Abstract: A method for forming fine concavo-convex patterns by using a relief formation material 3 having a relief formation layer 2 composed of a resin having thermoplasticity and a relief pattern sheet 6 having on a surface thereof fine concavo-convex patterns 5, wherein a photothermal conversion layer 7 is formed in the relief formation material 3 or the relief pattern sheet 6; the photothermal conversion layer 7 is irradiated with light 8 to make the photothermal conversion layer 7 generate heat in the state that the relief formation layer 2 is brought into contact with the fine concavo-convex patterns 5; and the fine concavo-convex patterns 5 are formed on the relief formation layer 2.

Abstract: An image forming method is provided to attain a higher security for preventing forgery and falsification of information by using an optical diffraction structure. In a body (10) whereupon a layer is to be transferred, printing information (2) is recorded. On the body (10), a layer (20d) including a hologram and a diffraction lattice provided on an optical diffraction structure transfer sheet (20) is transferred, and an image including recorded printing information (2) and optical diffraction structures (3, 4, 5) is formed. The layer (20d) including the optical diffraction structure is transferred so that the diffraction lattice (5) to be transferred forms diffraction lattice information (5) showing a prescribed regularity in a corresponding relationship between the printing information (2).

Abstract: A transferring method for transferring a hologram with stable quality including on-demand information by using a thermal transfer sheet where the hologram is laminated. The transferring method transfers a thermal transfer sheet in which a hologram or a diffraction grating is laminated on a base material film, wherein a direction of heating sequentially by a heat source of a minute area unit and a direction of recorded information for enhancing optical effects of the hologram or the diffraction grating coincide with each other.

Abstract: An image forming method is provided to attain a higher security for preventing forgery and falsification of information by using an optical diffraction structure. In a body (10) whereupon a layer is to be transferred, printing information (2) is recorded. On the body (10), a layer (20d) including a hologram and a diffraction lattice provided on an optical diffraction structure transfer sheet (20) is transferred, and an image including recorded printing structures (3, 4, 5) is formed. The layer (20d) including the optical diffraction structure is transferred so that the diffraction lattice (5) to be transferred forms diffraction lattice information (5) showing a prescribed regularity in a corresponding relationship between the printing information (2).

Abstract: A method for forming fine concavo-convex patterns by using a relief formation material 3 having a relief formation layer 2 composed of a resin having thermoplasticity and a relief pattern sheet 6 having on a surface thereof fine concavo-convex patterns 5, wherein a photothermal conversion layer 7 is formed in the relief formation material 3 or the relief pattern sheet 6; the photothermal conversion layer 7 is irradiated with light 8 to make the photothermal conversion layer 7 generate heat in the state that the relief formation layer 2 is brought into contact with the fine concavo-convex patterns 5; and the fine concavo-convex patterns 5 are formed on the relief formation layer 2.

Abstract: A method for forming fine concavo-convex patterns by using a relief formation material 3 having a relief formation layer 2 composed of a resin having thermoplasticity and a relief pattern sheet 6 having on a surface thereof fine concavo-convex patterns 5, wherein a photothermal conversion layer 7 is formed in the relief formation material 3 or the relief pattern sheet 6; the photothermal conversion layer 7 is irradiated with light 8 to make the photothermal conversion layer 7 generate heat in the state that the relief formation layer 2 is brought into contact with the fine concavo-convex patterns 5; and the fine concavo-convex patterns 5 are formed on the relief formation layer 2.

Abstract: A thermal transfer film comprises a coloring layer formed on a substrate film via an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer contains a thermally fusible substance and a non-transferable binder resin, the melt viscosity of the thermally fusible substance in the temperature range 15 to 25° C. higher than the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 100 to 1000 mPa·s, the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 50 to 110° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of ?20 to 100 ° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is lower than the fuse peak temperature by 10° C. or more, and the softening temperature of the binder resin measured by the ring and ball method is in the range of 130 to 400° C. This thermal transfer film is capable of forming a printed product with a good printing quality.

