JP4347274B2 - Color material receiving sheet with relief layer, image forming method and image formed product using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiving layer transfer material, and more specifically, by printing and forming an image by an on-demand printing method on a dye receiving layer on the surface of a relief forming layer having a white reflection function, the white color from the relief forming layer. Receiving layer transfer material from which diffused light or white light in a specific angle range and an image made of a color material are combined, a receiving layer transfer material, a transfer sheet and a color material receiving sheet with a relief layer, and an image using them The present invention relates to a forming method and an image formed product.

Conventionally, transfer foils having relief structures such as holograms and diffraction gratings can express unique decorative images and stereoscopic images, and these holograms and diffraction gratings require advanced manufacturing techniques and cannot be easily manufactured. It is used to improve security to prevent counterfeiting. For example, cards such as credit cards, ID cards, prepaid cards, etc., paper certificates such as gift certificates, checks, bills, stock certificates, admission tickets, various certificates such as driver's licenses and passports because they cannot be reproduced with color copies It is used after being transferred to ID photos. Furthermore, due to its unique design, it is often used for packaging materials, books, pamphlets, POPs, and the like.
As a means for adhering relief structures such as holograms and diffraction gratings to articles, a method of transferring and forming using a transfer foil is known. The transfer foil is formed by sequentially laminating a release layer, a relief forming layer in which a pattern such as a hologram or a diffraction grating is formed on a substrate, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer. As a method for transfer printing of the transfer foil, a hot stamp (also called foil stamping) or a heat transfer using a heating roll is generally used. In the heat transfer, a transfer foil is disposed between a metal-made stamp or roll and a transfer target, the transfer foil is pressed against the transfer target with the stamp or roll, and then the substrate is peeled off.
In recent years, a technique for combining a relief forming layer such as a hologram and a diffraction grating with a print image (thermal transfer image) using a thermal transfer printer has been demanded in order to further improve design and security.
Therefore, the colorant receiving layer transfer material and the transfer sheet can be made full color, have good visibility regardless of the observation position, have good color reproducibility even when observed at a wide range of observation points, and can display an image without losing color balance. There is a demand for natural, easy manufacturing, and easy printing of a thermal transfer image on a relief forming layer. On the other hand, an image forming method and an image forming method using the color material receiving layer transfer material and a transfer sheet As for the thing, it is calculated | required that a full color image with high designability is obtained.

Conventionally, a hologram transfer layer provided on a print image has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). However, the hologram is only applied on the print image to protect the image, and the print image cannot be provided on the hologram.
Further, there is disclosed one in which a dye receiving layer is provided on a hologram transfer foil, and a printed image is formed on the dye receiving layer using a thermal transfer printer, and then transferred to a transfer target (for example, Patent Documents 2 to 7). reference.). However, the dye print image is formed before the hologram transfer, and the print image cannot be provided after the hologram is transferred. Furthermore, after transferring the transfer layer containing the hologram to the transfer target, forming a thermal transfer image on the transfer layer is because the release layer is exposed on the surface of the transfer layer. In the case of printing with a thermal transfer printer using a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer to be contained, there is a problem that the coloring material is difficult to transfer and fix, and printing is extremely difficult.
These transfer foils can use a transparent reflective layer. However, in an opaque metallic reflective layer, the underlying image becomes invisible at the portion where the hologram is transferred.
Further, there has been disclosed a technique in which a metallic color hologram is transferred to a transfer medium by providing a colored layer in the hologram transfer layer (see, for example, Patent Document 8). However, the transferred color is limited to the color of the colored layer, and there is a drawback that various colors cannot be expressed.

Furthermore, as an image display medium that can visually recognize a true full-color image having no chromatic aberration, which is composed of a light diffraction structure (OVD: Optical Variable Device) such as a hologram or a diffraction grating, it can be observed at a specific observation point. Using a thermal transfer sheet using three kinds of OVDs having a spatial frequency such that the color is one of the three primary colors of RGB, a dot-shaped halftone image of a minute area formed by a thermal head on a transfer target is formed. A design image is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 9). However, since the full color is reproduced only at a specific observation point, the color balance is lost and the reproduction color is impaired by a slight deviation of the observation point. In particular, the face of a person looks deep blue or red when viewed from another observation point, giving a very unnatural impression. Thus, the biggest drawback of this prior art is that the observer's direction for appearing as a full-color image is limited to only one direction, and correct colors are not reproduced when viewed from all other directions.
Furthermore, the second drawback is that if the background color to be printed is not black, black cannot be reproduced correctly, and the background color is limited. In order to express black in the conventional technique, the case where the diffracted light by OVD is zero, that is, the case where a dot of a minute area by the thermal head is not printed is “black”, and on the contrary, white is R, G, B, This is expressed by making the total amount of the dots of the small area of three colors the same for each color.
Therefore, when the color of the transfer object (background) at the time of printing is white, for example, when a face photo of a person with black hair is printed with the prior art, the white color of the background is not printed on the black hair part. They appear and give an unnatural impression like gray hair. As described above, according to the conventional technique, there is a problem in that the color of the transfer object to be printed is limited, and a true full-color image cannot be displayed.

JP-A-6-83258 JP-A-6-83259 JP-A-7-186515 JP 7-314925 A JP-A-8-39945 JP 11-42863 A JP 2001-191653 A JP 2000-218908 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-5373

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such problems. The object of the present invention is good visibility regardless of the observation position, good color reproducibility even when observed at a wide range of observation points, natural images without losing color balance, and easily high design It is intended to provide a receiving layer transfer material, a transfer sheet and a color material receiving sheet with a relief layer from which a full color image can be obtained, and an image forming method and an image formed product using them.

Further, according to the present invention, a relief provided on one surface of a substrate with a relief forming surface having a relief shape that expresses white light in a specific angle range and a reflective layer provided on the relief forming surface side. And a color material receiving layer is provided on the surface side of the relief forming layer or on the surface opposite to the surface having the relief forming layer of the substrate. The relief shape is a computer generated hologram, and the computer generated hologram Is a computer generated hologram that diffuses incident light of a predetermined reference wavelength incident at a predetermined incident angle into a specific angle range, and the reference wavelength with respect to the 0th order transmitted light or the 0th order reflected light incident at the incident angle. The maximum diffraction angle of the incident light having the shortest wavelength in the wavelength range that appears white when additive color mixing is included is larger than the minimum diffraction angle of the incident light having the longest wavelength in the wavelength range. It is configured to, and the relief-forming layer, the relief layer with the colorant receiving sheet, characterized in that provided on the entire surface of the region provided with the colorant receiving layer is provided.
By using this color material receiving sheet with a relief layer, a high design image having both white light from the relief forming layer and an image expressed by the color material can be obtained.
In addition, by using this color material receiving sheet with a relief layer, it is possible to observe white in the range of the maximum diffraction angle of the shortest wavelength and the minimum diffraction angle of the longest wavelength, and even if the viewpoint is moved within that range. The effect is that the color does not change.
As one aspect of the color material receiving sheet with the relief layer, a receiving sheet in which at least one of the reflective layer of the relief forming layer, the relief forming surface of the relief forming layer, and the color material receiving layer is sequentially provided on one surface of the substrate. Is mentioned.
When transferring a relief forming layer that expresses white light in a specific angle range from the transfer sheet onto the transfer target by the action of white diffusion or reflection, diffraction, scattering, etc. The relief shape tends to collapse. Therefore, it is preferable to form a relief that expresses white light on the transfer target by a method other than transfer.

Further, according to the present invention, an image made of a color material is formed on the color material receiving sheet with the relief layer by on-demand printing, and an image having both the white light from the relief forming layer and the image made of the color material is formed. An image forming method is provided.
By this method, a high-design image having both the white light from the relief forming layer and the image expressed by the color material can be obtained in the same manner as the method using the receiving layer transfer material or transfer sheet.
Further, according to the present invention, there is an image having both the white light from the relief forming layer and the thermal transfer image (or an image expressed by a color material other than the thermal transfer image) formed by the image forming method of the present invention. An image formed product is provided.

According to the present invention, an on-demand printing system can be used to freely combine and print white light expressed by a relief structure and an image expressed by a color material. The resulting image has good visibility regardless of the observation position, good color reproducibility even when observed from a wide range of observation points, and reproduces black correctly even if the background color to be printed is not black, color balance The image is natural without breaking, and a full color image with high design can be obtained.
In addition, since the image obtained on the transfer object has a laminated structure in which an image expressed with a color material is coated on a relief structure that expresses white light, an image having a high security effect such as an anti-counterfeiting effect can be obtained. It is done.

In particular, white light is thermally transferred by forming a halftone dot image by printing such that the dots of each color of RGB do not overlap with the background of the relief forming layer that expresses white light in such a white diffusion or specific angle range. A halftone image based on color information with respect to white light passes through the image and acts as if it were a color filter, so that a bright or highly-designed color or full-color image can be easily obtained. Further, an image formed product having an image with good color reproducibility even when the background color changes is provided.
Further, by using a color material layer of black (Bk) in addition to RGB, it becomes possible to reproduce black that cannot be reproduced only by RGB, so that color reproducibility and color balance are further improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the present specification, “ratio”, “part”, “%” and the like indicating the blending are based on mass unless otherwise specified, and the “/” mark indicates that they are integrally laminated.
“OVD” is “Optical Variable Device, Optical Diffraction Structure”, “PET” is “Polyethylene Terephthalate”, “Red Dye Containing Area” is “R Area”, and “Green Dye Containing Area” is “G”. "Region", "region containing blue dye" is "B region", "region containing yellow dye" is "Y region", "region containing magenta dye" is "M region", "cyan dye" “Inclusive region” is an abbreviation, functional expression, common name, or industry term for “C region”, and “region containing black dye” is “K region”.
In the definition of film and sheet in JIS-K6900, a sheet is thin and generally refers to a flat product whose thickness is small relative to the length and width. A film has a thickness compared to the length and width. A thin, flat product that is extremely small and has an arbitrarily limited maximum thickness, usually supplied in the form of a roll. Therefore, it can be said that a sheet having a particularly thin thickness is a film. However, since the boundary between the sheet and the film is not clear and is difficult to distinguish clearly, in this specification, both thick and thin sheets are used. Is defined as “sheet”.
In the present specification, “(meth) acryl” means “acryl and / or methacryl”, and “(meth) acrylate” means “acrylate and / or methacrylate”.

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a receiving layer transfer material of the present invention. The illustrated receiving layer transfer material 1 has a structure in which a release layer 3, a color material receiving layer 4, a relief forming layer 5, a reflective layer 6, and an adhesive layer 7 are sequentially provided on one surface of a substrate 2. The layer transfer material and the transfer target are overlapped so that the adhesive layer and the transfer target are in contact with each other, and the transfer layer is coated with an adhesive layer, a reflective layer, a relief forming layer, and a dye receiving layer by heating means such as a thermal head Transcribed. Here, since the transfer layer 8, which is a laminate of the color material receiving layer 4, the relief forming layer 5, the reflective layer 6, and the adhesive layer 7, is transferred to the transfer target, it is referred to as the transfer layer 8. The base material 2 and the release layer 3 are portions that are separated from the transferred material when the receiving layer transfer material is released from the transferred material after thermal transfer.
The reflective layer 6 is provided on the relief forming surface side of the relief forming layer 5. In the example of FIG. 1, the colorant receiving layer 4, the relief forming surface of the relief forming layer 5, and the reflective layer 6 of the relief forming layer are laminated in this order. This is because the relief forming surface of the relief forming layer 5 is This is because it faces away from the colorant receiving layer 4. The relief forming surface of the relief forming layer 5 may face the color material receiving layer 4, and in that case, the color material receiving layer, the reflective layer, and the relief forming surface are laminated in this order.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing another example of the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention. In the illustrated receiving layer transfer material 1, a release layer 3, a color material receiving layer 4, an anchor layer 9, a relief forming layer 5, a reflective layer 6, and an adhesive layer 7 are sequentially provided on one surface of a substrate 2. In this configuration, the heat-resistant slipping layer 10 is provided on the other surface of the substrate 2. In this case, a laminate of the colorant receiving layer 4, the anchor layer 9, the relief forming layer 5, the reflective layer 6, and the adhesive layer 7 is transferred as a transfer layer 8 to the transfer target, and the heat resistant slipping layer 10, the substrate 2. The laminate of the release layer 3 is the side that is peeled off and separated from the transferred body when the receiving layer transfer material is peeled from the transferred body after thermal transfer.

The relief forming layer 5 is formed with a relief structure that exhibits a function of expressing white light in a specific angle range by the action of white diffusion, reflection, diffraction, scattering, or the like.
On the color material receiving layer laminated on the relief forming layer 5, an image expressed by the color material is formed by various on-demand printing methods such as thermal transfer methods such as sublimation thermal transfer and fusion thermal transfer, ink jet methods, and electrophotographic methods. I can do it. Accordingly, the relief layer is formed by transferring the transfer layer 8 including the relief forming layer 5 and the color material receiving layer 4 from the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention to the transfer material, and forming an image with the color material on the transfer layer. A high-design image having both the white light from the layer and the image expressed by the color material is obtained.

