A thermal transfer recording sheet including a substrate and a yellow coloring material layer, a magenta coloring material layer, and a cyan coloring material layer frame-sequentially formed on the substrate, wherein at least one of the yellow coloring material layer, the magenta coloring material layer, and the cyan coloring material layer contains a compound with a specified structure.

A thermal transfer recording sheet including a substrate and a yellow coloring material layer, a magenta coloring material layer, and a cyan coloring material layer frame-sequentially formed on the substrate, wherein at least one of the yellow coloring material layer, the magenta coloring material layer, and the cyan coloring material layer contains a compound with a specified structure.

A thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer medium, and a print forming method, capable of forming a thermal transfer image having good transferability when transferring a transfer layer including a receiving layer onto a transfer receiving article, and capable of improving the durability of a print obtained by transferring the transfer layer including the receiving layer, on which the thermal transfer image has been formed, onto a transfer receiving article. The thermal transfer sheet includes a substrate, primer layer and colorant layer, wherein the primer layer contains one or more selected from the group consisting of particles derived from colloidal inorganic particles, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone resins, and polyurethane resins. The intermediate transfer medium includes another substrate, a protective layer, and a receiving layer, wherein the protective layer and the receiving layer are layered in this order on one surface of the another substrate.

A thermal transfer recording medium which includes a dye layer having storage stability and sufficient color development properties, and enables improvement in image quality of the printed matter. The thermal transfer recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a heat-resistant lubricating layer provided on a first surface of the substrate, and a dye layer provided on a second surface of the substrate, wherein the dye layer includes a dye, a binder A, and a binder B which contains at least one of polyvinyl butyral and polyvinyl acetal, a solubility parameter of the binder A is within a range of 9.5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or more and 12.0 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or less, and a melting viscosity of the binder A at 200 C. is 400 Pa sec or less.

A thermally expandable sheet includes a base, a thermally expansive layer, and a color adjustment layer. The thermally expansive layer is provided on a first side of the base and includes a thermally expandable material that distends in accordance with an amount of heat absorbed, the heat being generated from a thermal conversion layer that includes a thermal conversion material that converts electromagnetic waves to heat. The color adjustment layer is provided on at least one of the thermally expansive layer and a second side of the base and includes a color adjusting agent. When the thermal conversion layer is provided on the color adjustment layer, the color adjustment layer reduces a visual difference in color between a first region where the thermal conversion layer is provided and a second region where the thermal conversion layer is not provided.

A thermally expandable sheet includes a base, a thermally expansive layer, and a color adjustment layer. The thermally expansive layer is provided on a first side of the base and includes a thermally expandable material that distends in accordance with an amount of heat absorbed, the heat being generated from a thermal conversion layer that includes a thermal conversion material that converts electromagnetic waves to heat. The color adjustment layer is provided on at least one of the thermally expansive layer and a second side of the base and includes a color adjusting agent. When the thermal conversion layer is provided on the color adjustment layer, the color adjustment layer reduces a visual difference in color between a first region where the thermal conversion layer is provided and a second region where the thermal conversion layer is not provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording sheet that provides an image that is excellent in light fastness and has a satisfactory imbalance. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording sheet including a substrate and dye layers (a yellow dye layer, a magenta dye layer, and a cyan dye layer), in which one or more kinds of the dye layers each contain one or more kinds of specific compounds. The present invention also relates to a thermal transfer recording sheet including a substrate, dye layers, and a protective layer for protecting the surface of an image, in which the protective layer contains one or more kinds of specific compounds.

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 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 thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer medium, and a print forming method, capable of forming a thermal transfer image having good transferability when transferring a transfer layer including a receiving layer onto a transfer receiving article, and capable of improving the durability of a print obtained by transferring the transfer layer including the receiving layer, on which the thermal transfer image has been formed, onto a transfer receiving article. The thermal transfer sheet includes a substrate, primer layer and colorant layer, wherein the primer layer contains one or more selected from the group consisting of particles derived from colloidal inorganic particles, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone resins, and polyurethane resins. The intermediate transfer medium includes another substrate, a protective layer, and a receiving layer, wherein the protective layer and the receiving layer are layered in this order on one surface of the another substrate.