Abstract: The invention provides a transfer ribbon having a layered structure in which a substrate, a relief layer and a reflection layer are laminated in this order, wherein the relief layer comprises an ionizing radiation-cured resin. The transfer ribbon can precisely transfer fine dots and/and dots placed close to each other with a low energy and at a high speed without any of burrs, chippings or lacks by means of a thermal head. Also, the invention provides an image expressing medium, which can be produced using the transfer ribbon described above, and comprises a support, a color layer and plural dots of relief hologram and/or diffraction grating. In the medium: the color layer and the dots are disposed on the same surface of the support; and the each dot has an area in a range from 0.0001 to 0.09 mm2; the each dots has a diffraction direction different from that of at least one of adjacent dots, or the dot has two or more sections each of which has a diffraction direction different from each other.

Abstract: A method for forming fine concavo-convex patterns by using a relief formation material 3 having a relief formation layer 2 composed of a resin having thermoplasticity and a relief pattern sheet 6 having on a surface thereof fine concavo-convex patterns 5, wherein a photothermal conversion layer 7 is formed in the relief formation material 3 or the relief pattern sheet 6; the photothermal conversion layer 7 is irradiated with light 8 to make the photothermal conversion layer 7 generate heat in the state that the relief formation layer 2 is brought into contact with the fine concavo-convex patterns 5; and the fine concavo-convex patterns 5 are formed on the relief formation layer 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production process of, duplication plate material for duplication of, and medium provided with an optically diffractive structure such as a hologram and diffraction grating having excellent optically diffractive effect, wherein the optically diffractive structure has a surface configuration having plural corrugation-like convexo-concave shapes, and the convexo-concave shapes of the final medium is formed by using a duplication plate material. The convexo-concave shapes of the duplication plate material have a cross-sectional surface which is crosswise to the peaks of the convexo-concave shapes, and a salient section defined by a salient line and a middle line has a smaller area than that of an adjacent reentrant section defined by a reentrant line and the middle line. Herein, the middle line is drawn by connecting midpoints of the height of the convexo-concave shapes.

Abstract: The invention provides a transfer ribbon having a layered structure in which a substrate, a relief layer and a reflection layer are laminated in this order, wherein the relief layer comprises an ionizing radiation-cured resin. The transfer ribbon can precisely transfer fine dots and/and dots placed close to each other with a low energy and at a high speed without any of burrs, chippings or lacks by means of a thermal head. Also, the invention provides an image expressing medium, which can be produced using the transfer ribbon described above, and comprises a support, a color layer and plural dots of relief hologram and/or diffraction grating. In the medium: the color layer and the dots are disposed on the same surface of the support; and the each dot has an area in a range from 0.0001 to 0.09 mm2; the each dots has a diffraction direction different from that of at least one of adjacent dots, or the dot has two or more sections each of which has a diffraction direction different from each other.

Abstract: A thermal transfer film comprises a coloring layer formed on a substrate film via an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer contains a thermally fusible substance and a non-transferable binder resin, the melt viscosity of the thermally fusible substance in the temperature range 15 to 25° C. higher than the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 100 to 1000 mPa·s, the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 50 to 110° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of −20 to 100 ° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is lower than the fuse peak temperature by 10° C. or more, and the softening temperature of the binder resin measured by the ring and ball method is in the range of 130 to 400 ° C. This thermal transfer film is capable of forming a printed product with a good printing quality.

Abstract: The present invention is for providing a thermal transfer film capable of providing a vivid print without generation of a void, and an image forming method using the same. The thermal transfer film comprises a coloring layer formed on a substrate film via an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer comprises materials according to either one of the following combinations: (1) a polycaprolactone resin having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C., and a binder resin having a 130-400° C. extrapolation fuse starting temperature; (2) a thermally fusible substance having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C., and a binder resin having a 150-400° C. extrapolation fuse starting temperature, (3) a polycaprolactone resin having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C., and a non-transferable binder resin having a 130-400° C. softening temperature; and (4) a thermally fusible substance having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C.

