[Object] An object is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which allows for forming an image favorable to any of transfer objects having a poor smoothness and a high smoothness.

[Solution] The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention comprising: a substrate; and a transfer layer comprising a release layer, a colorant layer and an adhesive layer, wherein the release layer includes a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight of 8000 or more and 23000 or less and the colorant layer includes one or both of a polyester and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a colorant.

A thermal transfer sheet, a combination of an intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, method for producing a printed material using the thermal transfer sheet, and a decorative material, wherein the thermal transfer sheet includes a transfer layer on one surface of a substrate, the transfer layer having a single layer structure consisting only of a heat seal layer or a multilayer structure including a heat seal layer, and in a case where the transfer layer has the multilayer structure, the heat seal layer among the layers constituting the transfer layer is positioned closest to the substrate. The heat seal layer contains one or both of (i) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 55 C. or more and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 15000 or less, and (ii) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 55 C.

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 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.

Provided is a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a seal-type printing sheet, the combination being capable of preventing occurrence of wrinkles in a print. In a combination of a thermal transfer sheet including a substrate and a colorant layer provided on one surface of the substrate and a seal-type printing sheet including a releasing substrate and a printing paper sheet with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on a portion of one surface of the releasing substrate, the difference between the dynamic friction coefficient between the colorant layer in the thermal transfer sheet and the printing paper sheet with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in the seal-type printing sheet and the dynamic friction coefficient between the colorant layer in the thermal transfer sheet and the releasing substrate in the seal-type printing sheet is 1.0 or less.

Printing process in which a substrate to be printed is disposed opposite an ink carrier having an ink layer, the ink layer being irradiated regionally by a laser beam, said layer accelerating by absorption of the laser beam in the substrate direction, wherein for laser absorption the ink layer is admixed with reflective particles and as soluble polymer having a weight average (Mw) molecular weight of greater than 250 000 g/mol.

A thermal transfer recording medium that satisfies the requirements for higher printing speed of thermal transfer, and high density and high quality of thermal transfer images, that better prevents the occurrence of abnormal transfer under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, and that improves transfer sensitivity in printing. The thermal transfer recording medium includes a primer layer, an undercoat layer, and a dye layer in this order on one surface of a substrate, and a heat-resistant lubricating layer on the other surface of the substrate; wherein the primer layer contains polycarbonate and a polyurethane-urea resin having a polycaprolactam skeleton; the undercoat layer contains a copolymer of polyester and acrylic, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and the copolymer is a copolymer of polyester having a sulfonic acid group, and acrylic having at least one of a glycidyl group and a carboxyl group.

A thermal transfer recording medium that satisfies the requirements for higher printing speed of thermal transfer, and high density and high quality of thermal transfer images, that better prevents the occurrence of abnormal transfer under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, and that improves transfer sensitivity in printing. The thermal transfer recording medium includes a primer layer, an undercoat layer, and a dye layer in this order on one surface of a substrate, and a heat-resistant lubricating layer on the other surface of the substrate; wherein the primer layer contains polycarbonate and a polyurethane-urea resin having a polycaprolactam skeleton; the undercoat layer contains a copolymer of polyester and acrylic, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and the copolymer is a copolymer of polyester having a sulfonic acid group, and acrylic having at least one of a glycidyl group and a carboxyl group.

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).

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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).

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