CA1258176A

CA1258176A - Magenta dye-donor element used in thermal dye transfer

Info

Publication number: CA1258176A
Application number: CA000524524A
Authority: CA
Inventors: William H. Moore; Max A. Weaver; Kin K. Lum
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1985-12-24
Filing date: 1986-12-04
Publication date: 1989-08-08
Also published as: JPH0684114B2; EP0227095A3; DE3675750D1; EP0227095B1; US4698651A; JPS62294593A; EP0227095A2

Abstract

MAGENTA DYE-DONOR ELEMENT USED
IN THERMAL DYE TRANSFER
Abstract of the Disclosure A magenta dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprises a support having thereon a magenta dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the magenta dye comprising a substituted 5-arylazoisothiazole.
In a preferred embodiment, the magenta dye has the formula:

wherein R1 and R2 may each independently be hydrogen, alkyl, allyl, cycloalkyl or aryl; or R1 and R2 may be taken together to form a ring; or R1 or R2 may be part of a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring;
R3 may be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylthio or halogen;
J may be alkyl, aryl or NHA, where A is an acyl or sulfonyl radical; and Q may be cyano, thiocyanato, alkylthio or alkoxycarbonyl.

Description

J~
--l--MAGENTA DYE-DON0~ ELEMENT USED
IN THERMAL D~E TRANSFER
Thi~ inventlon rel~teA to magent~ dye-donor elements used in therm~l dye tr~nsfer whlch h~vP ~ood hue ~nd dye ~tability.
In recent yesr~, thermal tr~nsfer syqtems haYe been developed to obtAln prlnts from pictur~s which h~ve been ~ener~ted electronlc~lly from 8 color video c~mer~. According to one way of obt~ining ~uch prints, an electronic plcture is first ~ub~ected to color -qep~rstion by color filters. The respecti~e color-sep~r~ted imaBes are then converted into electric~l signals. The e sign~ls ~re then ~per~ted on to produce cyan, m~gent~ and yellow electrlcal ~ignsls~ The~e sign~ls ~re then tran~mitted to a thermal printer. To obtAin the print, a cyan, ma8enta or yellow dye-donor element iq pl~ced f~ce-to-face with a dye-receivlng element. The two ~re then inserted between ~ therm~l printing hesd ~nd ~ pl~ten roller. A line-type therm~l printing he~d i3 used to ~pply heat ~rom the back of the dye-donor sheet. The thermal printing he~d h~ m~ny heating elements ~nd i~ hested up Qequenti~lly in respon~e to the cyan, m~enta And yellow si~nals. The process is then repe~ted for the other two rolors. A color hard copy i~ thus obtsined whlch oorre~ponds to the origin~l plcture viewed on a screen. Further det~
of this proce~ ~nd Qn app~retuq for c~rrying it out ere cont~ined in U.S. Patent No. 4,621,271 by Brown~tein entitled "App~retu~ ~nd Method For Controlling A Therm~l Printer Apper~tu~,"
i~sued 4 November 1986.

A problem h~s exi~ted with the u e of cert~in dyes in dye-donor elements for thermAl dye tr~n~fer printing. M~ny of the dye~ proposed for u~e 7'6

-2-do not h~ve adequate stability to light. Others do not have ~ood hue. It would be desirable to provide dyes which h~ve ~ood light stAbility ~nd have improved hues.
U.S. Pstents 4,3~4,767 and 4,374,768, Japanese Patent Public~tion 52/099,378, British Patent 1,379,233 and European Patent 151,287 relste to aryl~zoi othlazole dyes ~imil~r to tho~e used in this invention. They are described as textile dyes, however, and have no te~ching that such dyes could be uQed in ~ dye-donor element for thermal dye tran~fer.
Japfine~e Patent Publication 60/030394 relates to magenta thiadiAzole dyes used in thermal tr~n~fer. Although the~e compounds have some structur~l simil~rity to those of the invention, the compound~ of this invention have significant differenceq in properties which provide the good hue and light stability obtained.
British Patent 1,465,895 relates to the use sf certain diQperse azo dye~ for trensfer printing.
The dyes employed in thi~ invention are not disclo~ed in thi~ reference, however.
Substsntial improvement~ in light stability and hues ~re achieved in accordance with thi~
invention which comprisP~ a ma8enta dye di~persed in 8 polymeric binder, ~aid mRgenta dye compri~ing a substituted 5-~rylazoisothiazole.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ~ubstutited 5-arylazoisothia~ole has the following formula:

