white ink layer W and the glossy ink layer S: large and small, very large, very small and large, and very small, each represented by regions AR1 to AR4. Light incident from the second surface 31b of the substrate 31 is perceived by the eye E as reflected light G1 to G3 from the color layer CL, the white ink layer W, and the glossy ink layer S, respectively, so that different effects can be added to the color image in each of regions AR1 to AR4. 【0091】 Figure 14 is a schematic graph showing the difference in contrast ratio R and metallic gloss N of the color image visible through the substrate 31 when a solid gloss ink layer S is formed as a base on the opposite side of the substrate 31 from the color layer CL formed on the first surface 31a of the substrate 31, and when it is formed by halftone dots using the area gradation described above. Characteristic C1 is the characteristic of the color image visible when the gloss ink layer S is not formed, and it shows that an image with metallic gloss N of N0 (zero: no gloss) and a contrast ratio of R1 to R2 is visible. 【0092】 When a glossy ink layer S is not formed, if a glossy ink layer S is printed as a solid base, the color image is perceived as characteristic CSa. Characteristic CSa shows a metallic glossiness as the Na value, and while some degree of glossiness is obtained, the contrast ratio is in the range from R1a (lower than R1) to R2a (lower than R2), resulting in an image with a lower contrast ratio than characteristic C1. 【0093】 On the other hand, when a glossy ink layer S is formed as a base layer using halftone dots, the color image is perceived using characteristic CSb. Characteristic CSb is perceived as a more effective image, with a higher contrast ratio than characteristic C1 and a richer metallic luster than characteristic CSa, as it is obtained with an Nb value greater than the Na value, and the contrast ratio ranges from R1b (higher than R1) to R2b (higher than R2). 【0094】 Figures 15(a) to 15(d) illustrate the function of the TH value setting unit C2d in the feature data generation unit CT12 of the image data generation unit CT1. Specifically, Figure 15(a) shows the original image, Figure 15(b) shows the image when the TH value is set to 1, Figure 15(c) shows the image when the TH value is set to 100, and Figure 15(d) shows the image when the TH value is set to 254. By providing the TH value setting unit C2d, the user can arbitrarily set the threshold for binarizing the brightness of the image to be binarized to 0 or 1. 【0095】 As shown in Figure 15, the original image consists of thick lines Lm, wedge lines Lm2 with varying thickness, and thin lines Lm3 and Lm4. When the TH value is small, as shown in Figures 15(b) and (c), the thin parts of the lines are not extracted during the binarization process, resulting in missing areas Lc. On the other hand, when the TH value is increased, as shown in Figure 15(d), missing areas Lc are less likely to occur during the binarization process. Therefore, by adjusting the TH value, it is possible to freely choose whether to intentionally create missing areas Lc in the original image or to faithfully transfer and print the original image. 【0096】 As described in detail above, according to the printed material, method for manufacturing a printed material, and retransfer printing apparatus of the present invention, the spot color image data Zs, which is the data of the spot color image Z to be printed with spot color ink, is divided into a first region, the spot color image Zi, which is halftone-based with area gradation, and a second region, the spot color text image Zt, which is not area gradation, and these are combined to generate the final image. This suppresses the occurrence of defects such as missing or blurred print shapes in the spot color image Z, and enables the formation of a high-quality spot color image Z using spot color ink. Furthermore, according to the printed material, method for manufacturing the printed material, and retransfer printing apparatus of the present invention, an image of the spot color ink, which has been halftone-ized by area gradation, is formed as an intermediate halftone image Zia, which is superimposed as a base for the color layer CL made of color ink. This makes it possible to achieve a good visual effect corresponding to the shades of the spot color ink without reducing the contrast ratio R of the color image. For example, if the spot color ink is glossy ink IS, gloss can be added to the visible color image P12, and