Combination of thermal transfer sheet and thermal transfer image receiving sheet

Abstract

To produce a printed matter in a pearl tone having high designability.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer image receiving sheet includes: a black member; a primer layer disposed on one surface of the black member and including a pearl pigment; and a reception layer disposed on the primer layer. A luminosity L* of the black member is 20 or less. An adhesive layer and a release part are disposed in this order on the other surface of the black member. A sealing part including the adhesive layer, the black member, the primer layer and the reception layer may be peelable from the release part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer image receiving sheet, a print, and a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] Among various printing methods known in the art, the dye-sublimation thermal transfer method allows for free adjustment of density gradation, excels in reproducing intermediate colors and gradations, and is capable of forming high-quality images comparable to silver halide photography.

[0003] In this dye-sublimation thermal transfer method, a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a receiving layer are superimposed, and then the thermal transfer sheet is heated by a thermal head of the printer, causing the sublimable dye in the dye layer to migrate to the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, forming an image and obtaining a printed product. In addition, a protective layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet onto the receiving layer on which the image has been formed, improving the durability of the printed product.

[0004] Prints obtained by such methods are required to have a wide variety of designs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-157225 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a pearlescent printed matter having a high level of designability. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet used in producing a pearlescent printed matter having a high level of designability, and a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present disclosure comprises a black member, a primer layer containing a pearl pigment provided on one surface of the black member, and a receiving layer provided on the primer layer.

[0008] The printed matter of the present disclosure includes a black member, a primer layer containing a pearl pigment provided on one surface of the black member, and a receiving layer provided on the primer layer and having an image formed thereon.

[0009] The combination of the thermal transfer sheet and thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present disclosure is such that the thermal transfer sheet has a transfer layer and a colorant layer arranged in face order, the transfer layer including a white layer and a transparent receiving layer stacked together, and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet has a black member and a primer layer containing a pearl pigment arranged on one side of the black member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, pearlescent prints with high designability can be produced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. To clarify the description, the drawings may show the width, thickness, etc. of each part more schematically than in the actual embodiment. However, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present disclosure. In the present specification and drawings, elements similar to those previously described with reference to the preceding drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] 1, a thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a black member 11, and a primer layer 12 and a receiving layer 13 laminated in this order from the black member 11 side on one surface of the black member 11. The primer layer 12 contains a pearl pigment.

[0014] The black member 11 is L * a * b * Color system lightness L * is 0 or more and 20 or less, chromaticity a * is 0 or more and 10 or less, chromaticity b * is preferably −10 or more and 5 or less.

[0015] L * a * b * The color system is standardized by the CIE (International Commission on Illumination) and is adopted in JIS Z 8781-4:2013. * a * b * Color space L * , a * , b * is measured using, for example, a spectrophotometer (i1-pro2 manufactured by X-Rite, D65 light source, 2° field of view, no filter).

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferable that the visual reflection density of the black member 11 is 1.5 or more. The visual reflection density is measured using a reflection densitometer (RD-918, X-Rite).

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, an adhesive layer 15 and a substrate 21 may be provided on the other surface of the black member 11, laminated in this order from the black member 11 side. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet shown in Fig. 2 is a seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet in which a seal portion 10 having the adhesive layer 15, the black member 11, the primer layer 12, and the receiving layer 13 can be peeled from a release portion 20 having the substrate 21.

[0018] The release portion 20 may be configured by only the substrate 21, or may have a laminated structure of the substrate 21 and the release layer 22 as shown in FIG.

[0019] A print is produced by transferring a colorant from a thermal transfer sheet to the receiving layer 13 and printing an image. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, a thermal transfer sheet 3 is used in which a colorant layer 31 and a surface protective layer 32 (hereinafter referred to as protective layer 32) are provided in face order on a substrate sheet (not shown). The colorant layer 31 has, for example, a Y layer containing a yellow dye (Y), an M layer containing a magenta dye (M), and a C layer containing a cyan dye (C).

