Importance

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Abstract

Thermally imaging systems are disclosed that can express at least two colors. The record materials incorporate a layer of an optical color shifting material coated over at least a portion of a heat sensitive layer to provide direct thermally imaging recording materials that express lustrous metallic effects when heated with a thermal printhead. The color shifting material such as interference pigments are coated as a layer applied over at least a portion of the surface area coated with a heat sensitive layer. The optical color shifting materials cooperate in a unique fashion with the underlying chromogen, preferably darkly imaging, of the heat sensitive layer to yield a faux metallic toned image that appears to be an additive effect of the underlying chromogen and the chromatic tone of the color shifting material. The chromogenic material when thermally imaged expresses a first color in surface areas of the record material not coated with the optical color shifting material. The chromogenic material expresses a second color, metallic in appearance, when thermally imaged in surface areas overcoated with the color shifting material. A new class of two color, with at least one color being metallic in appearance thermally-responsive recording material is taught.

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First Claim