Abstract: An image is formed on a principal surface and a side face of a card. A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a first feeding unit configured to feed an intermediate transfer medium including a transfer layer that is disposed on one surface of a substrate in such a manner as to be peelable from the substrate, a second feeding unit configured to feed a thermal transfer sheet including a colorant layer disposed on one surface of a base material, a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet based on image data and transfer an ink of the colorant layer onto the transfer layer to form an image, and a transfer unit configured to heat the intermediate transfer medium and transfer the transfer layer having the image formed thereon onto a principal surface and a side face of the card.

Abstract: An image is formed on a principal surface and a side face of a card. A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a first feeding unit configured to feed an intermediate transfer medium including a transfer layer that is disposed on one surface of a substrate in such a manner as to be peelable from the substrate, a second feeding unit configured to feed a thermal transfer sheet including a colorant layer disposed on one surface of a base material, a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet based on image data and transfer an ink of the colorant layer onto the transfer layer to form an image, and a transfer unit configured to heat the intermediate transfer medium and transfer the transfer layer having the image formed thereon onto a principal surface and a side face of the card.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer medium having high durability, as well as high smudge resistance and image stability. The intermediate transfer medium of the present invention includes: a substrate, and a transfer layer including a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer and a receiving layer; in which the first intermediate layer contains a (meth)acrylic polyol resin with a glass transition temperature of 80° C. or higher; in which the second intermediate layer contains a polyester with a glass transition temperature of 45° C. or higher and a filler with a mean particle diameter of 2 ?m or more and 5 ?m or less; and in which the content of the filler in the second intermediate layer is 0.5% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer medium having high durability, as well as high smudge resistance and image stability. The intermediate transfer medium of the present invention includes: a substrate, and a transfer layer including a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer and a receiving layer; in which the first intermediate layer contains a (meth)acrylic polyol resin with a glass transition temperature of 80° C. or higher; in which the second intermediate layer contains a polyester with a glass transition temperature of 45° C. or higher and a filler with a mean particle diameter of 2 ?m or more and 5 ?m or less; and in which the content of the filler in the second intermediate layer is 0.5% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less.

Abstract: A method for forming an image and a protective layer on a transfer receiving material, by thermal transfer, including supplying a thermal transfer sheet between a thermal head of a thermal printer and a platen roller, wherein the thermal transfer sheet includes color material layers and a transferable protective layer arranged in a face serial manner, and wherein the thermal head includes heat generating portions arranged substantially in parallel with each other; thermally transferring the color material layers to form an image on the transfer receiving material; thermally transferring the transferable protective layer to form a protective layer on the transfer receiving material; and shifting the relative positions of the thermal head and the transfer receiving material with respect to each other, in a direction substantially in parallel with a main scanning direction, after transferring the color material layers at least once.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: A method for forming an image and a protective layer on a transfer receiving material, by thermal transfer, including supplying a thermal transfer sheet between a thermal head of a thermal printer and a platen roller, wherein the thermal transfer sheet includes color material layers and a transferable protective layer arranged in a face serial manner, and wherein the thermal head includes heat generating portions arranged substantially in parallel with each other; thermally transferring the color material layers to form an image on the transfer receiving material; thermally transferring the transferable protective layer to form a protective layer on the transfer receiving material; and shifting the relative positions of the thermal head and the transfer receiving material with respect to each other, in a direction substantially in parallel with a main scanning direction, after transferring the color material layers at least once.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. The protective layer transfer sheet includes a substrate, and a transfer layer provided on a surface of the substrate, and the transfer layer includes a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: The present invention aims principally to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can prevent occurrence of fusion between a receiving layer and a transfer layer and occurrence of peeling traces when the transfer layer is peeled from the receiving layer, even in the case that thermal energy applied on transfer of the transfer layer is increased and can obtain a high quality printed article and to provide a protective layer transfer sheet that can impart extremely good scratch resistance to the surface of a printed article. A protective layer transfer sheet 100 comprises a substrate 1, and a transfer layer 10 provided on a surface of the substrate 1, and the transfer layer 10 comprises a binder resin and one or more substances selected from the group of phosphoric acid esters, olefin-maleic acid copolymers, and amino polyether-modified silicone oils.

Abstract: Provided is a protective layer transfer sheet which includes a protective layer, whereby it becomes possible to form an image on the protective layer set on a print without causing the abnormal transfer of a dye layer, the breakage of the dye layer and the like, and it also becomes possible to achieve a satisfactory level of plasticizer resistance of the print. The protective layer transfer sheet including a substrate and a protective layer peelably formed on the substrate, wherein the protective layer includes one or both of a cellulose ester having a number average molecular weight of not less than 15000 and not more than 30000 and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer having a number average molecular weight of not less than 15000 and not more than 30000, and a cellulose ester having a number average molecular weight of not more than 7000.

Abstract: Provided is a protective layer transfer sheet which includes a protective layer, whereby it becomes possible to form an image on the protective layer set on a print without causing the abnormal transfer of a dye layer, the breakage of the dye layer and the like, and it also becomes possible to achieve a satisfactory level of plasticizer resistance of the print. The protective layer transfer sheet including a substrate and a protective layer peelably formed on the substrate, wherein the protective layer includes one or both of a cellulose ester having a number average molecular weight of not less than 15000 and not more than 30000 and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer having a number average molecular weight of not less than 15000 and not more than 30000, and a cellulose ester having a number average molecular weight of not more than 7000.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for producing a print, which is able to prevent damages to the image-receiving sheet and generation of large wrinkles at the edges of the ink ribbon, to reduce printing unevenness, and thus to provide a high-quality print. Disclosed is a method for producing a print, in which a print is made on an image-receiving sheet by use of a specific thermal-transfer printer and an ink ribbon, wherein the ink ribbon has at least one color material layer and a protection layer; the image-receiving sheet has a receptor layer; and after printing all colors of the color material layers, the dynamic friction coefficient between the receptor layer surface of the image-receiving sheet before being coated with the protection layer and the outermost surface on the protection layer of the ink ribbon, is 0.4 or less.