Abstract: A heat sensitive transfer sheet that achieves high optical density and high light resistance without generating scumming. The heat sensitive sheet has a base material and a coloring material layer formed on the base material, and the coloring material layer includes a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a particular dye compound: wherein R11 and R13 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an unsubstituted aryl group or an aryl group having a substituent; and R12 and R14 to R18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

Abstract: A heat transfer label is disclosed. The heat transfer label comprises a special heat stable release which strongly adheres to the carrier, offers a highly ink and adhesive wettable surface, stays intact under heat transfer bonding conditions, releases easily, leaves no contamination on the transfer or fabric, and enables durable replication of the release surface finish onto the resultant transfers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method allowing the heat transfer of a multilayer complex (1) onto the front face of a textile material (13), said multilayer complex comprising a layer (5) containing polyurethane and a superimposed expansible layer (6) containing a gelled vinyl polychloride plastisol and a non-expanded heat-expansion agent. To this end: the multilayer complex is placed on the visible front face of the textile material, the polyurethane-containing layer being the furthest away from the textile material so as to form, after the transfer, a visible decorative layer on the front face of the textile material; and temperature and pressure conditions are applied so as to cause the adhesion of the multilayer complex to the visible front face of the textile material and the simultaneous expansion of the expansible layer. A three-dimensional edge effect can be obtained using different color layers.

Abstract: Heat transfers are provided that have indicia for enhancing the appearance of color dye sublimated fabric material, such as apparel and accessories including sportswear fabrics. The label assembly includes a transfer portion protected by a releasable support portion. The transfer portion includes a multi-layer barrier containing at least two differently formulated barrier layers. The second such barrier layer extends outwardly beyond the perimeter edge of the first barrier layer, which perimeter edge had left a recess gap in the transfer portion, which recess gap is covered by the overhang margin of the second barrier layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a transfer strip for decorating surfaces, in particular for decorating outer packagings. A transfer strip comprising a strip-like backing film (11), a decorative layer (13) and a release layer (12) arranged between the decorative layer (13) and the backing film is provided. The decorative layer (13) has a multiplicity of identical optically variable decorative elements, which are arranged in first area regions, which are separate from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer strip. The decorative layer (13) has second area regions, which are separate from one another and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the transfer strip and in which the decorative layer (13) has one or more individualizable layers for providing respectively different machine-readable optical markings.

Abstract: Heat transfers are provided that have a symbol image which can be of a numeric, alphabetic or alpha-numeric shape and have a body width onto which another image is placed. The image thus placed can be of an individual or scene, for example, the image of a sport personality. The result is a composite image, and this composite image is imparted to a heat transfer support or substrate having heat transfer capabilities, such as by a printing technique. The resultant composite image heat transfer then is available for application onto products such as soft goods or other merchandise.

Abstract: A heat transferable dye donor element includes a heat transferable dye and an N-oxyl radical light stabilizer that is derived from a hindered amine. The N-oxyl radical has the following formula, wherein R1, R2, R5, and R6 are each independently selected from a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl, and R3 and R4 are each independently selected from H, OH, OR, COOH, or COOR, wherein R is a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl or alkene, and has a molecular weight of 600 or less. The dye donor element includes a heat transferable material that can be in one or more sections or patches including heat transferable dye patches. The heat transferable material provides better dye image stability when applied to a thermal receiver element.

Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element can be used to provide a clear protective overcoat on a thermal image receiver element from a thermal transferable protective clear film on the donor element. This thermal transferable protective clear film includes a transparent poly(vinyl acetal) binder to which are attached silicone groups to improve scratch resistance of the transferred protective overcoat. Such protective overcoats can also be applied over thermally transferred dye images.