[0020] After an image is formed by transferring the dye from the coloring material layer 31 of the thermal transfer sheet 3 to the receiving layer 13 , the protective layer 32 is transferred onto the receiving layer 13 .

[0021] Next, each layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1 will be described.

[0022] (black material) The black member 11 may be a black substrate, or may be configured such that a black layer is laminated on a transparent substrate.

[0023] The black substrate is, for example, black PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is a PET resin to which a black pigment has been added.

[0024] The black pigment may be an organic black pigment or an inorganic black pigment. The black substrate may contain either an organic black pigment or an inorganic black pigment, or may contain both an organic black pigment and an inorganic black pigment.

[0025] Examples of organic black pigments include azomethine azo black pigments, perylene black pigments, azo black pigments, aniline black, acetylene black, carbon black, lamp black, a mixed pigment of benzimidazolone pigment brown 25 (brown) and phthalocyanine blue (blue), etc. One type of organic black pigment may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0026] Examples of inorganic black pigments include composite oxides, iron black, titanium black, etc. The inorganic black pigments may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0027] The amount of black pigment contained in the black base material, the thickness of the black base material, etc. are determined by the L * , a * , b * It is preferable to adjust the color density so that the visual reflection density and the like are within a desired range.

[0028] When the black member 11 has a laminated structure of a transparent substrate and a black layer, the black layer contains a black pigment. The black pigment may be the same as the black pigment contained in the black substrate. Examples of materials for the transparent substrate include a polyethylene terephthalate film and a polypropylene film.

[0029] The ink used to form the black layer may be, for example, a mixture of a binder resin and a black pigment. The ink may contain colorants other than the black pigment, solvents, stabilizers, plasticizers, catalysts, curing agents, etc. The black layer is formed by applying the ink to a transparent substrate by a coating method, a printing method, etc.

[0030] Examples of coating methods include roll coating, knife coating, air knife coating, die coating, lip coating, comma coating, kiss coating, flow coating, dip coating, etc. Examples of printing methods include gravure printing, offset printing, screen printing, flexographic printing, electrostatic printing, inkjet printing, etc.

[0031] The amount of black pigment contained in the black layer, the thickness of the black layer, etc. are determined by the L of the black member. * , a * , b * It is preferable to adjust the color density so that the visual reflection density and the like are within a desired range.

[0032] (Primer layer) The primer layer 12 contains a binder resin and a pearl pigment. Examples of the pearl pigment contained in the primer layer 12 include fish scale powder, shell fragments, and pearl flakes. The pearl pigment may also be a silver pearl pigment that has a silver color and is obtained by coating the surface of mica, synthetic mica, silica, or the like with a coating layer made of titanium oxide.

[0033] As an example, the primer layer 12 contains the pearl pigment in an amount of 25% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the primer layer 12.

[0034] The primer layer 12 may contain an aluminum flake pigment or a metal-coated glass flake pigment instead of the pearl pigment.

[0035] The binder resin contained in the primer layer 12 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyurethane, acrylic resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, epoxy resin, polyester, etc. Other binder resins having adhesive properties may also be appropriately selected and used. The primer layer 12 may contain one type of binder resin alone or two or more types.

[0036] There is no particular limitation on the thickness of the primer layer 12, but it is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

[0037] (receptor layer) The receiving layer 13 is a layer on which a thermal transfer image is formed by receiving a sublimation dye (visible dye) transferred from the thermal transfer sheet or by transferring a pigment from the thermal transfer sheet.

[0038] The receiving layer contains a resin material. The resin material is not limited as long as it is a resin that can be easily dyed with a dye. Examples include polyolefin, vinyl resin, (meth)acrylic resin, cellulose resin, polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, styrene resin, polyurethane, and ionomer resin. The receiving layer can contain two or more of the above resin materials. There are no particular limitations on the thickness of the receiving layer, but it is, for example, in the range of 0.5 μm to 10 μm.

[0039] The receiving layer may be a white receiving layer obtained by adding a white pigment such as titanium oxide or zinc oxide to the above resin.