~ li-N=N-~
J
wherein:

3-R ~nd R mey each independently be hydrogen; substituted or unsub~tituted ~lkyl or allyl of from 1 to ebout 6 carbon atomq such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl or such alkyl groupq substituted with hydroxy, acyloxy, alkoxy, aryl, cy~no, acylamido, halogen, etc.;
qubstituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl of from 5 to about 7 carbon stom~ ~uch as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, p-methylcyclohexyl, etc.; or substituted or un~ubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon etoms such ss phenyl, p-tolyl, m-chlorophenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, m-bromophenyl, o-tolyl, etc.; or R and R2 may be taken together to form a ring quch ~s pent~methylene, hexamethylene, etc.; or ~ 5-or 6-membered heterocyclic ring may be formed with R or R , the nitrogen to which R or R is attached, snd either carbon stom ortho to the csrbon sttached to the nitrogen atom;
R mey be hydrogen; substituted or un ubstituted alkyl of from 1 to ~bout 6 carbon atomq such B~ those li~ted ~bove for R and R ;
~ubstituted or unsubstituted eryl of from sbout 5 to about 10 carbon atoms such as phenyl, p-tolyl, m-chlorophenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, m-bromophenyl, o-tolyl, etc.; alkylthio or halogen;
J may be subqtituted or unsubstltuted slkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or substituted or unsubstituted eryl of from sbout 5 to about 10 carbon atoms quch as quch as those listed above for R3; or NHA, where A is an scyl or sulfonyl radicsl such ss formyl, lower alkenoyl, sroyl, cyclohexylcarbonyl, lower alkoxycsrbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, cyclohexylqulfonyl, aryl~ulfonyl, csrbamoyl, lower alkylcarbamoyl, erylcfirbamoyl, sulfamoyl, lower alkylsulfamoyl, furoyl, etc; ~nd Q m~y be cy~no, ~hiocy~n~to, ~lky~thio or ~lkoxycsrbonyl, The compounds u~ed in thP lnvention may be prep~red by eqtQbll~hed ~ynthetic procedure~ ~uch as are de~cribed in ExRmple 2 of U.S~ P~tent 3,770,370 of Weaver et ~1.
In a preferred embodimen~ of the invention, R iq methyl and Q is CN. In enother preferred embodiment of the invention, J i~ -NHCOCH3. In ~till un~ther pref*rred embodiment of th~ invention, Rl i~ C2H5 &nd R i~ CH2C~H5, cyclohexyl or CH2CH2O2CCH3. In yet ~nother prPferred embodiment of the invention, R and ~2 Qre each n-C3H7 or G2H5.
CompDund~ included within ~he ~cope of the inventlon include the following:

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A dye~b~rrier l~yer m~y be employed in the dye-donor elemen~s of the invention to improve the den~ity of the tr~n~ferred dye. Such dye-b~rrier leyer materi~l~ include hy~rophllic m~teri~ls ~uch those descrlbed and cl~imed in Applic~tion Serial No.
813,294 entitled "Dye-Bsrrier L~yer for Dye-Donor Element Used in Thermal Dye Trensfer" by Vanier, Lum ~nd Bowm~n, filed December 24, 1985.
The dye in the dye-donor element of the invention is dispersed in ~ polymeric binder ~uch as ~ cellulo~e deriv3tlve, e.g., cellulose ~cetste hydrogen phth~l~te, cellulose acet~te~ cellulo~e acetste propion~te, cellulose acetate butyr~te, c~llulo~e triacet~te; a polycsrbonate;
poly~styrene-co-Pcrylonitrile), ~ poly(sulfone) or a poly(phenylene oxide). ThP binder may be used ~t 8 coverage of from About O.l to ~bout 5 g/m .
The dye l~yer of the dye-donor element m~y be coated on the support or printed thereon by a printing technique such ~s a grsvure proces~.
Arly materi~l can be used ~ the support for the dye-~onor element of the invention provided it iq dimensionally ~t~ble ~nd c~n withstand the he~t of the th~rmQl printing heads. Such m~terial.~ include polyeqters such ~s poly(ethylene terephth~l~te);
polyemides; polyc rbon~tes; gl~ssine paper; condenser p~per; cellulose esters such aq cellulose acet~te;
fluorine polymers ~uch 85 polyvinylidene fluoride or poly(tetr~fluoroethylene-co-hexsfluoropropylene);
polyethers such ~s polyoxymethylene; poly~cetsl~;
polyolefins such ~s polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene or methylpentsne polymeLs; snd polyimides such AS po}.yimide-smlde~ and polyether-imides. The support gener~lly h~s ~
thickne.~s of from About 2 to about 30 ~m. It msy ~lso be co&ted with a subbin~ l~yer, if desired.