Main uses:
Examples of the main use of the image forming material using the receiving layer transfer material, transfer sheet, and color material receiving sheet with a relief layer of the present invention include, for example, stock certificates, securities, certificates, gift certificates, checks, bills, admission tickets, passbooks. Cards such as tickets, tickets, carriage tickets, stamps, stamps, appreciation tickets, tickets, cash cards, credit cards, ID cards, prepaid cards, members cards, IC cards, optical cards, greeting cards, postcards Certificates for various certificates such as business cards, driver's licenses, passports, packaging materials such as cartons, cases, soft packaging materials, bags, forms, envelopes, tags, OHP sheets, slide films, bookmarks, books , Magazine, calendar, poster, brochure, print club (registered trademark), menu, passport, POP supplies, coaster, desktop Accessories such as sprays, nameplates, keyboards, cosmetics, wristwatches, lighters, stationery, stationery, report paper, building materials, panels, emblems, keys, cloth, clothing, footwear, radios, televisions, calculators, office equipment, etc. There are various sample books, albums, computer graphics output, and medical image output. However, it is not particularly limited as long as it is an application that requires unique design and security.

Hereinafter, each layer constituting the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention will be described in detail.
(Base material)
As the base material 2, various materials can be applied depending on the application as long as the base material 2 has heat resistance, mechanical strength, mechanical strength, mechanical strength, solvent resistance, etc. For example, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate-isophthalate copolymer, terephthalic acid-cyclohexanedimethanol-ethylene glycol copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate-polyethylene naphthalate coextruded film Polyester resin such as can be applied. In addition, polyamide resins, acrylic resins, imide resins, cellulose films, and the like can be applied. Polyethylene terephthalate, which has good heat resistance and mechanical strength, is optimal.

  The substrate may be a copolymer resin containing these resins as a main component, a mixture (including a polymer alloy), or a laminate composed of a plurality of layers. The substrate may be a stretched film or an unstretched film, but a film stretched in a uniaxial direction or a biaxial direction is preferable for the purpose of improving the strength. Moreover, as for this base material 2, it is desirable to give the easy-bonding process to the release layer coating surface side. The thickness of the substrate may be about 0.5 to 50 μm, preferably 2.5 to 12 μm, and most preferably 4 to 6 μm. If the thickness exceeds this range, the heat transfer of the thermal head is poor, and if the thickness is less than this range, the mechanical strength is insufficient. The substrate can be used as a film, a sheet, or a board composed of at least one layer of these resins.

(Release layer)
In the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention, the release layer 3 is provided between the substrate and the dye receiving layer, and the transfer layer including the receiving layer is easily peeled off from the substrate during heating. In the receiving layer transfer material, peeling occurs between the release layer 3 and the dye receiving layer during thermal transfer.
The release layer is made of a material having excellent releasability such as waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, fluorine resin, etc., a resin having a relatively high softening point that does not melt by the heat of the thermal head, or a wax on these resins. It forms from resin which contained thermal mold release agents, such as.
Examples of relatively high softening point resins include acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polyester resins, styrene resins, polycarbonate resins, polyether resins, nitrocellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and other celluloses. Polyether ketones such as chlorinated polyolefin resins, polyarylate resins, norbornene-based hydrogenated resins, polyimide resins, polyamideimide resins, polyetheretherketone resins (PEEK) and polyetherketone resins (PEK) , Polyethersulfone resin, polysulfone resin, polyphenylene oxide resin, etc., and these may be used alone or as a mixture, and as a component having a dye receiving function, polyvinyl chloride or Halogenated resins such as vinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl resins such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers or polyacrylates, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate Resin, polystyrene resin, polyamide resin, copolymer resin of olefin such as ethylene or propylene and other vinyl polymer, cellulose resin such as ionomer or cellulose diastase, polycarbonate and the like are added. In order to further improve the foil breakability, ionizing radiation curable resin substantially the same as the relief forming layer can be used. Here, “substantially the same” means that the basic skeleton and the reaction mechanism are the same, and the substituents and chain lengths may be different.
In particular, as a thermoplastic resin that secures adhesion between the release layer 3 and the substrate 2 and is excellent in dye acceptability, a copolymer containing at least one of a polyester resin, vinyl chloride, or vinyl acetate is preferable.
In the present specification, the ionizing radiation curable resin is a precursor before curing without irradiating with ionizing radiation, and a material cured by irradiating with ionizing radiation is called an ionizing radiation curable resin.

In order to form the release layer, various additives may be added to the above-described material as necessary, and dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent to obtain a release layer composition (ink).
The organic solvent may be any organic solvent that dissolves the resin. However, in consideration of coating properties and drying properties, aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl isobutyl ketone, Examples include ketone solvents such as cyclohexanone, cellosolve organic solvents such as methyl cellosolve and ethyl cellosolve, and mixed solvents composed of these solvents are preferably used.

The release layer composition (ink) is applied and dried by a known coating method or printing method. As the coating method, for example, gravure direct coating, gravure reverse coating, knife coating, air coating, roll coating, reverse roll coating, transfer roll coating, gravure coating and the like can be applied. The thickness of the release layer is usually about 0.1 to 10 μm, preferably 0.2 to 5 μm, and the coating amount is about 0.1 to 5 g / m ² when dried. If a matte dye receiving layer is desired after transfer, the surface of the release layer may be matted by including various particles in the release layer or by matting the surface of the release layer on the dye receiving layer side. It can also be.

Further, when an ionizing radiation curable resin is used as the release layer 3, particularly when the base material is thin, the foil breakability at the time of transfer deteriorates only with the ionizing radiation curable resin, so a thermoplastic resin is added. Therefore, even fine dots can be printed without burrs and without being lost.
Although the release layer 3 usually remains on the substrate 2 side after transfer, a part of the release layer 3 may move to the transfer target side, and in this case, there is no functional influence. It is.

(Color material receiving layer)
The color material receiving layer 4 is for receiving a color material used for on-demand printing after being transferred onto an arbitrary transfer medium and maintaining the formed image. For on-demand printing, for example, there are methods such as sublimation thermal transfer, fusion thermal transfer, ink jet printing, and electrophotographic methods. According to the method to be applied, a conventionally known resin material that easily accepts a coloring material is used. A colorant receiving layer can be formed.
In the following, the description will focus on the dye-receiving layer used for sublimation thermal transfer. Examples of the material for the dye receiving layer include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. Vinyl resins such as coalesced or polyacrylic acid esters, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene or propylene and other vinyl polymers, ionomers Alternatively, cellulose resins such as cellulose diacetate, thermoplastic resins such as polycarbonate, polyvinyl acetal resin, and polyvinyl alcohol resin can be used. Of these, vinyl resins, vinyl chloride resins, acrylic-styrene resins, or polyester resins are particularly preferable.

  In order to prevent fusion between the thermal transfer sheet provided with a dye layer having a sublimable dye and the dye receiving layer, a decrease in printing sensitivity, and the like, it is preferable to include a release agent in the dye receiving layer. Examples of the mold release agent include silicone oil, phosphate ester-based surfactant, and fluorine-based surfactant. Epoxy-modified, methylstyrene-modified, polyether-modified, amino-modified, alkyl-modified, carboxyl-modified, alcohol It is preferable to use at least one selected from the group consisting of modified silicone oils such as modified, fluorine-modified, olefin-modified and carbinol-modified from the viewpoint of releasability with a sublimable dye layer. As for the addition amount of the said mold release agent, 0.5-30 mass parts is preferable with respect to 100 mass parts of receiving layer forming resin. When the range of the addition amount is not satisfied, problems such as fusion between the dye layer and the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet or a decrease in printing sensitivity may occur. By adding such a release agent, the release agent bleeds out on the surface of the receiving layer after transfer, and release properties are imparted on the surface of the receiving layer.

  For the dye-receiving layer, one or more materials selected from the above-mentioned materials and various additives as necessary are added and dissolved or dispersed in an appropriate solvent such as water or an organic solvent. A coating solution can be prepared and formed by applying and drying by means of a gravure printing method or the like.

The dye-receiving layer is a conventionally known coating solution for forming a receiving layer prepared by adding the above thermoplastic resin and a release agent, and further adding various additives as necessary, and further blending and preparing a solvent component such as an organic solvent. By a method such as gravure direct coating, gravure reverse coating, knife coating, air coating, roll coating, screen printing method, etc., the thickness is about 1 to 10 μm in a dry state, and the coating amount when dried is about 0.2 to 5 g / m ² . Preferably, it is formed at a rate of about 0.3 to 3 g / m ² . If the thickness of the dye-receiving layer is too small, sufficient dye printing density, adhesion and releasability from the thermal transfer sheet during printing cannot be obtained, while if the thickness is too large, printing density is not obtained. However, sufficient interlayer adhesion and transferability (crimpability) cannot be obtained, and transfer with an accurate pattern cannot be performed.

(Relief forming layer)
The material constituting the relief forming layer 5 is a thermoplastic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resin (eg, polymethyl (meth) acrylate), polystyrene, polycarbonate, and unsaturated polyester, melamine, epoxy, polyester (meth). Cured thermosetting resins such as acrylate, urethane (meth) acrylate, epoxy (meth) acrylate, polyether (meth) acrylate, polyol (meth) acrylate, melamine (meth) acrylate, triazine acrylate, unsaturated Cured UV curable resin such as a composition in which an ethylene monomer and an unsaturated ethylene oligomer are appropriately mixed with a sensitizer added, or a mixture or radical of the above thermoplastic resin and thermosetting resin Thermal synthesis with polymerizable unsaturated groups Sexual material can be used. In particular, thermosetting resins excellent in durability such as chemical resistance, light resistance and weather resistance, and ionizing radiation curable resins such as ultraviolet rays and electron beams are preferable. Examples of the ionizing radiation curable resin include those obtained by curing an ionizing radiation curable resin such as an epoxy-modified acrylate resin, a urethane-modified acrylate resin, and an acrylic-modified polyester, and a urethane-modified acrylate resin is preferable.

Various additives such as polyfunctional monomers and oligomers, release agents, organometallic coupling agents, and photoinitiators are added to the aforementioned materials, for example, ionizing radiation curable resins of urethane-modified acrylic resins. In addition, a relief forming layer composition (ink) is prepared by dissolving or dispersing in an organic solvent. The relief forming layer composition (ink) is applied onto the release layer by a known coating method or printing method and dried. As a coating method or a printing method, a method similar to the formation of the release layer can be applied. The thickness of this relief forming layer is usually about 0.1 to 10 g / m ² , preferably 0.2 to 5 g / m ² in terms of the coating amount when dried.

(Formation of relief forming layer expressing white light)
The relief shape that expresses white light in white diffusion or a specific angle range is a computer generated hologram that can be observed in white in a desired observation region. A computer generated hologram having a relief shape that expresses white light in a specific angle range is a computer generated hologram that diffuses incident light of a predetermined reference wavelength λsta incident at a predetermined incident angle θ into a specific angle range. The maximum diffraction angle of incident light at an incident angle θ of the shortest wavelength λmin in the wavelength range λmin to λmax that appears white when additively mixed with the 0th-order transmitted light or the 0th-order reflected light incident at θ What is necessary is just to comprise so that (beta) 2min may become larger than the minimum diffraction angle (beta) 1max of the incident light of the incident angle (theta) of the longest wavelength (lambda) max of the wavelength range.

  More specifically, the computer generated hologram is a computer generated hologram that diffuses incident light of a predetermined reference wavelength that is incident at a predetermined incident angle in a specific angle range. For the next reflected light, the maximum diffraction angle of the incident light of the shortest wavelength in the wavelength range that appears white when additively mixed including the reference wavelength is the incident angle of the longest wavelength in the wavelength range. It is configured to be larger than the minimum diffraction angle of light.

  In this case, the computer generated hologram is a computer generated hologram composed of a collection of minute cells arranged two-dimensionally in an array, and each cell gives a unique phase to reflected light or transmitted light. A first phase distribution that has an optical path length and that substantially diffracts a vertically incident light beam within a predetermined observation area and does not substantially diffract outside the observation area; It may have a phase distribution obtained by adding a second phase distribution that vertically emits a light beam incident at an incident angle of.

  Further, the computer generated hologram is a computer generated hologram composed of a collection of minute cells arranged two-dimensionally in an array, and each cell has an optical path length that gives a unique phase to reflected light or transmitted light. The phase distribution is such that the light beam incident at a predetermined incident angle from an oblique angle is substantially diffracted within a predetermined observation area and is not substantially diffracted outside the observation area. In addition, the perpendicularly incident light beam has a phase distribution that substantially diffracts into another region where the position of the predetermined observation region is shifted and does not substantially diffract outside the other region. It may be what you are doing. Further, it is realistic that the cells are arranged in a grid pattern vertically and horizontally.

