JPH09277672A - Method of making sepia-tone hard copy - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for making a sepia-tone hard copy of high quality on a plain paper without a receptive later. SOLUTION: A color ribbon 1 consists of a primer layer 3 formed on a base film 2, a yellow Y, a magnets M and a cyan C ink layer 4 and a sensor mark formed in that face order on the primer layer 3, a receptive transfer layer 6 formed on the same face as the former, and further, a heat-resistant lubricative layer 7 formed on the rear face of the base film 2. The receptive transfer layer 6 of the color ribbon 1 is previously colored in a sepia tone, and an image is printer using this thermal transfer ribbing to obtain a sepia-tone hard copy of high quality.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a sepia tone hard copy and a receptive layer transfer type thermal transfer ribbon used for the method. More specifically, the present invention prepares a sepia-like hard copy on plain paper or the like having no receptive layer by preliminarily coloring the receptive layer transfer layer in a sepia tone and printing using the thermal transfer ribbon. On how to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sepia tone photograph has been created by specially treating a silver halide printing paper. In reality, black-and-white photographs will change to sepia tones due to discoloration over a long period of time, but at the theme parks such as Western Village, the commemorative photo that intentionally looks like it changed to sepia tones is shown above. It is made and sold by the method like. However, post-treatment such as toxicity of the treatment liquid is also a problem.

Further, in recent years, due to the improvement of the image quality of the hard copy by the thermal transfer system and the ink jet system, and the immediacy of this system, these systems are used in the amusement field, photo studios, etc. instead of the silver salt system photography. Although it is beginning to spread in the memorial photography field, it is generally a full color or black and white hard copy, and in order to obtain a sepia tone hard copy, software inside the printer,
Alternatively, the software of the host computer of the digital printer can be used, and by adding each color component of the sepia tone to each color component of the color ribbon at the time of printing, it is possible to print with the color ribbon.

[0004]

As described above, in the video printer, the input signal is usually NTSC composite,
Since it is a video signal such as S-VIDEO or RGB component, it is difficult to convert the image data to sepia tone,
It was necessary to change the software inside the printer to provide a print density curve for each color exclusively for the sepia tone. Further, in the digital printer, it is necessary to convert the image on the connected host computer by software in sepia tone and then transfer the data.

Also, the silver salt method is very difficult to handle because it requires special treatment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a method capable of producing a good sepia tone hard copy on plain paper or the like having no receiving layer. To do.

[0007]

As a result of various investigations to solve the above problems, the present inventor has previously colored the receptor layer transfer layer of the receptor layer transfer type thermal transfer ribbon in a sepia tone, and then applied the thermal transfer layer. It has been found that a good sepia-like hard copy can be obtained by printing an image using a ribbon, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention uses a thermal transfer ribbon having a receptive layer transfer layer which is colored in sepia tone in advance in the formation of a sepia tone hard copy image, and the sepia tone is formed on plain paper or the like having no receptive layer. An image forming method is characterized by making a hard copy of the image.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. In the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent constituent elements.

1 and 2 are a sectional view and a plan view of a color ribbon of a receptive layer transfer type thermal transfer system which can be used in the present invention. In addition, the color ribbon 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is similar to a known ribbon in that the base film 2
A primer layer 3 is formed on top of this, an ink layer 4 of each color of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C and a sensor mark 5 are formed on the surface thereof in sequence, and a receiving layer transfer layer 6 is formed on the same surface as these. The heat resistant slipping layer 7 may be formed on the back surface of the base film 2.

Similarly, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a black-and-white ribbon of a receptive layer transfer type thermal transfer system which can be used in the present invention. As the black-and-white ink, it is also possible to use a sepia-toned one.

The present invention is intended to obtain a desired sepia tone hard copy on plain paper having no receptor layer by printing the receptor layer transfer layer 6 using an ink ribbon colored in sepia tone.

As the base film 2 used in the present invention, the same base film as that used as a conventional ink ribbon can be used as it is, and other ones can be used. It is not particularly limited. For example, the base film 2 can be formed of a polyester film, a polyimide film, or the like having a thickness of 3 to 20 μm.

The primer layer 3 is provided to enhance the adhesiveness between the base film 2 and the ink layer 4, and the constituent material of the primer layer 3 depends on the type of resin forming the base film 2 and the ink layer 4. It can be appropriately selected depending on the case, but generally, it can be formed from urethane resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin or the like.

The ink layer 4 is made of, for example, a cellulosic resin such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, cellulose butyrate acetate, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetoacetal, polyvinyl acetate, or the like. A sublimable or heat-diffusible dye may be dispersed and dissolved in vinyl resin such as polystyrene or other various resins. The thickness of the ink layer is not particularly limited, and is usually 0.3 to 5 μm.
Degree.

