JPH0664349B2 - Multicolor image forming method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for forming a multicolor image, and more specifically, it relates to a prepress color proof that can be used for a proofing work that is essential in a photolithography process. It's about how to get it.

[Conventional technology]

In curry printing, in order to check the color and tone etc. of the printing finish at the stage just before plate making, that is, at the halftone positive or halftone negative before making it on the plate, it is possible to preliminarily make the same thing as the stencil printing in order to check the color and tone of the printing finish. It is generally done. This is called prepress color proof. Regarding the prepress color proof, conventionally, there are mainly a surprint method, an overlay method and a transfer method depending on their forms.

In the surprint method, a multicolor image is prepared by successively printing each color separation original plate while sequentially coating each color coloring photosensitive liquid on one white support. In the overlay method, each color separation original plate is printed on a transparent support coated with a colored photosensitizer in accordance with each color, and is overlaid with each other for calibration. In addition, the transfer method uses a transfer method using a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a transfer method using heat on one white sheet.
A multicolor image is sequentially formed.

Among the methods of forming a multicolor image by the transfer method, the method using a pressure-sensitive adhesive is mainly composed of a colored photosensitive layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a backing paper (release paper coated with a release agent) laminated in this order on a support. When the backing paper is peeled off, a sticky surface appears, so it should be sufficiently pressed and adhered to the white base mount to be transferred, and then when the support is peeled off, the colored photosensitive layer is transferred onto the mount, and after that , Contact-expose with a color separation original plate according to the color tone of the colored photosensitive layer, develop with a dedicated developer and dry to form a color-separated image, and repeat the same operation for the remaining colors to form a multicolor image. To form.

Various proposals have also been made to transfer by heat without using a pressure sensitive adhesive. For example, if a substrate provided with a colored photopolymerizable layer that exhibits tackiness at a certain temperature or higher is passed through an original plate and exposed to contact, the exposed part will not exhibit tackiness, so only the unexposed part or the paper base will be thermally transferred. What to do (US
P 3203805), or after the colored photopolymerizable layer on the support is exposed and developed, the colored image is thermally transferred to a base having a heat-sensitive adhesive (USP 4304836), or composed of support / release layer / colored photosensitive layer. Is exposed and developed to obtain a colored image, and then a heat-sensitive adhesive (in this case, a pressure-sensitive adhesive may be used)
Which is transferred to the image surface or the image receiving surface by heat transfer (USP 3721557, JP-A-46-15326, JP-B-49-44)
1) or as in JP-A-47-41830, a support / a heat-fusible color image backing layer / a color image fixing auxiliary layer ... The heat-fusing property is not essential / a color-sensitive photosensitive layer (without limitation) The backside of the color image that has been exposed and developed is made to be fused to the surface to be transferred and then the color image is thermally transferred together with the color image backing layer by peeling and removing the support. There are ways to do it.

The inventors of the present invention have previously disclosed that Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
137346) and Japanese Patent Application No. 60-27944, all processing can be done in a bright room, and development processing can be performed only with water, which is advantageous in terms of environment and safety such as explosion, and the material configuration is simple and material cost can be reduced. Not only the method for forming a multicolor image, which has many advantages such as a great saving in running cost, but also a method for forming a multicolor image and materials for use in the method have been presented.

That is, a heat-transfer photosensitive material comprising a transparent support and a colored layer which is soluble in water and insolubilized by light is provided on the transparent support through an intermediate layer which is heat-fusible, and is closely contacted with an actinic ray of the photosensitive material through a negative document. Exposing to light, and then washing away the non-exposed portion with water to form an image; the formed image surface is further brought into close contact with the heat-sealing surface of the material to be transferred having a heat-sealing layer, and heated and pressed; After that, the transparent support is peeled off from the intermediate layer, and the step of transferring the colored image to the material to be transferred together with the intermediate layer is performed. According to the color tone of
Select a negative document, contact exposure, wash away with water, form an image, transfer a colored image with a specific color tone to the transfer material at the stage, and then form a colored image with a color tone different from the above The image surface of the obtained photosensitive material is brought into close contact with the transferred surface of the transferred material obtained in the step, heated and pressed, and then the transparent support is peeled from the intermediate layer, and the colored image is formed together with the intermediate layer. In the method for forming a multicolor image, the process is performed in the step of transferring onto the already transferred surface of the material to be transferred, and the steps are repeated after the third color.