.,t;iti The reverse side of the dye-donor element m~y be co~ted with ~ ~lipping layer to prevent the printing head from sticking to the dye-donor element. Such a slipping layer would comprise a lubrlcating material ~uch as a surfece active agent, R liquid lubric~nt, a ~olid lubricant or mixtures thereof, with or without R polymeric blnder.
Preferred lubricating materials include oils or ~emi-cryst~lline organic solids that melt below lO0C
such a5 poly(vinyl stearste), beeswax, perfluorinated alkyl ester polyethers, poly(caprolactone), carbowax or poly(ethylene glycols). Suitable polymeric binders for the slipping layer include poly(vinyl ~lcohol-co-butyral), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-acetal), poly~tyrene), poly(vinyl acetate), cellulose scetste butyrate, cellulose acetate, or ethyl cellulose.
The amount of the lubricating material to be used in the slipping layer depends largely on the type of lubricating material, but is generally in the range of about .OOl to about ~ ~/m . If a polymeric binder i~ employed, the lubricating m~terial is present in the range of O.l to 50 weight ~, preferably 0.5 to 40, of the polymeric binder employed.
The dye-receiving element that is used with the dye-donor element of the invention usu~lly comprl~es a support heving thereon a dye imege-receiving layer. The ~upport may be a transparent film such ~s a poly(ether sulfone), a polyimide, a cellulose ester such as cellulo~e acetate, a poly(vinyl alcohol-co-acetal) or a poly(ethylene terephthalate). The support for the dye-receiving element m~y also be reflective such as baryta~coated paper, white polyester (polyester with white pigment incorporated therein), an ivory paper, a condenser paper or a synthetic p&per such as duPont Tyvek~. In a preferred embodiment, polye~ter with a white pigment incorporated thereln ls employed.

The dye image-recelving layer may comprise, for exemple, a polyc~rbonate, a polyureth~ne, a polyester, polyvinyl chloride, poly(ætyrene-co-acrylonitrile), poly(caprol~ctone) or mlxture~
thereof. The dye lm~ge-receiving layer may be present in sny ~mount which is effective for the intended purpose. In gener~l, good re~ult~ hsve been obtained ~.t ~ concentration of from ~bout 1 to about 5 8/m2.
A~ noted above, the dye-donor elements of the invention are used to form a dye transfer image.
Such a process comprises lmegewise-heating a dye-donor element ~s described above and trensferring e dye ime~e to A dye-receiving element to form the dye tran~fer im~ge.
The dye--donor element of the invention may be used in sheet form or in a continuous roll or ribbon. If ~ continuous roll or ribbon iQ employed, lt may h~ve only the magenta dye thereon as de~cribed above or may h~ve altern~tin~ area~ of other different dye~, su~h ~s qublim~ble cyan and/or yellow andlor black or other dye~. Such dyes are disclo3ed in U.S. Patent 4,541,830, the disclo~ure of which i~
hereby incorporated by reference. Thu~, one-, two-, three- or four-rolor elements (or higher numbers also) are included within the ~cope of the inventlon.
In a pre$erred embodiment of the lnvention, the dye-donor element comprises a poly~ethylene terephth&late) ~upport coated with ~equential repeating srees of cyan, yellow ~nd the magenta dye as described sbove, ~nd the above process steps are sequentially performed for each color to obtain e three-color dye tran3fer image. Of course, when the proces~ is only performed for R ~ingle color, then a monochrome dye transfer image is obt~ined.
Thermal print~nB heads which can be u~ed to transfer dye from the dye-donor elements of the invention ~re ævail2ble commercially. There csn be ~mployed, for ex~mple, ~ Fu~itqu Therm~l Head (FTP-040 MCSOO~ TDK Thermal He~d F415 HH7~1089 or ~ Rohm Therm~l He~d KE 2008-F3.
A therm~l dye tr~n fer as~embl~e of the inventlon comprise4 dye-donor element ~ de~cribed Above, and b) a dye-receiving element ~3 deACribed ~bove, the dye receiving element being in ~ superpo3ed rel~tion~hip with the dye-donor element ~o th~t the dye lsyer of the donor element i8 in cont~ct with the dye imsge-receivin~ layer of the recelving element.
The sbove ~emblage compri~lng the~e two elements m~y be pre~Qembled 8~ an inte~ral unit when 8 monochrome imsge i5 to be obtained. Thl~ may be done by tempor~rily sdherlng the two elements together ~t their marg~nq. After tr~n~fer, the dye-receiving element i~ then peeled ~part to revesl the dye tr~nsfer im~ge~
When ~ three-color lm~ge i~ to be obt~ined, the Above sqAembl~ge ~S formed on three occa3ions during the time when heat i4 Applied by ths thermal printing head. Af~er the fir~t dye ls trsn3ferred, the elementc ~re peeled sp~rt. A ~econd dye-~onor element (or ~nother ~res of the donor element wlth 8 different dye area) i8 then brought in regi~ter with the dye-receiving element ~nd the process repeated.
The third color i~ obt~ined in the ~me m~nner.
The following exsmple~ ~re provided to illu~tr~te the inVention.

