To provide a coating liquid for release layer with which a release layer having a small variation in the performance difference can be stably formed, to provide a method for producing a thermal transfer sheet using this coating liquid for release layer, and to provide a thermal transfer sheet having stable releasability. A thermal transfer sheet having a substrate, a release layer provided on the substrate, and a transfer layer provided on the release layer, wherein the transfer layer is provided peelably from the release layer, and the release layer contains a silsesquioxane.

To provide a coating liquid for release layer with which a release layer having a small variation in the performance difference can be stably formed, to provide a method for producing a thermal transfer sheet using this coating liquid for release layer, and to provide a thermal transfer sheet having stable releasability. A thermal transfer sheet having a substrate, a release layer provided on the substrate, and a transfer layer provided on the release layer, wherein the transfer layer is provided peelably from the release layer, and the release layer contains a silsesquioxane.

Proposed are a thermal transfer ribbon and a sticker printing method using the same, which can form not only full-color images formed by a color ink part but also points, such as pearl, fluorescent, luminous, sparkling, glass, and metal glitters. The thermal transfer ribbon includes: a color ink part having a yellow ink part (Y), a magenta ink part (M), and a cyan ink part (C); an overlay part forming an overlay layer to protect a printed surface; and at least one point ink part provided between the color ink part and the overlay part.

An example dye sublimation inkjet ink set includes a first dye sublimation inkjet ink and a second dye sublimation inkjet ink. The first dye sublimation inkjet ink includes a disperse dye colorant dispersion including a first disperse dye having absorption at a radiation wavelength ranging from about 360 nm to about 410 nm; an additive to absorb energy at the radiation wavelength ranging from about 360 nm to about 410 nm and to dissipate at least some of the absorbed energy as fluorescence; a co-solvent; and a balance of water. The additive is selected from the group consisting of a compound containing from 3 to 5 fused benzene rings and and a coumarin derivative. The second dye sublimation inkjet ink includes a disperse dye colorant dispersion including a second disperse dye having less absorption at the radiation wavelength than the first disperse dye; a co-solvent; and a balance of water.

A medium includes: a heat-sensitive medium and an adhesive medium laminated over the heat-sensitive medium in a thickness direction thereof. The heat-sensitive medium includes a base material and a first heat-sensitive layer configured to produce a first color when heated above a first temperature. The first heat-sensitive layer is positioned between the base material and the adhesive medium in the thickness direction. The adhesive medium includes an adhesive-medium base material and an adhesive layer provided at the adhesive-medium base material. The adhesive medium defines a width greater than a width of the heat-sensitive medium in a width direction thereof crossing the thickness direction.

A printing device is configured to print a multi-layer thermal printing medium. The printing device includes a thermal head and a controller. The thermal head has a heat generating elements configured to form images on a heat sensitive multi-layer. The controller is configured to perform detecting whether a viewing direction of the heat sensitive multi-layer is a thickness direction to view from a second surface toward a first surface or a direction opposite the thickness direction to view from the first surface toward the second surface. The controller is configured to further perform creating print data to be applied to each of the heat generating elements. The created print data is such that color development states of a first color and a second color according to the detected viewing direction are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected viewing direction.

A combination of a thermal transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the thermal transfer sheet includes a first substrate and a melt transfer coloring layer, the intermediate transfer medium includes a second substrate and a transfer layer including a receiving layer, and the melt transfer coloring layer and the receiving layer contain a release material.

An apparatus for continuous sublimation thermal printing and/or reactivation, which includes a calendering unit and a

vacuum chamber which is adapted to contain the calendering unit in the phase of operation. The vacuum chamber has a body closed by a door at an open and flanged end of the body and a substantially horizontal axis of extension.

A thermal transfer sheet is used in indirect transfer printing for forming an image through a primary transfer from the thermal transfer sheet to an intermediate transfer medium and thereafter forming an image on a transfer target through secondary transfer to the transfer target. The thermal transfer sheet includes, on a substrate, a masking layer that is a portion that prevents transfer to the transfer target during the secondary transfer. The masking layer is formed from a resin having a Tg of 140° C. or more and 220° C. or less, and the masking layer contains 0.5 wt % or more and 20 wt % or less filler particles relative to the resin.

A thermal transfer sheet is used in indirect transfer printing for forming an image through a primary transfer from the thermal transfer sheet to an intermediate transfer medium and thereafter forming an image on a transfer target through secondary transfer to the transfer target. The thermal transfer sheet includes, on a substrate, a masking layer that is a portion that prevents transfer to the transfer target during the secondary transfer. The masking layer is formed from a resin having a Tg of 140° C. or more and 220° C. or less, and the masking layer contains 0.5 wt % or more and 20 wt % or less filler particles relative to the resin.