Among the materials used in the method for forming a multicolor image, in the thermal transfer photosensitive material, the heat-fusible intermediate layer is insoluble in water and does not impair the hue and transparency at room temperature, is non-adhesive and is heat-sensitive. It becomes tacky, fusible, and easily peelable from the transparent support at room temperature, and the colored layer which is insolubilized by the light to be coated on this upper layer has a sufficient adhesiveness particularly after photoinsolubilization. The coloring layer which is selected and which is soluble in water and insolubilized by light is composed mainly of a film-forming water-soluble polymer substance, a photoinsolubilizer and a coloring agent, or a stilbazolium group and a stilquinolinium group. The main component was a modified polyvinyl alcohol having at least one selected from the following as a photosensitive component addition group and a colorant. Among the materials, the material to be transferred was formed by laminating a substance which was non-adhesive at room temperature and could be adhesive and fusible by heat at least on one surface.

The method for forming a multicolor image and the multicolor image forming material for use in the same have the advantages described above and are extremely excellent in themselves, but a specific material to be transferred having a heat fusion layer. In other words, there was a feeling that it could only be transferred to a special mount. It is generally desired to overcome this limitation and further broaden the transfer of multicolor images to materials such as plastic films, sheets, aluminum plates or cloth. This is because multicolor printing is not only done on a white surface such as paper or paperboard, but also on a transparent material, a metallic glossy surface, or even a soft rough surface. In such a case, it is best to perform color proofing on the same surface as the surface to be printed.

The second problem is that the surface after transfer of the fully colored image is composed of the heat-fusible substance of the intermediate layer, and has poor heat resistance as it is. In particular, blocking during stacking and storage at high temperatures such as in summer. However, it has a drawback that it is easy to cause, its surface strength is weak, and its abrasion resistance is poor. Therefore, it requires careful handling and is not suitable for long-term storage.
A third problem is that since a plastic film is used as the transparent support of the heat transfer photosensitive material, the surface after transfer of a multicolor image becomes excessively smooth due to the steps, steps, and steps. Therefore, there is a problem that the glossiness of the surface after transferring all colors is too high.
In color proofing in the plate making process, it is desirable that the multicolor image to be proofed closely resembles the actual printed matter, but if the surface glossiness after transfer is high and it is in a mirror finish, When visually observing, the surface gloss hinders accurate calibration. After printing the printed matter, the gloss is paper,
Although it depends on the ink, design, etc., when printing on ordinary coated paper by offset printing, the ink surface glossiness is considered to be about 80% at 75 ° glossiness, so the image surface after peeling the transparent support (strict It is desired that the glossiness of the surface of the intermediate layer be as close to this as possible.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention, when using the above-mentioned multicolor image forming material, the problem that the image can be transferred only on the transfer material for exclusive use, and that the formed image surface is easily scratched,
Solution by using an intermediate image-receiving sheet formed by laminating a transparent protective layer, which is peelable from the support and has heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and blocking resistance, and a transparent heat-sealing layer on the support. However, the image can be transferred onto any support, including materials such as paper, plastic film, plastic plate, metal plate such as aluminum plate, cloth, etc. that do not have adhesiveness itself. A color formed by improving the heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and blocking resistance of the color proof by covering the surface with a protective layer transferred from the intermediate image-receiving sheet, and adjusting the surface property of the protective layer. By adjusting the surface gloss of the proof, the versatility of the pull press color proof for color proofing will be improved and the storability of the formed color proof will be improved. That.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention, in place of the transfer material having a conventional heat-fusion layer, a transparent protective layer that is peelable from the support and has heat resistance, abrasion resistance, blocking resistance, and transparent. Using an intermediate image-receiving sheet formed by laminating various heat-fusion layers, after transferring all the images onto the heat-fusion layer on the intermediate image-receiving sheet, the image transferred onto the fusion-bonding layer of the intermediate image-receiving sheet Is transferred to an arbitrary support again together with the heat fusion layer and the protective layer of the heat intermediate image-receiving sheet to transfer an image on the arbitrary support, and the transferred image surface is protected by the protective layer. It is intended to obtain a color proof.
Further, the glossiness of the surface of the final transferred image can be made arbitrary by adjusting the matting degree of the surface of the protective layer. That is, a thermal transfer photosensitive material comprising a transparent support and a colored layer which is soluble in water and insolubilized by light is provided through a heat-fusible intermediate layer through a negative manuscript to be closely contacted with actinic rays of the photosensitive material. Exposing to light, and then washing away the non-exposed portion with water to form an image; the formed image surface is brought into close contact with the heat-sealing surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet having a heat-sealing layer, and heated and pressed; After that, the transparent support is peeled off from the intermediate layer, and the step of transferring the colored image together with the intermediate layer to the intermediate image-receiving sheet is carried out, and at that stage, different colored layers of the light-sensitive material are prepared. After selecting a negative image original according to the color tone, contact exposure, washing with water, and transferring the colored image of a specific color to the intermediate image-receiving sheet at the stage of forming an image, a different color tone from the above Photosensitivity with formed colored image The image surface of the material is brought into close contact with the already transferred surface of the transferred intermediate image-receiving sheet obtained in the step, heated and pressed, and then the transparent support is peeled off from the intermediate layer, and the colored image is formed together with the intermediate layer on the intermediate image-receiving sheet. The step of transferring onto the already transferred surface of the intermediate transfer sheet, the colored images of different tones of the third and subsequent colors are repeated and similarly transferred onto the already transferred surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet,
After the final transfer, the transparent support of the heat transfer photosensitive material is peeled off from the intermediate layer, the surface of the intermediate layer is brought into close contact with the transfer sheet, heated and pressed, and then the support of the intermediate image-receiving sheet is protected. It is a method of forming a multicolor image in which the process is carried out through the step of peeling from the surface.

[Operation and effect of the invention]

 The present invention will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the method of the present invention step by step. In the figure, A is a transparent support of a thermal transfer photosensitive material, B is an intermediate layer of the photosensitive material, C-1, C-2, C-.
3 and C-4 are colored images of respective tones obtained by exposing the colored layer of the light-sensitive material to a negative document by exposure, and washing away the non-exposed portion (non-image portion) with water, and D is the support of the intermediate image-receiving sheet. A body, E is a protective layer of the image receiving sheet, and F is a heat fusion layer of the image receiving sheet.

Among the multicolor image forming materials according to the present invention, examples of the transparent support A used for the heat transfer photosensitive material include transparent plastic films such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate and triacetate. You can In particular, a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film is preferable because it is excellent in strength, heat resistance, dimensional stability, transparency and the like. The thickness of the support is not particularly limited, but about 50 to 150 µ is suitable.

Next, the intermediate layer B to be provided between the support and the colored layer which becomes insoluble by light will be described. The intermediate layer is 1
It can be composed of two or more layers. In the case of one layer, it is insoluble in water and does not impair the hue and transparency. It is non-adhesive at room temperature and exhibits adhesiveness and fusion property by heat, and at the room temperature, it can be easily peeled off from the transparent support. The colored layer which is to be insolubilized by light and which is to be coated on the upper layer is selected from substances that have sufficient adhesion, especially after photoinsolubilization, and also have sufficient adhesion to the transfer sheet. Two
In the case of a layer, the first layer, which should be directly laminated on the support, does not necessarily need to be insoluble in water, and mainly the releasability from the support and the adhesion to the transfer sheet should be considered with priority. The second layer to be laminated thereon should be selected such that it is insoluble in water and mainly has a sufficient adhesiveness with the colored layer to be coated thereon, especially after photoinsolubilization. Of course, it is indispensable that the first and second layers are composed of a substance that does not impair the hue and transparency and is non-adhesive at room temperature and adhesive and fusible by heat.

It is one of the main points of the present invention that a multicolor image can be formed on any type of transfer sheet by appropriately selecting the material of the intermediate layer.

Examples of the substance for forming the intermediate layer as described above include the following film-forming polymer substances.

Polyacrylic acid ester and acrylic acid ester copolymer, polymethacrylic acid ester and methacrylic acid ester copolymer, polyacrylic amide and acrylic amide copolymer, polyvinyl acetate and vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl chloride and Vinyl chloride copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride and vinylidene chloride copolymer, polystyrene and styrene copolymer, ethylene and vinyl acetate, ethylene and acrylic ester, ethylene and vinyl chloride such as ethylene and acrylic acid, ethylene copolymer, Polyvinyl acetal resin such as polyvinyl butyral and polyvinyl formal, polyester resin,
Polyamide resin such as nylon and copolymer nylon, synthetic rubber, various rubbers such as chlorinated rubber, polyolefin such as polyethylene and polypropylene, cellulose derivative,
Shellac and various waxes.

In addition, a mixture of these polymeric substances with each other or a mixed system with other substances such as other polymeric substances, plasticizers, supercooling substances, etc. may be used. For example, even those having tackiness at room temperature, combinations with other substances capable of preventing the tackiness, conversely those not showing tackiness upon heating, and combinations with tackifiers, plasticizers, etc. It is conceivable that not only single substances but also various combinations are conceivable and therefore not necessarily limited to the substances mentioned. In order to laminate the intermediate layer on the support, the above-mentioned solution of the polymer substance is applied onto the support by a usual method and dried, or the solid polymer substance is melted and applied ( Hot melt coating)
Alternatively, a film made of the above polymer substance may be laminated. The thickness of the intermediate layer is 1 μm or more, preferably 3 to 10
μ is preferred.

Next, the colored layer C (not shown in FIG. 1) provided on the intermediate layer and insolubilized by light will be described.
The colored layer has a combination of a film-forming water-soluble polymeric substance, a photoinsolubilizer and a colorant, or a photosensitive component as an additional group, provided that elution and development can be carried out only with water at the stage. Any one of a combination of modified polyvinyl alcohol and a colorant is used.

