Method and apparatus for coating selected regions of a surface of a substrate with a film. 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 tacky particle coating, such that only the particles in the tacky regions 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.