JP2005199437A - Multicolor image formation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multicolor image formation method capable of carrying out secondary transfer to printing paper sheets of a wide range. <P>SOLUTION: In the method, an ink sheet with at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer on a support, and an image receiving sheet with at least an image receiving layer on a support are used. The ink layer and the image receiving layer are opposed and overlapped each other, and a laser light irradiation region of the ink layer is transferred onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by irradiating a laser light from the ink sheet side, whereby a multicolor image is formed. An image recording area is not smaller than 420 mm×594 mm, and a resolution of a transfer image to the image receiving layer is not smaller than 2,400 dpi (dpi=number of dots per 1 inch, namely, 2.54 cm). A part where a yellow ink layer and a cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with a green ink layer, a part where a yellow ink layer and a magenta ink layer overlap is replaced with a red ink layer, and a part where a magenta ink layer and a cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with a blue ink layer in the multicolor image formation method. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multicolor image forming method using a laser thermal transfer method, and more particularly to a multicolor image forming method capable of secondary transfer (retransfer) to a wide range of final recording media (printing paper) and obtaining a high quality proof. .

  An ink sheet having at least a light-to-heat conversion layer and an ink layer on a support, and an image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on the support, the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet facing each other After overlapping, irradiating laser light from the ink sheet side and transferring the laser light irradiation area of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to form a multicolor image, the image receiving layer of this image receiving sheet is used with a laminator or the like As an ink sheet in an image forming method for secondary transfer onto a final image transfer medium, conventionally, there are four colors (so-called process colors) of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). In recent years, higher quality has been demanded. In order to expand the range of reproducible hues, blue (B) and green (G) Red (R), orange (O), the ink sheet having an ink layer, such as violet (V) has been proposed (e.g. see Patent Document 1). However, in this method, since the ink layer of 4 colors + α is transferred to the image receiving layer, the thickness of the ink layer on the image receiving layer is greatly increased. When this is secondarily transferred, the followability to the printing paper is reduced, so that the phenomenon that the image portion is shifted and wrinkles (image flow) is likely to occur. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to finely control the laminating conditions and to limit the types of paper to be secondarily transferred, which is inconvenient.

The higher the resolution, the larger the image recording area, and the greater the shadow area, the more easily affected by this image flow, the fact is that it is difficult to meet the required quality requirements.
JP 2003-54139 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a multicolor image forming method capable of obtaining a high-quality proof by secondary transfer (retransfer) without limiting the final recording medium (printing paper).

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations.

(Claim 1)
An ink sheet having at least a light-to-heat conversion layer and an ink layer on a support, and an image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on the support, the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet facing each other In a multicolor image forming method in which image recording is performed by superimposing and irradiating laser light from the ink sheet side to transfer the laser light irradiation region of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet, the image recording area is 420 mm × 594 mm or more The resolution of the transferred image to the image receiving layer is 2400 dpi (dpi is the number of dots per inch, that is, 2.54 cm) or more, and the portion where the yellow ink layer and the cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with a green ink layer. Replace the area where the ink layer and magenta ink layer overlap with the red ink layer, and replace the magenta ink layer and cyan ink layer. Multi-color image forming method characterized by replacing the portion where the layers overlap blue ink layer.

(Claim 2)
2. The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the image transferred onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet is further secondarily transferred to a final recording medium.

(Claim 3)
3. The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, wherein an image recording area is 515 mm × 728 mm or more.

(Claim 4)
4. The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the ink of the ink layer is mainly composed of a pigment.

(Claim 5)
A color image data conversion processing step for converting color image data for creating a printed matter into color image data for a proof output device before the ink layer is transferred onto the image receiving sheet to form a multicolor image; and A color / halftone dot matching conversion processing step for performing data conversion processing for matching at least one of the color and halftone of the printed material with at least one of the color and halftone of the color image output by the proof output device The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a color matching step.

  According to the image forming method of the present invention, secondary transfer can be performed on a wide range of sheets without changing the setting conditions (speed, transfer pressure, etc.) of the laminator.

  Hereinafter, the image forming method of the present invention will be described in more detail. First, the color matching process that is a feature of the present invention will be described.

<Color matching process>
In order to obtain an image with high printed matter approximation, it is necessary to provide a color matching step, and to perform various corrections and color conversion processing on the color image data corresponding to the given color image data. In order to perform various corrections and color conversion processes in this color matching process, for example, when creating a proof of a printed matter using a proof output device, printing conditions (types of printing paper, types of printing inks) related to the color printing machine Printing condition correction conversion table for converting color image data in consideration of the above, and the output method (halftone modulation method, density modulation method, etc.) of the proof output device and color printing machine without depending on the printing conditions Therefore, a standard color conversion table for performing standard color correction according to the above, a conversion table for calibration for correcting machine differences and use environments, temporal changes, and the like of the proof output device are required. These various conversion conversion tables may be experimentally created in advance as a four-dimensional (black, cyan, magenta, yellow) table and stored in a system that implements the present invention. The four-dimensional table prepares an image actually printed by a printing machine and an image recorded by a proof output device under various conditions (printing conditions, output method, usage environment, etc.) for important color data in advance. The colorimetric values may be compared and created so that the difference is minimized.

  In the color matching process of the present invention, color image data for creating a printed material is converted into color image data for a proof output device (color image conversion processing step), and the color image data for the proof output device is converted into a printed material. Data conversion processing is performed so that the color / halftone dot of the image matches the color / halftone dot of the output proof (color / halftone dot matching conversion process step). In the color / halftone dot matching conversion step, the color image data (contone (continuous tone) data) for the proof output device is converted into raster data through a RIP (raster image processor) system or the like, and then the raster data is converted into the raster data. The color conversion is performed so that the color matches the printed matter using the color conversion four-dimensional table having various correction data as described above, and finally, binary data for halftone dots is converted so as to match the halftone dots of the printed matter. . By performing color and halftone data conversion processing in these color matching processes, it is possible to easily create a color proof image that matches the printed matter with high accuracy. In addition, efficient color matching corresponding to a large screen can be realized. Details of the data conversion and the like are described in JP-A-11-41475 and JP-A-2001-169110.

  In the image recorded in the process color by this color matching process, the part where the yellow ink layer and the cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with the green ink layer, and the part where the yellow ink layer and the magenta ink layer overlap is replaced with the red ink layer. A portion where the magenta ink layer and the cyan ink layer overlap can be replaced with the blue ink layer.

<Image forming method>
Image formation consists of two processes. That is,
1) a step of closely attaching an image receiving sheet and an ink sheet and transferring an image like an image from the ink sheet side by laser exposure;
2) After repeating the above steps a plurality of times to form a color image on the image receiving sheet, facing the color image and the final recording medium, and applying heat and / or pressure to bond the image receiving sheet and the recording medium The step of transferring the image together with the image receiving layer to the final recording medium by peeling off the image receiving sheet;
It is. As an example, the image receiving sheet of the present invention and the ink sheet for image formation are sequentially wound around the exposure drum and held by pressure-reducing adhesion, and the ink sheet is rotated from the back surface (back coat layer coating surface side) while rotating the drum. By irradiating a laser beam corresponding to the image data, an image is thermally transferred from the ink sheet to the image receiving sheet. After the exposure, the ink sheet is peeled off, the image surface of the image-receiving image-formed sheet and the final transfer medium (for example, printing paper) are superimposed, laminated with a heated roll, and then peeled off from the image-receiving sheet on the final recording medium. An image is formed, and an image recorded material that is very similar to a printed material can be obtained.

