A thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

Provided is a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet capable of providing a seal section having novel designability. A seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet includes a release section and a seal section integrated. The seal section is provided peelably from the release section. The seal section has a layered structure in which a pressure-adhesive layer and a receiving layer capable of receiving a sublimable dye are layered in the order mentioned from the side of the release section. When the seal section is peeled off from the release section, a reference plate and the seal section peeled off are superposed together, and a reflection density of the reference plate is measured from the side of the seal section, the value of the reflection density is 15% or more, on the presupposition that the reflection density of the reference plate before the superposition with the seal section is set to 100%.

A thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

The invention relates to recording material for dye sublimation printing comprising base paper (1) having a front and a rear side, at least one synthetic resin layer (4) on at least the rear side of the base paper (1), a dye-receiving layer (2) which is arranged on the front side of the base paper (1), at least one plastic film (3) which is arranged between the base paper (1) and the dye-receiving layer (2) and optionally a barrier layer which is arranged between the plastic film (3) and the dye-receiving layer (2), wherein the synthetic resin layer (4) has an elastic modulus of at least 0.8 GPa.

Provided is a thermosensitive recording medium having excellent oil resistance among various performances required for the thermosensitive recording medium. The thermosensitive recording medium has a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains N-[2-(3-phenylureido)phenyl] benzenesulfonamide and an urea-based compound represented by the general formula 1 as the electron accepting color developing agents, ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aralkyl group or aryl group, and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

A direct thermal and thermal transfer label combination is provided. The label includes a substrate, and the substrate includes a thermal print coating applied to a front side of the substrate. The label also includes a liner attached to a backside of the substrate along a first side of the liner. Further, an aqueous resin-based thermal transfer coating is applied to a second side of the liner. The front side of the label is capable of being imaged through direct thermal printing while the second side of the liner represents an opposite side of the label that is capable of being imaged through thermal transfer printing.

A thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer medium, and a print forming method, capable of forming a thermal transfer image having good transferability when transferring a transfer layer including a receiving layer onto a transfer receiving article, and capable of improving the durability of a print obtained by transferring the transfer layer including the receiving layer, on which the thermal transfer image has been formed, onto a transfer receiving article. The thermal transfer sheet includes a substrate, primer layer and colorant layer, wherein the primer layer contains one or more selected from the group consisting of particles derived from colloidal inorganic particles, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone resins, and polyurethane resins. The intermediate transfer medium includes another substrate, a protective layer, and a receiving layer, wherein the protective layer and the receiving layer are layered in this order on one surface of the another substrate.

Provided is a thermal transfer image receiving sheet that is thin, resistant to curling, has favorable image quality and has opacity. A thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present invention at least comprises an ink receiving layer, a first support, an adhesive layer and a second support laminated in that order, wherein the first support and the second support are provided with a foamed layer and a non-foamed skin layer laminated on both sides of the foamed layer.

A stratified support item for printing on a surface with sublimation inks is disclosed. The surface may include, for example, clothing items, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts or the like. The stratified support item includes a thermo-adhesive layer configured to adhere to the surface and at least one finish layer configured to receive said sublimation inks. The finish layer includes a powder, which is comprised of at least one from the group of (i) a polyester powder, and (ii) a polyamide powder, incorporated in a matrix of polymeric material.

There is provided a thermal transfer sheet capable of being identified by a thermal transfer printing apparatus, as well as being capable of preventing color property changes in high-resolution printing and reducing production cost. The thermal transfer sheet 5 of an embodiment includes a dye layer 52 and a protective layer 54 on one surface of a substrate 50. The protective layer 54 contains an invisible light absorbing material and is provided with an identification mark 55 having at least one of a recessed portion and a protruding portion.