[0040] (Adhesive layer) There are no particular limitations on the components of adhesive layer 15, and examples thereof include acrylic resin, vinyl resin, polyester, urethane resin, polyamide, epoxy resin, rubber-based resin, ionomer resin, etc. There are no particular limitations on the thickness of adhesive layer 15, and it is, for example, in the range of 5 μm to 20 μm.

[0041] (base material) Examples of the substrate 21 (substrate for the release portion) constituting the release portion 20 of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet include stretched or unstretched plastic substrates (which may be films) such as polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyamides, and polymethylpentene resins, fine paper, coated paper, resin-coated paper, art paper, cast-coated paper, paperboard, emulsion-impregnated paper, synthetic rubber latex-impregnated paper, synthetic resin-loaded paper, and cellulose fiber paper.

[0042] (Release layer) Examples of components of release layer 22 include components having releasability, such as waxes, silicone wax, silicone resins, various silicone-modified resins such as silicone-modified acrylic resins, fluororesins, fluororesin-modified resins, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resins, thermosetting epoxy-amino copolymers and thermosetting alkyd-amino copolymers (thermosetting aminoalkyd resins), melamine resins, cellulose resins, urea-based resins, polyolefin resins, acrylic resins, cellulose-based resins, etc. Release layer 22 may contain one type of component alone, or may contain two or more types of components.

[0043] Next, each layer of the thermal transfer sheet 3 will be described.

[0044] (color material layer) The sublimation dye contained in the colorant layer 31 of the thermal transfer sheet 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is a conventionally known dye. For example, diarylmethane dyes, triarylmethane dyes, thiazole dyes, merocyanine dyes, methine dyes such as pyrazolone methine, indoaniline dyes, azomethine dyes such as acetophenone azomethine, pyrazoloazomethine, imidazole azomethine, imidazoazomethine, and pyridone azomethine, xanthene dyes, oxazine dyes, cyanomethylene dyes such as dicyanostyrene and tricyanostyrene, and thiazine dyes. Examples of suitable dyes include azo dyes such as benzene azo dyes, pyridone azo dyes, thiophene azo dyes, isothiazole azo dyes, pyrrole azo dyes, pyrar azo dyes, imidazole azo dyes, thiadiazole azo dyes, triazole azo dyes, and diazas; spiropyran dyes, indolinospiropyran dyes, fluoran dyes, rhodamine lactam dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, and quinophthalone dyes.

[0045] (protective layer) The protective layer 32 has an adhesive layer. The protective layer 32 may further have a release layer. The adhesive layer is a layer provided on the outermost surface of the protective layer and contains at least one thermoplastic resin that softens when heated and exhibits adhesion. Examples of thermoplastic resins include vinyl resins such as polyester, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, (meth)acrylic resin, polyurethane, cellulose resin, polyamide, polyolefin, styrene resin, and chlorinated resins thereof.

[0046] The release layer improves the transferability of the protective layer and contains, for example, a wax as a main component. Examples of the wax include natural waxes such as beeswax, spermaceti, Japan wax, rice bran wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, and montan wax, synthetic waxes such as paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, oxidized wax, ozokerite, ceresin, ester wax, and polyethylene wax, higher saturated fatty acids such as margaric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, furoic acid, and behenic acid, higher saturated monohydric alcohols such as stearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol, higher esters such as fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and higher fatty acid amides such as stearic acid amide and oleic acid amide.

[0047] (Base sheet) The substrate sheet of the thermal transfer sheet 3 supports the color material layer 31 and the protective layer 32, and may be a conventionally known material having a certain degree of heat resistance and strength. Examples include polyethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, and polycarbonate film.

[0048] <<Print manufacturing method>> The method for producing a printed matter in one embodiment includes the steps of combining a thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1 and a thermal transfer sheet 3, and using a heating device such as a thermal head to transfer dye to the receiving layer 13 to form a thermal transfer image, and the step of transferring a protective layer onto the receiving layer 13. This method produces a printed matter with a pearlescent design. The black color of the black member 11 accentuates the pearlescent effect, resulting in a printed matter with a highly aesthetic design.