Abstract: This invention provides an azomethine compound that can realize a good coupling reaction and, at the same time, can significantly reduce the production cost of the azomethine compound, the azomethine compound comprising a pyridine ring bonded through a nitrogen atom to a 1H-pyrazolo[1,5-b][1,2,4]triazole ring. The azomethine compound is represented by formula (M-I): wherein R1 represents a phenyl group or a naphthyl group optionally substituted by an alkyl group or a halogen; and R2 and R3 each independently represent a C2-4 (number of carbon atoms) alkyl group.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for applying a colorant to a surface. The compositions useful in the present disclosure include a composition that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. If desired, the composition may be substantially removed from the surface to remove a portion or substantially all of the stain before being affixed to the surface. If a user desires to remove the composition from the surface, the composition is formulated to be removed by a number of methods including, for example, vacuuming, wet extraction, chemical application, and the like. If the user desires to affix the composition to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, the composition may be affixed to the surface by applying energy thereto in the form of, for example, heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a thermo-transferable dye in a binder resin, wherein the dye layer contains at least one polymer containing a repetitive unit derived from (a) a monomer of the following formula (1) and (b) a monomer having an aliphatic group that has a bridging linkage and has at least 7 carbon atoms: wherein Rf represents substituent containing a fluoroalkyl or perfluoroalkyl group having at least 8 fluorine atoms, n indicates 1 or 2, and R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer sheet at least having a polyester support, a barrier layer, a heat-sensitive transfer layer containing a dye and a binder, both layers being applied on a surface of the support in this order, and having the heat-sensitive transfer layer including yellow, magenta, and cyan heat-sensitive transfer layers, and the yellow, magenta, and cyan heat-sensitive transfer layers and a protective layer being formed in area order, wherein the barrier layer contains a polyvinylpyrrolidone and cyan heat-sensitive transfer layer contains at least one silicone oil and at least one dye represented by the following formula (C1): wherein Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted p-phenylene group; R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted acylamino group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonylamino group; R3 and R4 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl gr

Abstract: An in-mold transfer film is formed to satisfy the conditions of F2>F1, F3>F2, F3>F1, and F3>F1+F4+F5, where F1 is an adhesive force at an interface between a base and a mold-release layer, F2 is an adhesive force at an interface between the mold-release layer and a printed ink layer, F3 is an adhesive force at an interface between the printed ink layer and a transferred object, F4 is a cohesive force of the mold-release layer, and F5 is a cohesive force of the printed ink layer.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet includes coloring material layers D1, D2, and D3. Transferred images respectively formed by the coloring material layers D1, D2, and D3 have a value C defined by mathematical formula 1 of less than 12, and calorimetric values P (a*, b*) defined by mathematical formulae 2 and 3 different from one another: C=([a*]2+[b*]2)0.5 ??(mathematical formula 1) where C represents chroma and a* and b* each represent a calorimetric value equivalent to L*=38, [a*]=(ay?ax)/(Ly?Lx)*(38?Lx)+ax ??(mathematical formula 2), and [b*]=(by?bx)/(Ly?Lx)*(38?Lx)+bx ??(mathematical formula 3) where Lx, ax, bx, Ly, ay, and by represent calorimetric values at adjacent step Sx and step Sy near L*=38 when a stairstep image is formed by transfer.

Abstract: A thermal transfer member includes a plurality of color material layers on one surface of a base material, wherein at least one of the color material layers contains a dicyanomethine based coloring agent represented by Structural formula 1 and at least one of the other color material layers contains an indoaniline based coloring agent represented by Structural formula 2.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet packaged body includes a thermal transfer sheet and a packaging member for storing the thermal transfer sheet. The thermal transfer sheet is provided with field-sequentially disposed color material layers of individual colors and an image protective layer on a base material. An average value of the amounts of remaining solvent per unit area of the color material layers of the individual colors and the image protective layer is adjusted at 12.5 mg/m2 or less. The packaging member has the moisture permeability coefficient of 2 g/m2·24 h or less at 23° C. and a relative humidity of 55% RH.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions derived from a polycarboxylic acid, a polyhydroxy compound, a dye and a basic crosslinking agent. The compositions can be used to prepare cross-linked films that exhibit low solvent-swell characteristics. The cross-linked films can be used to prepare color filter elements via thermal transfer processes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a two-sided thermal transfer ribbon comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and respective first and second thermal transfer coatings supported on the respective first and second sides is provided. In further embodiments, the first thermal transfer coating is adapted to transfer to print media when heated to a first temperature, and the second thermal transfer coating is adapted to transfer to print media when heated to a second temperature different from the first temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing method which can form an image having a rainbow color and a metallic luster at a low cost. The printing method comprises the steps of: providing a substrate; forming, on a surface of the substrate, a first image using a pigment- or dye-containing first colorant; and then forming a second image using a pearl pigment-containing second colorant.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink sheet having a dye layer containing a polyvinyl acetal modified with a compound of the formula [1] and a polyvinyl acetal modified with a compound of the formula [2]: wherein R1 represents a substituted alkyl group, etc; R2 represents H, etc; wherein R3 represents a linear hydrocarbon group, etc; R4 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.

