Surface coverings and surface covering components that include a textured
transparent or translucent wear layer and a design layer, where the design layer
is printed with an ink that includes collapsible microspheres, are disclosed. Also
disclosed are methods of manufacturing such surface coverings and surface covering
components. In one embodiment, a pattern is printed on a substrate to be coated
with a wear layer. In another embodiment, a clear transparent or translucent layer
underlies the design layer. The ink includes collapsible microspheres, and can
also include foaming inhibitors. A number of surface covering substrates and surface
coverings can be prepared using the methods described herein. The surface coverings
include a substrate, for example, a foamable substrate, a design layer printed
with an ink composition that includes collapsible microspheres, and a wear layer.
The ink compositions containing the collapsible microspheres can be printed via
conventional gravure methods, and the transparent or translucent wear layer can
also be printed using conventional methods. The fusion process through which the
wear layer is applied and fused causes the microspheres to expand, and then results
in the just expanded microspheres collapsing under the weight of the wear layer.