| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To enable to obtain high-density images with excellent heat sensitivity and, particularly, gradation properties, by providing a heat-fusible ink layer which comprises a gradation-controlling agent, a coloring agent and a holding material in a microporous structure of a resin. CONSTITUTION:The heat-fusible ink layer 2 comprising a holding material 4, a gradation-controlling agent 5 and a coloring agent 6 in the microporous structure 3 is provided on a base 1. A receiving sheet 7 is disposed in contact with the ink layer 2, and imagewise heating is conducted by a thermal head 8 on the opposite side, whereby the ink layer 2 is melted, and the coloring agent is caused to ooze out between the particles of the gradation-controlling agent 5 and then through the microporous resin structure 3 onto the receiving sheet 7, little by little. The amount of the coloring agent caused to ooze out can be varied by controlling the thermal energy applied by the thermal head 8, whereby an image with high fidelity of gradations and a wide range of gradation can be obtained. |