  The shortest wavelength may be 450 nm and the longest wavelength may be 650 nm. Further, when the incident angle of illumination light is θ, the shortest wavelength is λmin, and the longest wavelength is λmax, the minimum diffraction angle β1sta and the maximum diffraction angle β2sta at the reference wavelength λsta are λmin / λmax ≧ (sin β1sta−sin θ) / ( sin β2sta−sin θ) is desirable.

  Further, when the shortest wavelength is λmin, the long wavelength is λmax, the minimum diffraction angle at the reference wavelength λsta is β1sta, and the maximum diffraction angle is β2sta, the incident angle θ is sinθ ≧ (λmaxsinβ1sta−λminsinβ2sta) / (λmax−λmin ) Is desirable.

  A relief shape reproducing such a computer generated hologram is useful as a white reflector, and becomes white when an additive color mixture including a reference wavelength is applied to zero-order transmitted light or zero-order reflected light incident at a predetermined incident angle. Since the maximum diffraction angle of the incident light of the incident wavelength of the shortest wavelength in the visible wavelength range is larger than the minimum diffraction angle of the incident light of the incident wavelength of the longest wavelength of the wavelength range, the shortest In the angle range between the maximum diffraction angle of the wavelength and the minimum diffraction angle of the longest wavelength, it can be observed in white, and even if the viewpoint is moved within that range, the observed color does not change.

  Specifically, for example, the cell is divided into grid cells of 32 × 32 vertical and horizontal directions, and the angled reproduction image plane is similarly divided into cell cells of 32 × 32 vertical grids, and the phase of the hologram surface is divided. However, in order to construct an actual computer generated hologram, a desired diffracted light can be obtained by calculating by increasing the number of cells in different digits, and white in the viewing area that is the distribution range of the diffracted light. Light is obtained. Details are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-337584, a computer generated hologram and a reflection type liquid crystal display device filed by the present applicant.

  However, the white reflector, that is, the white diffused or relief shape that expresses white light in a specific angle range is not limited to the one that reflects white light in the specific angle range as described above. For example, light such as ground glass It may include a concavo-convex shape that expresses white light by diffusing the light, or may express white light in a specific angle range by a diffraction or scattering action instead of a reflection action.

The brightness evaluation method for white light is summarized below.
Luminance is evaluated by diffraction efficiency (luminance characteristics). The measurement method is a xenon lamp as a light source, the distance between the light source and the evaluation sample is 250 mm, the light source incident angle on the sample is 30 °, and the illuminance on the sample is 22000 lux. After setting so that the brightness measuring machine Topcon BM-7 (Topcon Corporation, product name) is used, the measurement of one spot of the measuring machine is to measure the incident light within a solid angle of 1 ° of the incident light. The distance between the sample and the measuring machine was 600 mm, the measurement angle range was 0 to −20 °, and the luminance at each measurement angle was measured.
Using the measurement method as described above, the brightness of the above-described white reflector is measured, and as a reference, it is 3 times the brightness of a standard reflector that is isotropically scattered (Spectralon Reflectance Standars SRS-99-020 manufactured by Labsphere). A brightness of 15 times is obtained. It is extremely higher than the white luminance of ordinary printing paper, etc., and has a white luminance that can withstand display applications, such as a reflective plate for a reflective liquid crystal. Therefore, white light having a brightness that is not comparable to the brightness of a mirror surface that reflects only specularly reflected light, such as simply performing Al deposition on a highly smooth surface, can be obtained.

  Usually, the shaping is performed by pressing (so-called embossing) a stamper (metal plate or resin plate) on which the relief is formed on the surface of the relief material layer, and forming (replicating) the relief on the relief forming layer. Later, the stamper is peeled off. The method of commercial replication uses a mold or resin-type stamper to emboss the surface of the relief material layer and replicate the relief, then irradiate with ionizing radiation, or irradiate with ionizing radiation during embossing. Duplicate the relief by peeling the stamper from This commercial duplication can be performed on a long relief material layer for continuous duplication operations.

When an ionizing radiation curable resin is used as the relief material layer, the ionizing radiation curable resin is cured by irradiating with ionizing radiation during or after embossing with a stamper. When curing during embossing, the curing process may be performed with the stamper pressed against the surface of the relief material layer.
The ionizing radiation curable resin becomes an ionizing radiation curable resin (relief forming layer) when cured (reacted) by irradiation with ionizing radiation after the relief is formed. The ionizing radiation may be classified according to the quantum energy of the electromagnetic wave, but in this specification, all ultraviolet rays (UV-A, UV-B, UV-C), visible light, gamma rays, X-rays, electrons It is defined as including a line. Accordingly, ultraviolet (UV), visible light, gamma ray, X-ray, electron beam, or the like can be applied as ionizing radiation, but ultraviolet (UV) is preferable, and ultraviolet having a wavelength of 300 to 400 nm is optimal. An ionizing radiation curable resin that cures with ionizing radiation may contain a photopolymerization initiator and / or photopolymerization accelerator in the case of ultraviolet curing, and may not be added in the case of high energy electron beam curing. Can be cured even with thermal energy.

(Relief copy)
A preferred specific example is a method called a semi-dry duplication method (SD duplication method). In the duplication device, a pair of main body frames fixed to a bed, a feeding device, a transfer device, an irradiation device, and a winding device are sequentially arranged. The sheet feeding device and the winding device are provided by a device for supplying or winding the winding. The transfer device includes an embossing roller whose shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing fixed to the center portion of the main body frame, a pressing roller rotatably supported by a pair of arms, and a pressure mechanism. From the paper feeder, a long length consisting of a heat resistant slipping layer 10 (if necessary) / base material 2 / release layer 3 / coloring material receiving layer 4 / anchor layer 9 (if necessary) / relief forming layer 5 It is fed out in the form of a belt and is pressed by an embossing roller and a pressing roller. A stamper (metal plate or resin plate) is placed on the peripheral surface of the embossing roller, and the stamper is pressed against the pressing roller heated by a constant pressure. The unevenness (relief) of the stamper is transferred to the surface of the relief forming layer 5, peeled off from the stamper, and immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays from a UV irradiation device, and the relief forming layer 5 with the unevenness formed is cured. Then, it is wound up on a winding device. Details are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-85103, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-85104, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-104600, and the like.

(Reflective layer)
By providing the reflective layer 6 on the relief on the surface of the relief forming layer provided with the relief structure, the white reflection function of the relief can be clearly recognized. If the metal which reflects light is used as the reflective layer, there are a reflective type and a transparent type. These thin films may be used alone or in combination. As the transparent type reflective layer, a transparent metal compound having a difference in refractive index from the relief forming layer surface can be applied, and examples thereof include ZnS, tin oxide, and titanium oxide. In addition, this transparent should just permeate | transmit visible light enough, and a colorless or colored and transparent thing is also contained. The formation of the above metal or transparent metal compound can be obtained by a vacuum thin film method such as a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, or an ion plating method so as to have a thickness of about 10 to 2000 nm, preferably 20 to 1000 nm. . If the thickness of the reflective layer is less than this range, light is transmitted to some extent and the effect is reduced, and if it is more than that, the reflective effect does not change, which is wasteful in cost.

(Adhesive layer)
The adhesive layer 7 positioned on the outermost surface of the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention can be applied with a heat-bonding adhesive that is melted or softened by heat to bond, for example, ionomer resin, acid-modified polyolefin resin, ethylene- (meta ) Acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene- (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer, polyester resin, polyamide resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic / methacrylic (Meth) acrylic resin, acrylic ester resin, maleic acid resin, butyral resin, alkyd resin, polyethylene oxide resin, phenolic resin, urea resin, melamine resin, melamine-alkyd resin, cellulose resin, polyurethane Resin, polyvinyl ether resin, silicone resin, rubber resin, etc. can be applied These resins are used in combination either alone or.

The resin for these adhesive layers is selected in consideration of the affinity with the transfer material. In general, acrylic resins, butyral resins, polyester resins, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers are preferable in terms of adhesive strength. The adhesive layer can be formed by a method similar to the method for forming the release layer, and the thickness of the adhesive layer is usually about 0.05 to 10 μm, preferably 0.1 to 5 μm. The dry coating amount is usually about 0.05 to 10 g / m ² , preferably 0.1 to 5 g / m ² . If the thickness of the adhesive layer is less than this range, the adhesive strength with the transferred material will be insufficient and drop off, and if it exceeds this range, the adhesive effect will be sufficient, but the effect will not change, so it will be costly. In addition, the heat of the thermal head is wasted. Furthermore, additives such as a filler, a plasticizer, a colorant, and an antistatic agent may be appropriately added to the adhesive layer as necessary. As the filler, extender pigments such as silica and calcium carbonate can be applied. In particular, addition of extender pigments improves foil breakage. As the antistatic agent, nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, polyamides, acrylic acid derivatives, and the like can be applied.
The adhesive layer 7 is formed by applying and drying a composition (ink) obtained by dispersing or dissolving the above-mentioned heat-adhesive resin in a solvent by a known coating method or printing method. As a coating method or a printing method, a method similar to the formation of the release layer can be applied. Drying may be brushed as necessary to improve transferability.

(Anchor layer)
An anchor layer 9 can be provided between the dye receiving layer and the relief forming layer in the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention to improve the adhesion between them. Examples of the anchor layer include polyurethane resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. , Acid-modified polyolefin resins, copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate or acrylic acid, (meth) acrylic resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polybutadiene resins, rubber compounds, petroleum resins, alkyl titanes -Too compounds, polyethyleneimine compounds, isocyanate compounds, melamine resins, starch, casein, gum arabic, cellulose derivatives, waxes and the like can be used.
One or more of the above-mentioned resins or monomers, oligomers, or prepolymers thereof as a main component, and if necessary, for example, various stabilizers, fillers, reaction initiators, curing agents or crosslinking agents, etc. These additives can be used alone or in combination, or a combination of a main agent and a curing agent can be used, such as a one-component curable type or a two-component curable type.
The anchor layer 9 is preferably compatible with or compatible with both the color material receiving layer 4 and the relief forming layer 5, and both materials of the color material receiving layer 4 and the relief forming layer 5 are used. The inclusion is particularly preferred.
These resins are appropriately dissolved or dispersed in a solvent and sufficiently kneaded as necessary to prepare a coating agent composition (ink, coating solution). For example, a roll coating method, a gravure coating, etc. -Coating method, spray coating method, air knife coating method, kiss coating method, reverse roll coating method, etc., apply and dry, or react by aging treatment after drying or drying, and anchor Layer 9 is assumed. The thickness of the anchor layer is about 0.05 to 10 μm, preferably 0.1 to 5 μm, and the coating amount when dried is about 0.1 to 5 g / m ² . However, if the resin constituting the relief forming layer has high adhesiveness with the dye receiving layer, it is not necessary to provide this anchor layer.

  In addition, the provision of the anchor layer has the advantage that the adhesion between the colorant receiving layer and the relief forming layer is improved. However, the insertion of the anchor layer increases the thickness of the entire receiving layer transfer material, and the foil during thermal transfer. There is a concern that the cutting will be worse and the resolution will deteriorate. On the other hand, there is the following method as a method for improving the adhesion between the color material receiving layer and the relief forming layer without increasing the total thickness of the receiving layer transfer material without an anchor layer.

1. The material (constituent resin) of the relief forming layer is added to the colorant receiving layer.
2. The material (component resin) of the colorant receiving layer is added to the relief forming layer.
3. The material (component resin) of the relief forming layer is added to the color material receiving layer, and the material (component resin) of the color material receiving layer is added to the relief forming layer.

  By implementing any of the above three methods, the above concerns can be resolved. This method is more preferable, and it is more desirable to add the relief forming material in a solid content ratio of 20 to 80% (mass basis).

(Heat resistant slipping layer)
The receiving layer transfer material of the present invention has a heat resistance to prevent adverse effects such as sticking and printing wrinkles due to the heat of the thermal head on the side opposite to the surface provided with the transfer layer including the colorant receiving layer in the base material. A lubricious layer 10 can be provided.
The heat-resistant slip layer 10 includes a heat-resistant thermoplastic resin binder and a heat release agent or a substance that functions as a lubricant as basic constituent components. The thermoplastic resin binder having heat resistance can be selected from a wide range, but preferable examples include polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetoacetal resin, polyester resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyether. Resin, polybutadiene resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylic polyol, polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, epoxy acrylate, urethane or epoxy prepolymer, nitrocellulose resin, cellulose nitrate resin, cellulose acetate propionate resin , Cellulose acetate butyrate resin, cellulose acetate hydrodiene phthalate resin, cellulose acetate resin, acrylic resin, aromatic polyamide resin, polyamide Resin, polyimide resin, polyamide-imide resins, polycarbonate resins, chlorinated polyolefin resins, styrene - acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene - maleic acid copolymer, cyclized rubber and polyvinyl alcohol.

