Thermal transfer printing method and printing paper with cellulose fiber base containing resin fibers or resin coating

In the method of forming an image on printing paper by the transfer thereto of disperse dye from a dye carrier of flexible sheet material in response to the application of thermal energy to the carrier while in contact with a surface of the printing paper;

• the improvement of forming said paper having a base of cellulose fibers combined with a resin selected from the group consisting of polyester and acetyl cellulose, said resin having distances between molecules thereof greater than the dimensions of molecules of said disperse dye, such that said disperse dye diffuses into said resin for producing a clear definition of said image and including the further step at the time of forming said paper of adding to said cellulose fibers a filling material selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide and calcium carbonate for improving the whiteness of the coated paper and for imparting roughness to the surface thereof which is to receive the transferred disperse dye and further comprising the step of laminating a transparent film by means of a polyester adhesive formed of an aqueous solvent solution of a styrene monomer and chain-bonded alkyd resin onto said surface of the printing paper after the forming of said image thereon by transfer of said disperse dye from said dye carrier.