Film forming mixtures, image bearing films and image bearing retroreflective sheeting

A multicolor image bearing embedded lens retroreflective sheeting comprising

• (A) a monolayer of transparent microsphere lenses;
• (B) a polymeric spacing layer underlying and contacting the bottom surfaces of the lenses and having a back surface that is spaced from the bottom surfaces of the lenses;
• (C) a reflective layer having its top surface in contact with the back surface of the spacing layer;
• and
• (D) an aliphatic polyurethane cover sheet overlying and conforming the top surface of the lenses and having a flat top surface, said cover sheet being derived from a film-forming mixture comprising
• (D-1) an aliphatic polyurethane,
• (D-2) at least one hydroxy-containing imidazoline represented by the formula ##STR11## wherein R is an aliphatic group containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms and R.sup.1 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, and
• (D-3) cellulose acetate butyrate, said cover sheet having printed thereon a multicolor image derived from at least two UV radiation curable inks applied sequentially with curing after each ink application.

An image bearing encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting comprising (1) a base sheet that comprises a monolayer of retroreflective elements partially embedded in a binder layer;

• (2) a cover sheet disposed in spaced relationship from the layer of retroreflective elements;
• and (3) a network of intersecting bonds that extend between said cover sheet and said base sheet and comprise binder material thermo-formed at the point of contact between said bonds and said cover sheet to form a plurality of cells within which retroreflective elements are hermetically sealed and to adhere the base sheet to the cover sheet, wherein the cover sheet comprises an image bearing aliphatic polyurethane film comprising an aliphatic polyurethane film derived from a film-forming mixture comprising
• (A) an aliphatic polyurethane, and
• (B) at least one hydroxy-containing imidazoline represented by the formula ##STR12## wherein R is an aliphatic group containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms and R.sup.1 is an alkylene group containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, said film having printed thereon either a monocolor image and a clear overcoat or a multicolor image with or without a clear overcoat wherein the monocolor image is derived from at least one UV radiation curable ink which is cured prior to application of the clear overcoat, and the multicolor image is derived from at least two UV radiation curable inks applied sequentially with curing after each ink application and before application of any clear overcoat.