  The slipperiness imparting agent added to or overcoating the heat resistant slipping layer made of these resins includes phosphate ester, silicone oil, graphite powder, silicone graft polymer, fluorine graft polymer, acrylic silicone graft polymer, acrylic siloxane, aryl Examples thereof include silicone polymers such as siloxane, but a layer made of a polyol, for example, a polyalcohol polymer compound, a polyisocyanate compound, and a phosphate ester compound, and it is more preferable to add a filler.

The composition for forming the heat-resistant slip layer 10 is formed by blending 10 to 100 parts by mass of the above-described lubricant or thermal release agent with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic resin binder. To do.
The heat-resistant slipping layer is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the above-described resin, slipperiness-imparting agent, and filler with an appropriate solvent on the base material to prepare a heat-resistant slipping layer coating solution, This can be formed by applying and drying by a forming means such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, a roll coating method, or a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate. The coating amount of the heat-resistant slip layer is a ^{solid, 0.1g / m 2 ~4.0g / m} 2 is preferred. In order to ensure adhesion between the base material 2 and the heat resistant slipping layer 10, a primer layer may be provided on the base material 2 in advance.

(Image forming method)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the image forming method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, step 1 (a) prepares a receiving layer transfer material in which a substrate, a release layer, a dye receiving layer as a color material receiving layer, a relief forming layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer are sequentially provided. A step, (b) a step of preparing a transfer body, and (3) an adhesive layer of the transfer body and a receiving layer transfer material, and the dye receiving layer and the relief are placed on the transfer body. A step of transferring a transfer layer composed of a laminate of a forming layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer; a step 4 (d) a step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye; and a step 5 (e) the thermal transfer. A step of superimposing the dye layer of the sheet on the exposed surface of the transfer layer and heating the thermal transfer sheet to receive the sublimation dye in the thermoplastic resin of the transfer layer to form an image; and Step 6 (F) applying the thermal transfer sheet to the cover Step peeled from Utsushitai consists of.

  Step 1 (a) A step of preparing a receiving layer transfer material in which a substrate, a release layer, a dye receiving layer as a colorant receiving layer, a relief forming layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer are sequentially provided; Prepare the materials. The preparation of the receiving layer transfer material is omitted in the description of the receiving layer transfer material.

  Step 2 (b) Step of preparing a transfer target; The medium to be transferred is not particularly limited, and for example, natural fiber paper, coated paper, tracing paper, a plastic film that is not deformed by heat during transfer, Any of glass, metal, ceramics, wood, cloth and the like may be used. Regarding the shape and application of the transferred object, stock certificates, securities, certificates, passbooks, boarding tickets, car horse tickets, stamps, stamps, appreciation tickets, admission tickets, tickets, etc., cash cards, credit cards, prepaid cards, Cards such as members cards, greeting cards, postcards, business cards, driver's licenses, IC cards, optical cards, cases such as cartons, containers, bags, forms, envelopes, tags, OHP sheets, slide films, bookmarks, Calendars, posters, brochures, menus, passports, POP supplies, coasters, displays, nameplates, keyboards, cosmetics, wristwatches, lighters and other accessories, stationery, report paper and other stationery, building materials, panels, emblems, keys, cloth, clothing , Footwear, radio, TV, calculator, OA equipment, etc., various samples , Album, In addition, computer graphics output, medical image output, etc., do not ask the kind. Further, at least a part of the medium may be colored, printed, or otherwise decorated, and a printed material formed by various recording methods such as a thermal transfer method, an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, or the like is transferred. Can be used as

  Step 3 (c) A step of transferring the transfer layer to the transfer material; transferring the transfer layer onto the transfer material using at least one receiving layer transfer material described above. As the transfer method, a known transfer method may be used. For example, a hot stamp (foil stamping) by thermal stamping, an entire surface or stripe transfer by a thermal roll, a thermal transfer printer using a thermal printing head (thermal head), and the like can be applied.

  Step 4 (d) A step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye; as a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye, a dye layer is provided as a single layer of one color on the substrate. Alternatively, a plurality of dye layers containing dyes having different hues, for example, a yellow dye layer, a magenta dye layer, a cyan dye layer, a black dye layer, etc., can be repeatedly formed on the same surface of the same base material in the order of surface. It is. In the present invention, it is preferable to form a full-color photographic tone thermal transfer image on demand using at least three or more dye layers of a yellow dye layer, a magenta dye layer, and a cyan dye layer on a substrate. Is called. In addition, a conventionally well-known thing can be used for the thermal transfer sheet which has a dye layer containing a sublimation dye used here.

  Step 5 (e) forming a thermal transfer image of the dye on the exposed surface of the transfer layer; forming a thermal transfer image with the dye on the exposed dye receiving layer of the transfer layer transferred to the transfer target. A thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye and a dye receiving layer transferred to a transfer target are superposed and heated in an image by a thermal head. Also, using a thermal transfer sheet for textile printing with a dye layer on the substrate, the entire surface or a part (pattern) is heated with water vapor, hot stamp, hot roll, etc. to form a thermal transfer image with the dye. It is also possible to do.

(Thermal transfer printer for printing)
Further, as a thermal transfer printer for printing, the transfer layer transfer material of the present invention is printed on a transfer layer having a dye-receiving layer exposed on the surface of the transfer medium using a sublimation thermal transfer sheet. A thermal transfer printer having a thermal head can be applied, and the same printer as that used when transferring the transfer layer of the receiving layer transfer material to the transfer target may be used. In this way, the present invention can form an arbitrary image by sublimation transfer without any treatment on the dye receiving layer exposed on the surface of the transfer layer transferred to the transfer medium (medium).

  Step 6 (f) A step of peeling the thermal transfer sheet having the dye layer containing the sublimable dye from the transfer target; the thermal transfer sheet having the dye layer containing the sublimable dye after printing of the thermal transfer image with the dye is finished. The image forming method of the present invention is completed by peeling off from the transfer target.

  As described above, according to the image forming method of the present invention, after the relief shape that expresses white light or white light in a specific angle range is transferred to the transfer target, the transfer layer is arbitrarily transferred onto the colorant receiving layer. By forming an on-demand print image with a color material having a shape, the white light expressed by the relief structure and the image expressed by the color material can be freely combined and expressed on demand.

(Image formation)
3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views of an image-formed product showing one embodiment of the present invention. 3A and 3B show the image formed product of the present invention. The transfer layer 8 is transferred onto the transfer target (medium) 11 that is the transfer target, and the dye receiving layer is exposed on the surface of the transfer layer 8. A thermal transfer image 12 with a dye is formed on the exposed dye receiving layer. The transfer layer 8 transferred using the receiving layer transfer material comprises a laminate of adhesive layer 7 / reflective layer 6 / relief forming layer 5 / anchor layer 9 (if necessary) / dye receiving layer 4, and the dye The dye from the sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet is transferred to the receiving layer, and is received and dyed to form an image.
Further, for articles having at least the dye receiving layer 4, the relief forming layer 5 and the reflective layer 6, only the thermal transfer sheet having the dye layer is used to form a thermal transfer image of the dye on the dye receiving layer. Thus, an image formed product is obtained.
Further, the transfer layer 8 may be the entire surface or a pattern. FIG. 3A shows a case where the transfer layer 8 is provided on the entire surface of the transfer target 11, and FIG. 3B shows a case where the transfer layer 8 is provided on the transfer target 11 in a pattern. is there. When the pattern is provided, as shown in FIG. 3B, another thermal transfer image is formed on the plurality of transfer layers 8, or the region where there is no transfer layer and the surface of the transfer target 11 is exposed is also dyed. If receptivity is imparted, a thermal transfer image can be formed.

In this way, the transfer layer of the image formed product obtained after the thermal transfer was expressed by white light and color material expressed by the relief structure, such as an image composed of the white light from the relief forming layer and the thermal transfer image. It has a highly designable image with images. The image expressed by the color material is not limited to a thermal transfer method such as sublimation thermal transfer or fusion thermal transfer, and may be formed by various on-demand printing methods such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method.
In FIG. 3A, since the entire transfer layer 8 of the receiving layer transfer material 1 is transferred to the medium 11, a relief is provided on the entire surface, and a thermal transfer image 12 is formed on the surface with a dye. In FIG. 3B, the transfer layer 8 of the receiving layer transfer material 1 is partially transferred onto the medium 11, and a thermal transfer image 12 is formed with the dye at the transfer portion. If the surface of the transfer surface of the medium, which is a transfer target, has a dyeing property, the portion of the transfer layer not transferred from the receiving layer transfer material (the surface of the medium 11 is exposed). It is also possible to form a thermal transfer image with a dye. (Not shown)

As an image provided on the dye-receiving layer with a sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet (a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye), characters, symbols, illustrations, facial photographs, patterns and the like can be freely provided.
The image-formed product of the present invention is a combination of white light expressed by a relief structure and a thermal transfer image using a free dye, and further, individual information is created on demand as needed by a thermal transfer printer. be able to.

(Invention of transfer sheet)
Next, the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the transfer sheets 30 and 40 used for producing the image-formed product of the present invention are shown in FIGS. FIG. 6A shows the receiving layer transfer material 1, and the transfer layer 8 is drawn in a stripe shape for explanation, but it may be the entire surface. FIG. 6B shows an RGB transfer sheet 30 including an R area, a G area, a B area, and a K area. FIG. 6C shows a YMC transfer sheet 40 including a Y region, an M region, a C region, and, if necessary, a Bk region. When the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the RGB transfer sheet 30 or the YMC transfer sheet 40 are used, transfer and printing may be performed by a two-head printer as shown in FIG. In the two-head printer of FIG. 8, the receiving layer transfer material 1 is set in the first head unit having the printer head 51a and the platen roller 52a, and the second head unit having the printer head 51b and the platen roller 52b is used for RGB. The transfer sheet 30 or the YMC transfer sheet 40 may be set and printing may be performed on the transfer target 11. The RGB transfer sheet 30 and the YMC transfer sheet 40 are collectively referred to as a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer.

  However, since the thermal transfer image is formed using two ribbons of the thermal transfer sheet having the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the dye layer, a one-head printer requires two or more operations or a two-head printer. Therefore, the transfer sheet 20 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is a transfer sheet 20 in which the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the thermal transfer sheet having the dye layer are provided on a common substrate, and can be used in a one-head printer. it can.

  When the transfer sheet 20 is used, a single full-color image print (transferred body) can be obtained by one operation following the transfer of the transfer layer. For this reason, transfer and printing times can be greatly shortened. In addition, the restriction by the ink ribbon is reduced, and the size of the image area to be obtained is the same as the size of the application area of the ink layer, so that the ink ribbon in the margin is not wasted and the image area is large. Can be printed easily.

Next, the structure of the layers and regions of the transfer sheet 20 will be described.
The transfer sheet 20 is formed on a common substrate and a release layer 3 of a receiving layer transfer material / color material receiving layer 4 / an anchor layer 9 / relief forming layer 5 / It consists of a transfer layer region in which the reflective layer 6 / adhesive layer 7 are sequentially laminated, and one or a plurality of regions containing a dye as a coloring material. The color of one or a plurality of regions containing the dye is not particularly limited and may be a desired color, but preferably includes three primary colors capable of printing a full-color image.
As the transfer sheet, an RGB transfer sheet composed of a transfer layer region, an R region, a G region, a B region, and a Bk region shown in FIG. 5A, or FIG. 5B includes a transfer layer region, a Y region, an M region, a C region, It is a transfer sheet for YMC consisting of a Bk area as necessary, and both are referred to as a transfer sheet 20. When the transfer sheet 20 is used, it may be transferred and printed with a one-head printer as shown in FIG. In the one-head printer of FIG. 7, the transfer sheet 20 is set in a head unit having a printer head 51 and a platen roller 52, the transfer target 11 is supplied, transfer from the transfer layer area, and RGBBk or YMCBk areas. You can print from.

The RGB transfer sheet preferably includes a Bk region in order to express black. In the transfer sheet for YMC, black can be expressed by YMC, but a Bk region may be included as necessary when black or contrast is to be enhanced.
Further, the transfer sheet 20 of the RGB transfer sheet and the YMC transfer sheet may include other regions such as a spot color and a protective layer in addition to the set of the five regions or the four regions. A set of at least 5 areas or 4 areas may be repeatedly arranged.

