Patent ID: 7169546

Claim:
A method for forming a protective layer, comprising: placing a thermally transferable image protective sheet comprising a support and a thermally transferable resin layer on to a print so that the thermally transferable resin layer contacts an image face of the print; thermally transferring the thermally transferable resin layer onto the print so that at least a printed portion of the image face of the print is covered with the thermally transferred resin layer; and separating the support from the thermally transferable image protective sheet after thermal transfer to form the protective layer on the printed portion of the image face of the print, the protective layer being formed of the thermally transferred resin layer; wherein: the support comprises a biaxially laminated polyester film having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface; the thermally transferable resin layer has a single-layer or multi-layer structure; the thermally transferable resin layer is stacked on the support so as to be separable from the support; the first surface of the biaxially oriented laminated polyester film contacts the thermally transferable resin layer and has a first surface roughness Ra of not more than 18 nm; the second surface of the biaxially oriented laminated polyester film has a second surface roughness Ra larger than the first surface roughness; the biaxially oriented laminated polyester film has a thickness of from 3 to 100 μm; and the protective layer has a specular glossiness of not less than 60% as measured at an angle of incidence of 20 degrees according to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) Z 8741.