It is the object of the present invention to provide a new polymer coating for low temperature plastics and plastic foams that allows for the application of disperse dyes in a sublimation process that preserves the original properties of the underlying plastic substrate. The composition includes an optically clear synthetic organic polymer base holding two layers, a first reflective layer supported by the low temperature plastic substrate that includes IR radiation reflecting additives, and a second layer supported by the first layer having light scattering particulate additives. The disperse dyes utilized in the invention may include additives to absorb IR radiation provided by an external IR source positioned above the disperse dyes causing the dyes to sublimate and diffuse quickly into the light scattering layer. The combination of these layers allows for diffusion of the disperse dye ink into the light scattering layer while protecting the low temperature plastic below.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new polymer coating for low temperature plastics and plastic foams that allows for the application of disperse dyes in a sublimation process that preserves the original properties of the underlying plastic substrate. The composition includes an optically clear synthetic organic polymer base holding two layers, a first reflective layer supported by the low temperature plastic substrate that includes IR radiation reflecting additives, and a second layer supported by the first layer having light scattering particulate additives. The disperse dyes utilized in the invention may include additives to absorb IR radiation provided by an external IR source positioned above the disperse dyes causing the dyes to sublimate and diffuse quickly into the light scattering layer. The combination of these layers allows for diffusion of the disperse dye ink into the light scattering layer while protecting the low temperature plastic below.

Provided is, for example, a compound excellent in light fastness and storage stability. The compound is characterized by having a structure represented by the following formula (1) or (2). ##STR00001##

An example of an imaging medium includes an image-receiving substrate, a donor ribbon attached to the image-receiving substrate, and a registration mark. The donor ribbon includes a donor ribbon substrate, a release layer disposed on the donor ribbon substrate, and a color-forming layer disposed on the release layer. The color-forming layer includes a repeated pattern. A repeat of the pattern includes at least three adjacent color-forming stripes including a cyan-forming stripe, a magenta-forming stripe, and a yellow-forming stripe, or a grid of four color-forming sections including i) a color-forming section selected from the group consisting of black-forming, cyan-forming, light cyan-forming, yellow-forming, magenta-forming, and light magenta-forming, ii) a cyan-forming section, iii) a magenta-forming section, and iv) a yellow-forming section. The color-forming layer is in contact with the image-receiving substrate.

An apparatus configured to fly a light-absorbing material, includes a unit configured to irradiate a light-absorbing material absorbing light with a laser beam corresponding to a light absorption wavelength of the light-absorbing material to fly the light-absorbing material. When a preceding beam radiation region and a following beam radiation region overlap, the following beam radiation region is irradiated with the laser beam such that a beam centroid position is outside the preceding beam radiation region.

Provided is, for example, a compound excellent in light fastness and storage stability. The compound is characterized by having a structure represented by the following formula (1) or (2).

##STR00001##

The invention relates to transfer paper for sublimation printing, comprising a fibrous substrate, said transfer paper having one or more cationic agents on at least one face thereof, deposited on the fibrous substrate by means of surface treatment, the amount of cationic agent(s) being greater than or equal to 8% by dry weight of the total dry weight of the compound(s) added to the fibrous substrate by means of the surface treatment.

A thermal transfer sheet includes a dye layer disposed on a first surface of a substrate film. The dye layer includes a decolorizable dye. The decolorizable dye has a color difference ?E*ab between a color A and a color B of 10 or less, where the color A is a color of a transfer-receiving body before the decolorizable dye is transferred to the transfer-receiving body, the color B is a color of a portion of the transfer-receiving body with the decolorizable dye having been transferred thereto, and the color of the portion is a color after the portion is irradiated by a xenon lamp at an irradiation intensity of 1.2 (W/m.sup.2) for 50 hours, the portion having a reflection density of 0.5 or greater before being irradiated by the xenon lamp.

The invention relates to transfer paper for sublimation printing, comprising a fibrous substrate, said transfer paper having one or more cationic agents on at least one face thereof, deposited on the fibrous substrate by means of surface treatment, the amount of cationic agent(s) being greater than or equal to 8% by dry weight of the total dry weight of the compound(s) added to the fibrous substrate by means of the surface treatment.

An ink set which is used for sublimation transfer includes a first ink, and a second ink. The first ink has a color after transfer of |a*|10 and |b*|10 in a CIELAB color space, and contains a first disperse dye dispersed by a first dispersion resin. The second ink has a color after transfer of |a*|>10 or |b*|>10 in the CIELAB color space, and contains a second disperse dye dispersed by a second dispersion resin. A glass transition temperature of the first dispersion resin and is different than that of the second dispersion resin.