The present invention relates to a process for depositing particulate material in a predetermined pattern onto a moving surface comprising the steps of:feeding the particulate material under gravity from a hopper to a discharge zone containing an feed openingsupplying a gas under pressure to the bulk of particulate material within the hopper discharge zonetransferring the particulate material through the feed opening to the surface of a transfer device, wherein the outer surface of the transfer device contains a pattern of particulate-receiving recessesrotating the transfer device to a deposition zone and transferring the particulate material to a carrier layer.The present invention further relates to an apparatus comprising:a hopper comprising a discharge zone, the discharge zone comprising a feed opening, andwherein the discharge zone further comprises a gas supply assembly to supply gas under pressure into particulate material within the discharge zonea transfer device adjacent to the feed opening, wherein the outer surface of the transfer device contains a pattern of particulate-receiving recesses.