The heat resistant slipping layer 7 prevents the base film 2 from being fused to the thermal head of the printer when a thermal transfer image is formed by the thermal transfer printer, and ensures smooth running of the ribbon. It is provided for. Such a heat resistant slipping layer 7 can be formed from a resin having a high softening point such as cellulose acetate or polyvinyl butyral. Further, a lubricant such as silicone oil, a fluorinated surfactant, a phosphoric acid ester, a fatty acid or a fatty acid ester may be coated on such a resin or added in the resin layer. Further, various fillers and antistatic agents may be added. As the filler, an inorganic filler such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin, clay, calcium carbonate and silica, an organic filler such as a spherical silicone resin, a spherical benzoguana resin and a spherical acrylic resin, and a cationic surface active agent as an antistatic agent. Various interfaces such as agents (quaternary ammonium salts, polyamines, etc.), anionic surfactants (alkylbenzene sulfonate, sodium alkylsulfate, etc.), zwitterionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, etc. Activators can be used.

The resin of the receiving layer transfer layer 6 can be configured in the same manner as that used in the receiving layer of the conventional transfer sheet. For example, it can be formed from a dyeing resin such as polyester-based, cellulose ester-based, polyvinyl butyral-based, polycarbonate-based, or polyvinyl chloride-based.

Further, the receptor layer transfer layer 6 may contain various additives as required. For example, a white pigment and an antistatic agent can be added, and as the white pigment, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin, clay, calcium carbonate, silica or the like can be used. Also,
As the antistatic agent, the same one as the heat resistant slipping layer can be used.

Further, an ultraviolet absorber, a light stabilizer, an antioxidant and the like can be added to improve the storability of the image. As the ultraviolet absorber, salicylic acid derivative,
A benzophenone derivative, a benzotriazole derivative, an oxalic acid anilide derivative, etc., a hindered amine type, etc. as a light stabilizer, and a hindered phenol type, a phosphite type etc. as an antioxidant can be added if necessary.

Further, various releasing agents can be added, if necessary, in order to secure the releasability with the ink ribbon and the releasability with the ink ribbon base material at the time of printing. As the release agent, silicone oil and its modified products, fluorine-based surfactants, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, phosphoric acid esters and the like can be used.

If desired, a curing agent such as polyisocyanate may be added.

The receiving layer transfer layer 6 may have a multi-layer structure such as a two-layer structure of an adhesive layer 14 and a dye receiving layer 13 as shown in FIG.

When producing the ribbon 1 of the present invention, for example, the heat resistant slipping layer 7, the primer layer 3, the ink layer 4, and the receiving layer transfer layer 6 are applied in-line by a multi-head gravure coater to transfer the receiving layer. Mold ribbons can be manufactured.

When an image is formed using this ribbon,
First, the thermal head of the printer heats the transfer layer of the receiving layer to transfer it to the photographic paper, and then yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C
The respective color inks of 1) are sequentially heated to form an image on the transferred receiving layer.

In this case, the printing paper includes synthetic paper (polyolefin-based, polystyrene-based, vinyl chloride-based, etc.), natural fiber paper (quality paper, art paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, etc.), plastic film (polyolefin, poly-based). (Vinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polymethacrylate, etc.) can be used, and a laminate of any combination of the above can also be used, but one having high smoothness is preferable.

Sepia-like coloring of the receptor layer transfer layer is carried out by direct dyes, acid dyes, basic dyes, oil-soluble dyes, disperse dyes,
Alternatively, various organic and inorganic pigments can be appropriately used.

The sepia color is based on JIS-Z8102.
For example, it is displayed as 10YR2.5 / 2 in Munsell color system.
But L^*a^*In the b system, L^*= 25, a^*= 4,
b ^*A value of about 13 is shown. But here in sepia
What is called coloring is obsolete as a hard copy
It is important to look like a faded photo,
It's not something to be bound by. The present invention
The preferred value is L^*= 50-90, a^*= 0 to 30,
b^*= 10 to 45, more preferably L^*= 7
0-85, a^*= 5 to 15, b^*= 20-35.
For example, L^*If the value is larger than this, it is too bright and old.
The feeling becomes weak, and when it is small, it becomes too dark and it becomes an image
The dynamic range is too narrow and difficult to see. Ma
A^*, B^*As a value, if it exceeds this range
In addition, it leaves you from the feeling of a photo that has faded. C
The deviation from the peer color is large, which is not preferable.

According to the present invention, a sepia tone image can be easily formed on plain paper having no receptor layer by printing using a receptor layer transfer type ink ribbon colored in sepia tone.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be specifically described below based on Examples.

