Abstract: A process of controlling the gloss of a thermal dye transfer image comprising: (a) imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising an image dye in a binder, the dye-donor being in contact with a dye-receiving element, thereby transferring a dye image to an image-receiving layer of the dye-receiving element to form the dye transfer image; and (b) thermally transferring a protection layer on top of the transferred dye image, the protection layer being applied from an element which contains unexpanded synthetic thermoplastic polymeric microspheres, the microspheres having a particle size in the unexpanded condition of from about 5 to about 20 &mgr;m, the protection layer being transferred using a given energy level in order to expand the microspheres until a desired gloss level is obtained.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a coextensive subbing layer and 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, the transferable protection layer having associated therewith a release material comprising a multi-hydroxyl compound, the alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, or an organic phosphate ester.

Abstract: A microfluidic pen for selectivly writing lines of different colors, includes a colorant mixing chamber and a writing tip in communication with the colorant mixing chamber; a plurality of colorant reservoirs disposed in the pen and which contain different colorants; microkinetic pump selectively effective to deliver colorant in selected amounts from the colorant reservoirs to the colorant mixing chamber wherein the colorants are mixed to provide a colorant of the desired color. The color is selected by a user and actuates the microkinetic pump to cause the desired amount of colorants to be delivered to the colorant mixing chamber where the writing tip can write a line of the desired line colors.

Abstract: A method for affixing a thermal dye transfer image to a magnetic substrate comprising:a) applying a heat-activatable adhesive on a release paper to a magnetic substrate;b) peeling off the release paper;c) imagewise heating a dye-donor element in face-to-face contact with an intermediate dye-receiving element comprising a dye-receiving layer which is weakly bonded to a substrate, thereby creating an image on the intermediate dye-receiving element;d) laminating the imaged intermediate dye-receiving element in face-to-face contact with the heat-activatable adhesive layer on the magnetic substrate;e) applying heat and/or pressure to the assemblage sufficient to activate the adhesive; andf) peeling off the weakly bonded support of the imaged intermediate dye-receiving element, thereby forming a thermal dye transfer image on the magnetic substrate.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon, in order, a subbing layer and a dye image-receiving layer containing a thermally-transferred dye image, wherein the subbing layer contains an iono-conductive material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising an image dye in a polymeric binder, and wherein the dye layer also contains a plasticizer comprising a chlorinated paraffin.

Abstract: A thermal printer has converging paths for dye-donor web and receiver medium. The paths abut before proceeding past the thermal head. A transport system moves the dye-donor web and the receiver medium (i) in a forward direction along their respective paths past a thermal head, whereat heat from the thermal head causes an area of the laminate material coating between leading and trailing edges to transfer from the dye-donor web to the receiver medium and (ii) in a reverse direction along their respective paths such that the area of the laminate material which is transferred to the receiver medium breaks cleanly at said trailing edge from a non-laminated area of the laminate material that remains on the aye-donor web as the web support separates from the receiver medium.

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 comprises poly(vinyl benzal) having a polymethylmethacrylate equivalent molecular weight of less than about 75,000 as measured by size exclusion chromatography or poly(vinyl acetal) having a polymethylmethacrylate equivalent molecular weight of less than about 65,000 as measured by size exclusion chromatography.

Abstract: Thermal dye transfer receiving elements are disclosed comprising a base having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, the base comprising a composite film laminated to a support, the dye image-receiving layer being on the composite film side of the base. The composite film comprises a microvoided thermoplastic core layer and at least one substantially void-free thermoplastic surface (skin) layer, and wherein there is a subbing layer between the thermoplastic surface layer and the dye image-receiving layer, the subbing layer comprising gelatin and titanium dioxide.

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 particles in an amount of up to about 75% of the thickness of said transferable protection layer.

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 or an overcoat layer thereon comprises a polyoxyalkylene-modified dimethylsiloxane graft copolymer with at least one alkylene oxide pendant chain containing more than 45 alkoxide units.

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 comprises poly(vinyl formal), poly(vinyl benzal) or poly(vinyl acetal) containing at least about 5 mole % hydroxyl.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, and wherein the polymeric binder comprises a mixed cellulose ester and the dye-donor element contains a colorless, nonpolymeric material for increasing dye transfer efficiency having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein both R groups represent --CO.sub.2 J or --O.sub.2 CJ and are located either ortho or meta to each other; and each J independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted carbomonocyclic or carbobicyclic ring having from about 5 to about 12 carbon atoms, with the proviso that when either or both of J is substituted, then the total number of substituent carbon atoms in each J group is about 8 or less.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, and wherein the dye-donor element contains a colorless, nonpolymeric material for increasing dye transfer efficiency having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein D is --CO--, --SO.sub.2 NR--, --CONR--, --CO--CHR--CO--, ##STR2## wherein R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer containing a phthalate ester having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having from about 7 to about 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for increasing the density of a thermal dye transfer image comprising image-wise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and transferring a dye image to a dye-receiving element to form an image having a certain density, and image-wise-heating at least one more time another portion of the dye-donor element or another dye-donor element and transferring a second dye image, which is of the same hue as the first dye image and is in register with the first dye image, to the dye-receiving element to increase the density of the transferred image.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprises a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, such as a polycarbonate, coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, such as a polyester or a polyurethane, the overcoat layer having a T.sub.g of at least 40.degree. C. less than the T.sub.g of the dye image-receiving layer.Use of the overcoat layer of the invention helps to destratify the dye and improves stability of the transferred dyes to light.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprises a support, such as polyethylene-coated paper or poly(ethylene terephthalate), having thereon a subbing layer of a vinylidene chloride copolymer and a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, such as a polycarbonate.Use of the subbing layer of the invention improves the adhesion of the dye image-receiving layer to the support.

Abstract: Color correction of negative images resulting from diffusion transfer photographic recording materials is obtained through use of two dye image-providing compounds, each of which is capable of releasing a diffusible dye. One of the dye image-providing compounds releases a diffusible dye as a result of silver halide development whereas the other compound releases dye in areas where no development occurs.

Abstract: A magenta dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprises a support having thereon a magenta dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the magenta dye comprising a substituted 5-arylazoisothiazole.In a preferred embodiment, the magenta dye has the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may each independently be hydrogen, alkyl, allyl, cycloalkyl or aryl; or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be taken together to form a ring; or R.sup.1 or R.sup.2 may be part of a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring;R.sup.3 may be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylthio or halogen;J may be alkyl, aryl or NHA, where A is an acyl or sulfonyl radical; andQ may be cyano, thiocyanato, alkylthio or alkoxycarbonyl.