Ex~mple 1 A) A msgent~ dye-~onor element WB~ prep~red by coating the following layer~ in the order recited on ~ 6 ~m poly~ethylene terephthal~te) BUpport:

*trade marks ~'~ 5~ ~7 1) Dye-barrier l~yer of gelatin nitrate (gel~tin, cellulo e nitr~te, ~nd ~alicyclic scid in ~pproximstely 20:5:2 welght r~tio in a solvent of ~cetone, methanol and w~ter) (0.20 g/m2), and 2) ~ye lsyer cont~ining a magent~ dye ss identified in the following Table 1 (0.17-0.22 g/m2) in cellulose ~cet~te hydrogen phthalate (0.30-0.33 g/m23 coated from ~n ~cetone/2-butanone/cyclohexanone solvent.
On the bacX Yide of the element, ~ slipping l~yer of poly(vlnyl ~tearate) (0.31 g/m2) in cellulose ~cet~te butyrate (O. 55 glm ) WHS coated from tetr~hydrofur~n ~olvent.

T~ble 1 ~\ ~II-N-N~ 2 Compound No. Rl ~2 C2H5 --~ S \-

4 --nC3H7 --n--C3H7 Control Compound 1 I~ i~ ~- N=N .\ _ ~ N(C2H5)2 ~HCOCH3 (U.S. P~tent 4,052,379) 25 Control Compound 2 C2H5S- \s/ N N \ _ ~ 3 7 2 ~HCOCH3 Control Compound 3 ~ _N-N_.~ ~--N(n-C3H7)2 C2H5 ~HCOCH3 Dye-receiving elements were prepared by co~ting ~ solution of Makrolon 5705~ (Bayer AG
Gorporation) polyc~rbon~te resin ~2.9 g/m ) in a methylene chloride and trlchloroethylene solvent mixture on ~n ICI Melinex ~90~ whi~e polyester support for den~ity ev~lu~tions or on ~ transparent poly~ethylene terephth~late~ film suppport for spectrel absorption evalu~tion~.
The dye side of the dye-donor element strip ~0 0.75 inches (19 mm) wide was pl~ced in contact with the dye im~e-receiving l~yer of the dye-rece~ver element of the same w~dth. The ~ssembl~ge was fastened in the JRW3 of ~ stepper motor driven pulling device. The as~embl~e W~Q laid on tDp of a 0.55 (14 mm) diameter rubber roller and a Fu~itsu Thermal Hesd ~FTP-040MCS001) ~nd wa~q pre~sed with ~
spring at ~ force of 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg) Rgainst the dye-donor element side of the assemblage pushing it 3gainqt the~ rubber roller.
The ima8inB electronio~ were activated causing the pulling device to drRw khe ~semblQ~e between the printing he~d and roller ~t 0.123 incheqlsec (3.1 mm/sec). Coincidentally, the resistive element~ in the thermal print head were hea~ed st 0.5 msec increment~ from 0 to 4.5 msec to ~enerate a ~raduated denqity teqt pattern. The voltage supplied to the print heRd was approxlmstely 19 v representing spproximately 1.75 wstts/dot.
Estim~ted hesd temper~ture was 250-400C.
The dye-receiving element w~s ~eparsted from the dye-donor element and the St~tus A green reflection density of the ~tep lmage w~s read. The image w~s then sub~ected to "HID-f~ding": 4 d~ys, 50 kLux, 5400K, 32C, ~pproxim~tely 25% RH. The den~ity loss at a density near 1~0 w~ calculated.
The followlng dye st~bility data were obtained:

7t~

T b1e 2 DYe ~D ~t initi~l 1.0 density) Compound 1 - n .1 2 Compound 2 -0.12 Compound 3 -0.12 Compound 4 -0.12 Control 1 -0.38 Control 2 -0.43 Contrnl ~ ~0.18 U~e of the compound~ in ~ccord~nce with the invention ~howed superior light stability a~ comp~red to a v~riety of control dye~.
The light ~b~orption spectra from 400 to 700 nm were ~lao ob~ined ~fter transfer of sn ~rea of the dye to the tr~n~p~rent ~upport receiver ~n the m~nner indicated above. From ~ computer norm~ ed 1.0 den~ity curve, the ~m~x, and HBW (h~lf-bRnd width =width of the dye sbsorption envelope ~t one-half the m~ximum dye density) were calculated.
The foliowing resultq were obtained:

T~ble 3 Dye ~-m~x HBW
25Compound 1 548 96 Gompound 2 558 83 Compound 3 546 95 Compound 4 558 8 2 Control 1 538 102 30Control 2 525 81 Control 3 514 81 The dye~ of the inYention ~re of good m~genta hue and all h~ve ~-max in the de~ired region of 545 to 560 nm The control dye~ ~re 811 too red (too much ~bRorption on the ~hort wavelength l 7t~

~ide). The control dye 3 with rel~tlvely good dye ~tability WRS the poorest for hue.

Ex~mple 2 A m~genta dye-~onor element W~3 prepsred by coating the followin~ l~yers in the order recited on a 6 ~m poly~ethylene terephthalRte3 ~upport:
13 ~ye-b~rrier lsyer of poly~scrylic) ~cid (0.16 g/m ) coated from w~ter, ~nd 2~ Dye layer contsining a magenta dye ~s identified in the following T~ble 4 (0.41 mmoleslm2) (0.17-0.20 g/m2), ~ cellulose ~cetate binder (40~ acetyl) ~t a weight equAl to 1.5X th~t of the dye, and FC-4310 3M Corp. (2.2 mg/m ), co~ted from ~
2-but~none/cyclohexRnone solvent mixture.
On the bsck side of the element W~9 co~ted ~ slipping l~yer of the type disclo~ed in copending U.S. P~tent Applic~tion Serial No. 813,199 of Vanier et el., filed December 24, 1985.
Dye-receiving elements were prepared as in Ex~mple l.
The dye side of the dye-donor element strip 0.75 inches (19 mm) wide was placed in cont~ct with the dye image-receivin~ layer of the dye-receiver element of the same width. The ~sqembl~ge was fa~tened in the j~ws of Q stepper motor driven pulling device. The sssemblsge wss laid on top of a 0.55 (14 mm) dlsmeter rubber roller and a TDK Thermal HeAd (No. L-133) and wss pressed with R spring st a force of 8~0 pounds (3.6 kg) ~gainst the dye-donor element side of the as~embl~ge pushing it ~gainst the rubber roller.
The im~ging electronics were ~ctiv~ted causing the pulling device to draw the ~cemblage between the printing hesd ~nd roller ~t 0.123 inches/sec (3.1 mm/ ec). Coincident~lly, the -lg-resistlve elements in the thermal prlnt he~d were pulse-heated ~t lncrement~ frDm 0 ~o B.3 m~ec to gener~te ~ gr~duated density tes~ pattern. The volta~e 3upplied to the print he~d wa~ ~pproximRtely S 22v representing approximately 1.5 w~tt~ldot (12 m~oules/dot) for m~ximum power.
The dye-receiving elemen~ was ~eparated from the dye-donor element ~nd dye ~t~bility and light ab~orption dat~ were obt~ined a~ de~cribed in Ex~mple l except that the dye stHb~lity data was c~lcul~ted percent ~en3ity lo~ from ~ mid-sc~le density ne~r 1Ø The following reqults were obta~n2d:

Table 4 15 Dye Den~ity LOQS ~ max HBW
5mpd. ~%~ ~nm) (nm) 1 8 ~48 96 17 537 g3 ~5 21 4 526 135 22 12 535 ~06 28 17 52~ 95 29 ~8 524 8~

Cont. 1 34 538 102 Cont. 4 34 523 84 Cont. 5 51 548 84 -~o-Control 4 N e N~ 3 7 ~HCOCH3 Control 5 \5/ \ - / ? 3 / C~H5 The dyes of the invention ~re ~11 of good or scceptable hue ~nd ~how ~uperior light st~bility compared to the control dyes heving clo~e ~tructural ~3imil8rity.
The invention h~s been de~cribed in det~il with psrticuler referenoe to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be under~tood that vari~tions ~nd modificstion~ c~n be ef$ected within the Rpirit and 3cope of the lnvention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A magenta dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon dye layer comprising a magenta dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, said magenta dye comprising a substituted 5-arylazoisothizole.

