The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet. The problem is solved by a thermal transfer sheet (1) in which at least a colorant layer (3) is layered on a substrate sheet (2), wherein the colorant layer (3) contains a predetermined solvent, a colorant (10x) dispersible in the predetermined solvent, a dispersant, and a binder resin, and the dispersant being one or more selected from the group consisting of polyether-based dispersants, graft type polymer dispersants, acryl-based block type polymer dispersants, urethane-based polymer dispersants and azo-based dispersants.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet. The problem is solved by a thermal transfer sheet (1) in which at least a colorant layer (3) is layered on a substrate sheet (2), wherein the colorant layer (3) contains a predetermined solvent, a colorant (10x) dispersible in the predetermined solvent, a dispersant, and a binder resin, and the dispersant being one or more selected from the group consisting of polyether-based dispersants, graft type polymer dispersants, acryl-based block type polymer dispersants, urethane-based polymer dispersants and azo-based dispersants.

A thermoplastic composition is disclosed that includes a polyaryl ester polymer or copolymer and a phthalone compound according to the formula ##STR00001## wherein Z.sub.1 represents the atoms necessary to complete a 9- to 13-membered single or fused aromatic ring structure, Z.sub.2 represents the atoms necessary to complete a pyridine or quinoline ring, each R.sub.1 and each R.sub.2 can independently be halogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an aromatic or aliphatic thioether group, an aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic acid ester group, or an aromatic or aliphatic amide group, a is an integer from 0 to 6, b is an integer from 0 to 4, n is 1 or 2, and X is present only if n=2 and is a single bond or a divalent organic radical bonded to the Z.sub.1 ring structure through an ether, ketone, or thio linkage.

An ink set contains a first ink containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a thiazole ring are bonded and a second ink containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a pyridinedione ring are bonded. A thermal transfer recording sheet has a first ink layer containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a thiazole ring are bonded and a second ink layer containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a pyridinedione ring are bonded.

An ink set contains a first ink containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a thiazole ring are bonded and a second ink containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a pyridinedione ring are bonded. A thermal transfer recording sheet has a first ink layer containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a thiazole ring are bonded and a second ink layer containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a pyridinedione ring are bonded.

A coloring composition having excellent light fastness, color migration properties, and flatness, a colorant, and a method for producing a colorant are provided. Further, a cured film, a color filter, a method for manufacturing a color filter, a solid-state imaging device, an image display device, and an organic electroluminescent element, each using such the coloring composition, are also provided. The coloring composition contains a colorant represented by General Formula (1) and a curable compound, and has a specific absorbance of 5 or more at a maximum absorption wavelength of 400 nm to 800 nm. R.sup.1 represents an (m+n)-valent linking group, P represents a monovalent substituent having a repeating units derived from a vinyl compound, D represents a colorant structure, and R.sup.2 and L.sup.1 each independently represent a single bond or a divalent linking group.

(D-R.sup.2).sub.nR.sup.1-(L.sup.1-P).sub.m(1)