Abstract: A process for producing a thermal transfer recording medium having a near end mark, which comprises: applying a near end mark ink onto the uppermost het-meltable layer of a thermal transfer recording medium and drying the resultant to form a near end mark,the near end mark ink being a white ink comprising a white pigment, a resin, a wax and a solvent, the white pigment comprising 40 to 60% by weight of the total amount of solid matters of the ink, the resin comprising at least one resin selected from the group consisting of terpene.phenol copolymer resin, phenol resin and polyethylene glycol resin, the wax comprising a particulate wax having an ester group and a melting point of not lower than 75.degree. C., the solvent being capable of dissolving the resin and incapable of dissolving the particulate wax.

Abstract: A multi-usable thermal transfer ink sheet including a foundation and a multi-transferable ink layer provided on the foundation, the ink layer containing a heat-meltable material and carbon black as main ingredients, the carbon black having an oil absorption of not more than 70 ml/100 g. The ink sheet enables multi-printing with ensuring a high print density.

Abstract: A solvent-free heat meltable solid ink is provided which ensures printed images of good fastness without any deterioration of its coating properties and which comprises a rosin-type resin in an amount of not less than 10% by weight based on the total amount of the ink, and a coloring agent comprising carbon black and an oil-soluble dye. In one embodiment of the present invention, the oil-soluble dye is a metal complex dye.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording medium comprising a foundation, and a release layer and a heat-meltable colored ink layer provided on the foundation in that order, the release layer containing 50 to 100% by weight of a polyethylene wax having a melting or softening point of not lower than 100.degree. C., the heat-meltable colored ink layer comprising a coloring agent and a vehicle, the vehicle containing 50 to 100% by weight of carnauba wax. The recording medium gives clear print images having excellent fastness without causing falling of ink and is useful for bar code printing.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink comprising a coloring agent and a heat-meltable vehicle containing a wax component, the wax component containing not less than 15% by weight of a wax, the wax being a reaction product obtained by reacting an alcohol mixture of a straight-chain aliphatic primary monohydric alcohol having 10 to 22 carbon atoms and 1 to 50% by mole, on the basis of the amount of the alcohol mixture, of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol with tolylene diisocyanate in a ratio of NCO/OH=0.8 to 1.0 by mole. A thermal transfer element is also disclosed wherein on a support is provided a thermal transfer ink layer formed from the thermal transfer ink by a solvent coating method.

Abstract: A multi-usable thermal transfer ink sheet comprising a foundation, a heat-meltable, multi-transferable ink layer provided on the foundation, and a heat-meltable overcoat provided on the ink layer, said overcoat having a greater cohesive force than that of said ink layer. A rough paper-adaptability and a resistance to receiving paper-staining are improved with ensuring a desired multi-printing property.