  In the RGB transfer sheet 30 in FIG. 6B that requires a two-head printer, the YMC transfer sheet 40 in FIG. 6C, the RGB transfer sheet in FIG. 5A to which the one-head printer can be applied, and the YMC transfer sheet in FIG. Since only the region configuration and the dye of the material layer are different and can be understood by replacing the region configuration and the dye, the transfer sheet 20 of the RGB and YMC transfer sheets having many configurations will be described.

(Transfer sheet for RGB)
The RGB transfer sheet 20 includes a base material and a transfer layer in which a release layer, a dye receiving layer or other colorant receiving layer, a relief forming layer, a reflective layer, and an adhesive layer are sequentially laminated on one surface of the base material. The region is composed of five regions, an R region, a G region, a B region, and a Bk region. As shown in FIG. 5A, the five regions are repeatedly arranged as a set. Using an RGB transfer sheet with an RGBBk area and a transfer layer, and transferring the dots so that the R, G, and B dots do not overlap each other, the white reflected light beam becomes the light source, and the RGB transfer pattern is reflected. Since it plays the role of a color filter in a liquid crystal display, the static screen itself of a reflective liquid crystal display device based on additive color mixing can be reproduced and printed freely with a printer.
Since three dots of RGB cannot represent black, a Bk region may be provided in addition to RGB. In this case, the dots of the black color material are formed so as to overlap with some or all of the dots of other colors, or not to overlap with some or all of the dots of other colors. In other words, the black color material dots may be formed so as to overlap with other color dots or may not be overlapped.
However, the Bk image information is Bk information used in the YMCBk system. In this case, since one color is reproduced with three dots of R, G, and B, the resolution is lower than that of a general YMC sublimation heat transfer, but this is solved by increasing the resolution of the printer. In the black display with the reflective liquid crystal, light is shut out by turning on / off the electric signal. In the case of this patent, black display can be performed by providing the Bk region.
At this time, the Bk information is provided in the R, G, and B pixel regions so that the entire surface can be displayed in black. That is, as a means for expressing the color of an image by a combination of three types of pixels of R, G, and B, and expressing the luminance of the image, Bk is transferred to each of the R, G, and B pixel regions, and the area level of Bk A technique to reproduce the luminance using the key.

  The thus obtained image composed of white diffused light from the relief forming layer 5 or white reflected light in a specific angle range and a thermal transfer image has extremely high design properties. The image can be made full color, has good visibility regardless of the observation position, has good color reproducibility even when observed at a wide range of observation points, and the image is natural without losing color balance. In addition, color reproducibility is good even if the background color changes. Moreover, it can be easily manufactured with existing equipment, and transfer and thermal transfer images can be printed with an existing printer or the like.

  Conventionally, using a thermal transfer sheet using three kinds of OVDs having a spatial frequency such that the observation color is one of the three primary colors RGB at a specific observation point, a dot with a small area by a thermal head is used as a transfer target. Even in comparison with a full-color image formed with a halftone dot image, the above point is superior. In any case, it is excellent in that a reflective liquid crystal screen by additive color mixing can be reproduced, true color reproduction is possible, and it is not limited to a certain observation direction.

(Transfer sheet for YMC)
The YMC transfer sheet 20 is composed of transfer layer region, Y region, M region, C region, and, if necessary, 4 or 5 regions of Bk region, and these 4 regions or 5 regions are repeatedly arranged as a set. . The Bk region is not indispensable because black can be expressed by YMC, but it may be included as necessary when black or contrast is to be enhanced. Therefore, even if YMC transfer sheets with Y, M, C, and Bk areas as necessary, and transfer layers are used, the static liquid crystal still screen itself can be freely reproduced and printed by the printer. it can. Printing is performed on the transfer layer 8 (having a white reflector function), and an image having excellent design properties is obtained. The Y region, the M region, the C region, and the Bk region may be the same materials and blends as the regions containing other dyes except that the dyes are different.

(Transfer sheet with dye layer)
As the thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 having a dye layer not including the transfer layer 8 region, a printing sheet preferably containing a sublimation dye or a sublimation transfer type ink ribbon can be applied. The dye layer may be the entire surface or a partial layer, and the color tone is not limited to a single color, a plurality of colors, or a full color. A sublimation transfer type ink ribbon is preferable from the standpoint of on-demand printing.

(Sublimation transfer type ink ribbon)
As a sublimation transfer type ink ribbon, a base sheet, a heat sublimation ink layer on one side of the base material, and a heat resistant slipping layer are formed on the other side of the base sheet, if necessary. Yes. As the material of the base sheet, it is suitable for printing machine and mechanical strength withstanding heat of heat transfer and heat resistance, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, etc. can be applied, Polyethylene terephthalate is optimal. The thickness of the base sheet is usually about 2.5 to 100 μm, preferably 2.5 to 25 μm, and most preferably 2.5 to 12 μm.

(Thermal sublimation ink layer)
The heat sublimable ink contains a sublimable dye and pigment in a binder and is formed to a thickness of about 0.2 to 5.0 μm. The dye in the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer layer is preferably a disperse dye, and this dye preferably has a molecular weight of about 150 to 500. The dye may be selected in consideration of the heat sublimation temperature, hue, weather resistance, stability in the binder resin, and the like. Specifically, the following can be mentioned.

(Dye of thermal sublimation ink)
Examples of yellow dyes include Holon Brilliant Yellow S-6GL, red dyes include MS red, and blue dyes include Kayaset Blue 14. Moreover, the dye layer of black or arbitrary hues can be formed by combining the sublimable dyes of the respective hues. Although depending on the sublimation temperature of the dye and the covering power in a colored state, the dye is contained in an amount of about 5 to 70% by mass, preferably about 10 to 60% by mass in the heat sublimation transfer layer.

(Heat sublimation ink binder)
The resin used for the binder is usually selected from those having high heat resistance and that do not hinder the migration of the dye when heated, such as cellulose resins such as ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate butyrate, and polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral. , Polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetal and other vinyl resins, polyester, polyacrylamide and the like are used.

(Formation of dye ink layer)
The dye, pigment, and various additives as necessary are added, dispersed or dissolved in a binder and a solvent, applied onto a substrate sheet, and dried to form a heat sublimable ink layer. As a coating method, a known coating method such as gravure coating, gravure reverse coating, roll coating, silk screen printing, offset printing, gravure printing, gravure offset printing, and the like can be applied. The thickness of the heat sublimable ink layer may be determined so that the required print density and thermal sensitivity can be harmonized, and is in the range of 0.1 to 30 μm, preferably in the range of 0.2 to 10 μm. .
The formation of the heat sublimable ink layer is repeated by the number of colors. For example, when yellow, magenta, and cyan are used, the respective colors may be printed. The heat resistant slipping layer may be the same material and manufacturing method as the heat resistant slipping layer of the transfer foil.

(Image forming method)
Next, an image is formed on the transfer layer 8. The thermal transfer sheets 30 and 40 containing the dye may be printed by means such as superposition of the exposed surface of the transfer layer 8 that has been transferred to the transfer target 100 or heating and pressing. In the case of the sublimation transfer type ink ribbon, the heat and pressure may be formed by using a thermal printer or the like.

(Thermal printer)
In a thermal printer, a thermal printing head (also referred to as a thermal head or printer head) and a platen roller are opposed to each other, and a thermal transfer sheet (also referred to as an ink ribbon) provided with a thermal sublimation dye ink layer between them, and a transfer target. The body is pinched. These are pressed against the thermal head by a rotating platen roller, and travel according to the rotation. The heat sublimable ink layer of the ink ribbon is opposed to the transfer target.

(Thermal head)
Then, the heating element corresponding to the image of the thermal head generates heat, and the transfer dye in the ink ribbon that is selectively heated is transferred in a dot shape to the transfer target to form a predetermined image (also referred to as a print). Is done. The printing method includes a serial method and a line method, and the thermal head includes a laser heat mode thermal head, a photothermal recording head, a thermal head, and the like. The thermal head may have any resolution, and for example, 100 to 600 dpi can be applied. In this way, in the present invention, an arbitrary image can be formed by sublimation transfer without any treatment on the dye receiving layer exposed on the surface of the transfer layer transferred to the transfer target.

Each operation of the image forming method and materials used will be described.
(Transfer of transfer layer)
First, the transfer method to the transfer target 11 may be a known transfer method, for example, hot stamping (foil stamping) by thermal stamping, entire surface or stripe transfer by a thermal roll, thermal printer using a thermal head (thermal printing head). (Also referred to as a thermal transfer printer) can be applied, and a thermal printer is preferable.

(Transfer layer pattern)
The pattern of the transfer layer to be transferred to the transfer target is not particularly limited, such as a rectangular, circular, or star pattern, a stripe shape, or a solid pattern on the entire surface. In the case of a pattern or stripe shape, there are a plurality of patterns. May be. These transfer methods may be appropriately selected from the above-mentioned hot stamping (foil stamping) by thermal stamping, entire surface or stripe transfer by a thermal roll, a thermal printer (also referred to as a thermal transfer printer) by a thermal printing head, and the like.

(Pattern of thermal transfer image)
As described above, since a predetermined image of dots is formed (also referred to as a print) using a thermal printer (also referred to as a thermal transfer printer), any image can be formed by sublimation transfer. In particular, printing of a color photograph is effective, but one or a plurality of colors may be used, and the image is not particularly limited, such as letters, numbers, and illustrations. The transfer layer 8 (color material receiving layer 4) is transferred in a pattern to the surface of the transfer object, and the thermal transfer image is transferred to the surface of the transfer object without the transfer layer 8 (color material receiving layer 4) and the pattern transfer layer 8 A thermal transfer image may be formed on both (coloring material receiving layer 4), and unique design and security can be obtained.

(Transfer)
The material to be transferred 11 is not particularly limited. For example, natural fiber paper, coated paper, tracing paper, plastic film that is not deformed by heat at the time of transfer, glass, metal, ceramics, wood, cloth, or dye acceptability. Any medium or the like may be used. As for the shape of the transfer object, it is also applicable to vouchers such as securities and tickets, credit cards, prepaid cards, greeting cards, driver's licenses, IC cards, optical cards and other cards and forms, containers and cases such as cartons, tags Sheets such as bookmarks, posters, POP supplies, cosmetics, watches, lighters and other accessories, envelopes, stationery such as report paper, building materials, panels, emblems, keys, cloth, clothing, footwear, bags, TV, There are no questions about the types of devices such as calculators and OA equipment. At least a part of the medium of the transferred object 11 is colored, printed or otherwise decorated, and / or other layers such as a primer layer, an adhesive layer, and a protective layer are provided on the interlayer or the surface as necessary. May be.

(Image forming method)
As an image forming method of the present invention, (1) one head 1 using a transfer sheet 20 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B having a transfer layer region including a color material receiving layer and a relief layer and a color material layer region. (2) 1 head 2 using a thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C having a color material layer region but no transfer layer in combination with the receiving layer transfer material 1 of the present invention There are a pass method, a two-head one-pass method, and the like. The head is a printer head, but is simply abbreviated as a head here.

(One-head one-pass method) In the one-head one-pass method, the transfer sheet 20 as shown in FIGS. Is obtained.
Specifically, (1) a transfer sheet 20 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is prepared, (2) a transfer target is prepared, (3) a transfer layer is transferred to the transfer target, (4 ) Continuously, the thermal transfer image may be printed continuously. In short, using the transfer sheet 20 (one ribbon), the transfer operation of the transfer layer to the transfer medium and the printing operation of the thermal transfer image to the colorant receiving layer of the transfer layer are performed with the same thermal head. This is a repetitive (one pass) method (also called a one-head printer, one ribbon, one pass (one pass) method). The one-head one-pass method has a long printing time, requires a technique for producing a transfer sheet material, and is expensive. However, the transfer and printing apparatus is simple, inexpensive, and easy to operate.

  (1 head 2 pass method) In the 1 head 2 pass method, first, (1) using a receiving layer transfer material that does not have a color material layer, a running operation of transferring the transfer layer onto the transfer target, (2) Four regions, a region containing a red dye, a region containing a green dye, a region containing a blue dye, and a region containing a black dye, are added to the color material receiving layer of the transfer layer on the transfer material. As a set, at least one set of repetitions is a transfer sheet arranged on one side of the substrate, or three areas including an area containing a yellow dye, an area containing a magenta dye, and an area containing a cyan dye As a set, at least one set of repetition is exhibited from the relief forming layer in two running operations in which a thermal transfer image is printed using a transfer sheet arranged on one side of the substrate. Visual effects and thermal transfer images That image is obtained. That is, a person skilled in the art calls a one-head printer, two-ribbon, two-pass (two-pass) method, a traveling operation for transferring a transfer layer and a traveling operation for printing a thermal transfer image, respectively. It is a method performed by operation.

