Image-forming method using thermal transfer system

An image-forming method, comprising the steps of:

• superposing a heat-sensitive transfer sheet on a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet so that the following at least one receptor layer of the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet can be contacted with the following thermal transfer layer of the heat-sensitive transfer sheet;
• and
• providing thermal energy in accordance with image signals, thereby to form a thermal transfer image;
• wherein the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprises, on a support, at least one receptor layer containing a polymer latex, and at least one heat insulation layer containing hollow polymer particles and a water-soluble polymer as a binder resin, wherein at least one of the receptor layer and the heat insulation layer of the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet contains a compound that enables crosslinking to a water-soluble polymer, and
• wherein the heat-sensitive transfer sheet comprises, on a support, a thermal transfer layer containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by formula (Y), a compound represented by formula (M) and a compound represented by formula (C):
• wherein, in formula (Y), D1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a cyano group or a carbamoyl group;
• D2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heteroaryl group;
• D3 represents an aryl group or a heteroaryl group;
• D4 and D5 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group;
• and each of the above-mentioned groups may be further substituted;
• wherein, in formula (M), D6, D7, D8, D9 and D10 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, a cyano group, an acylamino group, a sulfonylamino group, a ureido group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an acyl group or an amino group;
• D11 and D12 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group;
• D11 and D12 may be bonded together to form a ring;
• D8 and D11 and/or D9 and D12 may be bonded together to form a ring;
• X, Y and Z each independently represents ═C(D13)- or a nitrogen atom, in which D13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group or an amino group;
• when X and Y each represents ═C(D13)- or Y and Z each represents ═C(D13)-, two D13s may be bonded together to form a saturated or unsaturated carbon ring;
• and each of the above-mentioned groups may be further substituted;
• and
• wherein, in formula (C), D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20 and D21 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, a cyano group, an acylamino group, a sulfonylamino group, a ureido group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an acyl group or an amino group;
• D22 and D23 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group;
• D22 and D23 may be bonded together to form a ring;
• D19 and D22 and/or D20 and D23 may be bonded together to form a ring;
• and each of the above-mentioned groups may be further substituted.