Abstract: A transparent heat-sensitive recording material of the invention comprises (a) a transparent support; (b) a heat-sensitive recording layer containing a leuco dye and a developer and formed on the transparent support; and (c) a protective layer comprising as main components a pigment and a binder and formed on the heat-sensitive recording layer; wherein the pigment contained in the protective layer is (i) calcined kaolin and at least one main pigment selected from the group consisting of kaolin and aluminum hydroxide, or (ii) calcined kaolin, a third pigment, and at least one main pigment selected from the group consisting of kaolin and aluminum hydroxide; and the calcined kaolin is present in a proportion of 0.3 to 5 mass % relative to the protective layer.
Abstract: An optical article comprising a primary mark disposed on the optical article and a secondary mark disposed on the optical article in close proximity to the primary mark. The primary mark comprises a first optical-state change material and the secondary mark comprises a second optical-state change material. The optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an activated state when a localized authorized activation method is used that selectively activates the primary mark. The optical article is transformed from a pre-activated state to an deactivated state when a non-localized unauthorized activation method is used that activates the secondary mark along with the primary mark resulting in the second optical-state change material undergoing a reverse color change when compared to the first optical-state change material. An optical article with a single mark including multiple color change optical-state change material is also disclosed.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 13, 2009
Publication date:
August 27, 2009
Applicant:
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Inventors:
James Anthony Cella, David Gilles Gascoyne, Ben Purushotam Patel, Paul Michael Smigelski, JR., James Mitchell White, Gregory Allen O'Neil, Andrea Jeannine Peters, Matthew Jeremiah Misner, Trevor James Dale, Whitney Jeanne Olson, Marc Brian Wisnudel
Abstract: A method for creating color images is provided. This method includes providing at least one color precursor, wherein the color precursor is contained within microcapsules of predetermined sizes or variable sizes; providing a substrate, wherein the substrate is coated with at least one-color-triggering developer; depositing the microcapsules on the surface of the substrate; and creating an image on the substrate by applying pressure to the microcapsules in a controlled manner, wherein the pressure is sufficient to rupture the microcapsules, wherein rupturing the microcapsules releases the color precursor for reacting with the color-triggering developer, and wherein the reaction of the color precursor with the color-triggering developer creates color on the surface of the substrate.
Abstract: A multilayer article is provided comprising a metallic nanoparticle layer and a reflective film layer. The article may be marked on exposure to incident light.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 2, 2009
Publication date:
August 20, 2009
Inventors:
Rajdeep S. Kalgutkar, Mario A. Perez, Janet R. Kirkman
Abstract: A thermal recording adhesive label, including a substrate; a thermal recording layer located overlying one side of the substrate, including a leuco dye and a color developer; a back coat layer located overlying the other side of the substrate; an adhesive layer located overlying the back coat layer; and a release paper located overlying the adhesive layer, wherein the thermal recording adhesive label further includes an adhesive undercoat layer comprising a thermoplastic resin and a filler between the back coat layer and the adhesive layer.
Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material including at least one heat-sensitive recording layer and a protective layer provided in this order on a support, wherein the protective layer contains a compound represented by the following Formula (1) and/or a compound represented by the following Formula (2), a method for manufacturing the heat-sensitive recording material, and a heat-sensitive recording method using the heat-sensitive recording material provided.
Abstract: A reversible multicolor thermal recording medium which is free from fogging and has sharp contrast even after recording and erasing are performed repeatedly, and a recording method using the same are provided. A reversible multicolor recording medium is provided, which includes recording layers each containing a plurality of reversible thermal coloring compositions having different coloring tones, formed to be separated from and stacked on a surface direction of a supporting substrate; and the plurality of reversible thermal coloring compositions containing light-to-heat transforming materials which absorb infrared rays having different wavelength ranges to generate heat, respectively; wherein an absorption peak wavelength of the light-to-heat transforming material contained in the recording layers becomes the longest wavelength at the layer formed nearest the supporting substrate, and becomes a shorter wavelength as the layer is closer to the surface layer in the stacked order.
