PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING SELECTED REGIONS OF A SUBSTRATE WITH A FILM

Method and apparatus for coating selected regions of a surface of a substrate with a film are disclosed. A cyclically moveable transfer member has an imaging surface which is coated with individual particles formed of, or coated with a thermoplastic polymer, and substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface are removed so as to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface. Selected regions of the imaging surface are exposed to radiation to render the particles tacky within the regions, and the coated imaging surface and the substrate are pressed against one another to cause transfer of only the particles rendered tacky in the coating, such that the transferred particles form a film on the substrate. The monolayer on the imaging surface of the transfer member is replenished with fresh thermoplastic particles and the cycle repeats.