The image-receiving sheet of the present invention is used in combination with a heat transfer sheet having a colorant layer containing a sublimable dye on one surface of a substrate sheet. The image-receiving sheet includes a receiving layer containing a synthetic resin and an antioxidant including a specific structure as described above for receiving the sublimable dye migrated from the colorant layer of the heat transfer sheet formed on one surface of a substrate sheet, and therefore it can give a hard copy having extremely high light resistance of the recorded image of which color will be faded only with difficulty even when stored for a long term.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to image-receiving sheets which are suitable for 
performing recording by means of dot-shaped heating printing means such as 
thermal heads, used in combination with a heat transfer sheet having a 
colorant layer containing a sublimable dye formed thereon, and are 
excellent in light resistance after recording. 
A heat printing system is known in which a dye receivable resin such as 
thermoplastic polyester resin is laminated as the receiving layer on a 
substrate sheet, such as paper, and the heat transfer sheet is superposed 
on the thus prepared image-receiving sheet for effecting heat printing 
thereby to express gradation of the color depending on the magnitude of 
imparted heat energy during printing. Further, various hues can be 
reproduced by a combination of various colors with the use of a plurality 
of heat transfer papers with different hues during printing, whereby the 
printed matter in which the same tone as in natural color photography or 
color printing is expressed can be obtained. The thermal energy for 
printing can be controlled by electrical signals based on the images 
recorded by VTR, etc. or projected onto a color cathode-ray tube, and 
therefore is useful as the system for the so-called "hard copying system" 
in which these images are taken out as the printed matter. In this case, 
the thermal heads of the printer are used as the heat printing means, and 
multiple color dots of 3 colors or 4 colors are transferred by heating 
within a very short time, whereby the full color image of the original is 
reproduced with the color dots of said multiple colors. 
The color image thus formed is very sharp, because the colorant employed is 
a dye, and also exhibits excellent transparency, and therefore the image 
obtained is excellent in reproducibility and tone of the intermediate 
color, which is similar to the image according to off-set printing or 
gravure printing, and an image of high quality comparable to full color 
photographic image can be formed. 
However, since the image obtained in the image-receiving sheet of the prior 
art is formed of a dye, it is generally inferior in light resistance as 
compared with the image by use of a pigment, and there is involved the 
problem that the image will be rapidly faded or discolored when exposed 
directly to sunlight. 
For overcoming such drawbacks, there has been proposed an image-receiving 
sheet comprising a UV-ray absorber or a photostabilizer contained in the 
receiving layer. As the UV-ray contained in this kind of image-receiving 
layer, use of, for example, salicylic acid derivatives, benzophenone 
compounds, benzotriazole compounds and acrylate compounds have been known, 
while as the photostabilizer, naphthylamine compounds, diphenylamine 
compounds and phenol compounds have been known. 
However, although a considerable effect can be obtained by the addition of 
these UV-ray absorbers, etc. as compared with the case where no such 
additive is added, the effect is not yet satisfactory. 
Also, the problem of discoloration and fading occurs in other cases than by 
direct sunlight irradiation. For example, discoloration and fading by 
indoor light, or discoloration and fading under the state where no direct 
light such as of the contents of alubum case or book is irradiated may be 
generated, and these problems of indoor discoloration and fading or dark 
fading cannot be solved by use of UV-ray absorbers or antioxidants in 
general, both remaining as the important tasks to be solved. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide an image-receiving sheet 
which gives a sharp image with sufficient density, and yet forms an image 
which exhibits excellent various fastness, storability, particularly 
excellent light resistance, resistance to indoor discoloration and fading 
and resistance to dark fading, in a heat transfer method by use of a 
sublimable dye.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The image-receiving sheet of the present invention comprises a substrate 
sheet and a dye receiving layer provided on at least one surface thereof. 
As the substrate to be used in the present invention, there can be employed 
synthetic paper (polyolefin type, polystyrene type, polyester type, etc.), 
wood free paper, art paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, wall paper, 
backing paper, synthetic resin or emulsion impregnated paper, synthetic 
rubber latex impregnated paper, synthetic resin internally added paper, 
board paper, etc., cellulose fiber paper, various films or sheets of 
plastics such as of polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, 
polyethyleneterephthalate, polystyrene, polymethacrylate, and 
polycarbonate. It is also possible to use a white opaque film formed by 
forming a composition of these synthetic resins added with white pigment 
or filler into a film or a foamed sheet formed by foaming thereof, etc. 