Abstract: An optical recording medium, comprises a substrate, an imaging composition disposed on said substrate, said compound comprising: a matrix, a color-forming agent, and a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent increases the nucleation density of at least one component of the color-forming agent.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 19, 2009
Publication date:
June 18, 2009
Inventors:
Brian Risch, Michael J. Day, Vladek P. Kasperchik, William Dorogy
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: Disclosed is a humidity indicator which contains no heavy metal and has good visibility of a color change that occurs when the humidity is increased. The humidity indicator can be produced by applying an aqueous coating comprising a leuco dye, an acidic compound which is in a solid state at ambient temperature, a deliquescent substance and an aqueous resin emulsion onto a substrate such as a resin film, a nonwoven fabric or a paper, and heating and drying the resulting product.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material having a high recording sensitivity, which is capable of providing excellent image quality even when recording is carried out at low energy, and causes reduced coating defects. The invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material obtained by forming, on a paper support, an undercoat layer and then a heat-sensitive recording layer, characterized in that: 1) the undercoat layer has at least two undercoat layers including a first undercoat layer and a second undercoat layer; and 2) the heat-sensitive recording layer has a thickness standard deviation of 0.30 or less, and also provides a method for producing the heat-sensitive recording material.
Abstract: A thermally printable commercially functional cash register tape produced from a thin machine direction oriented, heat stabilized, multi-layer, coextruded thermoplastic film is described. This thermoplastic tape replaces the currently used paper cash register tape. It will accept printing, has sufficient machine direction stiffness and sufficiently reduced surface electrical charges to function in conventional commercial cash register printers. The thermoplastic tape is much thinner than the conventional paper tape so a roll of the plastic register tape contains about 4.7 times the paper length of a typical cash register roll.
Abstract: A modifying agent for a coating composition for producing a protective layer in a thermosensitive recording medium, wherein the modifying agent contains a polyurethane resin (A) having the structure represented by the following general formula (I) and a hydrophilic group, and an aqueous medium. (in the general formula (I), R1 and R2 represent individually an alkyl group, and m and n represent individually an integer of 1 or greater.
Abstract: A colourless or transparent composition comprises a charge-delocalisation compound and a photoacid, wherein the photoacid generates an acid on irradiation or heating, thereby forming a coloured change-transfer complex with said compound.
Abstract: A thermal recording material is provided including a substrate, a thermal coloring layer located overlying the substrate, and a protective layer located overlying the thermal coloring layer. The protective layer includes a binder resin, a crosslinker, a filler; and a release agent. The release agent is a spherical and particulate silicone compound having the following formula: (CH3SiO3/2)n, wherein n represents an integer greater than 15.
Abstract: Provision of a thermally sensitive recording medium made up of an undercoating layer containing a pigment and a binder as main components and a thermally sensitive color-developing layer containing a colorless or pale-colored basic leuco dye and a color-developing agent which develops a color by reacting with said basic leuco dye as main components on a substrate, wherein the undercoating layer contains a water-retention agent and a pigment whose oil-absorbing capacity prescribed by JIS K 5105 is from 80 cc/100 g to 120 cc/100 g as a pigment. Further, the solids concentration of a coating for the undercoating layer is from 25% to 45% and the dynamic water-retention capacity, which is Water retention measured with AA-GWR, is 350 g/m2 or less.
Abstract: An image receptive medium comprising a semi-translucent polymer containing semi-translucent particulate capable of attenuating visible light and imparting color or haze is disclosed. The image receptive medium includes an image receiving layer containing particulate with various light attenuating properties. The image receiving layer can receive a dye through sorption or diffusion. The attenuating properties of the particulate act to enhance the quality of the image by obscuring background and scattering light to illuminate the dye. The result is a durable image requiring only a single layer which is highly visible on opaque, clear, or colored substrates.
