A thermal transfer recording sheet set includes an image-receiving sheet that includes an image-receiving layer containing a compound represented by general formula (1) or (2) and an ink sheet that includes a yellow coloring material layer containing a particular dye and a cyan coloring material layer containing a particular dye.

A colour laser markable article includes at least a first and a second laser markable layer including, respectively, a first infrared dye IR-1 having an absorption maximum in the infrared region .sub.max(IR-1) and a second infrared dye IR-2 having an absorption maximum in the infrared region .sub.max(IR-2), characterized in that the colour laser markable layers further include a Diffusion Hindered Molecular Assembly (DHMA) which contains a leuco dye.

A laser markable composition includes (a) an aqueous medium; (b) a leuco dye; (c) an optothermal converting agent; and (d) a colour developing agent, characterized in that the colour developing agent is a polymer particle capable of forming an acid upon exposure to heat.

In a thermal transfer sheet in which a transfer layer is provided on a substrate, the transfer layer has a layered structure in which a receiving layer, an intermediate layer, and a masking layer are layered in this order from the side of the substrate, the receiving layer is a solvent-based receiving layer containing a solvent-based resin and a silicone oil, the intermediate layer is a water-based intermediate layer containing a water-based resin, and the masking layer is a solvent-based masking layer containing a solvent-based resin and a colorant.

A method for enabling D2T2 printing onto non-D2T2 printable substrates uses a diffusible primer material provided on a dye-sheet or ribbon. The primer comprises a polymer, a release agent and a plasticizer. The release agent and the plasticizer are diffused into the substrate, while the polymer remains on the dye-sheet or ribbon. Printing of the primer onto the PC substrate is controlled via a computer image program corresponding to a colored image. This computer image program also controls the printing of the colored image at the primed locations. Accordingly, image-wise treatment of a plastic material via the primer selectively renders the PC substrate surface D2T2 printable at the point of personalization, providing for a 100% PC full card body having the colored image.

Systems and methods where multi-color graphics on a substrate are printed at a first resolution, and single color data is printed at a second, higher resolution using the same print head. The multi-color graphics can be a printed photograph of a person, a printed logo, or any printed feature that is printed using multiple colors. The single color data can be printed alphanumeric text such as a person's name, address, account number or any other data that is printed using a single color.

A thermal transfer printer includes a first supply unit configured to supply an intermediate transfer medium in which, on one surface of a first base, a transfer layer including a receiving layer is disposed, a second supply unit configured to supply a thermal transfer sheet in which, on one of surfaces of a second base, a colorant layer and a particle layer are disposed, a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet, to transfer a colorant from the colorant layer to the receiving layer to form an image, and to transfer the particle layer onto the receiving layer, a third supply unit configured to supply a transfer-receiving body, and a transfer unit configured to place the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer-receiving body on top of each other such that the transfer-receiving body faces the particle layer on the receiving layer, and to heat the intermediate transfer medium.

Printing using two colors can be performed by a thermal print head. A base member, a thermosensitive color developing material layer formed by applying a thermosensitive color developing material on the entire surface of the base member, and a thermosensitive decolorizing material layer formed by applying a thermosensitive decolorizing material having a decolorizing temperature different from a color developing temperature of the thermosensitive color developing material on the entire surface of the thermosensitive color developing material layer, are provided.

A thermal transfer printer includes a first supply unit configured to supply an intermediate transfer medium in which, on one surface of a first base, a transfer layer including a receiving layer is disposed, a second supply unit configured to supply a thermal transfer sheet in which, on one of surfaces of a second base, a colorant layer and a particle layer are disposed, a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet, to transfer a colorant from the colorant layer to the receiving layer to form an image, and to transfer the particle layer onto the receiving layer, a third supply unit configured to supply a transfer-receiving body, and a transfer unit configured to place the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer-receiving body on top of each other such that the transfer-receiving body faces the particle layer on the receiving layer, and to heat the intermediate transfer medium.

A thermal transfer medium includes a support, and a plurality of ink panels individually made of a thermal transfer ink. The plurality of ink panels include two or more ink panels selected from the group consisting of a first ink panel in which the thermal transfer ink is a first ink containing a specified pigment as a color material, a second ink panel in which the thermal transfer ink is a second ink containing a specified second pigment as a color material, and a third ink panel in which the thermal transfer ink is a third ink containing a specified third pigment as a color material.