[0049] In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a thermal transfer sheet 3 provided with a transfer-type receiving layer 30 may be used, and the receiving layer 30 may be transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 3 onto the receiving layer 13 of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1. The receiving layer 30 is preferably a laminate of a transparent receiving layer provided on a substrate sheet and a white layer (colored layer) provided on the transparent receiving layer. The white layer is a layer containing a white pigment such as titanium oxide. The receiving layer 30 that serves as the transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 3 onto the receiving layer 13 of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1. A dye is transferred to the transparent receiving layer of the transferred receiving layer 30 to form an image, and a protective layer 32 is transferred onto the receiving layer 30 to produce a printed product. Because the background of the image is white, a printed product with a different design from that of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0050] The protective layer 32 may contain a pearl pigment. [Example]

[0051] The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0052] (Preparation of sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1) A polyethylene terephthalate film (S100#100 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) having a thickness of 100 μm was used as the substrate for the release part, and coating solution 1 for the release layer having the following composition was applied to the substrate for the release part so that the thickness when dried would be 0.25 μm, followed by drying, to obtain a release part having a release layer provided on the substrate for the release part.

[0053] In addition, a black polyethylene terephthalate film (Lumirror (registered trademark) #75-X30, Toray Industries, Inc.) with a thickness of 75 μm was prepared as a black member. The lightness L of the black member was measured using a spectrophotometer (i1-pro2, manufactured by X-Rite, D65 light source, 2° field of view, no filter). * is 6.83, chromaticity a * is 0.48, chromaticity b * The visual reflection density measured with a reflection densitometer (X-Rite RD-918) was 2.00.

[0054] On one side of this black member, primer layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition was applied and dried to a dry thickness of 1.2 μm to form a primer layer. On this primer layer, first receiving layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition was applied and dried to a dry thickness of 4.2 μm to form a first receiving layer. On the other side of the black member, adhesive layer coating liquid having the following composition was applied and dried to a dry thickness of 9 μm to form an adhesive layer, thereby obtaining a seal part in which the primer layer and first receiving layer were provided in this order on one side of the black member and an adhesive layer was provided on the other side. Next, the release part and the seal part were bonded together so that the release layer of the release part faced the adhesive layer of the seal part, thereby obtaining a seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1.

[0055] <Release layer coating liquid 1> 100 parts of silicone addition polymerization agent (KS847H, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 200 parts toluene

[0056] <Primer layer coating liquid 1> 40 parts urethane resin (Nippolan (registered trademark) 5199 Tosoh Corporation) Silver pearl pigment (particle size: 5-25 μm) 24 parts (Iriodin® 123 Bright Luster Satin, Merck) 76 parts methyl ethyl ketone 76 parts toluene

[0057] <Coating liquid 1 for first receiving layer> Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 12 parts (#1000A Denka Co., Ltd.) Epoxy-modified silicone 0.8 parts (X-22-3000T Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Amino-modified silicone 0.24 parts (X-22-1660B-3 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 30 parts toluene 30 parts methyl ethyl ketone

[0058] <Coating liquid for adhesive layer> Acrylic copolymer 15 parts (SK Dyne 1251 Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.) Hardener 0.33 parts (Hardening agent L-45, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.) Hardener 0.1 parts (E-AX Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) Ethyl acetate 16.14 parts

[0059] (Preparation of sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 2) Seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 2 was prepared in the same manner as seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 1, except that a 75 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film (S100#75 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) was used as the substrate for the seal portion instead of the black component.

[0060] (Preparation of sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 3) Seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 3 was prepared in the same manner as seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 2, except that primer layer coating liquid 1 was changed to primer layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition to form the primer layer.

[0061] <Primer layer coating liquid 2> Polyurethane resin 5.04 parts (N-5199 Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd.) Isocyanate curing agent 2.04 parts (Takenate (registered trademark) A-14 Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) Methyl ethyl ketone 8 parts 8 parts toluene 4 parts isopropyl alcohol

[0062] (Preparation of sticker-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 4) Seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 4 was prepared in the same manner as seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet 2, except that primer layer coating liquid 1 was changed to primer layer coating liquid 3 having the following composition to form the primer layer.

