A method of creating a three-dimensionally shaped object, the method having: a creation step for creating image data for printing an image on a thermally expandable sheet; a printing step for printing an image on the thermally expandable sheet on the basis of the image data created in the creation step; and a protuberation step for partially protuberating the thermally expandable sheet via thermal expansion by irradiating light toward the image printed on the thermally expandable sheet in the printing step. The creation step creates image data such that a grayscale of an image is set so that a fastening portion that fastens a thermally expandable sheet is either intermittently or continuously surrounded by a region where a protuberation height resulting from the thermal expansion is high.

A method for enabling D2T2 printing onto non-D2T2 printable substrates uses a diffusible primer material provided on a dye-sheet or ribbon. The primer comprises a polymer, a release agent and a plasticizer. The release agent and the plasticizer are diffused into the substrate, while the polymer remains on the dye-sheet or ribbon. Printing of the primer onto the PC substrate is controlled via a computer image program corresponding to a colored image. This computer image program also controls the printing of the colored image at the primed locations. Accordingly, image-wise treatment of a plastic material via the primer selectively renders the PC substrate surface D2T2 printable at the point of personalization, providing for a 100% PC full card body having the colored image.

A method for enabling D2T2 printing onto non-D2T2 printable substrates uses a diffusible primer material provided on a dye-sheet or ribbon. The primer comprises a polymer, a release agent and a plasticizer. The release agent and the plasticizer are diffused into the substrate, while the polymer remains on the dye-sheet or ribbon. Printing of the primer onto the PC substrate is controlled via a computer image program corresponding to a colored image. This computer image program also controls the printing of the colored image at the primed locations. Accordingly, image-wise treatment of a plastic material via the primer selectively renders the PC substrate surface D2T2 printable at the point of personalization, providing for a 100% PC full card body having the colored image.

There is provided a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium which is able to better suppress the occurrence of abnormal transfer during high-speed printing using a high-speed printer of sublimation transfer type and is able to improve transfer sensitivity in high-speed printing. The heat-sensitive transfer recording medium includes a base (10), a heat-resistant lubricating layer (20) formed on one surface of the base (10), an underlying layer (30) formed on the other surface of the base (10), and a dye layer (40) formed on a surface of the underlying layer (30), which is on the other side of a surface facing the base (10). In the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium, the underlying layer (30) has a major component that is a copolymer of polyester having a sulfonic group on a side chain and acrylic having at least one of a glycidyl group and a carboxyl group.

There is provided a heat-sensitive transfer recording medium which is able to better suppress the occurrence of abnormal transfer during high-speed printing using a high-speed printer of sublimation transfer type and is able to improve transfer sensitivity in high-speed printing. The heat-sensitive transfer recording medium includes a base (10), a heat-resistant lubricating layer (20) formed on one surface of the base (10), an underlying layer (30) formed on the other surface of the base (10), and a dye layer (40) formed on a surface of the underlying layer (30), which is on the other side of a surface facing the base (10). In the heat-sensitive transfer recording medium, the underlying layer (30) has a major component that is a copolymer of polyester having a sulfonic group on a side chain and acrylic having at least one of a glycidyl group and a carboxyl group.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet. The problem is solved by a thermal transfer sheet (1) in which at least a colorant layer (3) is layered on a substrate sheet (2), wherein the colorant layer (3) contains a predetermined solvent, a colorant (10x) dispersible in the predetermined solvent, a dispersant, and a binder resin, and the dispersant being one or more selected from the group consisting of polyether-based dispersants, graft type polymer dispersants, acryl-based block type polymer dispersants, urethane-based polymer dispersants and azo-based dispersants.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet. The problem is solved by a thermal transfer sheet (1) in which at least a colorant layer (3) is layered on a substrate sheet (2), wherein the colorant layer (3) contains a predetermined solvent, a colorant (10x) dispersible in the predetermined solvent, a dispersant, and a binder resin, and the dispersant being one or more selected from the group consisting of polyether-based dispersants, graft type polymer dispersants, acryl-based block type polymer dispersants, urethane-based polymer dispersants and azo-based dispersants.

The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention that has, in the order mentioned, a substrate, a colored layer, and an adhesion layer; and wherein the colored layer contains a colorant, polyester-based resin A, and polyester-based resin B; the number average molecular weight of the polyester-based resin A is not less than 15,000; the number average molecular weight of the polyester-based resin B is not more than 5,000; a content ratio by mass of the polyester-based resin A to the polyester-based resin B (polyester-based resin A/polyester-based resin B) in the colored layer is not less than 2/3 and not more than 9/1; and the adhesion layer includes a polyester-based resin.

The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention that has, in the order mentioned, a substrate, a colored layer, and an adhesion layer; and wherein the colored layer contains a colorant, polyester-based resin A, and polyester-based resin B; the number average molecular weight of the polyester-based resin A is not less than 15,000; the number average molecular weight of the polyester-based resin B is not more than 5,000; a content ratio by mass of the polyester-based resin A to the polyester-based resin B (polyester-based resin A/polyester-based resin B) in the colored layer is not less than 2/3 and not more than 9/1; and the adhesion layer includes a polyester-based resin.

The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention that has in the order mentioned, a substrate, a release layer, a colored layer, and an adhesion layer; and is characterized in that the colored layer contains a colorant and a polyester-based resin; the adhesion layer contains a polyester-based resin; a ratio of the thickness of the release layer to the total thickness of the colored layer and the adhesion layer (the thickness of the release layer/(the thickness of the colored layer+the thickness of the adhesion layer)) is not less than 2/3 and not more than 3/2; and the total thickness of the release layer, the colored layer, and the adhesion layer is not less than 1.0 m and not more than 2.0 m.