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.

In a protective layer transfer sheet, a heat-resistant lubricating layer is provided on a first surface of a substrate, and a thermally transferable protective layer is provided on at least part of a second surface of the substrate. The thermally transferable protective layer is composed of a peeling layer and an adhesive layer. The peeling layer contains cellulose acetate propionate resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) in the range of 140 C. or more and 150 C. or less, and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 30,000 or less, and polyester resin having a number average molecular weight of 15,000 or more.

A sublimation thermal transfer sheet having first, second, and third dye layers frame sequentially provided on a surface of a substrate in this order, and a back-face layer provided on another surface of the substrate. The first, second, and third dye layers contain an each individual sublimable dye and an each individual binder resin. One of the first and second dye layers further contains a releasing agent selected from a first group consisting of silicone oils, silicone-modified resins and phosphoric esters, and another dye layer further contains either one or both of at least a releasing agent selected from the first group and a cellulosic resin. The third dye layer (1) contains no releasing agent of the first group, or (2) contains the releasing agent at an amount of not more than 0.3% by weight based on the total weight of the solid content of the third dye layer.

A sublimation thermal transfer sheet and combination of a sublimation thermal transfer sheet and a transfer receiving article that meet the demand for increase in the density of a color image to be formed, that prevent decrease in the adhesiveness of a protective layer optionally formed on the color image, and that also have superior light resistance. In a sublimation thermal transfer sheet including a substrate and yellow, magenta, and cyan colorant layers provided on one surface of the substrate, the yellow and the above magenta colorant layers each contain a predetermined amount of a high- sublimable dye having a molar absorption coefficient of not less than 50000 and a molecular weight of not more than 650, and the cyan colorant layer contains a predetermined amount of a high- sublimable dye having a molar absorption coefficient of not less than 20000 and a molecular weight of not more than 420.

Provided are a sublimation thermal transfer sheet and a combination of a sublimation thermal transfer sheet and a transfer receiving article that meet the demand for increase in the density of a color image to be formed, that prevent decrease in the adhesiveness of a protective layer optionally formed on the color image.

In a sublimation thermal transfer sheet including a substrate and yellow, magenta, and cyan colorant layers provided on one surface of the substrate, the yellow, magenta, and cyan colorant layers each contain at least a binder resin and a sublimable dye having a molar absorption coefficient of not less than 50000 and a molecular weight of not more than 650, and the average of the mass ratios of the respective binder resins and sublimable dyes (sublimable dye/binder resin) in the yellow, magenta, and cyan colorant layers is not less than 0.7.

An intermediate transfer medium having a first transfer layer releasably provided on a support, a thermal transfer sheet in which a first colorant layer, a second transfer layer, and a second colorant layer are provided on one surface of a substrate so as being frame sequentially, and the second transfer layer is releasably provided from the substrate, and a transfer receiving article. The first colorant layer is used to form a first image on the first transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium. The second transfer layer is transferred onto the first transfer layer on which the first image is formed, and then, the second colorant layer is used to form a second image on the second transfer layer. The first transfer layer is transferred together with the second transfer layer transferred on the first transfer layer onto the transfer receiving article to obtain a print having a stereoscopic image.

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 thermal transfer foil and also a process for producing a true color image, and a true color image, wherein the thermal transfer foil includes at least one effect pigment layer and a carrier foil which has first effect pigments in one or more first regions.

The present invention provide a reflective thermal transfer label manufacturing method, which includes the step S1: providing a reflective layer with a plurality of beads; step S2: forming a first mask on the reflective layer, and is pre-formed a first hollow pattern; step S3: printing a first ink on the first mask; step S4: adding the glue layer into a first ink; step S5: peeling off the first ink and the glue layer, so the plurality of beads of the reflective layer is separated from the reflective layer at the position of the first hollow pattern; and step S6: forming a reflective label with the first hollow pattern which is composed of the plurality of beads, the first ink and the glue layer. The present invention also provides a single-color reflective label and a multi-colors reflective label.

An intermediate transfer medium having a first transfer layer releasably provided on a support, a thermal transfer sheet in which a first colorant layer, a second transfer layer, and a second colorant layer are provided on one surface of a substrate so as being frame sequentially, and the second transfer layer is releasably provided from the substrate, and a transfer receiving article. The first colorant layer is used to form a first image on the first transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium. The second transfer layer is transferred onto the first transfer layer on which the first image is formed, and then, the second colorant layer is used to form a second image on the second transfer layer. The first transfer layer is transferred together with the second transfer layer transferred on the first transfer layer onto the transfer receiving article to obtain a print having a stereoscopic image.