[0063] <Primer layer coating liquid 3> Polyurethane resin 5.04 parts (N-5199 Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd.) Isocyanate curing agent 2.04 parts (Takenate (registered trademark) A-14 Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.) Methyl ethyl ketone 8 parts 8 parts toluene 4 parts isopropyl alcohol

[0064] (Preparation of thermal transfer sheet 1) A second receiving layer was formed by coating and drying second receiving layer coating solution 1 having the following composition on a portion of the surface of a 4.5 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film having a heat-resistant slip layer formed on the back side. A colored layer was formed by coating and drying colored layer coating solution 1 having the following composition on the surface of this second receiving layer. The laminate of the second receiving layer and the colored layer constitutes the first transfer layer.

[0065] <Coating liquid 1 for second receiving layer> Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 15.8 parts (Solvine (registered trademark) CNL, Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 1 part (Solvine (registered trademark) C, Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Epoxy-modified silicone oil 1.2 parts (KF-101 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Methylstyrene-modified silicone oil 1.2 parts (X-24-510 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Polyether-modified silicone oil 0.8 parts (KF-352A Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40 parts methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts toluene

[0066] <Colored layer coating liquid 1> 3 parts acrylic resin (Dianal (registered trademark) BR-87 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 1 part (Solvine (registered trademark) CNL, Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Titanium dioxide 16 parts (R-780 Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.) 40 parts methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts toluene

[0067] Furthermore, primer layer coating liquid 4 having the following composition was coated and dried in frame sequence with the first transfer layer to form a primer layer with a thickness of 0.2 μm. Onto the primer layer, yellow dye layer coating liquid, magenta dye layer coating liquid, and cyan dye layer coating liquid having the following compositions were coated in frame sequence and dried to form dye layers of each color with a thickness of 0.7 μm.

[0068] <Primer layer coating liquid 4> Alumina sol 3.5 parts (Alumina Sol 200, Nissan Chemical Co., Ltd.) Vinyl acetate-vinylpyrrolidone copolymer 1.5 parts (PVP / VA E-335 ISP Japan Co., Ltd.) ·Wednesday 47.5 parts 47.5 parts isopropyl alcohol

[0069] <Coating liquid for yellow dye layer> Disperse dye (Phoron Brilliant Yellow S-6GL) 5.5 parts Polyvinyl acetal 4.5 parts (S-LEC (registered trademark) KS-5 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Phosphate ester surfactant 0.1 parts (Plysurf (registered trademark) A208N Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) Epoxy-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts (KF-101 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) Polyethylene wax 0.1 parts 45 parts methyl ethyl ketone 45 parts toluene

[0070] <Coating liquid for magenta dye layer> Disperse dye (MS Red G) 1.5 parts Disperse dye (Macrolex Red Violet R) 2 parts Polyvinyl acetal 4.5 parts (S-LEC (registered trademark) KS-5 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Phosphate ester surfactant 0.1 parts (Plysurf (registered trademark) A208N Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) Polyethylene wax 0.1 parts Epoxy-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts (KF-101 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 45 parts methyl ethyl ketone 45 parts toluene

[0071] <Coating liquid for cyan dye layer> ·Disperse dye (Solvent Blue 63) 3.5 parts ·3 parts of disperse dye (HSB-2194) Polyvinyl acetal 4.5 parts (S-LEC (registered trademark) KS-5 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Phosphate ester surfactant 0.1 parts (Plysurf (registered trademark) A208N Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) Polyethylene wax 0.1 parts Epoxy-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts (KF-101 Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 45 parts methyl ethyl ketone 45 parts toluene

[0072] Coating Solution 1 for release layer having the following composition was applied and dried in frame sequence with the dye layer to form a release layer having a thickness of 1 μm. Coating Solution 4 for primer layer having the above composition was applied and dried on top of the release layer to form a primer layer having a thickness of 0.2 μm. Coating Solution 1 for protective layer having the following composition was applied and dried on top of the primer layer to form a protective layer having a thickness of 1 μm, thereby producing Thermal Transfer Sheet 1.

