Abstract: Disclosed is a heat transferable protective overcoat comprising a hydroxyphenyl triazine compound in a polymeric binder. Such an overcoat provides UV protection without degrading sunlight protection.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon at least one dye layer area comprising an image dye in a binder and another area comprising a transferable protection layer, the transferable protection layer area being approximately equal in size to the dye layer area, wherein the transferable protection layer contains inorganic particles, a polymeric binder and unexpanded synthetic thermoplastic polymeric microspheres, the microspheres having a particle size in the unexpanded condition of from about 5 to about 20 &mgr;m, and which expand to about 20 to about 120 &mgr;m upon application of heat during transfer of the protection layer to an image-receiving layer to provide a matte surface thereon, the microspheres comprising a mixture of low softening point microspheres and high softening point microspheres, the low softening point microspheres having a softening point less than about 105° C.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon at least one dye layer area comprising an image dye in a binder and another area comprising a transferable protection layer, the transferable protection layer area being approximately equal in size to the dye layer area, wherein the transferable protection layer contains inorganic particles, a polymeric binder and unexpanded synthetic thermoplastic polymeric microspheres, the microspheres having a particle size in the unexpanded condition of from about 5 to about 20 &mgr;m, and which expand to about 20 to about 120 &mgr;m upon application of heat during transfer of the protection layer to an image-receiving layer to provide a matte surface thereon, the transferable protection layer being less than about 1 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: A method of engraving a gravure cylinder having a circumference C for coating a liquid composition on a substrate. The liquid composition contains a concentration of particles having a predetermined particle diameter. The method includes calculating the engraving channel depth Do based on a first ratio of the particle diameter to channel depth (DB/Do). Then, engraving the gravure cylinder according to &thgr;, &agr;, WC, Ww, and Wo.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye layer and on the other side a slipping layer comprising a binder containing polyalkylsilsesquioxane particles wherein less than about 8% of the particles have a diameter of >0.8 .mu.m.

Abstract: A dye-receiver element comprising a support having thereon a dye-receiving layer containing a thermally-transferred dye image, the dye-receiving layer being laminated to a transparent protective sheet by means of an adhesive comprising a phenoxy resin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermal transfer donor element comprising a support having thereon a pigment layer comprising a pigment dispersed in a polymeric binder, said pigment layer being capable of being thermally transferred to a receiver element, wherein said polymeric binder is a phenoxy resin.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for removal of silver halide from a silver halide photographic recording material by a processing solution with fixing ability (a fixer) containing thiosulfate as a fixing agent conducted in the presence of a thioether compound incorporated within a fixer formulation. It further provides a fixer formulation for use in said process. The fixer contains a maximum ammonium ion concentration of 0.9M.

Abstract: An interactive dye thermal transfer printing apparatus and process uses a dye donor layer and a dye receiver layer, passing the dye donor layer and the opposed receiver layer between a thermal print head and a platen heated to raise the temperature of the dye receiver layer to its glass transition temperature. The thermal print head is image-wise energized to diffuse dye from the dye donor layer to the dye receiver layer. At the same time, thermal energy is transferred from the platen to the dye receiver layer to provide energy to react the dye with the receiver layer.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, the dye image-receiving element containing crosslinked elastomeric beads having a Tg of 45.degree. C. or less, the elastomeric beads being made from an acrylic polymer, an acrylic copolymer or a styrenic copolymer, the elastomeric beads having from about 5 to about 40% by weight of a crosslinking agent, the beads having a particle size of from about 2 to about 20 .mu.m.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element comprising a reflective support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer having an overcoat layer thereon containing crosslinked elastomeric beads having a Tg of 45.degree. C. or less, the elastomeric beads being made from an acrylic polymer, an acrylic copolymer or a styrenic copolymer, the elastomeric beads having from about 5 to about 40% by weight of a crosslinking agent, the elastomeric beads having a particle size of less than about 1 .mu.m and are present at a coverage of from about 0.2 to about 1.0 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye image-receiving layer, wherein the dye image-receiving layer is overcoated with a layer consisting of a water-soluble poly(ethylene oxide) polymer.

Abstract: A process of forming a dye transfer image comprising imagewise-heating, by means of a thermal print head, a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a sublimable, metallizable dye precursor dispersed in a polymeric binder, and transferring a dye image to a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer containing a metal ion to form the dye transfer image, wherein the support of the dye-receiving layer is heated above ambient temperature from the side opposite to the side facing the thermal print head either prior to or during transfer of the thermal dye image.

Abstract: A process of forming a single color, dye ablation image having a reduced D-min comprising imagewise-heating, by means of a laser, a dye-ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising an image dye dispersed in a polymeric binder having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, the laser exposure taking place through the dye side of the element, and removing the ablated image dye material by means of an air stream to obtain an image in the dye-ablative recording element, wherein the image dye is thermally bleachable and decomposes upon laser exposure.

Abstract: A process of fusing a dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer suitable for forming a slide for projection viewing, the dye-receiving element comprising a polymeric central dye image-receiving section and a polymeric frame section extending around the periphery of the central section, the dye image-receiving section containing a thermally-transferred dye image, the process comprising simultaneously subjecting the element to both conductive and convective heating.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of preparing a dye-donor element used in thermal dye-transfer processing comprising:a) coating a support with a dye layer comprising an image dye dispersed in a binder, the binder comprising a hydrophilic polymer coated from an aqueous solution containing a surfactant;b) washing the dye-donor element with water to remove residual surfactant in the dye layer; andc) drying the dye-donor element.

Abstract: The invention is accomplished by providing an iodide ion absorbing method and article. The article is a composite article comprising a surfactant, an iodide absorbing medium, and a polymer that is permeable to iodide ion overlaying the iodide absorbing medium. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the polymer is an ionic polymer and the surfactant is an ionic surfactant with a charge opposite to that of the polymer. The surfactant can be incorporated in the absorbing medium, in the polymer, or it can overlay the polymer. In a preferred form of the invention, a substrate is coated with the iodide absorbing medium, a layer of an ionic polymer is overlaid on the absorbing medium, and a layer incorporating an ionic surfactant is overlaid onto the polymer. The ionic surfactant also may be placed in a layer between the polymer and the absorbing medium. A preferred absorbing medium is silver bromide.

Abstract: A method for the processing of photographic elements includes a bleach-fixing step utilizing a bleach-fixing composition comprising an aqueous alkaline solution of a peroxy compound and an ammonium or amine salt of a weak acid.

Abstract: Fast acting and ecologically advantageous compositions for the bleach-fixing of photographic elements are comprised of an aqueous alkaline solution of a peroxy compound and an ammonium or amine salt of a weak acid.