  Specifically, (1) a receiving layer transfer material 1 (described above) is prepared, (2) a transfer target is prepared, and (3) an adhesive layer of the receiving layer transfer material 1 is overlaid on the transfer target. (4) preparing a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer; (5) superimposing the thermal transfer sheet on the exposed surface of the transfer layer on the transfer body; The dye may be received in the transfer layer to form an image. In short, it is only necessary to perform two operations of transferring the transfer layer to the transfer target and further printing (transferring) the thermal transfer image to the transfer layer. The thermal transfer image may be printed four times for a transfer sheet having an RGBK region and three times for a transfer sheet having a YMC region.

(2-head 1-pass method) In the 2-head 1-pass method, (1) a running operation for transferring a transfer layer onto a transfer medium, and (2) a running for printing a thermal transfer image of the transfer layer onto a colorant receiving layer. The operation is performed continuously by one traveling operation. This method is called a two-head printer, two-ribbon, one-pass method by a person skilled in the art, and is a method in which a printer device having two printer heads performs two operations continuously in a single run. Conventional image printing and high-design image printing according to the present invention can be performed by the same printer.
The two-head, one-pass method uses a receiving layer transfer material 1 (also called a receiving layer transfer ribbon) and two ribbons of a transfer sheet (also called a sublimation transfer ribbon) having an RGBK region or a YMC region. A high-design full-color image can be obtained in a single run (1 pass).

Receptor layer transfer material 1 (also referred to as a receptor layer transfer ribbon) and two ribbons of a transfer sheet (also referred to as a sublimation transfer ribbon) having an RGBBk region or a YMC region are ribbons dedicated for transfer layer transfer and thermal transfer image transfer, respectively. Yes, it has excellent color tone reproducibility, is easy to manufacture, and can be manufactured at low cost. As a transfer sheet (also referred to as a sublimation transfer ribbon) having an RGBBk region or a YMC region, a known sheet called a sublimation transfer type ink ribbon can be applied.
Further, in the two-head one-pass method, it is not necessary to separately install two apparatuses for obtaining a high-design image print according to the present invention and a conventional apparatus for obtaining an image print, so that the installation cost can be reduced. .
Even in the one-head two-pass method described above, a high-design image with good color tone reproducibility can be obtained only by running twice (pass), and the same transfer sheet can be used.

(Modification 1)
The present invention includes the following modifications.
(Transfer to be transferred with white light expression function) In the present invention, a color material receiving layer to which a white light expression function is added in advance is provided on a transfer object, and a thermal transfer image is formed with a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer. Also good. The white light expression function may be imparted by a method such as transferring the transfer layer 8 in advance using the receiving layer transfer material 1 of the present invention on the transfer target or separately forming a relief structure.
In particular, when transferring a relief forming layer that expresses white diffusion or white light from a transfer sheet onto a transfer target, unlike a case where a general hologram image is transferred, a reflector pattern or the like is generated by heat during transfer. There is a possibility that the relief shape will collapse and the white light expression function will deteriorate. Therefore, when it is desired to provide a receiving layer that expresses white diffusion or white light on the transfer object, it is preferable to form a relief that expresses white diffusion or white light on the transfer object by a method other than transfer. .
In this case, the method of forming an image on the colorant receiving layer provided with a white light expression function provided on the transfer medium in advance is limited to a method of forming a thermal transfer image with a thermal transfer sheet having a dye. It is not a thing. In other words, an image forming method such as gravure printing, offset printing, or screen printing may be used on a color material receiving layer to which a white light expression function has been added in advance on a transfer target.

In the transfer method, (1) a transfer target is prepared, (2) the receiving layer transfer material 1 of the present invention is prepared, and (3) the transfer layer is transferred to the transfer target using the receiving layer transfer material 1. Good. Separately, a method for providing a colorant receiving layer with a white light expression function includes (1) preparing a transfer target, (2) forming a relief forming layer, and (3) shaping a relief having a white light expression function. (4) a reflective layer may be formed, and (5) a colorant receiving layer may be formed. Although the relief forming surface is different, the function is the same.
In any transfer target, an image may be formed on the color material receiving layer by an on-demand printing method. The image-formed product thus obtained provides a high-design image composed of white light expressed from the relief forming layer and an image expressed by a color material.

As a transfer object (color material receiving sheet with a relief layer) used in this case, a relief forming surface having a relief shape that expresses white light in one surface of a base material or white diffusion or a specific angle range, A relief forming layer provided with a reflective layer provided on the relief forming surface side, and a colorant receiving layer is provided on the surface side of the relief forming layer or on the surface opposite to the surface having the relief forming layer of the substrate. The thing of the provided structure can be used.
The transferred body may have a structure in which a relief forming layer having a reflective layer and a colorant receiving layer are laminated in this order on one side of the substrate, or a relief forming having a reflective layer on one side of the substrate. A structure in which a layer is provided and a colorant receiving layer is provided on the other surface may be employed. The relief forming surface of the relief forming layer may face the base material side, or may face the front or back surface of the transfer target. Further, other layers such as an anchor layer provided between the colorant receiving layer and the relief forming layer may be optionally added to the transferred material.
In the case where an article in which at least the relief forming layer 5 having a white light expression function, the reflective layer 6 and the color material receiving layer 4 are sequentially provided is used as the transfer target, the reflection layer 6, What is necessary is just to provide the relief forming layer 5 and the color material receiving layer 4 which have a white light expression function one by one.
The material, the forming method and the relief shaping method of the color material receiving layer 4, the relief forming layer 5 having a white light expression function and the reflective layer 6, and the relief shaping method may be the same as those of the receiving layer transfer material 1. The relief forming layer resin is dried and then applied to about 0.5 to ² g / m ² and dried to form the relief forming layer 5, and then the relief having the above-described white light expression function is formed. Then, it may be cured by UV irradiation, and the reflective layer 6 and the colorant receiving layer 4 containing a thermoplastic resin and a release agent may be formed in the same manner as described above. The layer configuration is relief forming layer 5 / reflective layer 6 / coloring material receiving layer 4, and the effect is the same, although the order is different from that of the receiving layer transfer material. In addition, what is necessary is just to provide the contact bonding layer 7 and the anchor layer 9 as needed.
A transfer image may be formed on the colorant receiving layer 4 using the transfer sheets 30 and 40 having a dye receiving layer having a known and inexpensive RGBBk region or YMC region.

(Inkjet method)
In this case, instead of thermal transfer using a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer, printing (printing) by an ink jet method may be used. In this case, as the receiving layer, for example, polyolefin resin such as polypropylene, halogenated resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer Vinyl resins such as coalesced or polyacrylic acid esters, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene or propylene and other vinyl polymers, ionomers Alternatively, cellulose resins such as cellulose diastase, polycarbonate and the like can be mentioned, and vinyl chloride resins, acrylic-styrene resins or polyester resins are particularly preferable.
For the receiving layer, one or a plurality of materials selected from the above-mentioned materials and various additives as necessary are added and dissolved or dispersed in an appropriate solvent such as water or an organic solvent. A working solution is prepared, and this can be formed by applying and drying by means of a gravure printing method, a screen printing method or a reverse coating method using a gravure plate. Its thickness is about 1 to 10 μm in a dry state.

(Modification 2)
The present invention includes the following modifications.
In the present invention, an image receiving paper provided with a dye receiving layer in advance may be used as a transfer target. A thermal transfer image having a white light expression function may be formed on the image receiving paper using the thermal transfer sheet having the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the dye layer of the present invention. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, it is possible to produce an image formed product in which an image made of a color material is formed on the receiving layer of the transfer layer and the receiving layer of the image receiving paper.
Specifically, (1) image receiving paper is prepared as a transfer target, (2) a receiving layer transfer material 1 is prepared, (3) an adhesive layer of the receiving layer transfer material 1 is superimposed on the transfer target, (4) Prepare a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer, (5) superimpose the thermal transfer sheet on the exposed surface of the transfer layer, and transfer the dye to the transfer layer. An image may be formed by receiving the image. The transfer operation may be any of the one-head one-pass method, the one-head two-pass method, and the two-head one-pass method described above, and is not particularly limited.

The image receiving paper is not particularly limited as long as a dye receiving layer is provided. Preferably, it is an image receiving paper used for sublimation transfer, for example, an image receiving paper comprising a receiving layer / base material, a receiving layer / white primer layer / base material, a receiving layer / white primer layer / bonding base material / back surface material, and the like. It is.
Further, it comprises a seal part in which at least a receiving layer, a seal substrate and an adhesive layer are sequentially laminated, and a release part comprising a release layer and a release substrate, the release layer, and the adhesive layer It may be a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing that is bonded so as to be peelable. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet for sealing may be subjected to a half cut process.

The release part of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing is formed of a release substrate and a release layer. For example, a known release film such as silicone on the polyethylene side of a conventionally known plastic film or polyethylene-coated paper can be released. It is provided with a release layer having. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing is made of a conventionally known resin such as polyvinyl acetate, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate copolymer, polyurethane, natural rubber, nitrile rubber, or rubber as an organic solvent. 8-30 g / m ² (solid content) by a known method such as gravure coating, roll coating, bar coating, etc. What is necessary is just to apply | coat to the extent.
The sealing substrate of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing may be a conventionally known one, and its thickness is preferably in the range of 10 to 50 μm, although it depends on the material and the presence or absence of stretching. When the film is thin, there is no so-called stiffness, and the resulting thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing causes wrinkles in thermal shrinkage during image formation by a thermal head, and conversely, when the film is thick, the thermal head during image formation Curling due to heat setting is likely to occur due to the heat of. In addition, a sealing substrate composed of a laminate of a resin film having no microvoids in contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a resin film having microvoids in the contact with the receiving layer can also be preferably used. Such a configuration can improve the color of a formed image, particularly a high density portion, and can form a high quality image. In addition, as the sealing substrate, a film having the above microvoids and a film having no microvoids can be laminated and used.

The receiving layer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing can be provided directly on the substrate or via a primer layer, and the receiving layer has a function of receiving a color material transferred from the thermal transfer sheet by heating. In the case of a sublimable dye, it is desirable that the colored layer is received to cause color development, and at the same time, the once received dye is not further sublimated. The receptor layer is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyolefin such as polypropylene, copolymer of olefin monomer and other vinyl monomer, ionomer, cellulose derivative such as cellulose diacetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. The main component is a thermoplastic polymer such as a halogenated polymer, polyvinyl acetate, polyester such as polyacrylate, linear polyester, polystyrene resin, polycarbonate resin, polyamide, etc. The thickness of the receiving layer is 1 About 50 μm (solid content). Preferred thermoplastic resins are polyesters and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers and mixtures thereof.
To the receiving layer, a release agent is added to the receiving layer for the purpose of preventing fusion between the thermal transfer sheet having the colored transfer layer and the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing or a decrease in printing sensitivity during image formation. You may apply | coat to the receiving layer surface. In addition, in order to improve the whiteness of the receiving layer and increase the sharpness of the transferred image, the receiving layer is added with a white pigment, a fluorescent whitening agent, or an antistatic layer if necessary. It may be provided. Details are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-301843 filed by the present applicant.

  The transfer layer 8 and the transfer image may be transferred and printed on the image receiving paper using one ribbon of the transfer sheet 20 of the present invention, and the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the dye layer may be transferred to the image receiving paper. One-pass two-pass method in which a transfer layer 8 having a white light expression function is transferred using two ribbons of a thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 having a color and a transfer image is printed using the thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 further having a dye layer Any of the two-head one-pass method may be used.

For example, in a two-head one-pass printer, the image-receiving layer transfer material 1 of the present invention is loaded in one head, and two ribbons of the thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 having a dye layer are loaded in the two heads. (1) An image expressed by a general color material may be printed using only the thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 having the dye layer of the second head, and (2) the transfer layer 8 is formed by the first head. If a thermal transfer image is printed using the thermal transfer sheet 30 or 40 having a dye layer in the second head and then transferred, the resulting image formed product has white light and thermal transfer image expressed from the relief forming layer. An image having a high design property can be obtained.
As described above, the conventional image print and the high-design image print of the present invention can be performed by the same printer device. Therefore, it is not necessary to install two separate apparatuses for obtaining a conventional image print and the apparatus for obtaining a high-design image print according to the present invention, so that the installation cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the conventional printer and the highly designable image print of the present invention may be performed by the same printer apparatus by the one-head one-pass method using the transfer sheet 20 of the present invention, but the printer apparatus is simple. Although the structure is inexpensive, the transfer layer 8 that is relatively expensive is discarded without being used at the time of conventional image printing, and the image output frequency may be selected.

(image)
As described above, any one of the one-head / one-pass method, the one-head / two-pass method, the two-head / one-pass method, or the method of printing an image after providing a transfer layer in advance following the transfer of the transfer layer. Even if it carries out by a method, all the images made as mentioned above are provided with the white light expressed from the relief formation layer 5, and the image formed by the on-demand printing system, and have high design property similarly. ing.

