A thermal transfer recording sheet includes a base material and, on the base material, a yellow-dye layer containing a yellow dye, a magenta-dye layer containing a magenta dye, and a cyan-dye layer containing a cyan dye. The yellow dye and the cyan dye contain compounds having specific structures.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The present invention provides a compound having a high chroma and also excellent dispersibility. The compound described above is represented by the following formula (1). ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a compound having a high chroma and also excellent dispersibility. The compound described above is represented by the following formula (1).

##STR00001##

A thermal transfer recording sheet includes a base material and, on the base material, a yellow-dye layer containing a yellow dye, a magenta-dye layer containing a magenta dye, and a cyan-dye layer containing a cyan dye. The yellow dye and the cyan dye contain compounds having specific structures.