A drawing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to be performed on a heat-sensitive recording medium including a recording layer, the recording layer containing a leuco dye and a photothermal conversion agent that absorbs infrared wavelength light, includes: performing drawing in a plurality of first regions, the plurality of first regions each extending in one direction and having gaps therebetween; and thereafter detecting recorded states of the plurality of first regions, calculating differences from the input image information, and performing drawing in a plurality of second regions at recording intensities determined on a basis of the differences, the plurality of second regions each extending in the one direction and being provided at the gaps between the plurality of first regions.

A drawing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to be performed on a heat-sensitive recording medium including a recording layer, the recording layer containing a leuco dye and a photothermal conversion agent that absorbs infrared wavelength light, includes: performing drawing in a plurality of first regions, the plurality of first regions each extending in one direction and having gaps therebetween; and thereafter detecting recorded states of the plurality of first regions, calculating differences from the input image information, and performing drawing in a plurality of second regions at recording intensities determined on a basis of the differences, the plurality of second regions each extending in the one direction and being provided at the gaps between the plurality of first regions.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a thermosensitive recording material that achieves high recording density and excellent preservability of a recorded part, or to provide a thermosensitive recording material that achieves high recording density, and excellent heat resistant and resistance to thermal background fogging property in a high temperature environment, as well as excellent sticking resistance and resistance to dirt adhesion of head. The present invention is a thermosensitive recording material having a thermosensitive recording layer containing at least a leuco dye and a developer on a support; the thermosensitive recording material containing, as the developer, a sulfonamide compound represented by general formula (1); (a) the thermosensitive recording material further having a protective layer on the thermosensitive recording layer; the protective layer containing at least one type of adhesive agent selected from the group consisting of water soluble adhesive agents and water dispersible adhesive agents; and at least one of the thermosensitive recording layer or the protective layer containing a water resistance-imparting agent; or (b) the thermosensitive recording layer further containing saturated fatty acid amide represented by general formula (2).

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a thermosensitive recording material that achieves high recording density and excellent preservability of a recorded part, or to provide a thermosensitive recording material that achieves high recording density, and excellent heat resistant and resistance to thermal background fogging property in a high temperature environment, as well as excellent sticking resistance and resistance to dirt adhesion of head. The present invention is a thermosensitive recording material having a thermosensitive recording layer containing at least a leuco dye and a developer on a support; the thermosensitive recording material containing, as the developer, a sulfonamide compound represented by general formula (1); (a) the thermosensitive recording material further having a protective layer on the thermosensitive recording layer; the protective layer containing at least one type of adhesive agent selected from the group consisting of water soluble adhesive agents and water dispersible adhesive agents; and at least one of the thermosensitive recording layer or the protective layer containing a water resistance-imparting agent; or (b) the thermosensitive recording layer further containing saturated fatty acid amide represented by general formula (2).

A marking system comprises a substrate having a surface coated with a color-triggering developer and a deactivating ink composition; and a marking composition comprising at least one color precursor. At least one “non-color developing portion” of the surface is coated with both the color-triggering developer and the deactivating ink composition, and at least one “color-developing portion” of the surface is coated with the color-triggering developer and is not coated with the deactivating ink composition. Color development occurs at the color-developing portion(s) and does not occur at the non-color developing portion(s) upon application of the marking composition to the surface of the substrate.

A marking system comprises a substrate having a surface coated with a color-triggering developer and a deactivating ink composition; and a marking composition comprising at least one color precursor. At least one “non-color developing portion” of the surface is coated with both the color-triggering developer and the deactivating ink composition, and at least one “color-developing portion” of the surface is coated with the color-triggering developer and is not coated with the deactivating ink composition. Color development occurs at the color-developing portion(s) and does not occur at the non-color developing portion(s) upon application of the marking composition to the surface of the substrate.

A color laser markable article includes a color laser markable layer provided on a support, the laser markable layer including an infrared absorbing compound; a leuco-dye; and an acid generating compound, wherein the acid generating compound has a structure according to Formulae (I) or (II): ##STR00001##
wherein R1 and R3 independently represent an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted (hetero)cyclic alkyl group, an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group, an optionally substituted aralkyl group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, an optionally substituted (hetero)cyclic alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group; R2, R4 and R5 independently represent an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted (hetero)cyclic alkyl group or an optionally substituted aralkyl group; and R1 and R2, R4 and R5, R3 and R4, and R3 and R5 may represent the necessary atoms to form a ring.

A color laser markable article includes a color laser markable layer provided on a support, the laser markable layer including an infrared absorbing compound; a leuco-dye; and an acid generating compound, wherein the acid generating compound has a structure according to Formulae (I) or (II): ##STR00001##
wherein R1 and R3 independently represent an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted (hetero)cyclic alkyl group, an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group, an optionally substituted aralkyl group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, an optionally substituted (hetero)cyclic alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted (hetero)aryl group; R2, R4 and R5 independently represent an optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted (hetero)cyclic alkyl group or an optionally substituted aralkyl group; and R1 and R2, R4 and R5, R3 and R4, and R3 and R5 may represent the necessary atoms to form a ring.

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for imaging and cutting a label from a linerless label substrate 6, the substrate 6 comprising: a paper or polymeric film base layer; a colour change layer, incorporating a colour change compound operable to change colour in response to illumination by a laser 1; an adhesive layer; and a release layer adapted to have low adherence to the adhesive layer. The label substrate 6 is transported from a storage reel to an imaging area. At the imaging area, the label substrate 6 is selectively illuminated by laser 1 to form an image in the colour change layer. Subsequently, further laser illumination is used to cut the label substrate 6 thereby providing a single label for application to an object. The invention is characterised in that the laser spot size is varied for imaging and cutting.

A thermochromic ink composition includes, in a liquid medium, known as solvent, a dispersion of thermochromic microcapsules incorporating at least one leuco-dye and a thermoplastic binder selected from the group containing polyacrylic polyesters, polyurethanes and copolymers thereof. The composition is characterized in that the solvent is aprotic. A a method for producing a card and such a card incorporating at least one thermochromic pattern produced with a thermochromic ink composition are also described.