Thus, the substrate sheet is not particularly limited. 
Also, a laminated product by any desired combination of the above substrate 
sheets can be used. Representative examples of laminated products may 
include cellulose fiber paper and synthetic paper or cellulose fiber 
paper, plastic film or sheet and synthetic paper. These substrates may 
have any desired thickness, for example, generally a thickness of about 10 
to 300 .mu.m. 
The substrate sheet as described above should be preferably applied with 
primer treatment or corona discharging treatment when adhesive force with 
the receiving layer formed on its surface is poor. 
The receiving layer formed on the surface of the above substrate sheet is 
provided for receiving the sublimable dye migrated from the heat transfer 
sheet, thereby maintaining the image formed. 
As the resin for forming the dye receiving layer, there may be included, 
for example, polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated polymers 
such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl polymers such 
as polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylic ester, polyester resins such as 
polyethyleneterephthalate, polybutyleneterephthalate, polystyrene resins, 
polyamide resins, copolymer resins of olefins such as ethylene, propylene, 
with other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulosic resins such as cellulose 
diacetate, particularly preferably vinyl resins and polyester resins. 
The above resins are summarized below: 
(a) those having ester linkage: polyester resin, polyacrylate resin, 
polycarbonate resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, styrene-acrylate resin, 
vinyl toluene-acrylate resin, etc.; 
(b) those having urethane linkage: polyurethane, etc.; 
(c) those having amide linkage: polyamide resin, etc.; 
(d) those having urea linkage: urea resin, etc.; 
(e) those having other linkages of high polarity: polycaprolactone resin, 
styrene-maleic anhydride resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, 
polyacrylonitrile resin, etc. 
In addition to the synthetic resins as mentioned above, mixtures or 
copolymers of these can also be used. 
In the present invention, the receiving layer can be also formed of two 
kinds of resins with different properties. For example, the first region 
of the receiving layer can be formed of a synthetic resin having a glass 
transition temperature of -100.degree. to 20.degree. C. and also a polar 
group, while the second region of the receiving layer can be formed of a 
synthetic resin having a glass transition temperature of 40.degree. C. or 
higher. The first region and the second region are both exposed on the 
surface, with the first region comprising 15% or more of said surface, the 
first region existing in shape of islands independently of each other, 
with the length of each island portion in the longer direction being 
preferably 0.5 to 200 .mu.m. 
Also, in the present invention, the receiving layer can be formed to 
contain fine powder of silica in addition to the resin as described above. 
Here, silica refers to silicon dioxide or a substance composed mainly of 
silicon dioxide. As the fine powdery silica to be contained in the 
receiving layer, one having an average particle size of 0.5 to 30 .mu.m 
and a specific surface area less than 250 m.sup.2 /g, more preferably an 
average particle size of 1 to 5 .mu.m and a specific surface area of 20 to 
200 m.sup.2 /g, may be used. 
If the average particle size of fine powdery silica is larger than this 
range, dispersing stability of fine powdery silica in the coating 
composition for receiving layer to be used for formation of the receiving 
layer will be lowered, and also smoothness of the receiving layer surface 
of the image-receiving sheet remarkably impaired, whereby the image 
obtained by heat transfer becomes indistinct. On the other hand, if the 
average particle size of fine powdery silica is smaller than this range, 
fluidity of the coating composition for receiving layer to be used for 
formation of receiving layer will be lowered, and also the effect of 
addition of fine powdery silica to the image-receiving sheet is not fully 
exhibited. 
Specific examples of fine powdery silica satisfying such conditions may 
include AEROSIL R972, AEROSIL 130, AEROSIL 200, AEROSIL OX50, AEROSIL 
TT600, AEROSIL MOX80, AEROSIL MOX170 (silica powders produced by 'Aerosil 
K. K., Japan). 
The content of fine powdery silica may be in the range of from 5 to 20% by 
weight, more preferably from 5 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of 
the receiving layer. 
