Abstract: This invention relates to a method for transferring a protective overcoat for a thermal print wherein the protective overcoat is applied to a dye-donor element under predesigned conditions after thermal dye transfer, the dye-donor element comprising patches of dye for transfer to a thermal print to provide a protective layer thereon. In particular, the invention improves the process of providing an improved level of gloss to the transferred protective overcoat. The method involves a preselected duration between printing and peeling the transferable laminate patch, respectively, to and from the donor. The invention is particularly advantageous at lower line times, faster printing, for thermal prints with high gloss.

Abstract: A process of transferring a protection layer from a dye-donor receiver after thermal dye transfer. In one embodiment, the transferable protection layer contains inorganic particles, a polymeric binder, organic particles and an organic gloss-enhancing agent that enhances the gloss of the final print. The transferred protection layer that provides a higher gloss to an image after transfer. A laminate containing such a gloss-enhancing agent has been found to enable printing at lower line times, faster printing, for thermal prints withwhile maintaining high gloss.