Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet providing printed images less susceptible to deterioration over time of their gloss is provided comprising a foundation, and at least a release layer containing a paraffin wax as a principal component thereof, an intermediate layer containing a wax and a heat-meltable color ink layer which are stacked on the foundation in this order, the intermediate layer containing an isoparaffin wax and/or transparent inorganic particles.

Abstract: An image receptor for a thermal transfer ink for use in a tape printer, which is used with it contained in a cassette in the tape printer, and which comprises an image receptor body (10) and a release material (15) adhered to one side of the image receptor body, and has a total thickness of 80 to 200 .mu.m, characterized in that, when the image receptor is subjected to measurement wherein, with use of a measuring device which comprises a female member (1) having a V-shaped groove (2), and a male member (3) having a V-shaped protrusion (4) capable of engaging with the V-shaped groove (2) and having a radius of rounding of 0.1 to 0.3 mm at the leading edge (5) of the V-shaped protrusion, the image receptor is held between the female member (1) and the male member (3) and a load of 30 to 2,000 g/cm.sup.2 is applied thereto for 10 seconds, a lift is not produced in the image receptor at a bending angle .beta. (which means the supplementary angle of the angle .alpha.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet is provided which includes: a base film; and a filling ink layer formed side by side on one side of the base film; the filling ink layer containing an n-paraffin wax in an amount of not less than 10% by weight and an isoparaffin wax in an mount of 20% to 80% by weight of the total amount of the n-paraffin wax and the isoparaffin wax.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing medium is provided which includes a foundation, and a transfer layer provided on one side of the foundation and comprising a heat-meltable color ink layer, a heat-meltable transparent ink layer, a metal deposition layer and an adhesive layer which are stacked in that order from the foundation side. The thermal transfer printing medium is capable of forming print images in a color inherent to the color ink layer, free from the influences of the color of the image-receiving medium and the metal deposition layer serving as a hiding layer.

Abstract: Provided is an image receptor for a thermal transfer ink, including a plastic film, and a coating layer which is formed on the plastic film and composed of a polyester resin of which glass transition point is 40.degree. to 6.0.degree. C., the amount of the coating layer when dried being 0.08 to 0.8 g/m.sup.2. This image receptor is adaptable for a tape printer and assures good fixing property and fastness of a printed image while exhibiting a satisfactory anti-blocking property when stored. Also provided is a thermal transfer ink sheet for forming a printed image on the image receptor, including a sequential lamination of a foundation, a release layer, a barrier layer composed of a polyester resin, and a colored layer containing 40 to 60% by weight of a polyester resin and 30 to 60% by weight of a coloring agent. This thermal transfer ink sheet is advantageously used to form on the above image receptor a printed image of good fixing property and fastness.

Abstract: An ink ribbon for thermal transfer printer comprising a foundation and a thermal transfer layer, said thermal transfer layer comprising a colored layer containing a wax-like substance as a main component of the vehicle thereof, and a thermoplastic adhesive layer having a film-forming property provided on the surface of the colored layer, said thermoplastic adhesive layer having a melt viscosity of 1.times.10.sup.4 to 5.times.10.sup.6 cP at a temperature by 40.degree. C. higher than the softening temperature of the adhesive layer, a softening temperature of 45.degree. to 90.degree. C., a solidifying temperature of 25.degree. to 65.degree. C. and a temperature difference of at least 10.degree. C. between said softening temperature and said solidifying temperature. The thermal transfer ink ribbon provides clear images not only on a smooth paper but also on a rough paper even in a high-speed printing or even on printers with different peeling conditions.