Patent ID: 7763411

Claim:
A donor element for use in a thermal transfer process comprising: a support layer; a light-to-heat conversion layer disposed adjacent one side of the support layer, the light-to-heat conversion layer comprising a light absorber; and a transfer layer disposed adjacent the light-to-heat conversion layer opposite the support layer, the transfer layer comprising a material capable of being image-wise transferred from the donor element to an adjacent receiver element when the light-to-heat conversion layer is selectively exposed to light; wherein also disposed in a layer between the transfer layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer is a release-modifier selected from the group consisting of: (a) a quaternary ammonium cationic compound; (b) a phosphate anionic compound; (c) a phosphonate anionic compound; (d) a compound comprising from one to five ester groups and from two to ten hydroxyl groups; (e) an (ethylene-, propylene-) alkoxylated amine compound; and (f) combinations thereof.