the degree of added gloss can be controlled by the halftone density based on area gradation. Furthermore, according to the printed material, method for manufacturing a printed material, and retransfer printing apparatus of the present invention, the control unit CT is equipped with a TH value setting unit C2d, which allows setting a binarization threshold so that images that do not require shading representation, such as characters and fine lines, using spot ink can be selected to print or not print. This suppresses the occurrence of defects such as missing or blurred print shapes in the spot color image Z, and enables the formation of a high-quality spot color image Z using spot ink. 【0097】 (Example 2) While Example 1 was an example of a transparent substrate 31, Example 2 is an example in which the substrate 31 is an opaque substrate 31B. That is, Example 2 is a printed material in which an image is printed on one side of the opaque substrate 31B, and the image is viewed directly from the printed side without passing through the substrate 31B, and a method for manufacturing the printed material. The printing apparatus used for printing in Example 2 is the same printing apparatus PR used in Example 1. 【0098】 The method for manufacturing the printed material in Example 2 utilizes the fact that pigment ink can be transferred by superimposing it on dye ink, and the transfer from the intermediate transfer film 21 to the substrate 31 is completed in a single step. This will be explained with reference to Figures 17A and 17B. 【0099】 As shown in Figure 17A, the sublimation dye inks yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC from the ink ribbon 11 are selectively transferred in this order to the image receiving layer 21d of the first frame F1 of the intermediate transfer film 21, based on the transfer image data Dy, Dm, and Dc, respectively, to form a layer of dye ink group ISG. Next, the molten pigment inks silver ink IS and white ink IW are selectively transferred on the formed dye ink group ISG layer in this order, based on the transfer image data Ds and Dw, respectively, to form a layer of pigment ink group IGG. In other words, the dye ink group ISG layer and the pigment ink group IGG layer are superimposed on a single frame F1 from the substrate 31 side in this order. 【0100】 The dye ink group ISG may selectively include any one of the dye inks: yellow ink IY, magenta ink IM, and cyan ink IC, rather than all of them. The pigment ink group IGG, which is a special color ink, may include at least one of the pigment inks: silver ink IS and white ink IW. It may also include the pigment ink black ink IK. 【0101】 In the state shown in Figure 17A, the intermediate image P3S is formed by the dye ink group layer LS3 of the dye ink group ISG. Additionally, the intermediate image P3G is formed by the pigment ink group layer LG3 of the pigment ink group IGG. 【0102】 As described above, once the dye ink group layer LS3 and the pigment ink group layer LG3 are superimposed on the transfer image receiving layer of the first frame F1 of the intermediate transfer film 21, the control unit CT operates the re-transfer unit ST1 to re-transfer the transfer image receiving layer 21d and the protective layer 21c of the first frame F1 to the substrate 31B side. 【0103】 Specifically, as shown in Figure 17B, the transfer operation of the first frame F1 is performed. That is, in the first frame F1, the protective layer 21c separates from the peeling layer 21b, and the transfer image receiving layer 21d, which has formed the intermediate images P3S and P3G, is transferred to the first surface 31Ba of the substrate 31B along with the protective layer 21c to form the image body P30T (see arrow DR7). As a result, the protective layer 21c is positioned on the outer surface of the image body P30T so as to cover the transfer image receiving layer 21d. 【0104】 In this way, the substrate 31B becomes a printed material 31PB on which the image body P30T is formed by transfer printing. The substrate 31B is made of an opaque material, such as an acrylic resin plate, and hereafter the printed material 31PB will also be referred to as a card CDB. On the printed material 31PB, an image P30 based on intermediate images P3S and P3G is visible. 