Examples of the light source of the image recording laser used include a semiconductor laser, a YAG laser, a carbon dioxide gas laser, and a helium neon laser. In semiconductor lasers, without significantly reducing optical efficiency. It is preferable to use a so-called single mode laser diode, as it is easy to narrow the 1 / e ² diameter to several to several tens of μm at the focal point.

  Examples of laser scanning methods include cylindrical outer surface scanning, cylindrical inner surface scanning, and planar scanning. In the cylindrical outer surface scanning, laser exposure is performed while rotating a drum around which the recording material is wound, the rotation of the drum is used as main scanning, and the movement of laser light is used as sub scanning. In cylindrical inner surface scanning, a recording material is fixed to the inner surface of the drum, a laser beam is irradiated from the inside, and a main scanning is performed in the circumferential direction by rotating a part or all of the optical system. Sub scanning is performed in the axial direction by linearly moving all of them in parallel with the drum axis. In plane scanning, a laser beam main scan is performed by combining a polygon mirror, a galvanometer mirror, and an fθ lens, and a sub-scan is performed by moving a recording medium. Cylindrical outer surface scanning and cylindrical inner surface scanning are easier to increase the accuracy of the optical system and are suitable for high-density recording. In the case of so-called multi-channel exposure in which a plurality of light emitting elements are used simultaneously, cylindrical outer surface scanning is most suitable. Also, when using a YAG laser or the like having a large exposure output, it is difficult to significantly increase the drum rotation speed in the cylindrical outer surface scanning, so that the cylindrical inner surface scanning is suitable. Examples of light sources other than lasers include light emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs and semiconductor lasers are easy to use as an array in which a plurality of light emitting elements are integrated.

  As the method using the above-mentioned image forming method, large format DDCP (Direct Digital Color Proof) already on the market, for example, Konica Corporation: Color Decision, Color Decision II, Fuji Photo Film Ltd .: Luxe FINALPROOF 5600 etc. are mentioned.

  The present invention is suitable for recording an image with an A2 size (420 mm × 294 mm) or more, and the effect is remarkably exhibited when an image is recorded with a B2 size (515 mm × 765 mm) or more. The resolution of the recorded image is preferably 2400 dpi (described above) or more.

  In order to bring the color reproducibility closer to the target printed matter, it is desirable to combine with the above-described high-accuracy color management system (CMS).

  Next, the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet used in the multicolor image forming method of the present invention will be described.

<Ink sheet>
The ink sheet has at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer on one surface of the support. If necessary, an adhesive layer (cushion layer) is provided between these layers and the support, an intermediate layer is provided between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the ink layer, and a back surface on the opposite side (back surface) of the support. A coat layer can be provided.

(Support)
The support for the ink sheet may be anything as long as it has rigidity, good dimensional stability, excellent transparency and smoothness, and can withstand heat during image formation. For example, vinyl chloride resin film, ABS resin Film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, polybutylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) film, polyacrylate film, polycarbonate (PC) film, polyetherketone film, polysulfone film, polyethersulfone film, polyetherimide film, Polyimide film, polyethylene (PE) film, polypropylene (PP) film, polystyrene (PS) film, stretched nylon (Ny) film, polyacetate film, polymethyl methacrylate PMMA) single layer or various plastic film laminated thereof two or more layers of such film. Also, one side of the above-mentioned various plastic films (opposite to the side on which the laser beam is incident) laminated or vapor-deposited with a metal thin film such as aluminum, stainless steel, chrome, nickel, etc., or provided with various ceramic layers Is also used.

  These supports can be subjected to various processes such as dimensional stabilization and antistatic. Antistatic agents include cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, polymer antistatic agents, and conductive fine particles, as well as “11290 chemical products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875- The compounds described on page 876 and the like are widely used. Further, these supports may be subjected to a conventionally known surface modification treatment. Examples of these surface modification treatments include flame emission treatment, sulfuric acid treatment, corona discharge treatment, plasma treatment, glow discharge treatment and the like. In addition, an adhesive layer may be provided on the support in order to satisfactorily apply each layer described later on the support. A conventionally well-known thing can be especially used as a contact bonding layer without a restriction | limiting. Examples of the method for providing the adhesive layer include water-based resin coating, solvent-based resin coating, water-based latex coating, and hot melt coating. In general, it is advantageous to provide an adhesive layer at the time of preparing the support from the viewpoints of cost, stability, etc. From this point, for example, acrylic resin, polystyrene resin, polyester resin, urethane resin, polyethylene / vinyl acetate resin A method of applying a latex such as is preferable, but not particularly limited thereto. Such base films with an adhesive layer are available from various companies and can be suitably used in the present invention.

  The thickness of the ink sheet support of the present invention is desirably thinner than the thickness of the image receiving sheet, preferably 5 to 25 μm, more preferably 10 to 20 μm. If it is less than 5 μm, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of transportability and adhesion at the time of exposure in addition to strength, and if it exceeds 25 μm, the effect of the present invention is reduced.

(Photothermal conversion layer)
The photothermal conversion layer is a layer having a photothermal conversion function. When a photothermal conversion material can be added to the ink layer, a photothermal conversion layer is not particularly required. However, if the photothermal conversion material is not substantially transparent, considering the color reproducibility of the transferred image, photothermal conversion is performed separately from the ink layer. It is desirable to provide a layer. The photothermal conversion layer is preferably provided between the support and the ink layer.

  As the binder in the photothermal conversion layer, a resin having a high glass transition point (Tg) and high thermal conductivity, such as polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyimide, poly Consists of general heat-resistant resins such as etherimide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, and aramid, and polythiophenes, polyanilines, polyacetylenes, polyphenylenes, polyphenylene sulfides, polypyrroles, and derivatives or mixtures thereof Polymeric compounds can be used. Moreover, a water-soluble polymer can also be used as a binder of a photothermal conversion layer. It is also possible to use a resin having a crosslinkable group such as hydroxyl group or carboxyl group in the molecule (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl butyral, etc.) and a crosslinking agent in combination.

  Examples of the crosslinking agent include isocyanate compounds such as hexamethylene diisocyanate, tolylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, 1,3-bis (isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane, 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, tetramethyl. Xylylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, naphthylene diisocyanate, 4,4'-methylenebis (cyclohexyl isocyanate) and the like, and further, an appropriate polymer such as its own polymer or an adduct with a polyhydric alcohol can be selected. Can be used. In addition, you may use these isocyanate type compounds individually by 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types.