[0073] <Release layer coating liquid 1> 20 parts acrylic resin (Dianal (registered trademark) BR-87 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 40 parts toluene 40 parts methyl ethyl ketone

[0074] <Protective layer coating liquid 1> 60 parts acrylic resin (TS-413A DIC Corporation) 20 parts toluene 20 parts methyl ethyl ketone

[0075] (Preparation of thermal transfer sheet 2) Thermal transfer sheet 2 was produced in the same manner as thermal transfer sheet 1, except that coating liquid 1 for the release layer was changed to coating liquid 2 for the release layer having the following composition to form a release layer with a thickness of 1 μm, and coating liquid 1 for the protective layer was changed to coating liquid 2 for the protective layer having the following composition to form a protective layer with a thickness of 1 μm.

[0076] <Release layer coating liquid 2> 20 parts acrylic resin (Thermolac LP-45M, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.) UV absorber 0.02 parts (UVITEX OB Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd.) 40 parts methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts toluene

[0077] <Protective layer coating liquid 2> 30 parts silver pearl pigment (particle size: 5-25 μm) (Iriodin® 123 Bright Luster Satin, Merck) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 10 parts (Solvine (registered trademark) CNL, Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 30 parts methyl ethyl ketone 30 parts toluene

[0078] (Preparation of thermal transfer sheet 3) Thermal transfer sheet 3 was produced in the same manner as thermal transfer sheet 1, except that the first transfer layer was omitted.

[0079] Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheets 1 to 4 and thermal transfer sheets 1 and 2 were set in a printer (S2245 Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.) in the combinations shown in Table 1, and the first transfer layer was transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the receiving layer side of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet. An image was formed (R, G, B = 127 / 255, 127 / 255, 127 / 255) on the second receiving layer of the first transfer layer, and a protective layer was transferred to produce printed materials for Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4.

[0080] Comparative Examples 5 to 8 The seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheets 2 to 4 and the thermal transfer sheet 3 were set in the printer in the combinations shown in Table 1, and an image (R, G, B = 127 / 255, 127 / 255, 127 / 255) was formed on the first receiving layer of the seal-type thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and the protective layer was transferred to produce printed matter of Comparative Examples 5 to 8. However, in Comparative Example 8, the image formed on the receiving layer was a solid black image.

[0081] (Pearl effect evaluation) The surface of the printed matter of each example and comparative example was visually inspected, and the pearlescent effect was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[0082] "Evaluation Criteria" A: It has a high pearlescent design. B: Has a pearlescent design. C: Does not have a pearlescent design.

[0083] (Sparkle rating) The surface of the printed matter of each example and comparative example was visually inspected and evaluated for sparkle according to the following criteria. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

[0084] "Evaluation Criteria" A: It has a high brightness, sparkling metallic luster. B: It has a metallic, sparkling appearance. C: Low sparkle. D: It doesn't have a sparkly feel.

[0085] [Table 1]

[0086] The brightness L of the print of Comparative Example 8 measured using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-3100PC, Shimadzu Corporation) * is 26.58, chromaticity a * is 0.62, chromaticity b * The visual reflection density measured with a reflection densitometer (RD-918 X-Rite) was 1.36.

[0087] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1 Thermal transfer image receiving sheet 3 Heat transfer sheet 10 Seal part 11 Black material 12 Primer layer 13 Receptor 15 Adhesive layer 20 Mold release part 21 Base material 22 Release layer

Claims

[Claim 1] A combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the thermal transfer sheet has a transfer layer, a colorant layer, and a protective layer that are provided in surface order, the transfer layer including a white layer and a transparent receiving layer that are stacked, and the protective layer including a pearl pigment; The thermal transfer image receiving sheet is a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet, wherein the thermal transfer image receiving sheet has a black member and a primer layer containing a pearl pigment provided on one surface of the black member.

Images