(Image formation)
As described above, the image-formed product of the present invention is composed of one head 1 using the two ribbons of the transfer sheet 30 or 40 having the receiving layer transfer material 1 and the color material layer of the present invention, or the transfer sheet 20 of the present invention. By an image forming method such as a pass method, a one-head two-pass method, or a two-head one-pass method, an adhesive layer 7 / reflective layer 6 / relief forming layer 5 / anchor layer 9 (if necessary) / The transfer layer 8 laminated in the order of the color material receiving layer 4 is transferred, a transferred image made of the color material is formed on the transferred color material receiving layer 4, and white light (white diffused light) exerted from the relief forming layer 5 is formed. Alternatively, the image-formed product of the present invention having an image having a high design property composed of a transfer image expressed by a color material and white light in a specific angle range) is obtained.

  In addition, in an article having at least the color material receiving layer 4, the relief forming layer 5 having the white light expression function, and the reflective layer 6, an image expressed by the color material is formed on the color material receiving layer 4. Thus, the image-formed product of the present invention having an image having high design composed of white light expressed from the relief forming layer 5 and an image expressed by a color material is obtained. Of course, a protective layer (also referred to as an OP layer) or the like may be transferred.

The image obtained by the present invention can be made full color, has good visibility regardless of the observation position, has good color reproducibility even when observed at a wide range of observation points, and the image is natural without losing color balance.
Also, when printing (printing) with the prior art, if the color of the transfer object (background) at the time of printing is white, for example, a face photo of a person with black hair is not printed on the part of the black hair, The white color of the eyes is visible, giving an unnatural impression of white hair. However, in the present invention, there is no restriction on the color of the transfer medium to be printed, and color reproducibility is good even if the background color changes. That is, a relief forming layer that expresses white diffusion or white light in a specific angle range is transferred onto the background, and a thermal transfer image of the dye is further formed thereon, so that it is not affected by the background color at all. Moreover, the blackish gradation in the shadow portion can be freely expressed by thermal transfer of the dye.
Moreover, it can be easily manufactured with existing equipment, and the thermal transfer image can be easily printed on the relief forming layer / dye-receiving layer surface.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
Example 1
Using a polyethylene terephthalate film (trade name: Lumirror, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) with a thickness of 6 μm as the base material of the receiving layer transfer material, a heat resistant slipping layer coating solution having the following composition is gravure coated on the back surface of the base material Thus, the heat-resistant slipping layer is formed by applying and drying so that the dry coating amount is 0.10 to 0.20 g / m ² .
・ <Heat resistant slipping layer coating solution>
Polyvinyl butyral resin (trade name: S-REC BX-1 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.): 13.6 parts Polyisocyanate curing agent (trade name: Takenate D218, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.): 0.6 parts Phosphate ester (commodity) Name Prisurf A208S (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.): 0.8 part Methyl ethyl ketone: 42.5 parts Toluene: 42.5 parts

A release layer coating solution having the following composition is applied to the surface of the base material provided with the heat resistant slipping layer, which is not provided with a heat resistant slipping layer, so that the thickness after drying is 0.5 g / m ^2. Then, it was coated with a coater and dried at 80 ° C. to form a release layer. In addition, in this specification, the part of a compounding composition is a mass reference | standard unless there is a notice.
・ <Release layer coating solution>
Silicone-modified acrylic resin (trade name Cell Top 226, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries): 16 parts Aluminum catalyst (trade name Cell Top CAT-A, manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.): 3 parts Toluene / methyl ethyl ketone (mass ratio 1) / 1): 16 parts

A dye receiving layer coating solution having the following composition is applied to the release layer surface with a coater so that the thickness after drying is 0.5 to 1.0 g / m ² and dried at 80 ° C. A receiving layer was formed.
・ <Dye-receiving layer coating solution>
Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (trade name Solvein C, manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.): 100 parts Epoxy-modified silicone (X-22-3000T, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.): 7.5 parts Methylstyrene Modified silicone (X-24-510, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.): 7.5 parts Polyether-modified silicone (FZ2101, manufactured by Nippon Unicar Co., Ltd.): 5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (mass ratio 1/1): 400 copies

On the formed dye receiving layer, the solid content of each of the vinyl acrylate-vinyl acetate copolymer and the urethane acrylate resin (ionizing radiation curable resin) used for the relief forming layer is 1: 1, An ink was prepared, applied with a coater, and dried at 80 ° C. to form an anchor layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 g / m ² . A urethane acrylate resin (ionizing radiation curable resin) is applied on the anchor layer at a film speed of 50 m / min, using a gravure reverse coater so that the thickness after drying is 0.5 to 1.0 g / m ^2. It was coated and dried at 100 ° C. to form a relief forming layer. Next, the stamper is pressed (embossed) on the relief forming layer surface to form a relief, that is, a hologram replication process. A stamper duplicated by the 2P method from the master hologram (having a white reflector function) is attached to the embossing roller of the duplicating device, and the relief forming layer is heated and pressed (embossed) between the rollers facing the embossing roller. Then, a relief composed of a fine uneven pattern was formed on the relief forming layer. After shaping, the relief forming layer was immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays and cured.
Aluminum was vapor-deposited on the relief surface by a vacuum deposition method to a thickness of 300 mm (angstrom) to form a reflective layer, and a reflective relief hologram was formed. An adhesive layer having a thickness of 0.5 g / m ² is formed on the reflective layer of the relief surface by coating with a gravure coat using an adhesive layer coating solution having the following composition and drying at 100 ° C. Thus, a receiving layer transfer material of Example 1 was obtained.
・ <Adhesive layer coating solution>
Butyl methacrylate resin (A-415, manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.): 30 parts Methyl ethyl ketone: 10 parts Toluene: 10 parts

(Example 2)
The receiving layer transfer material of Example 2 was the same as Example 1 except that the anchor layer provided between the dye receiving layer and the relief forming layer was removed from the receiving layer transfer material prepared in Example 1 above. A material was prepared.

(Example 3)
In the receiving layer transfer material prepared in Example 1 above, chromium (Cr) was vapor-deposited to a thickness of 300 mm by vacuum deposition as the reflective layer instead of aluminum, and the others were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The receptor layer transfer material of Example 3 was prepared.

(Example 4)
In the receiving layer transfer material prepared in Example 1 above, nickel (Ni) instead of aluminum was deposited as a reflective layer to a thickness of 300 mm by a vacuum deposition method, and the rest was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The receptor layer transfer material of Example 4 was prepared.

(Example 5)
A lumirror (polyethylene terephthalate film, product name, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) having a thickness of 6 μm was used as the base material of the thermal transfer sheet, and a heat resistant slipping layer was formed on the entire back surface of the base material in the same manner as in Example 1. Keep it.
As shown in FIG. 5B, the other surface (front surface) is divided into four areas, ie, a transfer layer area, a Y area, an M area, and a C area. The flow direction is set to 95 mm and the direction perpendicular to the flow is set to 60 mm.
In the transfer layer region, using the same release layer coating solution, dye image-receiving layer coating solution, anchor layer coating solution, relief forming layer coating solution as in Example 1, a gravure printing method, a release layer, A dye image-receiving layer, an anchor layer, and a relief forming layer were formed in an overlapping manner.
Next, the stamper is pressed (embossed) on the relief forming layer surface to form a relief, that is, a hologram replication process. A stamper duplicated by the 2P method from the master hologram (having a white reflector function) is attached to the embossing roller of the duplicating device, and the relief forming layer is heated and pressed (embossed) between the rollers facing the embossing roller. Then, a relief composed of a fine uneven pattern was formed on the relief forming layer. After shaping, the relief forming layer was immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays and cured.
Aluminum was deposited to a thickness of 300 mm on the relief surface by a vacuum deposition method to form a reflective layer, and a reflective relief hologram was formed.
The transfer layer region on the reflective layer on the relief surface was coated with a gravure coat using the same adhesive layer coating solution as in Example 1, dried at 100 ° C., and a thickness of 0.5 g / m ² An adhesive layer was formed.

Next, in the Y region, the M region, and the C region, an ink containing yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes having the following composition is prepared by kneading for 6 hours using a paint shaker, and by gravure printing, The coating amount was 0.8 g / m ² (when dry) and dried to form a region containing yellow dye (Y), a region containing magenta) dye, and a region containing cyan (C) dye. .
・ (Ink containing yellow (Y) dye)
Disperse dye (yellow disperse dye: quinophthalone dye): 5.5 parts by mass Acetoacetal resin (KS-5 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.): 3.5 parts by mass Polyethylene powder (MF8F manufactured by ASTORWAX Co.): 0.1 mass Parts Toluene: 45 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone: 45 parts by weight (ink containing magenta (M) dye)
The ink is the same as the ink containing the yellow (Y) dye except that 5.5 parts by mass of a magenta disperse dye (CI Disperse Red 60) is used as the disperse dye.
・ (Ink containing cyan (C) dye)
The ink is the same as the ink containing the yellow (Y) dye except that 5.5 parts by mass of a cyan disperse dye (CI Solvent Blue 63) is used as the disperse dye.
As a result, a thermal transfer sheet having a “transfer YMC region” repeatedly arranged as a set of four regions of the transfer layer region, the Y region, the M region, and the C region was obtained.

(Example 6)
Instead of the Y region, M region, and C region of Example 5, R region, G region, B region, and Bk region were used, and inks containing dyes with the following blending were used, respectively, as in Example 5, An R region, a G region, a B region, and a Bk region were formed.
・ (Ink containing red (R) dye)
Quinophthalone dye: 2.25 parts by mass C.I. I. Disperse Red 60: 2.25 parts by mass Acetoacetal resin (KS-5 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.): 3.5 parts by weight Polyethylene powder (MF8F manufactured by ASTORWAX Co.): 0.1 parts by mass Toluene: 45 parts by mass Methyl ethyl ketone: 45 Parts by mass

・ (Ink containing green (G) dye)
Quinophthalone dye: 2.25 parts by mass C.I. I. Solvent Blue 63: 2.25 parts by mass Acetoacetal resin (KS-5 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.): 3.5 parts by mass Polyethylene powder (MF8F manufactured by ASTORWAX Co.): 0.1 parts by mass Toluene: 45 parts by mass Methyl ethyl ketone: 45 Parts by mass

・ (Ink containing blue (B) dye)
Cyan disperse dye, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 63: 5.5 parts by mass Acetoacetal resin (KS-5 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.): 3.5 parts by mass Polyethylene powder (MF8F manufactured by ASTORWAX Co.): 0.1 parts by mass Toluene: 45 parts by mass Methyl ethyl ketone: 45 Parts by mass

・ (Ink containing black (Bk) dye)
Yellow disperse dye: quinophthalone dye): 1.8 parts by weight Magenta disperse dye (CI Disperse Red 60): 1.8 parts by weight Cyan disperse dye (CI Solvent Blue 63): 1.8 parts by weight Acetoacetal resin (Sekisui Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. KS-5): 3.5 parts by mass Polyethylene powder (MF8F manufactured by ASTORWAX Co.): 0.1 parts by mass Toluene: 45 parts by mass Methyl ethyl ketone: 45 parts by mass Thereby, transfer layer region, R region, A thermal transfer sheet having “transfer RGBK region” repeatedly arranged as a set of five regions of G region, B region, and K region was obtained.

(Reference Example 1)
A transfer sheet having the “YMC region” of Reference Example 1 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 5 except that the transfer layer was removed from the transfer sheet prepared in Example 5 above.

(Reference Example 2)
A transfer sheet having the “RGBBk region” of Reference Example 2 was prepared in the same manner as in Example 6 except that the transfer layer was removed from the transfer sheet prepared in Example 6 above.

(Example 7)
Using the receiving layer transfer material of Examples 1 to 4 to a greeting card having a pattern printed by a known offset printing on a coated paper having a basis weight of 300 g / m ² as a transfer target, a heart pattern with a 600 dpi thermal transfer printer The transfer layer (adhesive layer / reflective layer / relief forming layer / (anchor layer) / dye-receiving layer laminate) was transferred in the same pattern. Next, when a face photograph and characters were printed on the transferred pattern using the transfer sheet of the above (Reference Example 1) with a 600 dpi thermal transfer printer again, the receiving layer transfer of any of Examples 1 to 4 was performed. A material using the material was able to form clear and high-quality color face photographs and character images.