These fine powdery silicas may be previously added into the resin for 
forming the receiving layer and the resultant resin mixture solution is 
coated and dried on a substrate to form a receiving layer. 
In forming the receiving layer, various additives other than the above fine 
powdery silica can be added, and those components should be selected from 
those which will not interfere with fixing of the dye migrated from the 
heat transfer sheet during heating. 
In the present invention, at least one compound represented by the 
following formula is included in the resin for formation of the receiving 
layer as described above: 
##STR1## 
wherein R.sub.1 =C.sub.l H.sub.2l+1 (l.gtoreq.0), 
R.sub.2 =C.sub.m H.sub.2m+1 (m.gtoreq.0), 
R.sub.3 is an atomic group comprising carbon atoms (C.sub.n) as the main 
skeleton (n.gtoreq.4), 
X is a hydrogen atom, sulfur atom, carbon atom or null, and 
x is an integer from 1 to 4. 
More specifically, at least one of the compounds shown below is included in 
the resin for formation of the receiving layer as described above: 
##STR2## 
wherein R.sub.1 =C.sub.l H.sub.2l+1 (l.gtoreq.0), 
R.sub.2 =C.sub.m H.sub.2m+1 (m.gtoreq.0), 
R.sub.3 is an atomic group comprising carbons (C.sub.n) as the main skelton 
(n.gtoreq.4), and 
R.sub.4 is: 
##STR3## 
First, specific examples of the compounds comprising the structures (I), 
(II), (III) and (IV) as mentioned above (antioxidant) are shown below. 
As the antioxidant having a structure comprising an atomic group with 
C.sub.n H.sub.2n as the main skelton, for example, 
1-(3,5-dibutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)butane: 
##STR4## 
may be included, while as the antioxidant comprising a structure having at 
least one of the group consisting of: 
##STR5## 
inserted in a part of R.sub.3 comprising an atomic group with C.sub.n 
H.sub.2, for example, 
triethyleneglycol-bis[3-(3-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate]: 
##STR6## 
1,6-hexanediol-bis[3-(3-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate]: 
##STR7## 
N,N'-hexamethylene-bis(3,5-dibutyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamide): 
##STR8## 
2,2-thio-diethylene-bis[3-(3,5-dibutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate]: 
##STR9## 
octadecyl-3-(3,5-dibutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate: 
##STR10## 
may be included. 
In the present invention, together with the above antioxidant, 
photostabilizer and/or UV-ray absorber can be used in combination to be 
contained in the receiving layer. As the photostabilizer, for example, one 
having the following structure can be used: 
##STR11## 
As the UV-ray absorber, for example, one having the following structure can 
be used: 
2-(5-methyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole: 
##STR12## 
The above antioxidant can be contained in an amount of 0.05 to 10 parts by 
weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin in the receiving layer, 
while the photostabilizer and the UV-ray absorber when used in combination 
with the antioxidant can be both contained in an amount of 0.05 to 10 
parts by weight on the same basis. Thus, by containing the antioxidant 
comprising the constitution as described above, light resistance of the 
recorded image on the receiving layer can be improved without affecting 
appearance, surface state of the receiving layer and dyeability of the 
dye. If either one of the contents exceeds the upper limit, no improvement 
of light resistance can be seen, while if it is less than the lower limit, 
no light resistance can be exhibited. 
Also, in the present invention, by including the above compound (V) in the 
receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet, there can be provided an 
image receiving sheet which gives a sharp image with sufficient density 
and yet forms an image which exhibits excellent various fastness, 
particularly excellent resistance to indoor discoloration and fading and 
resistance to dark place discoloration and fading, in a heat transfer 
method by use of a sublimable dye. 
The antioxidant of the formula wherein R is: 
##STR13## 
is 1,3,5-tris(4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylbenzyl)-isocyanurate and 
is available as the trade name of, for example, CYANOX-1790 (produced by 
Sunchemical Co., Japan), while the antioxidant of the above formula 
wherein R is: 
##STR14## 
is 1,3,5-tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-benzyl)-isocyanurate and is 
available as the trade name of, for example, IRGANOX-3114 (produced by 
Ciba-Geigy Co.), and can be used in the present invention. 