Abstract: There is disclosed thermal transfer media containing both fixed and variable printed information, and method of making and using such a thermal transfer medium. The fixed information is printed in one or more fixed-information zone(s) preferably on a web during a long production run and thereafter as the need arises the variable information is printed or imprinted in one or more variable information zone(s) on sections of the web during shorter production runs. The transfer medium is particularly suited for printing onto fabrics that are subject to repeated home laundering and commercial dry cleaning.

Abstract: A heat-transfer label assembly and method of using the same. In one embodiment, the assembly is particularly well-suited for decorating flexible plastic articles and comprises a paper substrate overcoated with a layer of polyethylene, a skim coat of wax overcoated onto the polyethylene layer, and one or more spaced apart, heat-transfer labels printed onto the skim coat. Each label is bondable to the article when activated by heat and consists of one or more ink design layers, each ink design layer comprising a mixture of polyester resins, a pigment, a cross-linking resin and a catalyst. When initiated by label transfer, the catalyst causes the cross-linking resin to partially cross-link the polyester resin to an extent that the label is endowed with protective properties while still retaining sufficient flexibility to avoid cracking when the article is flexed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer laser transfer film for the permanent labeling of components, comprising at least one support layer, whereby a first adhesive layer is at least partly provided on the underside of the support layer, characterised in that on the side of the support layer for the laser transfer film on which the first adhesive layer is provided, at least two pigment layers containing a laser-sensitive pigment are at least partly provided, whereby the concentration of the laser-sensitive pigment in the pigment layers varies.

Abstract: A method of forming sheet rolls made of a heat transfer recording sheet having a transfer ink layer on a surface of a base by winding the recording sheet around the outer peripheries of a plurality of cores. The method includes supplying a web heat transfer recording sheet, cutting a portion thereof corresponding to a region between two adjacent sheet rolls to form cut ends; placing a non-adhesive waste sheet and a pair of adhesive tapes attached to the waste sheet ends between the transfer recording sheet, the tapes having an adhesive portion, an outside-exposed portion, and a portion attached to a cut end of the recording sheet, winding the sheet around a core outer periphery, positioning the waste sheet between winding apparatus and a discharging portion, and cutting the waste sheet so positioned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging element having long term stability comprising at least one imaging layer and a support, wherein the support comprises at least one layer comprising polylactic acid.

Abstract: A multicolor image-forming material which comprises an image-receiving sheet comprising a support having thereon a coating layer including at least an image-receiving layer, and a plurality of heat transfer sheets each comprising a support having coating layers including at least a light-to-heat converting layer and an image-forming layer, wherein the ratio of the optical density (OD) of the image-forming layer in each heat transfer sheet to the layer thickness, OD/layer thickness (&mgr;m unit), is 1.50 or more, the recording area of a multicolor image of the heat transfer sheet is 515 mm or more multiplying 728 mm or more, the definition of a transferred image is 2,400 dpi or more, the coating layer in the image-receiving sheet and/or the coating layers in each heat transfer sheet has at least one layer containing a dispersant and a matting layer having an average particle size of from 0.

Abstract: There are provided a method for image formation which can produce an image formed object possessing excellent fastness or resistance properties such as excellent abrasion resistance, lightfastness, and alteration preventive properties, is less likely to cause damage to an object, is free from a deterioration in image quality, and does not incur an increase in production cost, and an image formed object. In the method for image formation, an intermediate transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a light transparent protective layer provided on the substrate, and a first thermal transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a light transparent ink layer provided on the substrate are first provided. The intermediate transfer recording medium and the first thermal transfer recording medium are put on top of each other. The assembly is imagewise heated to form a light transparent image on the light transparent protective layer in the intermediate transfer recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a multi-color image-forming material for recording an image by using an image-receiving sheet having an image-receiving layer and at least 4 kinds of heat transfer sheets different from each other in color and comprising a support having provided thereon at least a light-to-heat conversion layer and an image-forming layer, superposing the image-forming layer of each of the thermal transfer sheet on the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet, in which the image-forming layer is opposed to the image-receiving layer, and irradiating a laser light thereto to transfer the laser-irradiated area of the image-forming layer to the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet, wherein the material contains a heat transfer sheet (X) having an image-forming layer containing one selected from among Pigment Red 48:1, Pigment Red 48:3, Pigment Green 7, Pigment Blue 15:6, Pigment Blue 60, Pigment Violet 23 and Pigment Orange 43, and a method for forming a multi-color image comprises u