【0105】 The printed material 31PB has an image body P30T on a substrate 31B, which has a dye ink group layer LS3 that is a color image layer in which a color intermediate image P3S can be seen, and a pigment ink group layer LG3 that is a spot color ink layer in which an intermediate image P3G made of spot color ink can be seen. The image P30 seen in the image body P30T formed in this way exhibits various visual effects depending on whether the spot color ink is a single color or a combination of multiple colors. This will be explained with reference to Figures 17C and 17D which show the cross-sectional configuration. 【0106】 Figure 17C shows an example of the cross-sectional structure of a printed material 31PB when the substrate 31B is white and opaque. On the first surface 31Ba, which is one surface of the substrate 31B, a pigment ink group layer LG3 as a molten ink layer and a color layer CL consisting of a dye ink group layer LS3 as a sublimation ink layer are laminated in this order by the method described above. In this example, the pigment ink group layer LG3 consists only of a silver ink layer S because the substrate 31B is white, and the silver ink layer S has regions of a first glossy ink layer S1 and a second glossy ink layer S2 with different halftone dot densities. In Figure 17C, the first glossy ink layer S1 is formed to be visible at a higher density than the second glossy ink layer S2. 【0107】 Light incident from the first surface 31Ba is perceived by the eye E as light G1 reflected by the color layer CL, light G2S that passes through the color layer CL, is reflected by the glossy ink layer S, and passes through the color layer CL again, and light G3 that also passes through the glossy ink layer S, is reflected by the first surface 31Ba of the substrate 31B, and passes through the glossy ink layer S and the color layer CL. Therefore, the perceived color image is perceived as a composite of light G1, light G2S, and light G3, and by changing the halftone density of the glossy ink according to the brightness or saturation of the color image, the perceived color image becomes a high-quality image with high contrast while maintaining a glossy feel. Furthermore, since the substrate 31B is white, the color image has a white background, and the perceived color image is a good color image with high brightness and saturation. 【0108】 Figure 17D shows an example of the cross-sectional structure of a printed material 31PB when the substrate 31B is opaque other than white. On the first surface 31Ba, which is one surface of the substrate 31B, a pigment ink group layer LG3 as a molten ink layer and a color layer CL consisting of a dye ink group layer LS3 as a sublimation ink layer are laminated in this order by the method described above. In this example, the pigment ink group layer LG3 consists of a white ink layer W and a silver ink layer S, with the white ink layer W being formed as a solid on the substrate 31B side. The silver ink layer S has regions of a first glossy ink layer S1 and a second glossy ink layer S2 with different halftone dot densities. In Figure 17D, the first glossy ink layer S1 is formed to be visible at a higher density than the second glossy ink layer S2. 【0109】 Light incident from the first surface 31Ba is perceived by the eye E as light G1 reflected by the color layer CL, light G2S that passes through the color layer CL, is reflected by the glossy ink layer S, and passes through the color layer CL again, and light G2W that passes through the color layer CL and the glossy ink layer S, is reflected by the white ink layer W, and passes through the glossy ink layer S and the color layer CL. In this configuration, since the first surface 31Ba is covered with a white ink layer W that has high color opacity, the perceived image is not affected by the color of the substrate 31B. Therefore, the color image perceived by the eye E as a composite of light G1, light G2S, and light G2W, and by changing the halftone density of the glossy ink according to the brightness or saturation of the color image, becomes a high-quality image with high contrast while maintaining a glossy feel. In addition, the perceived color image is not affected by the color of the substrate 31B, and becomes a good color image with high brightness and saturation of the white background provided by the white ink layer W. 【0110】 Examples 1 and 2 of the present invention are not limited to the configuration and procedure described above, and may be modified in a manner that does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. 