A method for introducing a reflective, refractive, and/or diffractive variable and/or non-variable image to a substrate by use of thermal transfer printing includes simultaneously transferring a defined portion of each of a protective coating layer, an image layer, and an adhesive layer from a carrier film of a transfer ribbon to the substrate by applying heat to the transfer ribbon. The defined portions of the image layer and the protective coating layer are adhered to the substrate using the adhesive layer. Subsequent to transferring the protective coating layer, the image layer, and the adhesive layer, durability is provided to the image layer by cross-linking the protective coating layer that is over the image layer by exposing the protective coating layer to a radiation source after the defined portions of the protective coating layer, the image layer, and the adhesive layer are transferred from the carrier film.

A polyester film has a wax on a surface of one side of the film and is a polyester film in which this wax is dispersed in the form of islands on the surface of the film, and a filling factor of the wax in the film surface is 20 to 45%, and, as for a number of islands of the wax dispersed in the form of islands and each of which has an area of 200 m.sup.2 or larger, there is one or less/10000 m.sup.2.

A polyester film has a wax on a surface of one side of the film and is a polyester film in which this wax is dispersed in the form of islands on the surface of the film, and a filling factor of the wax in the film surface is 20 to 45%, and, as for a number of islands of the wax dispersed in the form of islands and each of which has an area of 200 m.sup.2 or larger, there is one or less/10000 m.sup.2.

A thermal transfer ink ribbon includes a backcoat layer, a ribbon base layer formed on the backcoat layer, a release layer formed on the ribbon base layer and containing resin and wax, an ink layer formed on the release layer and containing a first resin and a second resin, an aluminum layer formed on the ink layer, and an adhesive layer formed on the aluminum layer and containing resin and wax. The first resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyester resin, styrene-acrylic resin, and polyethylene resin. The second resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyurethane resin, polypropylene resin, acrylic resin, and methacrylic resin.

A thermal transfer ink ribbon includes a backcoat layer, a ribbon base layer formed on the backcoat layer, a release layer formed on the ribbon base layer and containing resin and wax, an ink layer formed on the release layer and containing a first resin and a second resin, an aluminum layer formed on the ink layer, and an adhesive layer formed on the aluminum layer and containing resin and wax. The first resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyester resin, styrene-acrylic resin, and polyethylene resin. The second resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyurethane resin, polypropylene resin, acrylic resin, and methacrylic resin.

A tape roll is housed inside a cassette case. A first rotation body is provided on a first direction side of the tape roll and is positioned on a second direction side of a winding center of the tape roll. A first opening is provided on the second direction side of the first rotation body. An ink ribbon roll is provided on the second direction side of the first opening. A second rotation body is provided on the first direction side and the second direction side of a winding center of the ink ribbon roll. A first regulating part is provided on a fourth direction side of a predetermined path and is positioned on the fourth direction side of a first virtual line.

A thermal transfer ink ribbon includes a backcoat layer, a ribbon base layer formed on the backcoat layer, a release layer formed on the ribbon base layer and containing resin and wax, an ink layer formed on the release layer and containing a first resin and a second resin, an aluminum layer formed on the ink layer, and an adhesive layer formed on the aluminum layer and containing resin and wax. The first resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyester resin, styrene-acrylic resin, and polyethylene resin. The second resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyurethane resin, polypropylene resin, acrylic resin, and methacrylic resin.

A thermal transfer ink ribbon includes a backcoat layer, a ribbon base layer formed on the backcoat layer, a release layer formed on the ribbon base layer and containing resin and wax, an ink layer formed on the release layer and containing a first resin and a second resin, an aluminum layer formed on the ink layer, and an adhesive layer formed on the aluminum layer and containing resin and wax. The first resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyester resin, styrene-acrylic resin, and polyethylene resin. The second resin is transparent or translucent and contains at least one of polyurethane resin, polypropylene resin, acrylic resin, and methacrylic resin.

A polyester film has a wax on a surface of one side of the film and is a polyester film in which this wax is dispersed in the form of islands on the surface of the film, and a filling factor of the wax in the film surface is 20 to 45%, and, as for a number of islands of the wax dispersed in the form of islands and each of which has an area of 200 m.sup.2 or larger, there is one or less/10000 m.sup.2.

A polyester film has a wax on a surface of one side of the film and is a polyester film in which this wax is dispersed in the form of islands on the surface of the film, and a filling factor of the wax in the film surface is 20 to 45%, and, as for a number of islands of the wax dispersed in the form of islands and each of which has an area of 200 m.sup.2 or larger, there is one or less/10000 m.sup.2.