TRANSFER-PRINTING PROCESS

Solid objects made of plastic or with a top layer of plastic or lacquer are printed by the transfer printing process by laying a flat dyestuff carrier on the surface of the solid object to be printed and heating the dyestuff carrier to the sublimation temperature of the dyestuff. In accordance with the invention during the course of the dyestuff transfer between the dyestuff carrier and the surface requiring printing a layer of material of a non-adhesive nature or one which is easily removed is inserted, this material being substantially permeable to the transfer of the dyestuff, so that impressions from the dyestuff carrier on to the surface are avoided. Preferably, a plastic slab coated with a polyolefin film is printed, where the film is left on the surface after printing, as a protective layer.