Abstract: This invention relates to a thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:a) a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder and an infrared absorbing material associated therewith, andb) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with the dye-donor element so that the dye layer is adjacent to the dye image-receiving layer,the improvement wherein said polymeric layer of either the dye-donor element or the dye-receiving element in face-to-face relationship therewith has a textured surface which is formed only by said polymer, so that effective contact between the dye-receiving element and the dye-donor element is prevented during transfer of a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image, the textured surface having a surface roughness average, R.sub.a, of at least 0.8 .mu.m.