These antioxidants can be used either alone or as a mixture, and further 
other UV-ray absorbers or antioxidants can be also used in combination. 
The amount of the antioxidant of the above formula (V) used is not 
particularly limited, but it may be used in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts 
by weight, preferably 3 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by 
weight of the resin forming the dye receiving layer. If the amount used is 
too small, the desired effect of the present invention can be obtained 
with difficulty, while too much amount is uneconomical. 
The dye receiving layer formed as described above may have any desired 
thickness, but generally a thickness of 1 to 50 .mu.m. Such dye receiving 
layer may be preferably a continuous coating, but also noncontinuous 
coatings may be formed by use of a resin emulsion or a resin dispersion. 
In the present invention, only the antioxidant may be singly contained in 
the receiving layer, but when photostabilizer and/or UV-absorber is 
contained in combination, light resistance can be further improved as 
compared with the case when only the above antioxidant is contained. 
Hence, when the demand for light resistance is high, it is preferable to 
use them in combination, and for the respective contents when used in 
combination the above contents shown for the respective contents may be 
applicable as such. Among the above components, photostatilizer may be 
considered to prevent fading by trapping the radicals of the dye formed in 
the receiving layer by light. 
The above antioxidant, photostabilizer and UV-ray absorber can be contained 
in the receiving layer by adding them into a coating composition for 
formation of receiving layer to be dispersed or dissolved therein, and 
coating the dispersion or solution onto a substrate sheet, followed by 
drying. 
Also, the image-receiving sheet of the present invention can contain a mold 
release agent in the receiving layer for improving releasability from the 
heat transfer sheet. As the mold release agent, solid waxes such as 
polyethylene wax, amide wax, Teflon powder; surfactants such as fluorine 
type, phosphate type; and silicone oils may be included, preferably 
silicone oils are used. 
As the above silicone oil, although oily ones can be used, cured type oils 
are preferred. Examples of the cured type silicone oil may include the 
reaction cured type, the photocured type, the catalyst cured type, etc., 
preferably silicone oils of the reaction cured type. As the reaction cured 
type silicone oil, those obtained by the reaction curing of amino-modified 
silicone oil and epoxy-modified silicone oil may be employed. As the 
amino-modified silicone oil, KF-393 (produced by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo K. 
K., Japan) may be employed, and as the epoxy-modified silicone oil, 
X-22-343 (produced by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo K. K., Japan) may be employed. 
As the catalyst cured type or photocured type silicone oil, KS-705F-PS 
(catalyst cured type silicone oil, produced by Shinetsu Kagaku Kogyo K. 
K., Japan), KS-720 (photocured type silicone oil, produced by Shinetsu 
Kagaku Kogyo K. K., Japan) can be employed. The amount of these cured type 
silicone oils added may be preferably about 0.5 to 30 parts by weight 
based on 100 parts by weight of the resin constituting the receiving 
layer. 
It is also possible to provide a mold release agent layer by coating at 
least a part of the surface of the receiving layer with a solution or 
dispersion of the above mold release agent, followed by drying. As the 
mold release agent constituting the mold release agent layer, the reaction 
cured product of the amino-modified silicone oil and the epoxy-modified 
silicone oil as described above is particularly preferred. The thickness 
of the mold release agent layer may be preferably 0.01 to 5 .mu.m, 
particularly 0.02 to 2 .mu.m. Although the mold release agent layer may be 
provided either on a part of the receiving layer surface or on the whole 
surface thereof, when it is provided on a part of the receiving layer, 
recording can be performed by dot impact printing, heat-sensitive melt 
transfer recording, or a pencil at the portion where no mold release agent 
is provided, and sublimation transfer recording is performed at the 
portion where the mold release agent layer is provided while performing 
recording according to other recording systems on the portion while no 
mold release agent layer is provided. Thus, the sublimation transfer 
recording system can be performed in combination with other recording 
systems. 
The image-receiving sheet of the present invention can also have a 
cushioning layer provided between the substrate sheet and the receiving 
layer. By provision of a cushioning layer, noise is reduced, whereby 
images corresponding to image information can be transfer recorded with 
good reproducibility. As the material for constituting the cushioning 
layer, for example, urethane resin, acrylic resin, ethylene resin, 
butandiene rubber, and epoxy resin, may be employed. The cushioning layer 
may have a thickness preferably of about 2 to 20 .mu.m. 