Abstract: A thermally sensitive recording medium has at least one layer on a substrate which is a thermally sensitive recording layer that contains a colorless or pale colored electron-donating leuco dye and an electron-accepting color-developing agent. At least one layer on the substrate contains a hydrated silicic acid compound which is treated by wet grinding treatment in a deposition process of the hydrated silicic acid compound. A thermally sensitive recording medium of high brightness, which is superior in color-developing sensitivity and coating layer strength and, further, has excellent head abrasion resistance, less debris adhering and sticking resistance is obtained.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, method, and composition for a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to an article such as a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, a plate of a guidepost and on which is indicated a surface temperature near or below the freezing point of water. The invention can also utilize an adhesive system including a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) and/or thermal sensitive adhesive sheet for adhering sheets of preformed thermoplastic with the thermochromatic color indicative sheet to concrete, asphalt, wood or composite material surfaces. The invention includes methods of applying the product allowing for immediate use in a traffic area upon completion of the application to any appropriate outdoor surface.
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thermosensitive recording material, comprising a carrier substrate and a thermal reaction layer containing a colour former and a colour developer. According to the invention, an application suspension, containing the starting materials of the thermal reaction layer, is applied to the carrier substrate and the carrier substrate is subsequently dried with the applied application suspension. Then the dried carrier substrate with the applied thermal reaction layer is guided through a smoothing mechanism in order to be smoothed, wherein the dried carrier substrate with the applied thermal reaction layer is pressed extensively against a roller by means of a predetermined contact pressure. The invention also relates to a recording material which is produced according to the inventive method.
Abstract: A recordable medium having a data side and a label side has one or more template patterns printed on the label side, and has at least first indicia including a template-reference-position mark.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 23, 2007
Publication date:
October 23, 2008
Applicant:
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Abstract: A method of preparing a thermally printable sheet which comprises providing a substrate comprising a base sheet having at least one surface coated with a layer containing a pigment in solid porous particulate form, and, using a printer, printing onto the coated surface of said substrate, a thermal ink which comprises a colour former, a colour developer and a sensitizer, characterised in that the sensitizer comprises dimethyl terephthalate, and that the ink also comprises at least one pigment. A novel thermally printable sheet suitable for use in such method is also provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 29, 2004
Publication date:
September 25, 2008
Inventors:
Andrew Ward-Askey, John Brian Cooper, Michael Eric Hobson
Abstract: The present invention aims to provide thermosensitive recording materials that allow excellent stampability, prevent sticking, represent less image-density decrease due to image-shielding by protective layers, and generate less printing residual matters on heads. Specifically, the present invention provided thermosensitive recording materials that comprises a protective layer, a thermosensitive recording layer and a support in this order, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer develops a color by heating, the protective layer comprises a binder resin and an inorganic filler, the volume average particle diameter of the inorganic filler is 0.6 to 5.0 ?m, the content of the inorganic filler is 150 to 400% by mass based on the binder resin, and the protective layer comprises crosslinked polymethylmethacrylate particles.
Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material comprising on one surface of a substrate a heat-sensitive coloring layer comprising a leuco dye and a color developer, wherein the heat-sensitive recording material comprises a layer which comprises a copolymer of a (meth)acryloyloxyalkylammonium salt and styrene; and the layer which comprises the copolymer of the (meth)acryloyloxyalkylammonium salt and styrene is at least any one of a back layer, an under layer and a protective layer.
Abstract: A multicolor thermosensitive recording medium having thermosensitive coloring layers which are formed by printing water-dispersion thermosensitive inks or water-dispersion inks on an ink receptive layer using a printing plate. The recording medium comprises an ink receptive layer formed on a surface of a substrate, thermosensitive coloring layers developing different colors, which are integrated with the ink receptive layer by impregnating the ink receptive layer with a water-dispersion thermosensitive ink that is prepared by dispersing in water a pigment component including at least an electron-accepting compound and electron-donating compound. The color density and coloring sensitivity of the thermosensitive coloring layers have been improved by providing over the thermosensitive coloring layers an auxiliary coloring layer containing at least one of an electron-accepting compound and a sensitizer.