2. The element of Claim 1 wherein said magenta dye has the formula:

wherein R1 And R2 may each independently be hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl of from about 5 to about 7 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms; or R1 and R2 may be token together to form a ring; or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring may be formed with or R2, the nitrogen to which R1 or R2 is attached and either carbon atom ortho to the carbon attached to said nitrogen atom;
R3 may be hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms, alkylthio or halogen;
J may be substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms or NHA, where A is an acyl or sulfonyl radical;
and Q may be cyano, thiocyanato, alkylthio or alkoxycarbonyl.

3. The element of Claim 2 wherein R3 is methyl end Q is CN.

4. The element of Claim 2 wherein J is -NHCOCH3.

5. The element of Claim 2 wherein R1 is C2H5 and R2 is CH2C6H5, cyclohexyl or CH2CH2O2CCH3.

6. The element of Claim 2 wherein R1 and R2 are each n-C3H7 or C2H5.

7. The element of Claim 1 wherein a dye-barrier layer is located between said dye layer and said support.

8. The element of Claim 1 wherein the aide of the support opposite the aide bearing said dye layer is coated with a slipping layer comprising a lubricating material.

9. The element of Claim 1 wherein said support comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate).

10. The element of Claim 1 wherein said dye layer comprises sequential repeating areas of cyan, yellow and said magenta dye.

11. In a process of forming a magenta dye transfer image comprising imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support bearing a dye layer comprising a magenta dye dispersed in a polymeric binder and tranferring a magenta dye image to a dye-receiving element to form said magenta dye transfer image, the improvement wherein said magenta dye comprises a substituted 5-arylazoisothiazole.

12. The process of Claim 11 wherein said magenta dye has the formula:

wherein R1 and R2 may each independently be hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl of from about 5 to about 7 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about in carbon atoms; or R1 and R2 may be taken together to form a ring; or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring may be formed with R1 or R2, the nitrogen to which R1 or R2 is attached and either carbon atom ortho to the carbon attached to said nitrogen atom;
R3 may be hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms, alkylthio or halogen;
J may be substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms or NHA, where A is an acyl or sulfonyl radical;
and Q may be cyano, thiocyanato, alkylthio or alkoxycarbonyl.

13. The process of Claim 11 wherein said support is poly(ethylene terephthalate) which is coated with sequential repeating areas of cyan, yellow and said magenta dye, and said process steps are sequentially performed for each color to obtain a three-color dye transfer image.

14. In a thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:
a) a magenta dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a magenta dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, and b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, said dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with said magenta dye-donor element so that said dye layer is in contact with said dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said magenta dye comprsies a substituted 5-arylazoisothizole.

15. The assemblage of Claim 14 wherein said magenta dye has the formula:

wherein R1 and R2 may each independently be hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or allyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl of from about 5 to about 7 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms; or R1 and R2 may be taken together to form a ring; or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring may be formed with R1 or R2, the nitrogen to which R1 or R2 is attached, and either carbon atom ortho to the carbon attached to said nitrogen atom;
R3 may be hydrogen; substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms, alkylthio or halogen;
J may be substituted or unsubstituted alkyl of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryl of from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms or NHA, where A is an acyl or sulfonyl radical;
and Q may be cyano, thiocyanato, alkylthio or alkoxycarbonyl.

16. The assemblage of Claim 15 wherein R1 is methyl and Q is CN.

17. The assemblage of Claim 15 wherein J is -NHCOCH3.

18. The assemblage of Claim 15 wherein R1 is C2H5 and R2 is CH2C6H5, cyclohexyl or CH2CH2O2CCH3.

19. The assemblage of Claim 15 wherein R1 and R2 are each n-C3H7 or C2H5.

20. The assemblage of Claim 15 wherein said support of the dye-donor element comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate).