Observable matte-finish indicia on a printer medium having a matte finish includes the steps creating a matte image-viewing area; creating a glossy finish region within the image-viewing area; creating indicia having a matte finish within the glossy region. The printing medium has a dye-receiving element; and the steps of controlling the specularity of the image-viewing area, the glossy region, and the indicia include the step of imagewise-heating a donor element comprising a support having thereon a laminating patch of overcoat material, the donor being in contact with the dye-receiving element to thereby thermally transfer a layer of overcoat material to the printing medium, the overcoat material layer being transferred using a predetermined energy level within the image-viewing area and the indicia in order to create a matte finish and using a different energy level within the glossy region to create a gloss finish.