The substrate sheet can also have a lubricating layer provided on the back 
thereof. The image-receiving layers may be in some cases piled on one 
another and delivered one by one for effecting transfer thereon, and when 
a lubricating layer is provided in this case, sliding mutually between the 
sheets become smooth, whereby each of the sheets can be accurately 
delivered. As the material for the lubricating layer, methacrylate resin 
such as methyl methacrylate or corresponding acrylate resin, and a vinyl 
resin such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer can be employed. 
Also, an antistatic agent can be incorporated in the image-receiving sheet. 
By incorporating an antistatic agent, there is the effect of preventing 
attachment of dust on the image-receiving sheet. The antistatic agent may 
be contained in the substrate sheet or the receiving layer, or it can be 
also provided as the antistatic agent layer on the back of the substrate 
sheet or on the receiving layer, but it is preferably provided as the 
antistatic layer on the back of the substrate sheet. 
It is also possible in the present invention to provide a detection mark on 
the image-receiving sheet. The detection mark is very convenient for 
performing registration between the heat transfer sheet and the 
image-receiving sheet, and, for example, can be provided by printing a 
detection mark detectable by a photoelectric tube detecting device on the 
back of the substrate. 
The present invention is described in more detail by referring to Examples. 
EXAMPLE A-1 
Preparation of heat transfer sheet 
By use of a polyethyleneterephthalate sheet with a thickness of 6 .mu.m 
(S-PET) applied with corona treatment on one surface as the support, on 
the corona treated surface of the film, a coating composition for colorant 
layer having a composition shown below was formed by wire bar coating to a 
thickness of 1 .mu.m on drying, followed by the back treatment coating by 
applying one or two drops of a silicone oil (produced by Shinetsu 
Silicone, Japan: X-41.multidot.4003A) with a squirt and spreading it over 
the whole surface, to prepare a heat transfer sheet. 
______________________________________ 
Coating composition for colorant layer 
______________________________________ 
Disperse dye 4 parts by wt. 
(produced by Nippon Kayaku, Japan: 
Kayaset Blue 714) 
Ethylhydroxyethyl cellulose 
5 parts by wt. 
(produced by Hercules) 
Toluene 40 parts by wt. 
Methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts by wt. 
Dioxane 10 parts by wt. 
______________________________________ 
Preparation of image-receiving sheet 
By use of a synthetic paper with a thickness of 150 .mu.m (produced by Oji 
Yuka, Japan: YUPO-FPG-150) as the substrate sheet, a coating composition 
for receiving layer having a composition shown below was applied on the 
surface by wire bar coating to form an image-receiving sheet with a 
thickness of 10 .mu.m on drying. Drying was performed after tentative 
drying by a dryer in an oven of a temperature of 100.degree. C. for 30 
minutes. 
______________________________________ 
Coating composition for receiving layer (A) 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 5.4 parts by wt. 
(produced by Toyobo, Japan: Vylon 600) 
Polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate 
8.0 parts by wt. 
resin 
(produced by Denki Kagaku: 
Denkavinyl #1000A) 
Amino-modified silicone oil 
0.25 part by wt. 
(produced by Shinetsu Kagaku, Japan: 
KF-393) 
Epoxy-modified silicone oil 
0.25 part by wt. 
(produced by Shinetsu Kagaku, Japan: 
X-22-343) 
Antioxidant 1.3 parts by wt. 
(produced by Ciba-Geigy: IRGANOX-245) 
Toluene 42.4 parts by wt. 
Methyl ethyl ketone 42.4 parts by wt. 
______________________________________ 
The above antioxidant has a structure represented by the structural formula 
*1 in the above specific examples. 
The heat transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet obtained as described 
above were superposed so that the colorant layer contacted the receiving 
layer and printing was carried from the support side of the heat transfer 
sheet by use of a thermal head under the conditions of an output of the 
thermal head of 1 W/dot, a pulse width of 0.3 to 0.45 msec and a dot 
density of 3 dots/mm to dye imagewise a dye of magenta color on the 
receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet. 
