A thermal transfer sheet is provided, which allows for forming an image favorable to any transfer objects having a poor smoothness or a high smoothness. The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention includes a substrate, and a transfer layer. The transfer layer includes a release layer, a colorant layer and an adhesive layer. The release layer includes a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight Mn in a range of 8000 or more to 23000 or less, and the colorant layer includes a colorant and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer.

A thermal transfer sheet is provided, which allows for forming an image favorable to any transfer objects having a poor smoothness or a high smoothness. The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention includes a substrate, and a transfer layer. The transfer layer includes a release layer, a colorant layer and an adhesive layer. The release layer includes a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight Mn in a range of 8000 or more to 23000 or less, and the colorant layer includes a colorant and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer.

A thermal transfer sheet according to the present disclosure includes a first substrate and a metallic luster layer containing a metal pigment, the metallic luster layer having a 45-degree specular gloss in the range of 30% to 80%.

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 sheet includes a dye layer disposed on a first surface of a substrate film. The dye layer includes a decolorizable dye. The decolorizable dye has a color difference ΔE*ab between a color A and a color B of 10 or less, where the color A is a color of a transfer-receiving body before the decolorizable dye is transferred to the transfer-receiving body, the color B is a color of a portion of the transfer-receiving body with the decolorizable dye having been transferred thereto, and the color of the portion is a color after the portion is irradiated by a xenon lamp at an irradiation intensity of 1.2 (W/m.sup.2) for 50 hours, the portion having a reflection density of 0.5 or greater before being irradiated by the xenon lamp.

A thermal transfer sheet includes a dye layer disposed on a first surface of a substrate film. The dye layer includes a decolorizable dye. The decolorizable dye has a color difference ΔE*ab between a color A and a color B of 10 or less, where the color A is a color of a transfer-receiving body before the decolorizable dye is transferred to the transfer-receiving body, the color B is a color of a portion of the transfer-receiving body with the decolorizable dye having been transferred thereto, and the color of the portion is a color after the portion is irradiated by a xenon lamp at an irradiation intensity of 1.2 (W/m.sup.2) for 50 hours, the portion having a reflection density of 0.5 or greater before being irradiated by the xenon lamp.

A thermal transfer recording medium that is able to better suppress bleeding or scumming of an image and better suppress the occurrence of peeling lines or abnormal transfer during thermal transfer. The thermal transfer recording medium according to an embodiment includes a heat-resistant slip layer that is formed on one surface of a base material, an undercoat layer that is formed on the other surface of the base material, and a dye layer that is formed on a surface of the undercoat layer that is opposite from the surface that faces the base material; wherein the dye layer includes at least a thermally transferable dye, a first binder resin and a release agent; the release agent includes polyether-modified silicone oil and a perfluoroalkyl compound, and the ratio of the polyether-modified silicone oil and perfluoroalkyl compound, on the basis of a weight ratio, is within the range 9:1 to 6:4.

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.

A combination of a thermal transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium according to the present disclosure is characterized in that the thermal transfer sheet includes a first substrate and a melt transfer coloring layer, the intermediate transfer medium includes a second substrate and a transfer layer including a receiving layer, and the melt transfer coloring layer and the receiving layer contain a release material.