Patent ID: 6998213

Claim:
A method for image formation using a thermal transfer film, comprising: forming an image on an image surface of an object by a thermal ink transfer method, a thermal dye sublimation method, an electrophotographic method, or an ink jet recording method; placing the object having the formed image a top surface of the thermal transfer film so that the image surface faces a thermal transfer layer of the thermal transfer film; and heating the thermal transfer film from a bottom surface opposite from the top surface, so that the thermal transfer layer is transferred onto to image surface; wherein: the thermal transfer film comprises a substrate, the thermal transfer layer and a release layer located between the substrate and the thermal transfer layer, the thermal transfer layer forming the top surface of the thermal transfer film; the release layer is substantially inseparable from the substrate; the thermal transfer layer comprises at least a first polyester resin and a second polyester resin, the first and second polyester resins having different number average molecular weights; the first polyester resin has a number average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 10,000 and a glass transition temperature of from 80 to 100° C.; the second polyester resin has a number average molecular weight of from 10,000 to 30,000.