Laser dye or pigment removal imaging process

Abstract

A process of forming a single color, ablation image having improved abrasion resistance comprising: a) imagewise-heating by means of a laser an ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon an image layer comprising an image dye or pigment dispersed in a polymeric binder, which causes the image layer to ablate imagewise, the image layer having a near infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose the element, the image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm; b) removing the ablated material to obtain an image in the ablative recording element; c) either charging the imaged, ablative recording element to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of the element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind the element; d) applying colorless, charged particles to the element which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the image layer; and e) heat-fusing the particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of the image layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.