【0111】 The printed materials 31P and 31PB are not limited to being cards. The substrates 31 and 31B do not have to be rectangular in shape, and their thickness is not limited and does not have to be a constant thickness. The color of the substrate 31B is also not limited; if it is not white as described above, a white ink layer W may be formed immediately adjacent to the first surface 31Ba. Furthermore, the substrate 31 is not limited to being colorless and transparent, but may be colored and transparent. [Explanation of symbols] 【0112】 11 Ink Ribbon 11a Ribbon Base 11b Ink layer 11b1 Ink Set 12 supply reels 13. Reel 14 Guide shaft 15. Ink Ribbon Sensor 16 Thermal Heads 16a Heat-generating resistor 16b Head Driver 21 Intermediate transfer film 21a Film base 21b Delamination layer 21c protective layer (dye ink migration prevention layer) 21d Image receiving layer for transfer 21e Frame Mark 22 supply reels 23. Reel 24 Guide shafts 25 Frame Mark Sensor 26 Platen Roller 31,31B Base 31a 1st page 31b 2nd side 31 pages Printed material (card) 32 stacker 33 Lifting roller 34 Feed roller 35 Conveyor rollers 36 Stocker 37 Communications Department 38 Data Equipment 41 Heat Roller 42 Opposing rollers 51 Image forming apparatus 52 Retransfer device AR1~AR4 area CD, CDB card CL color layer CLa 1st Color Layer CLb Second Color Layer CSa,CSb characteristics CT control unit CT1 Image Data Generation Unit CT11 Color Data Generation Unit CT12 Special Color Data Generation Unit CT13 Data Output Unit CT2 Central Processing Unit (CPU) CT3 Drive System Division CT4 Transfer Method Determination Unit C1a Generation Menu Selection Section C1b Special color region extraction part C2a separation section C2b Binarization Processing Unit C2c Grayscale Processing Unit C2d TH value setting section C2e Mask Data Generation Unit C2f Grayscale Data Generation Unit C2g Data Synthesis Unit Dy, Dm, Dc, Dk, Ds, Dw Transfer image data D16 Head Disconnection Drive Unit D41 Heat Roller Drive Unit E-eye F Frame (Transfer Frame) F1 Frame 1 F2 2nd Frame G1,G2,G3 light IY Yellow Ink IM Magenta Ink IC Cyan Ink IK Black Ink IS Glossy Ink (Silver Ink) IW White Ink IGG Pigment Ink Series ISG Dye Ink Group JG Pigment Image Information JS Dye Image Information J1 Ribbon Detection Information J2 Frame Mark Detection Information J3 Transfer Image Information J4 Image Data Information J5 Transfer Operation Information La length Lc missing portion Lm Thick line Lm2 wedge wire Lm3,Lm4 Thin line LNa line count Lap, Lb pitch LG, LG3 Pigment Ink Layer LS, LS3 Dye Ink Group Layer MR storage unit M12, M13, M22, M23, M26, M41 motors N Metallic luster P,P1,P2,P3G,P3S intermediate image P1T, P2T, PT, PT3 Intermediate Image Body Images on pages 12 and 30. P12i Image Area P12q Text Image Area P12T, PZTn Image Unit PGa Operation Program PGb configuration program Pa,Pb protective layer PL boundary position PR printing equipment PRa cabinet PRb display section PZ Image R contrast ratio S Glossy Ink Layer SN1, SN1c, SN1t image data ST1 Retransfer section ST2 supply section ST2a Posture Change Unit ST3 Unloading section Y Yellow Ink Layer M Magenta ink layer C Cyan ink layer K Black Ink Layer S Glossy Ink Layer S1 First Glossy Ink Layer S2 Second glossy ink layer W White ink layer SMD Special Image Data SXD Special Text Data Z Special Image Zi Special Features Image Zit Special Text Area Zia intermediate halftone image Zia1 First halftone image region Zia2 Second Halftone Image Region Zis, Zis2 Special Color Image Data Zs Special Color Image Data Zt Special Text Image Zta inverted image Ztb area ZTS Special Text Image Data Ztt text area Ztms mask image data

Claims

[Claim 1] The device comprises a substrate, a sublimation ink layer having an image formed on the first surface side of the substrate, and a molten ink layer having an image that overlaps with at least a portion of the image of the sublimation ink layer. The molten ink layer includes a first region that is halftone-patterned and a second region that is not halftone-patterned. A printed material in which, in the area where the image of the sublimation ink layer and the image of the molten ink layer overlap, the gradation of the image of the molten ink layer is inverted with respect to the gradation of the image of the sublimation ink layer. [Claim 2] The printed material according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is transparent, and the image formed by the sublimation ink layer and the molten ink layer can be viewed through the substrate. [Claim 3] The printed article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the molten ink layer is one or more layers selected from a white ink layer, a black ink layer, and a glossy ink layer.

Images