transfer medium 104 and the portions of the transfer medium 104 extending beyond the ink 108 and base coat 106 layers would conform to exposed portions of the base coat 106 and backing sheet 102 respectively after screen printing the transfer medium 104 is dried to evaporate solvents after which point the ink transfer system 100 has been formed and may be stored until required for transfer of the decal 109 to a substrate 101 at each stage of solvent evaporation discussed above the decal 109 and transfer medium 104 may be dried for example by passing the system 100 through a wicket drier or by inserting it into a drying rack drying for one to two hours is typically optimal but decals 109 may be produced with reduced dry times particularly if the decal 109 is exposed to increased air flow and mild heat such as with a blow dryer held approximately six inches from the decal surface any of the ink or base coat layers 108 and 106 may be transparent translucent or opaque however the base coat 106 is typically transparent unless subsequent coats of ink 108 require an opaque underlying layer to allow the pigment of the ink 108 to more readily show against the color of the substrate for example if the decal 109 is to be transferred to a dark colored substrate a white or otherwise light colored base coat 106.