Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising at least an undercoat layer and a heat-sensitive recording layer in this order on a support, the undercoat layer containing an inorganic pigment, hollow particles, and a binder, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a leuco dye, developers, and a binder, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a first developer and a second developer as the developers, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing an N,N-diarylurea-based compound represented by formula (1) as the second developer:

##STR00001## wherein R.sub.2 represents a C.sub.1-12 alkyl group, a C.sub.7-12 aralkyl group, or a C.sub.6-12 aryl group, the aralkyl group and aryl group may be substituted with a C.sub.1-12 alkyl group, a C.sub.1-12 alkoxy group, a C.sub.6-12 aryl group, or a halogen atom, and a plurality of R.sub.2s may be the same or different; and A.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, and a plurality of A.sub.1s may be the same or different.

Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising at least an undercoat layer and a heat-sensitive recording layer in this order on a support, the undercoat layer containing an inorganic pigment, hollow particles, and a binder, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a leuco dye, developers, and a binder, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a first developer and a second developer as the developers, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing an N,N-diarylurea-based compound represented by formula (1) as the second developer:

##STR00001## wherein R.sub.2 represents a C.sub.1-12 alkyl group, a C.sub.7-12 aralkyl group, or a C.sub.6-12 aryl group, the aralkyl group and aryl group may be substituted with a C.sub.1-12 alkyl group, a C.sub.1-12 alkoxy group, a C.sub.6-12 aryl group, or a halogen atom, and a plurality of R.sub.2s may be the same or different; and A.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl group, and a plurality of A.sub.1s may be the same or different.

The laminate includes: a base material; an intermediate layer provided on the base material and having an accommodation part; a recording medium provided in the accommodation part; and an overlay layer provided on the intermediate layer. The accommodation part is provided in a part of a plane of the intermediate layer, and the accommodation part is a through hole penetrating in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer or a recess recessed in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer. The recording medium includes a color development layer containing: a coloring compound having an electron donating property; a developer having an electron accepting property; and a matrix resin. The base material, the intermediate layer, and the overlay layer contain the same type of resin material. The base material and the intermediate layer are bonded to each other by fusion, and the intermediate layer and the overlay layer are bonded to each other by fusion.

The laminate includes: a base material; an intermediate layer provided on the base material and having an accommodation part; a recording medium provided in the accommodation part; and an overlay layer provided on the intermediate layer. The accommodation part is provided in a part of a plane of the intermediate layer, and the accommodation part is a through hole penetrating in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer or a recess recessed in the thickness direction of the intermediate layer. The recording medium includes a color development layer containing: a coloring compound having an electron donating property; a developer having an electron accepting property; and a matrix resin. The base material, the intermediate layer, and the overlay layer contain the same type of resin material. The base material and the intermediate layer are bonded to each other by fusion, and the intermediate layer and the overlay layer are bonded to each other by fusion.

The present invention relates to a method of forming an image on a substrate comprising a transparent or translucent composition applied thereto, wherein the transparent or translucent composition comprises a protein in a non-denatured state, and the method comprises applying radiation to the transparent or translucent composition to denature the protein and thereby form an image on the substrate. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a substrate on which an image can be formed, and related substrates, compositions and uses thereof.

Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising the following: a support having at least one colored surface; and a light-scattering layer on the colored surface, wherein the light-scattering layer contains hollow polymer particles and a clarifying agent, the content of the hollow polymer particles is 6 to 35 mass % based on the total solids content of the light-scattering layer, the content of the clarifying agent is 1 part by mass or more, on a solids basis, per part by mass of the hollow polymer particles, and the light-scattering layer is substantially free of a dye precursor and a color developer, and wherein A) the clarifying agent consists of a fatty acid amide, or B) the clarifying agent comprises a combination of a fatty acid amide and at least one member selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and 1,2-bis(phenoxymethyl)benzene;

##STR00001##

wherein in the formula, Xs are the same or different, and each represents CH.sub.3 or Cl.

Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising the following: a support having at least one colored surface; and a light-scattering layer on the colored surface, wherein the light-scattering layer contains hollow polymer particles and a clarifying agent, the content of the hollow polymer particles is 6 to 35 mass % based on the total solids content of the light-scattering layer, the content of the clarifying agent is 1 part by mass or more, on a solids basis, per part by mass of the hollow polymer particles, and the light-scattering layer is substantially free of a dye precursor and a color developer, and wherein A) the clarifying agent consists of a fatty acid amide, or B) the clarifying agent comprises a combination of a fatty acid amide and at least one member selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and 1,2-bis(phenoxymethyl)benzene;

##STR00001##

wherein in the formula, Xs are the same or different, and each represents CH.sub.3 or Cl.

A thermal transfer sheet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a substrate and a sublimation transfer discoloration- or decolorization-imparting layer disposed on one surface side of the substrate, in which the sublimation transfer discoloration- or decolorization-imparting layer contains at least a compound responsible for discoloration or decolorization and a binder resin.

A thermal transfer sheet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a substrate and a sublimation transfer discoloration- or decolorization-imparting layer disposed on one surface side of the substrate, in which the sublimation transfer discoloration- or decolorization-imparting layer contains at least a compound responsible for discoloration or decolorization and a binder resin.

A heat-sensitive recording material including at least an undercoat layer and a heat-sensitive recording layer in this order on a support, the undercoat layer containing hollow particles and a binder, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a leuco dye and a developer, the heat-sensitive recording material containing a compound represented by the following formula (1) as a first developer of the heat-sensitive recording layer:

##STR00001##