(Example 8)
As an object to be transferred, an oversheet made of a transparent vinyl chloride resin having a magnetic stripe at a predetermined position and having a thickness of 100 μm, a white chlorination having a thickness of 280 μm provided with a card design pattern by a known offset printing and screen printing method. A card core made of a vinyl resin, a card core made of a white vinyl chloride resin with a thickness of 280 μm provided with a known offset printing pattern on the back of the card, and an oversheet made of a transparent vinyl chloride resin with a thickness of 100 μm A card obtained by punching the card base material, which was superposed and pressed with a hot press machine, integrated and cooled, into a credit card size with a punching machine was used.
Each of the above-described transfer target materials was loaded on a 600 dpi two-head thermal transfer card printer by loading the first layer with the receiving layer transfer material of Examples 1 to 4 and the second head with the transfer sheet of Reference Examples 1 to 2. When a transfer layer was transferred in a rectangular pattern having a size of 20 × 30 mm onto the card, and subsequently a face photograph and characters were printed on the transferred pattern, any of the examples 1 to 4 was accepted. The combination of the layer transfer material and the transfer sheet of any of Reference Examples 1 and 2 could form a clear and high-quality color face photograph and character image.

Example 9
The card used in Example 8 was used as the transfer target. The card was loaded with the transfer sheet of Examples 5 to 6 on a 600 dpi one-head thermal transfer printer, the transfer layer was transferred to the entire surface of the card, and subsequently a face photograph and characters were printed on the transferred pattern. However, clear and high-quality color face photographs and character images could be formed.

(Example 10)
To a PET film having a thickness of 188 μm, the ink is applied so that the solid content of each of the vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer and the urethane acrylate resin (ionizing radiation curable resin) used for the relief forming layer becomes 1: 1. It adjusted, applied with the coater, it was made to dry at 80 degreeC, and the anchor layer was formed so that thickness might be set to 0.1-0.5 g / m < ² >. A urethane acrylate resin (ionizing radiation curable resin) is applied on the anchor layer at a film speed of 50 m / min, using a gravure reverse coater so that the thickness after drying is 0.5 to 1.0 g / m ^2. It was coated and dried at 100 ° C. to form a relief forming layer. Next, the stamper is pressed (embossed) on the relief forming layer surface to form a relief, that is, a hologram replication process. A stamper duplicated by the 2P method from the master hologram (having a white reflector function) is attached to the embossing roller of the duplicating device, and the relief forming layer is heated and pressed (embossed) between the rollers facing the embossing roller. Then, a relief composed of a fine uneven pattern was formed on the relief forming layer. After shaping, the relief forming layer was immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays and cured.
Aluminum was deposited on the relief surface by a vacuum deposition method to a thickness of 300 Å (angstrom) to form a reflective layer, and a reflective relief hologram (having a white reflector function) was formed.

The dye receiving layer coating solution having the following composition is applied to the reflective layer surface with a coater so that the thickness after drying is 0.5 to 1.0 g / m ² and dried at 80 ° C. A layer was formed.
・ <Dye-receiving layer coating solution>
Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (trade name Solvein C, manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.): 100 parts Epoxy-modified silicone (X-22-3000T, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.): 7.5 parts Methyl Styrene-modified silicone (X-24-510, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.): 7.5 parts Polyether-modified silicone (FZ2101, manufactured by Nihon Unicar Co., Ltd.): 5 parts Solvent (MEK: Toluene = 1: 1) : 400 parts As described above, a transfer medium having white reflection and a dye-receiving layer was obtained.
The transfer sheet of Reference Examples 1 and 2 is loaded onto the surface of the dye-receiving layer of the transfer material onto a 600 dpi one-head thermal transfer printer, the transfer layer is transferred onto the entire surface of the card, and subsequently the face is transferred onto the transferred pattern. As a result of printing pictures and letters, a greeting card consisting of clear and high-quality color face photographs and letter images was made.

Example 11
Instead of the dye receiving layer, Takamatsu Yushi Co., Ltd. polyester-based ink jet receiving layer resin NS-122LX was coated with a coater so that the thickness after drying would be 0.5 to 1.0 g / m ^2. The material to be transferred was obtained in the same manner as in Example 10 except that the ink-jet image receiving layer was formed by drying at 80 ° C.
When a face photograph and characters were printed on the image receiving layer surface of the transferred body using a Canon 400 dpi inkjet printer, a greeting card composed of a clear and high-quality color face photograph and character image was obtained.

Example 12
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing composed of a receiving layer / sealing base material / adhesive layer (sealing part) and a release base material having a release layer was used as a transfer target. First, the coating liquid which comprises each layer is prepared.
・ <Release layer coating solution>
Addition-polymerization silicone (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. KS847H): 100 parts by weight Solvent (toluene): 200 parts by weight <Adhesion layer coating solution>
Acrylic copolymer (SK Dyne 1310L, manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.): 48 parts by weight Epoxy resin (Hardener-AX, manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.): 0.36 parts by weight Solvent (ethyl acetate): 51.64 parts by weight

・ <Receptive layer coating solution>
Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Solvein C): 40 parts by weight Polyester (Toyobo Co., Ltd., Byron 600): 40 parts by weight Vinyl chloride-styrene-acrylic copolymer (Denka rack # 400 manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.): 20 parts by weight Vinyl-modified silicone (X-62-1212 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.): 10 parts by weight Catalyst (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., CAT- PLR-5): 5 parts by weight Solvent (methyl ethyl ketone: toluene = 1: 1): 400 parts by weight

・ <Creation of thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing>
First, a release layer coating solution having the above composition was applied to one surface of a release substrate having a thickness of 100 μm (surface corona-treated polyethylene terephthalate film, Crisper G-1212, product name manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) by a gravure coating method. After applying and smoothing the surface in front of a dry hood, it was dried to form a release layer having a coating amount of 0.1 g / m ² . Next, the adhesive layer coating liquid having the above composition was applied to the release layer surface by a gravure coating method and dried to form an adhesive layer having a coating amount of 10 g / m ² .
On the other hand, a receiving layer coating liquid having the above composition is applied to one surface of a 50 μm-thick sealing substrate (Lumirror E63 # 50; polyethylene terephthalate film having pores inside, product name manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.). Was applied and dried to form a receiving layer having a coating amount of 4.5 g / m ² . The other surface of the seal substrate and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer surface of the release substrate were laminated at 100 ° C. for 12 seconds. Then, a quaternary ammonium salt compound (manufactured by Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co., Ltd., 1% solution of TB-34) was applied to the surface of the receiving layer and dried to obtain a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for sealing. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet for sealing was used as the transfer target of Example 12.

  Paper was fed to a printer S8045 manufactured by Shinko Electric Co., Ltd. onto the surface of the dye receiving layer of the transfer material obtained as described above. Printer S8045 is a two-head printer, but printing was performed using only one head. The transfer sheet is the transfer sheet of Example 5 or 6, but the size of the transfer layer region and each color material layer is 110 mm in the flow direction of the transfer sheet and 160 mm in the direction perpendicular to the flow. The changed one was used. When the transfer sheet of Example 5 or 6 was loaded into a printer, the transfer layer was transferred to the entire surface, and subsequently a face photograph and characters were printed on the transferred pattern, a clear and high-quality color face photograph was obtained. And a character image could be formed.

(Example 13)
The receiving layer transfer material of Examples 1 to 4 is loaded on the first head part to a 600 dpi two-head thermal transfer card printer (printer S8045 manufactured by Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.), and the transfer of Reference Examples 1 and 2 to the second head part. A sheet (the size of the transfer layer region and the color material layer of each color is 110 mm in the flow direction of the transfer sheet and 160 mm in the direction perpendicular to the flow) is loaded, and the image receiving paper of Example 12 (for sealing) The transfer layer was transferred in a rectangular pattern with a size of 20 × 30 mm onto the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet), and subsequently, a face photograph and characters were printed on the transferred pattern. A combination of any of the receiving layer transfer materials and any of the transfer sheets of Reference Examples 1 and 2 was able to form clear and high-quality color facial photographs and character images.
Further, when a face photograph and characters were printed on the transfer sheets of Reference Examples 1 and 2 using only the second head portion, a conventional color face photograph and character image could be formed.
Therefore, both the image of the present invention and the conventional image could be output by the same printer.

It is sectional drawing of the receiving layer transfer material of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the other receiving layer transfer material of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the image formed material formed in this invention. It is sectional drawing of the other image forming material formed in this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the image forming method of this invention. It is a top view of the transfer sheet of the present invention. It is a top view of the other transfer sheet of this invention. It is a top view of the receiving layer transfer material of this invention. It is a top view of the transfer sheet used in combination with the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention. It is a top view of the other transfer sheet used in combination with the receiving layer transfer material of the present invention. 2 is a configuration example of a one-head printer used in the present invention. 2 is a configuration example of a two-head printer used in the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receiving layer transfer material 2 Base material 3 Release layer 4 Color material receiving layer 5 Relief formation layer 6 Reflective layer 7 Adhesive layer 8 Transfer layer 9 Anchor layer 10 Heat resistant slipping layer 11 Transfer object (medium)
12 Thermal transfer image by color material 13 Image formation 51 Printer head 52 Platen roller

Claims (14)

A relief forming layer comprising a relief forming surface having a relief shape that expresses white light in a specific angle range and a reflective layer provided on the relief forming surface side is provided on one surface of the substrate, and the relief formation A colorant receiving layer is provided on the surface side of the layer or on the side opposite to the surface having the relief forming layer of the substrate,
The relief shape is a computer generated hologram, and the computer generated hologram is a computer generated hologram that diffuses incident light of a predetermined reference wavelength incident at a predetermined incident angle into a specific angle range, and zero-order transmitted light incident at the incident angle. Alternatively, the maximum diffraction angle of the incident light having the shortest wavelength in the wavelength range that appears white when additively mixed with the reference wavelength with respect to the zero-order reflected light is the incident angle having the longest wavelength in the wavelength range. Is configured to be larger than the minimum diffraction angle of the incident light, and
The relief forming layer-provided color material receiving sheet, wherein the relief forming layer is provided on the entire surface of the region where the color material receiving layer is provided.   The specific angular range is
  Using a luminance measuring device, the distance between the light source and the computer generated hologram is 250 mm, the light source incident angle on the computer generated hologram is 30 °, the illuminance on the computer generated hologram is 22,000 lux, and the distance between the computer generated hologram and the luminance measuring device. Was set to 600 mm, and the measurement at one spot of the luminance measuring device was set to measure incident light within a solid angle of 1 ° of the incident light, and the luminance at each measurement angle was measured. 2. The colorant receiving sheet with a relief layer according to claim 1, wherein the colorant receiving sheet has a relief layer in an angle range in which a luminance of 3 to 15 times is obtained as compared with the measured luminance of an isotropically scattering standard reflector. A relief forming layer comprising at least one relief forming surface having a relief shape that expresses white light in a specific angle range on one surface of the substrate and a reflective layer provided on the relief forming surface side, and a color The color material receiving sheet with a relief layer according to claim 1, wherein the material receiving layer is sequentially provided. 4. The relief according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the reflective surface of the relief forming layer, the relief forming surface of the relief forming layer, and the colorant receiving layer is sequentially provided on one surface of the substrate. Color material receiving sheet with layers. The color material receiving sheet with a relief layer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the color material receiving layer contains a thermoplastic resin and a release agent. An image made of a color material is formed on the color material receiving sheet with the relief layer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 by on-demand printing, and the white light from the relief forming layer and the image made of the color material are combined. An image forming method characterized by forming an image having the same. An image made of a color material is formed by transferring a yellow color material, a magenta color material, and a cyan color material to the color material receiving sheet with a relief layer according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The image forming method according to claim 6 . The color material receiving sheet with a relief layer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein at least three regions including a yellow color material layer region, a magenta color material region, and a cyan color material region are used as one set. The image forming method according to claim 7 , wherein an image made of a color material is formed using a color material transfer sheet in which at least one set of repetitions is arranged on one surface of the substrate. It is made of a color material by transferring a red color material, a green color material, and a blue color material to the color material receiving sheet with a relief layer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 so that dots of each color do not overlap. The image forming method according to claim 6 , wherein an image is formed. In addition to the red, green, and blue color materials, a black color material may be overlapped with some or all of the other color dots, or may not overlap with any or all of the other color dots. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein an image made of a color material is formed by transferring to an image. The color material receiving sheet with a relief layer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein at least three regions including a red color material layer region, a green color material layer region, and a blue color material layer region are provided as 1 region. As a set, a color material transfer sheet in which at least one set of repetitions is arranged on one surface of the base material is used to transfer the red color material, the green color material, and the blue color material so that the dots of each color do not overlap. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein an image made of a color material is formed. In addition to the above three areas, a color material transfer sheet in which at least four areas including a black color material layer area are set as one set and at least one set of repetitions is arranged on one surface of the substrate is used. The color material is formed so as to overlap with part or all of other color dots, or to form an image made of color material by transferring so as not to overlap with part or all of other color dots. The image forming method according to claim 11 . 12. An image formed product comprising an image having both white light from a relief forming layer and an image made of a color material, which is formed by the image forming method according to claim 6 . 13. Image formation comprising an image comprising white light from the relief forming layer and the thermal transfer image, formed by the image forming method according to claim 8, 11 or 12. object.

Images