Thermal transfer of pyridone dyes

A process for transferring dyes from a transfer to plastic-coated paper by diffusion or sublimation with the aid of an energy source, which comprises using a transfer on which there is or are one or more pyridone dyes of the formula I ##STR8## where X is nitrogen or CH,

• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and each is independently of the other C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl with or without substitution by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxycarbonyloxy or phenyl and with or without interruption by from 1 to 4 oxygen atoms in ether function, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl, unsubstituted or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy- or halogen-substituted phenyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are together with the nitrogen atom joining them together a 5- or 6-membered saturated heterocyclic radical with or without further hetero atoms,
• R.sup.3 is C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 -alkyl or C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl,
• R.sup.4 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or unsubstituted or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy- or halogen-substituted phenyl,
• R.sup.5 is cyano, carbamoyl, mono- or di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl)carbamoyl, carboxyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkoxycarbonyl or benzimidazolyl, and
• R.sup.6 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl with or without substitution by phenyl, phenoxy, cyclohexyloxy or pyrazolyl and with or without interruption by from 1 to 4 oxygen atoms in ether function, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl or unsubstituted or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl-, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy- or halogen-substituted phenyl.