Spacer rails for laser dye transfer transparencies

In a process of forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting at least one dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, with a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer having a given image area to form an assemblage;
• b) imagewise heating said dye-donor element by means of a laser;
• and
• c) transferring a dye image to said dye-receiving element to form said laser-induced thermal dye transfer image, wherein the improvement includes providing spacer rails having a height of about 3 to about 50 .mu.m between said dye-donor element and said dye-receiving element, locating said spacer rails just outside said given image area of said dye image-receiving layer in such a manner so as to separate said dye-donor element from said dye-receiving element;
• and
• said dye-donor element support and/or said dye-receiving element support being rigid and flat in said assemblage so that there is no more than an insignificant sag at an area midway between said rails.

In a thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:

• a) a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and an infrared absorbing material associated therewith,
• b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer having a given image area, said dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with said dye-donor element so that said dye layer is adjacent to said dye image-receiving layer,
• the improvement wherein spacer rails having a height of about 3 to about 50 .mu.m are located between said dye-donor element and said dye-receiving element, said spacer rails being located just outside said given image area of said dye image-receiving layer in such a location so as to separate said dye-donor element from said dye-receiving element;
• and
• c) means for holding said dye-donor element support and/or said dye-receiving element support rigid and flat in said assemblage so that there is no more than an insignificant sag at an area midway between said rails.

In a process of forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting at least one dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, with a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer having a given image area to form an assemblage;
• b) imagewise-heating said dye-donor element by means of a laser;
• c) transferring a dye image to said dye-receiving element to form said laser-induced thermal dye transfer image, the improvement wherein spacer rails having a height of about 3 to about 50 .mu.m are located between said dye-donor element and said dye-receiving element, said spacer rails being located just outside said given image area of said dye image-receiving layer in such a location so as to separate said dye-donor element from said dye-receiving element;
• and
• d) holding said dye-donor element support and/or said dye-receiving element support rigid and flat in said assemblage so that there is no more than an insignificant sag at an area midway between said rails.