Abstract: A thermal transfer film comprises a coloring layer formed on a substrate film via an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer contains a thermally fusible substance and a non-transferable binder resin, the melt viscosity of the thermally fusible substance in the temperature range 15 to 25° C. higher than the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 100 to 1000 mPa·s, the fuse peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of 50 to 110° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is in the range of −20 to 100° C., the crystallization peak temperature of the thermally fusible substance is lower than the fuse peak temperature by 10° C. or more, and the softening temperature of the binder resin measured by the ring and ball method is in the range of 130 to 400° C. This thermal transfer film is capable of forming a printed product with a good printing quality.

Abstract: The present invention is for providing a thermal transfer film capable of providing a vivid print without generation of a void, and an image forming method using the same. The thermal transfer film comprises a coloring layer formed on a substrate film via an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer comprises materials according to either one of the following combinations: (1) a polycaprolactone resin having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C., and a binder resin having a 130-400° C. extrapolation fuse starting temperature; (2) a thermally fusible substance having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C., and a binder resin having a 150-400° C. extrapolation fuse starting temperature, (3) a polycaprolactone resin having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C., and a non-transferable binder resin having a 130-400° C softening temperature; and (4) a thermally fusible substance having a 100-1,000 mPa·s melt viscosity at 75° C.

Abstract: A thermal transfer medium comprising:a thermal transfer film comprising a substrate film and a hot-melt ink layer provided on said substrate film, said hot-melt ink layer containing a thermoplastic elastomer having a rubber elasticity; and an image receiving sheet superposed peelably onto said thermal transfer film on the side of said hot-melt ink layer; wherein (i) the thermal transfer medium is formed by separately preparing said image receiving sheet and said thermal transfer film, superposing said image receiving sheet on said thermal transfer film on the side of said hot-melt ink layer, and adhering said image receiving sheet and said thermal transfer film in a peelable manner; (ii) said hot-melt ink layer is formed by coating said substrate film with a hot-melt ink; (iii) the adhesive strength under shear in an area of adhesion between said thermal transfer film on the side of said hot-melt ink layer and a 25.times.55 m.sup.2 area of said image receiving sheet ranges from 300 to 2000 g; and (iv) the 90.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet including: a substrate film, and a release layer, a thermal transfer ink layer, and an adhesive layer provided in that order on one side of the substrate film, the release layer being composed mainly of resin particles which, upon thermal transfer of the ink layer, are fused into a film.

Abstract: When a thermal transfer film and a material, on which an image is to be transferred, are spottedly adhered to each other with adhesive particles, the adhesive strength can be successfully regulated as desired and it becomes possible to provide a thermal transfer medium having an excellent storage stability. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer medium comprising: a thermal transfer film having a substrate film and a hot-melt ink layer provided on the substrate film; and an image receiving sheet adhered in a peelable manner to the thermal transfer film on the side of the hot-melt ink layer through a temporary adhesive layer, the temporary adhesive layer including adhesive particles and a binder, the thermal transfer film on the side of the hot-melt ink layer and the image receiving sheet being spottedly adhered to each other.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet including: a substrate and a hot-melt ink layer provided on one side of the substrate. The hot-melt ink layer including a colorant, a binder resin, a dispersing agent containing a phytosterol component, and a wax.

Abstract: A thermal transfer medium comprising:a thermal transfer film comprising a substrate film and a hot-melt ink layer provided on said substrate film, said hot-melt ink layer containing a thermoplastic elastomer having a rubber elasticity; and an image receiving sheet superposed peelably onto said thermal transfer film on the side of said hot-melt ink layer; wherein (i) the thermal transfer medium is formed by separately preparing said image receiving sheet and said thermal transfer film, superposing said image receiving sheet on said thermal transfer film on the side of said hot-melt ink layer, and adhering said image receiving sheet and said thermal transfer film in a peelable manner; (ii) said hot-melt ink layer is formed by coating said substrate film with a hot-melt ink; (iii) the adhesive strength under shear in an area of adhesion between said thermal transfer film on the side of said hot-melt ink layer and a 25.times.55 m.sup.2 area of said image receiving sheet ranges from 300 to 2000 g; and (iv) the 90.