When the recorded image-receiving sheet was exposed for 3.5 hours based on 
JIS L0842, the fading ratio of the image was 15%. 
EXAMPLE A-2 
An image-receiving sheet was obtained in the same manner as in Example A-1 
except for using a composition (B) in which the antioxidant in the 
composition (A) used in Example A-1 was replaced with an antioxidant 
produced by Ciba-Geigy: IRGANOX-1035 (this antioxidant has a structural 
formula represented by the structural formula *2 in the above specific 
examples) as the coating composition for receiving layer. 
By use of the image-receiving sheet obtained with the same heat transfer 
sheet as in Example A-1, transfer was effected according to the same 
method. As the result, the fading ratio of the recorded image-receiving 
sheet was 17%. 
EXAMPLE A-3 
An image-receiving sheet was obtained in the same manner as in Example A-1 
except for using a composition (C) in which 1.3 parts by weight of a 
photostatiblizer (produced by Ciba-Geigy: TINUVIN-1130) were further 
included in the composition (A) used in Example A-1 as the coating 
composition for receiving layer. By use of the image-receiving sheet 
obtained with the same heat transfer sheet as in Example A-1, transfer was 
effected according to the same method. As the result, the fading ratio of 
the recorded image-receiving sheet was 5%, thus exhibiting the effect of 
combined use. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE A-1 
An image-receiving sheet was obtained in the same manner as in Example A-1 
except for using 1.3 parts by weight of a conventional hindered phenol 
type antioxidant (produced by Ciba-Geigy: IRGANOX-1076) and 1.3 parts by 
weight of a benzotriazole type photostabilizer (produced by Ciba-Geigy: 
TINUVIN-328) in place of the antioxidant used in Example A-1. 
By use of the image-receiving sheet with the same heat transfer sheet as in 
Example A-1, transfer was effected according to the same method. The 
fading ratio of the recorded image-receiving sheet was measured similarly 
as in Example A-1 to be 35%. 
Here, for supporting good light resistance of the image-receiving sheet of 
the present invention, the results of fading ratio of the transferred 
images with the image-receiving sheets prepared under various embodiments 
are shown below in the Table for the purpose of reference. 
More specifically, fading ratios of the transferred images with the 
image-receiving sheets obtained in the respective cases of containing 
various antioxidants (a) of the present invention, containing various 
antioxidants in general (b) comprising structures other than the 
antioxidants in the present invention, and containing none of the above 
antioxidants (a) and (b) were measured according to the same method as in 
Example A-1. Also, fading ratios with the image-receiving sheets obtained 
when using various photostabilizers for the above various embodiments in 
combination were measured. 
For the above antioxidant (a), any of the antioxidants in the present 
invention can be used, while for the above antioxidant (b) any of those 
having other structures than the antioxidant of the present invention can 
be used and, for example, a compound having the following structure was 
employed: 
2,6-dibutyl-4-methylphenol 
##STR15## 
As the photostabilizer, photostabilizers known in the art were used. 
The conditions for preparation of the image-receiving sheet, preparation of 
the heat transfer sheet, transfer recording, etc. followed those in 
Examples A-1, A-2 and Comparative Example A-1. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Fading Ratio 
Photostabilizer 
Photostabilizer 
Antioxidants (not used) (used) 
______________________________________ 
containing the antioxidant 
10-20% 0-10% 
(a) in the present 
invention 
containing the antioxidant 
40-50% 30-40% 
(b) with structure other 
than the present invention 
containing none of the 
55% or higher 
50% or higher 
antioxidants (a) and (b) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE B-1 
By use of a synthetic paper (YUPO FRG-150, thickness 150 .mu.m, produced by 
Oji Yuka, Japan) as the substrate sheet, a coating solution having a 
composition shown below was applied by a bar coater on one surface of the 
sheet at a ratio of 5.0 g/m.sup.2 on drying and dried to obtain an 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Polyester 4.0 parts 
(Vylon 600, produced by Toyobo, Japan) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
6.0 parts 
(Denkavinyl #1000A, produced by Denki Kagaku, 
Japan) 
Amino-modified silicone 0.2 part 
(X-22-3050C, produced by Shinetsu 
Kagaku Kogyo, Japan) 
Epoxy-modified silicone 0.2 part 
(X-22-3000E, produced by Shinetsu 
Kagaku Kogyo, Japan) 
Antioxidant 0.3 part 
(CYANOX-1790, produced by Sun- 
chemical, Japan) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
89.3 parts 
(weight ratio l/l) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE B-2 
An image-receiving sheet of the present invention was obtained in the same 
manner as in Example B-1 except for using 0.4 part of an antioxidant 
(IRGANOX-3114, produced by Ciba-Geigy) in place of the antioxidant in 
Example B-1 and changing the amount of the solvent to 89.2 parts. 