  Further, by incorporating various release agents into the light-to-heat conversion layer, the peelability between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the ink layer can be increased, and the sensitivity can be improved. As the release agent, silicone-based release agents (polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone oil, alcohol-modified silicone oil, etc.), various surfactants including fluorine-based surfactants, and the like are effective. When using a photothermal conversion substance, although it changes with light sources, the substance which absorbs light and converts into heat efficiently is good, for example, when using a semiconductor laser as a light source, the substance which has an absorption band in near infrared is preferable. Examples of near-infrared light absorbers include organic compounds such as carbon black, cyanine, polymethine, azurenium, squarylium, thiopyrylium, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone dyes, phthalocyanine, azo, and thioamide organic metals. Complexes and the like are preferably used, and specifically, JP-A-63-139191, JP-A-64-33547, JP-A-1-160683, JP-A-1-280750, JP-A-1-293342, and JP-A-2-2074. 3-26593, 3-30991, 3-34891, 3-36093, 3-36094, 3-36095, 3-42281, 3-97589, Examples include compounds described in No. 3-103476. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The film thickness of the photothermal conversion layer is preferably from 0.1 to 3 μm, more preferably from 0.2 to 1.0 μm. The content of the photothermal conversion substance in the photothermal conversion layer is usually determined such that the absorbance at the wavelength of the light source used for image recording is 0.3 to 3.0, more preferably 0.7 to 2.5. it can. In addition to these, various vapor deposition layers can be used, such as carbon black, gold, silver, aluminum, chromium, nickel, antimony, tellurium, bismuth, selenium and the like described in JP-A-52-20842. In addition to the black vapor deposition layer, metal elements of groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 of the periodic table, and alloys thereof, or these elements and 1, 2 And an alloy with a Group 3 element or a mixture thereof, and particularly desirable metals include Al, Bi, Sn, In or Zn, and alloys thereof, or these metals and 1, 2 in the periodic table. And alloys with Group 3 elements, or mixtures thereof. Suitable metal oxides or sulfides include Al, Bi, Sn, In, Zn, Ti, Cr, Mo, W, Co, Ir, Ni, Pb, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zr or Te compounds. Or a mixture thereof. Furthermore, the vapor deposition layer of metal phthalocyanines, metal dithiolenes, and anthraquinones is also mentioned. The film thickness of the vapor deposition layer is preferably within 500 mm. The photothermal conversion substance may be the color material itself of the ink layer, and is not limited to the above, and various substances can be used. If the photothermal conversion layer is inferior in adhesion to the lower layer of the support, it may cause film peeling when peeling the ink sheet from the image receiving sheet during light irradiation or after thermal transfer, and may cause a decrease in color reproducibility. It is also possible to provide an adhesive layer between the lower layer of the support.

(Ink layer)
The ink layer is mainly composed of a colorant and a binder. In the laser melting thermal transfer method, the ink layer is a layer that can be transferred for each layer containing a colorant, a binder, and the like by melting or softening when heated, and may not be transferred in a completely molten state.

  Examples of the colorant include inorganic pigments (titanium dioxide, carbon black, graphite, zinc oxide, Prussian blue, cadmium sulfide, iron oxide and lead, zinc, barium and calcium chromates) and organic pigments (azo-based, Pigments and dyes (acid dyes, direct dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes) such as thioindigo, anthraquinone, anthanthrone, triphendioxazine pigments, vat dye pigments, phthalocyanine pigments and derivatives thereof, quinacridone pigments, Metal-containing oil-soluble dyes or sublimable dyes).

  For example, yellow is C.I. I. 21090, C.I. I. 21095, C.I. I. 21100, C.I. I. 21105, C.I. I. 21290, C.I. I. 56298 pigment, magenta is C.I. I. 15850: 1, C.I. I. 15855: 1, C.I. I. 15865: 1, C.I. I. 15865: 2, C.I. I. 15865: 3, C.I. I. 73915, C.I. I. 65300 pigment, cyan is C.I. I. 74160, C.I. I. 69800 pigment, black is C.I. I. 77266 pigment is preferably used. These pigments are used alone or in combination.

  In addition, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 3, C.I. I. Pigment red 97, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment red 149, C.I. I. Pigment red 168, C.I. I. Pigment red 177, C.I. I. Pigment red 180, C.I. I. Pigment red 192, C.I. I. Pigment red 215, C.I. I. No. 12085, C.I. I. No. 12120, C.I. I. No. 12140, C.I. I. No. 12315, etc., green pigments such as C.I. I. Pigment green 7, C.I. I. Pigment green 36, C.I. I. No. 42053, C.I. I. No. 42085, C.I. I. No. 42095, etc., blue pigments such as C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 1, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15: 4, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 6, C.I. I. Pigment blue 22, C.I. I. Pigment blue 60, C.I. I. Pigment blue 64, C.I. I. No. 42052, C.I. I. No. 42090 or the like is used. For blue, green, and red, it is preferable to match the hue obtained by adding two colors in the process color. However, when the color matching process using the above-described CMS is used, the hue is It may be slightly different.

  The content of the colorant in the ink layer may be adjusted so as to obtain a desired concentration with a desired coating film thickness, and is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of 5 to 70% by mass, preferably 10 -60 mass%.

  Examples of the binder for the ink layer include a hot-melt material and a thermoplastic resin. The hot-melt material is usually a solid or semi-solid material having a melting point measured using Yanagimoto MJP-2 type in the range of 40 to 150 ° C. Specifically, plant waxes such as carnauba wax, wood wax, aucuric wax and espal wax; animal waxes such as beeswax, insect wax, shellac wax and whale wax; paraffin wax, microcrystal wax, polyethylene wax, ester wax, acid Examples thereof include petroleum waxes such as waxes; and waxes such as mineral waxes such as montan wax, ozokerite, and ceresin. Other higher fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, margaric acid, and behenic acid; higher alcohols such as palmitic alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, marganyl alcohol, myricyl alcohol, eicosanol; cetyl palmitate, myricyl palmitate , Higher fatty acid esters such as cetyl stearate and myricyl stearate; amides such as acetamide, propionic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, stearic acid amide and amide wax; and higher amines such as stearylamine, behenylamine and palmitylamine Glycerin fatty acid monoester, polyglycerin (N = 2-6) fatty acid ester, erythritol fatty acid ester, and the like.

  Thermoplastic resins include ethylene copolymers, polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, styrene resins, styrene-acrylic resins, acrylic resins, vinyl chloride resins, and cellulose resins. Rosin resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polyvinyl butyral resins, ionomer resins, petroleum resins, and ink layer binder resins described in JP-A-6-312583. A resin having a TMA softening point of 70 to 150 ° C. is preferably used. In addition to the above thermoplastic resins, elastomers such as natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber and diene copolymer; rosin derivatives such as ester gum, rosin maleic resin, rosin phenol resin, hydrogenated rosin; In addition, a high molecular compound such as a phenol resin, a terpene resin, a cyclopentadiene resin, or an aromatic hydrocarbon resin can also be used. By appropriately selecting the heat-melting substance and the thermoplastic substance, it is possible to form an ink layer having a desired heat softening point or a heat-transfer point and having a heat transfer property. In the present invention, an image can be formed by ablation transfer by using a binder having high thermal decomposability. Such binders include polymeric materials that undergo rapid acid-catalyzed partial degradation, preferably at temperatures below 200 ° C. when measured under equilibrium conditions, such as nitrocelluloses, polycarbonates and J.A. M.M. J. et al. Frechet, F.A. Bouchard, J .; M.M. Houlihan, B.H. Kryczke and E.I. Eichler, J. et al. Imaging Science, 30 (2), pages 59-64 (1986), including polymers of the type, and polyurethanes, polyesters, polyorthoesters, and polyacetals, and copolymers thereof. .

  Although it is disclosed in JP-A-62-158092 that a high concentration can be obtained by making the particle diameters of pigments uniform, various dispersants are used in order to ensure the dispersibility of pigments and to obtain good color reproduction. It is effective to use As other additives, it is possible to add a plasticizer that increases the sensitivity by plasticizing the ink layer, and a surfactant that improves the coatability of the ink layer.

  Examples of the lubricant contained in the ink layer include the following synthetic waxes.

1) Fatty acid wax A linear saturated fatty acid having 8 to 31 carbon atoms. Specific examples include stearic acid, behenic acid, palmitic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, azelaic acid and the like. Moreover, the metal salt (K, Ca, Zn, Mg salt etc.) of these fatty acids is mentioned.

2) Fatty acid ester wax Specific examples of the fatty acid ester include ethyl stearate, lauryl stearate, ethyl behenate, hexyl behenate, behenyl myristate, and glycerin ester.

3) Fatty acid amide wax Specific examples of fatty acid amides include stearic acid amide and lauric acid amide.

4) Fatty alcohol-based wax A linear saturated aliphatic alcohol having 7 to 30 carbon atoms. Specific examples include lauryl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.

5) Polymer wax Examples include polyethylene having a number average molecular weight of 200 to 10,000.

  Among the synthetic waxes 1) to 5), higher fatty acid amides such as behenic acid, mono-higher fatty acid esters of glycerin, stearic acid amide, and lauric acid amide are preferable.

  The addition amount of these lubricants is preferably 1.0 to 20.0 mass% of the total solid content of the ink layer excluding the colorant.

  In addition to the above components, surfactants, inorganic or organic fine particles (metal powder, silica gel, etc.), oils (linseed oil, mineral oil, etc.), thickeners, antistatic agents, etc. may be contained.

  Solvents used for preparing the ink layer coating liquid include water, methanol, ethanol, i-propyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether Etc. The application / drying can be performed using a normal application / drying method.

  A preferable thickness of the ink layer is 0.2 to 2 μm, and more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 μm. In particular, it has been confirmed that high sensitivity can be obtained when the thickness is 0.8 μm or less. However, since the thin film transferability of the ink layer differs depending on the type of binder and colorant used, the mixing ratio thereof, etc., an optimum film The thickness range is selected according to the balance between sensitivity and resolution and other desired image reproduction performance.

(Middle layer)
In addition to preventing the photothermal conversion layer from ablating and following the ink layer during laser exposure, the photothermal conversion dye contained in the photothermal conversion layer is coated and dried, and the ink layer over time after it is manufactured as an ink sheet An intermediate layer may be provided between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the ink layer for the purpose of preventing the light from diffusing.

  The binder used for the intermediate layer depends on the configuration of the light-to-heat conversion layer, but the time after the light-to-heat conversion dye contained in the light-to-heat conversion layer is produced to the intermediate layer or the ink layer, during coating and drying, and as an ink sheet. Use one that can prevent diffusion. For example, a resin that dissolves 5% or more in a solvent in which the solubility of the photothermal conversion dye contained in the photothermal conversion layer is 0.1% or less can be used.

  When the photothermal conversion dye is solvent-soluble, it is preferable to use a water-soluble resin. When the photothermal conversion dye is water-soluble, it is preferable to use a resin that is soluble in an organic solvent. Further, these intermediate layer binder resins are preferably crosslinked and cured with a crosslinking agent.

(Cushion layer)
In order to improve the adhesion between the recording material and the image receiving material during exposure, a cushion layer may be provided between the support and the photothermal conversion layer, or a support having cushioning properties may be used.

  The cushion layer is provided for the purpose of increasing the adhesion between the ink sheet (recording medium) and the image receiving sheet (image receiving medium). This cushion layer is a layer having cushioning properties or elasticity, and a material that can be sufficiently softened and deformed by heating, a material having a low elastic modulus, or a material having rubber elasticity may be used. The cushion layer is a layer having a cushioning property, and an elastic modulus and a penetration can be used as a guideline representing the cushioning property here. For example, a layer having an elastic modulus at 25 ° C. of about 9.81 to 2,450 MPa or a penetration of 15 to 500, more preferably about 30 to 300 as defined in JIS K2530-1976 is used for color calibration. Although it has been confirmed that a suitable cushioning property is exhibited for the formation of a color proof image, the required level varies depending on the intended use of the image, and can be selected as appropriate. The cushion layer preferably has a TMA softening point of 70 ° C or lower, more preferably 60 ° C or lower.

  The preferred properties of the cushion layer are not necessarily specified only by the type of the material, but preferred properties of the material itself include polyolefin resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, polybutadiene resins. , Styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR), styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer (NBR), polyisoprene resin (IR), styrene-isoprene copolymer (SIS) ), Acrylate copolymer, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, butyl rubber, polynorbornene and the like. Among these, those having a relatively low molecular weight are likely to satisfy the preferable requirements, but are not necessarily limited in relation to the material. The cushion layer can be provided by solvent application, but can also be formed by application in the form of an aqueous dispersion such as latex or emulsion. In addition, a water-soluble resin can also be used. These resins can be used alone or as a mixture as required.

  Moreover, even if it is a raw material other than the above, a preferable characteristic can be provided to the cushion layer by adding various additives. Examples of such additives include low melting point substances such as wax, plasticizers, and the like. Specific examples include phthalic acid esters, adipic acid esters, glycol esters, fatty acid esters, phosphoric acid esters, chlorinated paraffins, and the like. In addition, various additives described in, for example, “Practical Handbook for Additives for Plastics and Rubber”, Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (published in 1970) can be added. The additive amount and the like of these additives may be selected in an amount necessary for expressing desirable physical properties in combination with the base cushion layer material, and is not particularly limited, but generally 10 mass of the cushion layer material amount. % Or less, more preferably 5% by mass or less.

  As a method for forming the cushion layer, a solution obtained by dissolving the material in a solvent or dispersed in a latex form, a coating method such as a blade coater, a roll coater, a bar coater, a curtain coater, or a gravure coater, an extrusion lamination method using hot melt, etc. Applicable.

  It is also possible to use a void-structure resin layer obtained by foaming a heat softening or thermoplastic resin as a special cushion layer. The film thickness of the cushion layer is preferably 0.5 to 10 μm, more preferably 1 to 7 μm.

(Back coat layer)
In the ink sheet of the present invention, for the purpose of improving transportability in the exposure apparatus and preventing blocking with the support of the ink layer when stored in the form of a roll, the ink sheet is provided on the support opposite to the ink layer side. A backcoat layer can be provided.

  Binders used in the back coat layer include gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, acetyl cellulose, aromatic polyamide resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, alkyd resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, fluorine resin, polyimide resin, urethane Resin, acrylic resin, urethane-modified silicone resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, Teflon (R) resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate, polycarbonate, organic boron compound, aromatic esters, fluorination General-purpose polymers such as polyurethane and polyethersulfone can be used. Using a crosslinkable water-soluble binder as the binder for the backcoat layer is effective in preventing the mat material from falling off and improving the scratch resistance of the backcoat. It is also very effective for blocking during storage. As the crosslinking means, any one or combination of heat, actinic rays, pressure, and the like can be adopted without particular limitation depending on the characteristics of the crosslinking agent to be used. In some cases, an optional adhesive layer may be provided on the side of the support on which the backcoat layer is provided in order to impart adhesion to the support.

Further, the back coat layer preferably contains a mat material. As the mat material preferably added to the back coat layer, organic or inorganic fine particles can be used. Examples of the organic mat material include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, fine particles of other radical polymerization polymers, fine particles of condensation polymers such as polyester and polycarbonate, and the like. The back coat layer is preferably provided at a weight of about 0.5 to 5 g / m ² . If it is less than 0.5 g / m ² , the coating property is unstable, and problems such as powdering off of the mat material are likely to occur. In addition, if the coating is applied greatly exceeding 5 g / m ² , the particle size of a suitable mat material becomes very large, resulting in embossing of the ink layer surface by back coating during storage, especially in thermal transfer for transferring a thin ink layer. The recorded image is likely to be missing or uneven. The mat material preferably has a number average particle size 1 to 20 μm larger than the film thickness of only the binder of the backcoat layer. Among the mat members, 1 mg / m ² or more of particles having a particle diameter of 2 μm or more are required, and preferably ² to 600 mg / m ² . This in particular improves foreign matter failures. Further, by using a narrow particle size distribution such that a value σ / rn (= coefficient of variation of the particle size distribution) obtained by dividing the standard deviation of the particle size distribution by the number average particle size is 0.3 or less, Defects generated by particles having an abnormally large particle size can be improved, and desired performance can be obtained with a smaller addition amount. The variation coefficient is more preferably 0.15 or less. An antistatic agent is preferably added to the backcoat layer in order to prevent adhesion of foreign matters due to frictional charging with the transport roll during sheet supply. Examples of the antistatic agent include a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a polymer antistatic agent, and conductive fine particles, as well as “11290 Chemical Products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875- The compounds described on page 876 and the like are widely used. As the antistatic agent that can be used in combination with the backcoat layer, among the above substances, metal oxides such as carbon black, zinc oxide, titanium oxide and tin oxide, and conductive fine particles such as organic semiconductors are preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use conductive fine particles because the antistatic agent is not dissociated from the backcoat layer and a stable antistatic effect can be obtained regardless of the environment. In addition, various activators, mold release agents such as silicone oil, fluorine-based resins, and the like can be added to the back coat layer in order to impart coatability and mold release properties.

<Image-receiving sheet>
Any known image receiving sheet for laser thermal transfer can be used as the image receiving sheet that receives the ink layer of the ink sheet, but an image receiving sheet for laser thermal transfer that can be retransferred to a final recording medium such as a printing paper is preferable. Specific examples include image receiving sheets described in JP-A-6-79980, JP-A-6-19043, JP-A-6-122280, JP-A-8-282140, JP-A-9-52458, and JP-A-3425560.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention, the embodiment of this invention is not limited to these. Unless otherwise specified, “part” in the examples represents “part by mass” and “%” represents “% by mass”.

Example 1
<Preparation of Yellow Ink Sheet 1>
A transparent PET film (T100 # 38: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Polyester Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 38 μm was used as a support, and a release layer coating solution having the following composition was applied and dried on the reverse roll coater. A release layer of 3 g / m ² was formed.
(Release layer coating solution)
Release layer binder liquid * 22.9 parts Crosslinking agent (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd .: Sumire's Resin 613) 0.2 parts Pure water 69.2 parts i-Propyl alcohol 7.7 parts (* release layer binder liquid)
9.5 of polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-30; manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
% Aqueous solution 97.2 parts Crosslinking accelerator (Sumitex Accelerator ACX-P: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.3 parts Fluorine-based surfactant (Daikin Industries, Ltd .: Unidyne TG-810) 0.3 parts Pure water 1. 2 parts On the release layer, a yellow ink layer coating solution having the following composition was applied and dried by wire bar coating to form an ink layer having a dry weight of 0.65 g / m ² .
(Yellow ink layer coating solution 1)
Yellow pigment dispersion (10 parts of Seika First Yellow H-7055 dispersed in MEK 88 parts with 2 parts of dispersant) 18.2 parts Styrene resin (Himmer ST-95: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 5.0 parts Acrylic resin (Dianar BR-102: manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) 0.4 part Styrene-butadiene block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: manufactured by Clayton Polymer Japan Co., Ltd.) 0.2 part Surfactant (Megafac F- 178K: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.1 parts methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) 11.5 parts cyclohexanone 64.5 parts On the yellow ink layer, a photothermal conversion layer coating solution 1 having the following composition is formed by wire bar coating. This was applied to form a photothermal conversion layer having a drying amount of 0.73 g / m ² .
(Photothermal conversion layer coating solution 1)
Polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-30: supra) 4.0 parts Carbon black dispersion (CAB-O-JET300: manufactured by CABOT) 13.5 parts Boric acid 0.2 parts Fluorosurfactant (FT-251: Neos) 0.1 part pure water 63.4 parts i-propyl alcohol 18.8 parts On the other hand, a 75 μm-thick transparent PET film (T100 # 75: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Polyester Co., Ltd.) is used as a support and the back has the following composition. The coating layer coating solution 1 was applied by wire bar coating to form a back coating layer having a drying weight of 0.65 g / m ² .
(Backcoat layer coating solution 1)
Polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-05: manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 4.7 parts Antistatic agent (Efcol 214: manufactured by Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) 1.5 parts Matt material (PMMA particles having a volume average particle size of 5.6 μm) 57 parts aqueous solution) 0.6 parts Fluororesin aqueous solution (Smileze Resin FP-150: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.0 parts Fluorosurfactant (FT-251: supra) 0.1 part Pure water 81 .3 parts i-propyl alcohol 9.4 parts Cushion layer coating solution 1 having the following composition was applied to the back surface of the back coat layer by wire bar coating to form a cushion layer having a dry weight of 7 g / m ² .
(Cushion layer coating solution 1)
Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton G1657: manufactured by Kraton Polymer Japan) 10.0 parts Rosin ester (Superester A-100: manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Industries) 4.3 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 17.1 parts Toluene 68.6 parts Next, after the light-to-heat conversion layer of each sheet provided with the yellow ink layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer is bonded to the cushion layer by roll touch, the film with the release layer is peeled off, and the yellow ink Sheet 1 was obtained.

<Preparation of magenta ink sheet 1>
A magenta ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was changed to a magenta ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition. The drying amount of the magenta ink layer coating liquid 1 was 0.67 g / m ² .
(Magenta ink layer coating solution 1)
Magenta pigment dispersion (15 parts of Brilliant Carmine 6B with 4.5 parts of dispersant MEK
13.9 parts Styrene resin (Heimer ST-95: supra) 4.6 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-102: supra) 0.4 part Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: supra) 0.2 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 16.7 parts Cyclohexanone 64.0 parts <Preparation of cyan ink sheet 1>
A cyan ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was changed to the cyan ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition. The dry weight of the cyan ink layer coating solution 1 was 0.70 g / m ² .
(Cyan ink layer coating solution 1)
30 parts of cyan pigment dispersion (phthalocyanine blue PB15: 3 was added to 5 parts of dispersant with ME
5.2 parts Styrene resin (Heimer ST-95: supra) 5.7 parts Acrylic resin (Dianar BR-102: supra) 0.4 part Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton) D-1101CU: supra) 0.3 part Fluorine-based surface activity (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part methyl ethyl ketone 24.1 parts cyclohexanone 64.1 parts <Preparation of black ink sheet 1>
The yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was changed to a black ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition, and the photothermal conversion layer coating liquid 1 was changed to a photothermal conversion layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition, and the same procedure as in the preparation of the yellow ink sheet 1 was performed. A black ink sheet 1 was obtained. The dry weight of the black ink layer coating liquid 1 was 0.87 g / m ² , and the dry weight of the conversion layer coating liquid 2 was 0.73 g / m ² .
(Black ink layer coating solution 1)
Black pigment dispersion (25 parts of carbon black dispersed in 70 parts of MEK with 5 parts of dispersant) 8.0 parts Cyan pigment dispersion (supra) 1.1 parts Violet pigment dispersion (10 parts of dioxazine violet MEK8 with 5 parts of dispersant
1.5 parts Styrene resin (Haimer ST-95: supra) 6.2 parts Acrylic resin (Dianar BR-85: manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) 1.1 parts Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton D-1117P: manufactured by Clayton Polymer Japan Co., Ltd.) 0.2 parts Fluorosurfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 19.2 parts Cyclohexanone 62.6 parts (Photothermal conversion layer coating) Liquid 2)
Polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-30: supra) 3.7 parts Carbon black dispersion (CAB-O-JET300: supra) 14.3 parts Boric acid 0.2 part Surfactant (FT-251: supra) 0 .1 part Pure water 62.9 parts i-Propyl alcohol 18.8 parts <Preparation of Blue Ink Sheet 1>
A blue ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with the blue ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition in the preparation of the yellow ink sheet 1. The dry weight of the ink layer of the blue ink sheet 1 was 0.87 g / m ² .
(Blue ink layer coating solution 1)
Cyan pigment dispersion (supra) 2.6 parts Magenta pigment dispersion (supra) 6.9 parts Styrene resin (Heimer ST-95: supra) 5.7 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-102: supra) 0.4 part Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: supra) 0.3 part Fluorine-based surface activity (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 24.1 parts Cyclohexanone 64. 1 part <Preparation of green ink sheet 1>
A green ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with the green ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition in the preparation of the yellow ink sheet 1. The dry weight of the ink layer of the green ink sheet 1 was 0.70 g / m ² .
(Green ink layer coating solution 1)
Cyan pigment dispersion (supra) 2.6 parts Yellow pigment dispersion (supra) 9.1 parts Styrene resin (Himmer ST-95: supra) 5.0 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-102: supra) 0.4 part styrene-butadiene block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: supra)
0.2 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 11.5 parts Cyclohexanone 64.5 parts <Preparation of red ink sheet 1>
A red ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with a red ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition in the preparation of the yellow ink sheet 1. The dry weight of the ink layer of the red ink sheet 1 was 0.71 g / m ² .
(Red ink layer coating solution 1)
Magenta pigment dispersion (supra) 7.0 parts Yellow pigment dispersion (supra) 9.0 parts Styrene resin (Haimer ST-95: supra) 4.6 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-102: supra) ) 0.4 part Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: supra) 0.2 part Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 16.7 parts Cyclohexanone 64.0 <Preparation of black ink sheet 2>
Corona treatment is applied to one side of 75 μm thick transparent PET (T100 # 75: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Polyester Co., Ltd.), and a back coat first layer coating solution having the following composition is applied and dried to a dry layer thickness of 0.03 μm. Thus, the first backcoat layer was formed.
(Backcoat first layer coating solution)
Aqueous dispersion of acrylic resin (Julimer ET410: manufactured by Nippon Pure Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.0 parts Antistatic agent (17% aqueous dispersion of tin oxide-antimony oxide, average particle size 0.1 μm)
7.0 parts polyoxyethylene phenyl ether 0.1 part melamine compound (Sumitics Resin M-3: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.3 part pure water Amount of total 100 parts Above the first layer of the back coat A back coat second layer coating solution having the following composition was applied and dried to a dry layer thickness of 0.03 μm to form a back coat second layer.
(Backcoat second layer coating solution)
Polyolefin (Chemipearl S-120: Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd.) 3.0 parts Antistatic agent (tin oxide-antimony water dispersion: supra) 2.0 parts Colloidal silica (Snowtex C: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.) ) 2.0 parts Epoxy compound (Dinacol EX-614B: manufactured by Nagase Kasei Co., Ltd.) 0.3 parts Pure water A total amount of 100 parts On the support opposite to the surface provided with the backcoat layer, The photothermal conversion layer coating liquid 3 having the following composition was applied and dried to form a photothermal conversion layer having an average film thickness of 0.3 μm.
(Coating liquid 3 for photothermal conversion layer)
Infrared absorbing dye (NK-2014: manufactured by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories Co., Ltd.) 7.6 parts Polyimide resin (Rika Coat SN-20F: manufactured by Shin Nippon Chemical Co., Ltd.) 29.3 parts Exxon naphtha 5.8 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.5 parts N-methylpyrrolidone 1500 parts methyl ethyl ketone 360 parts Matte material dispersion 14.1 parts True spherical silica fine particles (Seahoster KE-P150: manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.) , Average particle size 1.5
μm) 10 parts Dispersant polymer (Johncrill 611: Acrylic ester-styrene copolymer manufactured by Johnson Polymer Co., Ltd.) 2 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 16 parts N-methylpyrrolidone 64 parts Preparation of mat material dispersion and 30 parts of glass beads having a diameter of 2 mm Was placed in a polyethylene container having a capacity of 200 ml and dispersed with a paint shaker (manufactured by Toyo Seiki) for 2 hours to obtain a dispersion of silica fine particles.

Next, in order to prepare a black ink layer coating solution, each of the following components was put in a kneader mill, a shearing force was applied while adding a small amount of solvent, and a dispersion pretreatment was performed. A solvent was further added to the dispersion to prepare a composition having the following composition, and sand mill dispersion was performed for 2 hours to obtain a pigment dispersion mother liquor.
(Black pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 12.6 parts Carbon black (Mitsubishi Carbon Black # 5: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 4.5 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: manufactured by ICI) 0.8 part propyl alcohol 79.4 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Carbon black (Mitsubishi Carbon Black MA100: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 10.5 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.8 parts Propyl Alcohol 79.4 parts On the surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer, the following black ink coating solution was applied and dried with a wire bar to form a black ink layer having an average film thickness of 0.60 μm. The black ink sheet 2 was obtained by the above process.
(Black ink layer coating solution 2)
Black pigment dispersion mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 70 parts: 30 parts) 185.7 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 11.9 parts Stearic acid amide (Neutron 2: Nippon Seika Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts behenamide (diamond BM: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts lauric acid amide (diamond Y: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts palmitic acid amide (diamond KP: Nippon Kasei) 1.7 parts erucamide (Diamid L-200: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts Rosin ester (KE-) 311: Arakawa Chemical Industries Ltd.) 11.4 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 2.1 parts Inorganic pigment (MEK-ST: Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd.) 7.1 parts Russia pill alcohol 1050 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 295 parts <Preparation of yellow ink sheet 2>
In the preparation of the black ink sheet 2, a yellow pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a yellow ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. The yellow ink sheet 2 was prepared in the same manner as the black ink sheet 2. The film thickness of the ink layer of the obtained yellow ink sheet 2 was 0.42 μm.
(Yellow pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.1 parts Yellow pigment (Novoperm Yellow P-HG: manufactured by Clariant Japan Co.) 12.9 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts Propyl alcohol 79.4 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.1 parts Yellow pigment (Novoperm Yellow M2R 70: manufactured by Clariant Japan) 12.9 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts 79.4 parts of propyl alcohol (yellow ink layer coating solution 2)
Yellow pigment-dispersed mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 95 parts: 5 parts) 126 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 4.6 parts stearamide (neutron 2: supra) 0.7 Part behenamide (diamond BM: supra) 0.7 part lauric acid amide (diamond Y: supra) 0.7 part palmitic acid amide (diamit KP: supra) 0.7 part erucamide (Diamid L-200: supra) 0.7 part Oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: supra) 0.7 part Surfactant (Chemistat 1100: Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 0.4 part Rosin ester (KE-311: supra) 2.4 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 0.8 part propyl alcohol 793 parts methyl ethyl ketone 198 parts <Maze Preparation of data ink sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a magenta pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a magenta ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. A magenta ink sheet 2 was produced in the same manner as the black ink sheet 2 was produced. The thickness of the ink layer of the obtained magenta ink sheet 2 was 0.38 μm.
(Magenta pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (Denka Butyral # 2000-L: manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
12.6 parts Magenta Pigment (Symular Brilliant Carmine 6B-22)
9: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 15.0 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts propyl alcohol 80.4 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (Denka butyral # 2000-L: supra) 12.6 parts Magenta pigment (Lionol Red 6B-4290G: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.)
15.0 parts Dispersion aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts Propyl alcohol 79.4 parts (magenta ink layer coating solution 2)
Magenta pigment dispersion mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 95 parts: 5 parts) 163 parts Polyvinyl butyral (Denkabutyral # 2000-L: supra) 4.0 parts Stearic acid amide (neutron 2: supra) 0 parts Behenic acid amide (diamond BM: supra) 1.0 part Lauric acid amide ("Diamid Y: supra" 1.0 part Palmitic acid amide (diamond KP: supra) 1.0 part Erucic acid Amide (Diamindo L-200: supra) 1.0 part Oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: supra) 1.0 part Surfactant (Chemistat 1100: supra) 0.7 part Rosin ester (KE- 311: Ibid.) 4.6 parts Pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (NK ester A-TMMT: Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.5 parts Surfactant (Megapha F-176PF: supra) 1.3 parts propyl alcohol 848 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 246 parts <Preparation of Cyan Ink Sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a cyan pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a cyan ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. A cyan ink sheet 2 was produced in the same manner as the black ink sheet 2 was produced. The thickness of the ink layer of the obtained cyan ink sheet 2 was 0.45 μm.
(Cyan pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Cyan pigment (Cyanine Blue 700-10FG: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.)
15.0 parts Dispersing aid (PW-36: Enomoto Kasei Co., Ltd.) 0.8 parts propyl alcohol 110 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Cyan pigment (Lionol Blue 7027: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 15.0 parts Dispersing aid (PW-36: supra) 0.8 parts Propyl alcohol 110 parts (Cyan ink layer coating solution 2)
Cyan pigment-dispersed mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 90 parts: 10 parts) 118 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 5.2 parts Inorganic pigment (MEK-ST: supra) 1.3 parts Stearic acid amide (Neutron 2: supra) 1.0 part Behenamide (diamond BM: supra) 1.0 part Lauric acid amide (diamond Y: supra) 1.0 part Palmitic acid amide (diamond) KP: supra) 1.0 part erucic acid amide (Diamid L-200: supra) 1.0 part oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: supra) 1.0 part Rosin ester (KE-311: Supra) 2.8 parts pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (NK ester A-TMMT: supra)
1.7 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 1.7 parts Propyl alcohol 890 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 247 parts <Preparation of blue ink sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a blue pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a blue ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. A blue ink sheet 2 was produced in the same manner as the black ink sheet 2 was produced. The layer thickness of the ink layer of the obtained blue ink sheet 2 was 0.95 μm.
(Blue pigment dispersion mother liquor)
Pigment Blue 60 4.02 parts Pigment Blue 15: 6 4.02 parts Pigment Violet 23 0.89 parts Polyvinyl butyral (Eslec B BL-SH: supra) 7.50 parts Dispersing aid (Solsparse S-20000: supra) 0.47 parts Propyl alcohol 83.10 parts (Blue ink layer coating solution 2)
Propyl alcohol 321.5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 89.3 parts Stearic acid amide (neutron 2: supra) 0.82 parts Behenic acid amide (diamond BM: supra) 0.82 parts Lauric acid amide (diamond Y: Previous 0.82 parts Oleamide (Diamid O-200: supra) 0.82 parts Erucamide (Diamid L-200: supra) ) 0.82 parts Rosin (KE-311: supra) 2.36 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 1.45 parts Pigment dispersion 101.80 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-) 176PF: supra) 1.22 parts <Preparation of green ink sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a green pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a green ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. A green ink sheet 2 was produced in the same manner as the black ink sheet 2 was produced. The thickness of the ink layer of the obtained green ink sheet 2 was 0.70 μm.
(Green pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Mother solution 1]
Pigment Green 7 8.93 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.50 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.47 parts Propyl alcohol 83.10 parts [mother liquor 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.1 parts Pigment Yellow 180 12.9 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts Propyl alcohol 79.4 parts (green ink layer coating solution) 2)
Propyl alcohol 321.5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 89.3 parts Stearic acid amide (neutron 2: supra) 0.82 parts Behenic acid amide (diamond BM: supra) 0.82 parts Lauric acid amide (diamond Y: Previous 0.82 parts Oleamide (Diamid O-200: supra) 0.82 parts Erucamide (Diamid L-200: supra) ) 0.82 parts Rosin (KE-311: supra) 2.36 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 1.45 parts Green pigment dispersed mother liquor 1 77.11 parts Green pigment dispersed mother liquor 2 24. 60 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 1.22 parts <Preparation of Red Ink Sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a red pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a red ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. A red ink sheet 2 was produced in the same manner as the black ink sheet 2 was produced. The layer thickness of the ink layer of the obtained red ink sheet 2 was 0.71 m.
(Red pigment dispersion mother liquor composition)
[Mother solution 1]
Pigment Red 48: 1 8.93 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.50 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.47 parts Propyl alcohol 83.10 parts [mother liquor 2] ]
Pigment Red 48: 3 8.93 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.50 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.47 parts Propyl alcohol 83.10 parts (red ink) Layer coating solution 2)
Propyl alcohol 321.5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 89.3 parts Stearic acid amide (neutron 2: supra) 0.82 parts Behenic acid amide (diamond BM: supra) 0.82 parts Lauric acid amide (diamond Y: Previous 0.82 parts Oleamide (Diamid O-200: supra) 0.82 parts Erucamide (Diamid L-200: supra) ) 0.82 parts Rosin (KE-311: supra) 2.36 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 1.45 parts Red pigment dispersion mother liquor 1 77.40 parts Red pigment dispersion mother liquor 2 24. 40 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 1.22 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 1>
Apply a backcoat layer on one side of a white PET film (U51L74: manufactured by Teijin Ltd.) with a thickness of 100 μm, and apply each coating solution for the thermal softening layer, intermediate layer and image receiving layer on the opposite side of the same layer with a wire bar. -The image receiving sheet 1 was obtained by drying.

