Abstract: An ink jet recording medium comprising a substrate and at least one ink-receiving layer on the substrate, wherein said ink-receiving layer after recording has the characteristic that the sum of image clarity values is 130 or more (when measured by optical combs of 0.125 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm) and the regular reflection strength is 30 or more, makes it possible to record a high quality image which has high glossiness and photographic feel.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium comprising a substrate and at least one ink-receiving layer on the substrate, wherein said ink-receiving layer after recording has the characteristic that the sum of image clarity values is 130 or more (when measured by optical combs of 0.125 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm) and the regular reflection strength is 30 or more, makes it possible to record a high quality image which has high glossiness and photographic feel.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved thermal head having a protective film of a heater which comprises a carbon-based protective layer having a hardness difference in its thickness direction. The invention also provides an improved method of manufacturing the thermal head. A thermal head is thus obtained having a protective layer which is significantly protected from corrosion and wear, also from cracks and peeling-off due to heat and mechanical impact, and which allows the thermal head to have a sufficient durability to exhibit a high reliability over an extended period of time, thereby ensuring that the thermal recording of high-quality images is performed consistently over an extended period of operation.

Abstract: A thermal head has a protective coating of heating elements. The protective coating includes an insulating protective layer and an electrically conductive protective layer formed above the insulating protective layer. The electrically conductive protective layer covers at least a region of the insulating protective layer under which an under-glaze heat-accumulating layer is located and does not overlie at least one of the negative and positive electrode layers in other regions than the region. The thermal head can prevent abnormal current flow due to pinholes of the insulating protective layer formed under the electrically conductive protective layer, exhibit high reliability over an extended period of time and perform thermal recording of high-quality images consistently over an extended period of operation.

Abstract: The improved thermal head of the invention is the one having a protective film of a heater formed on the heater, the protective film comprising a ceramic-based lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer and a carbon-based upper protective layer formed on the lower protective layer, wherein a surface of the lower protective layer on which the upper protective layer is to be formed has a surface roughness value Ra of 0.005 to 0.5 &mgr;m; or the one in which the depth of a depression step which may be formed on the surface of the lower protective layer due to the thickness of the electrodes used for supplying power to the heater (or heat-generating resistor) was reduced to 0.2 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: The improved thermal head has a protective film of a heater formed on the heater, the protective film comprising a ceramic-based lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer, an intermediate protective layer also composed of at least one sub-layer and formed on the lower protective layer, and a carbon-based upper protective layer formed on the intermediate protective layer. The thermal head of the invention has a protective film which has significantly reduced corrosion and wear, which is advantageously protected from cracking and peeling due to heat and mechanical impact and which allows the thermal head to have a sufficient durability to ensure that the thermal recording of high-quality images is consistently performed over an extended period of operation.

Abstract: The improved thermal head of the invention is the one having a protective film of a heater formed on the heater, the protective film comprising a ceramic-based lower protective layer composed of at least one sub-layer and a carbon-based upper protective layer formed on the lower protective layer, wherein a surface of the lower protective layer on which the upper protective layer is to be formed has a surface roughness value Ra of 0.005 to 0.5 .mu.m; or the one in which the depth of a depression step which may be formed on the surface of the lower protective layer due to the thickness of the electrodes used for supplying power to the heater (or heat-generating resistor) was reduced to 0.2 .mu.m or less.

Abstract: The improved thermal head comprises heating elements which were provided with heating histories to previously change their resistance values by predetermined values; and a carbon-based protective layer which was formed after the heating elements were provided with the heating histories. The invention provides the thermal head in which corrosion and wear of the protective film, and the resistance variation of the heating elements due to thermal recording were significantly reduced, and which has a sufficient durability and stability with the passage of time to perform thermal recording of high-quality images in a consistent manner over an extended period of operation.