Abstract: A composition which comprises a light absorbing layer adhered to an underlying layer containing a photo-chromic colorant, which photo-chromic colorant has been activated by exposure to UV light to undergo a reversible color change, and wherein the rate of color reversion is dependent on temperature, is provided. The ultraviolet light and/or visible light absorbing layer may also contain components which reflect rather than absorb light and can be conveniently applied via thermal transfer or ink jet to a substrate comprising the photo-chromic colorant to protect it from unwanted exposure to UV and/or certain wavelengths visible light. The composition is conveniently employed in a temperature time indicator (TTI).
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 24, 2007
Publication date:
July 10, 2008
Inventors:
Kathleen Hoekstra, David Nichols, Ross Birney
Abstract: A fabric (2; 20) formed from a plurality of first fibres or filaments (4), and a plurality of second fibres or filaments (6); the first fibres or filaments being non-conductive and comprising an electro-optically active material; and the second fibres or filaments being conductive; whereby a voltage difference between two second fibres causes a colour change in a first fibre positioned therebetween.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 17, 2005
Publication date:
July 3, 2008
Applicant:
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONIC, N.V.
Inventors:
Jan M. Krans, Michel P.B. Bruggen, Jacob M.J. Den Toonder, Johannes T.A. Wilderbeek
Abstract: To provide a heat-sensitive recording material, including: a substrate; a heat-sensitive color developing layer on the substrate, the heat-sensitive color developing layer containing at least a leuco dye and a developer; and a protective layer on the heat-sensitive color developing layer, the protective layer containing at least a binder resin, wherein the binder resin in the protective layer contains diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohol resin, the degree of polymerization of the binder resin in the protective layer is 1,000 to 1,800 and the degree of saponification of the binder resin is 90% or greater and less than 98%.
Abstract: A support for an image recording medium includes base paper, a polymer coating layer formed on both top and wire side surfaces, and a coating layer containing a pigment and an adhesive agent which is formed under the polymer coating layer on one or both side surfaces. The support has a water absorbence less than 20 mg in terms of cross section water absorption quantity given by the following expression: Cross section water absorption quantity (mg)=A?B where A is the mass of a 10×1.5 cm support after wiping off attached water after five minute immersion in a water bath at 20° C. and B is the mass of the paper base support before immersion.
Abstract: A thermally sensitive recording medium whose luster of printed part is excellent can be provided by a thermally sensitive recording medium of single layer or multi layers having at least a thermally sensitive recording layer that contains a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate comprising, containing a pigment whose aspect ratio is 30 or more in at least one layer formed on a substrate.
Abstract: A method for using a rewritable thermal label of the non-contact type which comprises recording and erasing information repeatedly in accordance with a non-contact method on a rewitable thermal label which remains attached to an adherend. The label contains (a) an anchor coat layer comprising a crosslinked resin, (b) a heat-sensitive color development layer, (c) a light absorption and a photo-thermal conversion layer and (d) an adhesive layer. The layers (a), (b), (c) and (d) are laminated on a first face of a substrate successively. The anchor coat layer is placed next to the substrate. The layer (c) is an outermost layer. The adhesive layer is placed on a second face of the substrate.
Abstract: A method for data inscription in an acrylic polymer-based photochromic medium is provided in which the photochromic groups are bound to the polymeric matrix. The data is inscribed by irradiating small volume portion with an electromagnetic irradiation that causes a change in state of the photochromic groups from a first to a second state. Said volume portion is heated so as to cause an increase in temperature of said portion at the time of data inscription. The heating may be external or internal. Internal heating makes use of additives that dissipate heat, following their irradiation, to their immediate vicinity. Provided is also a novel acrylic polymer-based photochromic medium comprising said additives.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 12, 2006
Publication date:
May 29, 2008
Applicant:
MemPile, Inc. c/o PHS Corporate Service, Inc., Suite
Inventors:
Ortal Alpert, Yair Salomon, Andrew N. Shipway
Abstract: A thermally sensitive recording medium containing a thermally sensitive recording medium providing an undercoating layer containing a pigment and a binder as main components and a thermally sensitive recording layer containing a colorless or pale colored basic leuco dye and a color developing agent, which reacts with said basic leuco dye, as main components on a substrate, wherein the undercoating layer contains carboxymethyl cellulose having an etherification degree of from 0.55 to 0.75 and hydroxyethyl cellulose from the view point of high effectiveness.
