a coated media is printed with ink . the area of the media which is not covered with ink is cured by exposure to radiation , and the printed image is transferred to a final substrate . the media is coated with a radiation curable coating . upon exposure to electron beam or ultraviolet radiation , the coating in the exposed , non - imaged , area cures , and becomes permanently bonded to the base sheet . the ink layer of the imaged area effectively blocks , absorbs and / or reflects the radiation and does not allow polymerization under the imaged area . the image is transferred to a final substrate by placing the image in contact with the final substrate , followed by the application of energy . the image is permanently bonded to the final substrate . no overprint , or non - imaged area , that is visible or which may be felt by touching , is transferred to the final substrate .