| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To control the thermal energy of a thermal head and thereby ensure continuous gradation recording at high image quality by providing a porous microcapsule layer containing leuco dye on a support and then a thermally fusible layer as a two-tier structure. CONSTITUTION:The support 2 of a thermal transfer recording sheet 1 consists of heat-resistant film with a thickness of about 10mum such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In addition, a microcapsule layer 5 consisting of a porous microcapsule 4 which contains leuco dye is provided on the support 2. Further, a thermally fusible layer 6 is provided on the microcapsule layer 5. If the thermal elements 11 of a thermal head is heated at temperatures of T1 to T3(T1<T2<T3), the leuco dye contained in the porous microcapsules of the thermal transfer recording sheet 1 is released in response to heating. The thermally fusible layer 6 which absorbs the leuco dye fuses and becomes dye- transferred. Consequently, the color developer of the recording sheet and the leuco dye form a color through chemical reaction. Thus a transferred image of continuous high-quality gradation is recorded. |