Abstract: Thermally developable materials that comprise a support have an antistatic backside layer that includes a quaternary ammonium salt. The same or different backside layer can also include another antistatic agent such as conductive metal particles or conductive polymers. These thermally developable materials include both thermographic and photothermographic materials that can be suitably imaged to provide images useful for medical diagnoses.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2005
Date of Patent:
May 13, 2008
Inventors:
Kumars Sakizadeh, Thomas J. Ludemann, Gary E. LaBelle
Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a thermoreversible recording medium which possesses not only such an excellent property that the electrostatic charge on the thermoreversible recording medium can be prevented and the curling of the thermoreversible recording medium caused by repeating heating for the printing and erasing of the thermoreversible recording medium can be also prevented, but also an excellent conveyability which is not affected by repeating the use of the thermoreversible recording medium and by an using condition thereof.
Abstract: A medium includes a plurality of Fabry-Perot cavities of varying depths. The cavities correspond to different colors which are produced by the respective cavities under incident light. A thermo-sensitive material covers the plurality of cavities. The cavities are selectively exposed by heating portions of said thermo-sensitive material to alter the thermo-sensitive material where heated thereby forming an image.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 8, 2004
Date of Patent:
April 29, 2008
Inventors:
Andrew L. Van Brocklin, Timothy F. Myers
Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising (a) a transparent film, (b) a heat-sensitive recording layer formed on one side of the transparent film, and containing an electron-donating compound, an electron-accepting compound, and a binder, (c) a protective layer formed on the heat-sensitive recording layer, and containing an aqueous resin as a primary component; and (d) a backside layer formed on the other side of the transparent film, and containing a pigment and a binder; the heat-sensitive recording material containing in the backside layer spherical resin particles having a mean volume particle diameter of 2 to 15 ?m in an amount of 0.2 to 5.0 mass % of the backside layer.
Abstract: A power level meter and method for an AC electrical appliance that can be implemented in the plug of the appliance, monitoring power in response load on the appliance and/or implemented as a module into which an existing appliance is inserted, thereby providing a retrofit solution for appliance AC current monitoring. By using thermo chromic ink and a heat generating resistor, the meter will display different colors on its face to illustrate electrical current flow or demand.
Abstract: Economical and improved pull apart fragrance sampling device constructed of a film to film laminate. The mechanism for release of fragrance is accomplished by providing a microcapsule layer between a top ply and a bottom ply, which upon drying holds the overlying plies together, the microcapsules rupture upon peeling the top ply from the bottom ply, the fragrance is thereby released. A sampler produced as disclosed provides greater stability and shelf life than a paper sampler product while dramatically reducing manufacturing and raw material costs due to it's construction. The sampler provides the maximum flexibility in use and manufacture at a minimum cost.
Abstract: An erasable image forming material is provided, which includes a binder resin, and a color former and a developer dispersed in the binder resin. The color former is amorphous.
Abstract: The invention provides a heat sensitive recording material comprising heat sensitive recording layer provided on a support and having a hollow particle and a heat sensitive coloring component.
Abstract: The present invention relates to chromogenic material that may respond and shift in color due to environmental conditions such as heat, light or humidity. The light may include both visible and non-visible light, such as ultraviolet light. The chromogenic material may therefore provide a method to independently develop a latent image on a given substrate, and in particular, to a substrate that includes conventional thermosensitive image forming media.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 29, 2006
Publication date:
January 3, 2008
Inventors:
Philip Michael Cullen, Dell T. Rosa, Louann Behymer Samuels
Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal recording material, which is easy to manufacture and has excellent productivity, water resistance, heat resistance (running stability) and chemical resistance, by solving various problems caused by using a crosslinking agent for a protective layer. The thermal recording material of the present invention comprises a protective layer mainly composed of a resin emulsion (a) comprising a copolymer resin emulsion (b) containing (meth)acrylonitrile and a vinyl monomer copolymerizable therewith, and having an SP value (solubility parameter) of 12.0 or more, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 10 to 70° C., and a minimum film-forming temperature (MFT) of 5° C. or less, and a polyolefin copolymer resin emulsion (c).
Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image-recording material that may prevent a flocculation of a coating liquid for image-recording layer that contains a water-dispersible emulsion and a water-soluble polymer compound, and that may exhibit an enhanced stability, present an improved film-forming performance, and provide superior surface conditions. In order to achieve the object, an image-recording material according to the present invention is provided, in which the image-recording material comprises a support and at least one image-recording layer on the support, wherein the image-recording layer is formed from a water-dispersible emulsion of which volume-average particle size is 55 nm or more and a water-soluble polymer compound of which weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is 400,000 or less. Preferably, the water-dispersible emulsion is a polyester emulsion. Preferably, the water-soluble polymer compound is polyethyleneoxide.
Abstract: A thermally printable commercially functional cash register tape produced from a thin oriented, heat stabilized, thermoplastic film is described. This thermoplastic tape replaces the currently used paper cash register tape. It will accept printing, has sufficient machine direction stiffness and sufficiently reduced surface electrical charges to function in conventional commercial cash register printers. The thermoplastic tape is much thinner than the conventional paper tape so a roll of the plastic register tape contains about 4.7 times the paper length of a typical cash register roll.
Abstract: A thermally image record material such as a secure document is taught which is susceptible to rapid and bulk destruction of confidential or sensitive information by microwave or high energy absorption. The thermally responsive record material comprises a heat sensitive composition applied onto a substrate having provided thereon in proximity, to the heat sensitive composition as a subcoat or undercoat or back side coating, a layer of particles of an energy receiver material such as a microwave susceptor. Sensitive information imprinted on the record material can be readily destroyed by microwave heating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 21, 2004
Date of Patent:
August 28, 2007
Assignee:
Appleton Papers Inc.
Inventors:
Robert John Kalishek, Michael Anthony Friese
Abstract: An optical information-recording medium includes: a substrate; an electronic information-recording layer on the substrate in which digital information is recorded by the light applied from the side of the substrate; a reflection layer on the electronic information-recording layer; a visible information-recording layer on the reflection layer so that a region of the visible information-recording layer lays outside a circumference having a radius not less than half a radius of the substrate; and an over-coating on the visible information-recording layer. Visible information is recorded in the visible information-recording layer with light applied through the over-coating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 7, 2004
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2007
Assignees:
Yamaha Corporation, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Fujio Matsuishi, Kanji Shimizu, Morito Morishima
Abstract: An optical recording medium, comprises a substrate, and an imaging medium disposed on the substrate, the imaging medium comprising: a marking layer including a thermochromic compound and an interference layer tuned to absorb light having a predetermined wavelength.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 3, 2007
Assignee:
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Inventors:
Makarand P. Gore, James Z. Guo, Anurag Gupta
Abstract: There are disclosed imaging members wherein a chemical compound in a crystalline form is converted, at least partially, and preferably substantially completely or completely, to a liquid in the amorphous form, the liquid having intrinsically a different color from the crystalline form. Also described are imaging methods utilizing the imaging members. The conversion of the compound from the crystalline form to the liquid form can be effected by the application of thermal energy or by other imaging techniques.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2004
Date of Patent:
February 13, 2007
Assignee:
Zink Imaging, LLC
Inventors:
Peter K. Chu, Chien Liu, Stephen J. Telfer
Abstract: The thermal recording media of the present invention provides an intense image resistant to fade. Ideally there is provided a high Print Contrast Signal (PCS) image that greatly enhances reliable high-speed readability with a high percentage of accuracy in detecting the imaged areas when optical or electronic decoding devices and scanners are utilized. Uses include, but are not limited to security applications such as airline baggage tags, laminated durable labels for use in pathology, hematology, and general laboratory uses and on such applications as pre-stainer sample slides, ultraviolet thermal imaging durable labels, or durable labels for use on returnable totes or shipping containers.