Importance

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Abstract

This invention relates to a process of forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image comprising: (a) contacting at least one dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and an infrared-absorbing material with a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, said dye-donor and dye-receiver being separated by a finite distance to create a space; (b) imagewise-heating said dye-donor element by means of a laser; and (c) transferring a dye image to said dye-receiving element to form said laser-induced thermal dye transfer image, and wherein a vacuum is applied to said space between said donor and said receiver in order to minimize the mean free path the vaporized dye molecules travel without collision with other molecules for transfer to said receiver.

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First Claim