Multicolor image-forming material and method for forming multicolor image

A method for forming a multicolor image, which comprises the steps of:

• preparing:
• an image-receiving sheet having an image-receiving layer;
• and at least four thermal transfer sheets each including a support, a light-to-heat converting layer and an image-forming layer, in which each of the at least four thermal transfer sheets has a different color and each of the light-to-heat converting layers in the at least four thermal transfer sheets has a ratio of an optical density (OD) to a layer thickness:
• OD/layer thickness (μm unit) of 0.57 or more;
• superposing the image-forming layer in each of the at least four thermal transfer sheets on the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet, in which the image-forming layer is opposed to the image-receiving layer;
• irradiating the image-forming layer in each of the at least four thermal transfer sheets from the side of the support with a laser beam;
• and
• transferring the irradiated area of the image-forming layer onto the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet to record an image,
• wherein the irradiated area of the image-forming layer is transferred onto the image-receiving sheet in a thin film.

A method for preparing a color proof, which comprises:

• preparing:
• an image-receiving sheet having an image-receiving layer;
• and at least four thermal transfer sheets each including a support, a light-to-heat converting layer and an image-forming layer, in which each of the at least four thermal transfer sheets has a different color and each of the light-to-heat converting layers in the at least four thermal transfer sheets has a ratio of an optical density (OD) to a layer thickness:
• OD/layer thickness (um unit) of 0.57 or more;
• superposing the image-forming layer in each of the at least four thermal transfer sheets on the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet, in which the image-forming layer is opposed to the image-receiving layer;
• irradiating the image-forming layer in each of the at least four thermal transfer sheets from the side of the support with a laser beam;
• transferring the irradiated area of the image-forming layer onto the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet to record a full color image, wherein the irradiated area of the image-forming layer is transferred onto the image-receiving sheet in a thin film;
• and
• transferring the full color image on the image-receiving layer onto an actual printing paper.