EXAMPLE B-3 
An image-receiving sheet of the present invention was obtained in the same 
manner as in Example B-2 except for using 0.2 part of an antioxidant 
(CYANOX-1790, produced by Sunchemical, Japan) and 0.2 part of an 
antioxidant (IRGANOX-3114, produced by Ciba-Geigy) in place of the 
antioxidant in Example B-2. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE B-1 
An image-receiving sheet of comparative example was obtained in the same 
manner as in Example B-1 except for using no antioxidant in Example B-1 
and changing the amount of the solvent to 89.6 parts. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE B-2 
An image-receiving sheet of comparative example was obtained in the same 
manner as in Example B-1 except for using 0.3 parts of an antioxidant 
(Sumilizer BHT, produced by Sumitomo Kagaku, Japan) in place of the 
antioxidant in Example B-1. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE B-3 
An image-receiving sheet of comparative example was obtained in the same 
manner as in Example B-1 except for using 0.3 part of an antioxidant 
(Sumilizer TNP, produced by Sumitomo Kagaku, Japan) in place of the 
antioxidant in Example B-1. 
On the other hand, an ink composition for formation of dye carrying layer 
having a composition shown below was prepared and coated by a wire bar on 
a polyethyleneterephthalate film with a thickness of 6 .mu.m applied on 
the back with heat-resistant treatment to a coated amount on drying of 1.0 
g/m.sup.2 and dried to obtain a heat transfer sheet. 
______________________________________ 
C.I. Disperse Yellow 201 5.5 parts 
Polyvinylbutyral resin 4.5 parts 
(Eslec BX-1, produced by Sekisui 
Kagaku, Japan) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
90.0 parts 
(weight ratio l/l) 
______________________________________ 
The above heat transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet of the present 
invention and comparative example were superposed with the respective dye 
layer and dye receiving surface opposed to each other, and recording was 
performed from the back of the heat transfer sheet by use of a 
heat-sensitive sublimating transfer printer (VY-50, produced by Hitachi 
Seisakusho K. K.) with a printing energy of 90 mJ/mm.sup.2. The result is 
shown in Table 2. Storability of printing was compared by the fading ratio 
after the recorded image was held at 70.degree. C. under dry state for 24 
hours. The fading ratio is a value calculated by the following formula: 
##EQU1## 
O.D..sub.0 =Reflective density of printed matter immediately after 
printing 
O.D..sub.1 =Reflective density of printed matter after storage at 
70.degree. C. for 24 hours. 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Image Fading ratio 
______________________________________ 
Example B-1 10.5 
Example B-2 12.4 
Example B-3 11.8 
Comparative Example B-1 
32.5 
Comparative Example B-2 
28.2 
Comparative Example B-3 
29.4 
______________________________________ 
As described above, the image-receiving sheet of the present invention is 
used in combination with a heat transfer sheet having a colorant layer 
containing a sublimable dye on one surface of a substrate sheet, and 
comprises a receiving layer containing a synthetic resin and an 
antioxdiant comprising a specific structure as described above for 
receiving the sublimable dye migrated from the colorant layer of the heat 
transfer sheet formed on one surface of a substrate sheet, and therefore 
it can give a hard copy having extremely high light resistance of the 
recorded image of which color will be faded with difficulty even when 
stored for a long term. Also, according to the present invention when a 
photostabilizer and/or a UV-ray absorber is used in combination in 
addition to the above antioxidant, light resistance of the above image is 
further improved, whereby the effects as described above will occur more 
remarkably.