Back coat layer: 100 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 3 μm
Thermal softening layer: 100 ° C., 5 minutes, film thickness after drying 15 μm
Intermediate layer: 80 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 3 μm
Image receiving layer: 80 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 1.3 μm
(Backcoat layer coating solution 1)
Polyester resin (Byron 200: manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) 11.5 parts Matt material (MX-1000: manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.4 parts Carbon black dispersion (MHI Black # 273: manufactured by Mikuni Dye Co., Ltd.) 6.6 parts Cyclohexanone 40 parts Toluene 20 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 25 parts (thermal softening layer coating solution 1)
Polyethylene latex (Hitech S-3127: manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 95 parts Pure water 5 parts (intermediate layer coating solution 1)
Ethylcellulose (STD10: manufactured by Dow Chemical Co.) 9.5 parts Methanol-modified ethanol 90.5 parts (Image-receiving layer coating solution 1)
Acrylic resin latex (Yodosol A5801 manufactured by NSC Japan) 22.0 parts Fluororesin (Unidyne TG810: manufactured by Daikin Industries) 4.4 parts Mat material (MX40S-2: manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.1 parts Pure water 62 .8 parts i-propyl alcohol 8.7 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 2>
On one side of a 130 μm thick white void PET film support (Lumirror # 130E58: manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), the following heat softening layer coating solution 2 was applied and dried to form a heat softening layer having a thickness of about 20 μm. Thereafter, the following image-receiving layer coating solution 2 was applied and dried on the same layer to form an image-receiving layer having a layer thickness of about 2 μm to obtain an image-receiving sheet 2.
(Thermosoftening layer coating solution 2)
20.0 parts of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (MPR-TSL: manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Plasticizer (Paraplex G-40: manufactured by CP.HALL.COMPANY)
10.0 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-177: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.5 part Antistatic agent (SAT-5 Super (IC): manufactured by Nippon Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 0.3 part Methyl ethyl ketone 60 Part Toluene 10 parts N, N-dimethylformamide 3 parts (Image-receiving layer coating solution 2)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-1: manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 17 parts Styrene / maleic acid half ester (Oxylac SH-128: manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.)
63 parts Antistatic agent (Chemistat 3033: Sanyo Chemical Industries) 16 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: Dainippon Ink & Chemicals) 1.2 parts Propyl alcohol 570 parts Methanol 1200 parts 1-Methoxy- 2-Propanol 520 parts <Image formation>
Using the seven color ink sheets and the image receiving sheet, color image recording with a resolution of 2400 dpi (described above) was performed on the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet using the following exposure apparatus. A CMS is connected to this exposure apparatus, and at the time of image recording, a portion where the magenta ink layer and the cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with a blue ink layer, and a portion where the yellow ink layer and the cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with a green ink layer. The portion where the yellow ink layer and the magenta ink layer overlap can be replaced with the red ink layer. The combinations of the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet are as described in the table.

  The formed image was secondarily transferred onto various papers using the following laminator. The temperature and humidity during exposure were maintained at 23 ° C. and 50% RH (relative humidity).

Exposure device: Color Decision II EV-Laser Proofer II B2 size specification (manufactured by Konica Minolta) modified so that seven colors of ink sheets can be set Laminator: Color Decision II EV-Laminator II (manufactured by Konica Minolta)
Set temperature: upper roll 100 ° C, lower roll 120 ° C
Paper: Tokishi double-sided art: Mitsubishi Paper Mills (90kg, 158kg)
Pearl coat: Mitsubishi Paper Industries (63kg, 135kg)
Shiraoi mat: Nippon Paper Industries (62kg, 135kg)
The weight of the paper is a continuous amount of 46 plates.

<Evaluation>
Secondary transfer was performed on various papers shown in Table 1 while changing the laminator speed and transfer pressure, and the transferability was visually evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

○: No image flow and transferability is good Δ: Image is transferred but transferred image ×: Transfer is defective

  According to the image forming method of the present invention, secondary transfer can be performed on a wide range of sheets without changing the setting conditions of the laminator.

Claims (5)

An ink sheet having at least a light-to-heat conversion layer and an ink layer on a support, and an image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on the support, the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet facing each other In a multicolor image forming method in which image recording is performed by superimposing and irradiating laser light from the ink sheet side to transfer the laser light irradiation region of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet, the image recording area is 420 mm × 594 mm or more The resolution of the transferred image to the image receiving layer is 2400 dpi (dpi is the number of dots per inch, that is, 2.54 cm) or more, and the portion where the yellow ink layer and the cyan ink layer overlap is replaced with a green ink layer. Replace the area where the ink layer and magenta ink layer overlap with the red ink layer, and replace the magenta ink layer and cyan ink layer. Multi-color image forming method characterized by replacing the portion where the layers overlap blue ink layer. 2. The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the image transferred onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet is further secondarily transferred to a final recording medium. 3. The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, wherein an image recording area is 515 mm × 728 mm or more. 4. The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the ink of the ink layer is mainly composed of a pigment. A color image data conversion processing step for converting color image data for creating a printed matter into color image data for a proof output device before the ink layer is transferred onto the image receiving sheet to form a multicolor image; and A color / halftone dot matching conversion processing step for performing data conversion processing for matching at least one of the color and halftone of the printed material with at least one of the color and halftone of the color image output by the proof output device The multicolor image forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a color matching step.