Example 1 The pretreatment liquid (a) was applied on the opposite surface of 6 μm PET that had been subjected to heat-resistant lubricity treatment so that the thickness would be about 0.1 μm after drying, and then the composition (b) for the transfer layer of the receiving layer. And the black and white ink composition (c) toned for sepia tone were applied in the format of FIG. 3 using a gravure coater. The thickness of each layer after drying was about 15 μm for the receiving layer transfer layer and about 1 μm for the ink layer.

Composition of pretreatment liquid (a) NP-3151 2.0% by weight (Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd. polyurethane) Coronate L-45E 1.0% by weight (Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd. polyisocyanate) methyl ethyl ketone 47. 0 wt% Toluene 50.0 wt%

Composition of Receptor Layer Transfer Layer Solution (b) MS ORANGE EX-30 0.0223 wt% (Mitsui Toatsu Dye Co., Ltd. Orange Dye) MS BLUE HSO-43 0.0020 wt% (Mitsui Toatsu Dye ( Blue dye) BAYSCRIPT SPECIAL RED T 0.0040% by weight (Bayer Japan KK red dye) CAB 551-0.2 12.3000% by weight (Eastman Chemical Co., Ltd. cellulose acetate butyrate) DCHP ( Dicyclohexyl phthalate) 2.4600% by weight SF8427 0.6200% by weight (Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd. modified silicone oil) R5N 3.8500% by weight (Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. titanium oxide coronate L-45E 0.7400% by weight % Methyl ethyl keto 40.017% by weight Toluene 40.0000% by weight

Black-and-white ink composition (c) MS ORANGE EX-30 4.0 wt% MS BLUE HSO-43 4.0 wt% BAYSCRIPT SPECIAL RED T 2.0 wt% Denka Butyral 6000 AS 5.0 wt% (Electrochemical Industry Polyvinyl acetoacetal resin manufactured by Methyl ethyl ketone 42.5% by weight Toluene 42.5% by weight

Example 2 A substrate film pretreated in the same manner as in Example 1 was added to the composition (b) for the transfer layer of the receiving layer and each color ink composition (d).
Each of (f) is dried to have a thickness of about 15 μm and 1 μm.
Coating was performed with a gravure coater in the formats shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Yellow ink composition (d) ESC Yellow 155 5.0% by weight (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. yellow dye) Denka Butyral 3000K 5.0% by weight (Electrochemical Industry Co., Ltd. butyral resin) Methylethylketone 45.0% % Toluene 45.0% by weight

Magenta ink composition (e) ESC Bordeaux 451 2.5 wt% (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. magenta dye) BAYSCRIPT SPECIAL RED T 2.5 wt% Denkabutyral 3000K 5.0 wt% Methyl ethyl ketone 45.0 wt% Toluene 45.0% by weight

Cyan ink composition (f) Foron Brilliant Blue SR-PI 5.0 wt% (Sand Cyan Dye Co., Ltd.) Denka Butyral 3000K 5.0 wt% Methyl ethyl ketone 45.0 wt% Toluene 45.0 wt%

Evaluation After using the ribbons of Examples 1 and 2 to transfer the receiving layer to a medium-quality paper B (manufactured by Nakagawa Seisakusho), a portrait was printed. still,
At the time of printing, the sequence of the video color printer (Sony, UP1800) was partially changed so that the ribbon could be printed.

The colorimetric value of the white portion after transfer of the receptor layer is L ^*
= 78.0, a ^* = 12.3, b ^* = 21.1.
The images of Examples 1 and 2 were in good sepia tone.

From the above, according to this example, a good sepia-like hard copy can be formed on plain paper or the like by using a receiving layer transfer type ink ribbon colored in sepia. I can.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various other configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By using the receiving layer transfer type ink ribbon colored in sepia tone, a good sepia tone hard copy can be formed on plain paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a receiving layer transfer type thermal transfer color ribbon of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a color ribbon for receptive layer transfer type thermal transfer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a black-and-white ribbon for receptive layer transfer type thermal transfer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a two-layer separation type receiving layer transfer layer of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 color ribbon, 2 base film, 3 primer layer, 4 ink layer, 5 sensor mark, 6 receiving layer transfer layer, 7 heat resistant slipping layer, 12 black and white ribbon, 13 dye receiving layer, 14 adhesive layer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for producing a sepia tone hard copy, which comprises transferring a receptor layer transfer layer colored in sepia tone onto a photographic paper, and then forming an image on the receptor layer transfer layer. 2. The receiving layer transfer layer colored in sepia tone,
A thermal transfer ribbon, which is formed on a color ribbon for thermal transfer in a frame sequential manner. 3. A receptor layer transfer layer colored in sepia tone,
A thermal transfer ribbon characterized by being formed in a frame sequential manner on a black and white ribbon for thermal transfer. 4. The thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 3, wherein the ink layer of the thermal transfer black and white ribbon contains a black and white ink toned for sepia tone.