In the former case, any one of polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, polyacrylamide and copolymers thereof which is a water-soluble polymer, or a mixture thereof and a condensate of a diazonium salt which is a photoinsolubilizer, particularly formalin of paradiazodiphenylamine. The combination with the condensate is particularly good, and the addition ratio of the photoinsolubilizer to the water-soluble polymer substance is 2 to 20%, more preferably 5 to 12%. In the latter case, a modified polyvinyl alcohol which can express a pure color tone of the colorant and has excellent storage stability and which has at least one selected from a stilbazolium group and a stilquinolinium group as a photosensitive component addition group is particularly preferable, Further, for the purpose of enhancing the adhesion to the support or the water resistance of the obtained image, various vinyl acetate emulsions,
Cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol,
Water-soluble resins such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, casein, gelatin, polyacrylamide and copolymers thereof, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylic acid and its salts, and polymethacrylic acid and its salts may be added alone or in combination.

The colorant can be selected from a wide range such as water-dispersible pigments, water- or alcohol-soluble dyes, but has good miscibility with the above-mentioned water-soluble polymer substance, photoinsolubilizer, modified polyvinyl alcohol, photosensitivity and developability. It is necessary that the color tone does not adversely affect the image quality, and the color tone is basically four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in the case of color proofing in photoengraving. It is desired that the color of each printing ink be close to that of the printing ink. The amount of the colorant added depends on the type and the amount of the colored layer applied, but should be determined by the desired optical reflection density of the colored image after the formed image is transferred to the transfer sheet.

In addition to the above components, a stabilizer for preventing dark reaction, a leveling agent for improving coatability, a defoaming agent, a surfactant, etc. are added to the colored layer which becomes insoluble by light, if necessary. can do. Further, in providing the colored layer, the above components are mainly dissolved or dispersed in water and mixed, but a water-soluble organic solvent such as alcohol is diluted if necessary for the purpose of defoaming or improving coatability. It can also be used partially as an agent. The thickness of the colored layer is preferably as thin as possible from the viewpoint of resolution such as halftone reproducibility, but 2 to 5 μm is optimal in consideration of the image density of the colorant. The above-mentioned colored layer may be applied onto the intermediate layer by any conventionally known method, and it is not particularly limited as long as a uniform coating film having no pinhole or the like can be obtained.

Next, the intermediate image-receiving sheet of the present invention will be described. Examples of the support D of the intermediate image-receiving sheet include paper, plastic film, paper / plastic film composite material and the like. The protective layer E to be adhered and laminated on the support has a film-forming property such that the formed film can be easily peeled from the support, has heat resistance, abrasion resistance, blocking resistance, and is excellent in transparency. It must be made of a polymeric substance and have an appropriate adhesiveness to the support D in the steps 1 to 3, but it must be designed so that it can be easily peeled from the support in the step. Therefore, the surface of the support may be preliminarily peeled off. The substance for forming the release layer as described above depends on the types of the support D and the protective layer E used, but a polymer or prepolymer having a releasability conventionally used for release papers and the like. For example, a silicone resin, an alkyd resin, a urethane resin, a polyester resin, an amino resin, a phenol resin may be used alone or in combination. Further, a functional group can be added to a side chain or a terminal so that these polymers or prepolymers can be crosslinked or polymerized by light or radiation.

Further, even in the case of a resin having essentially no releasability, the releasability can be controlled by mixing it with the releasant.

Examples of polymeric substances to be selected for the protective layer E include polyethylene and ethylene and propylene, ethylene and butylene, ethylene and vinyl acetate, ethylene and ethylene copolymers such as acrylic acid or acrylate, polypropylene, and poly. Vinyl acetate and vinyl acetate copolymers, polyvinyl chloride and vinyl chloride copolymers, polyvinylidene chloride and vinylidene chloride copolymers, polystyrene and styrene copolymers, polyacrylic acid esters and acrylic acid ester copolymers, polymethas Acrylic ester and methacrylic acid ester copolymers, polyacrylic amide and acrylic amide copolymers, polyvinia acetals, polyester resins, polyamide resins, polycarbonate resins, cellulose esters, cells Sueteru, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Also, a mixture of these polymer substances and a blend of non-polymer additives may be used. To laminate these protective layer forming substances on a support, a solution of the above-mentioned polymer substance may be applied onto the support and dried, or a film made of the above-mentioned polymer substance may be laminated. The thickness of the protective layer is preferably 1 μm or more and 3 to 10 μm.

In the present invention, the surface of the protective layer may be matted (roughened) if necessary. If the surface of the protective layer is appropriately matted, the glossiness of the finished surface is adjusted, and when color proofing is performed, it looks very similar to the actual printed matter. Moreover, if the roughness is changed, the matting degree on the surface of the protective layer is changed accordingly, and a desired glossiness can be obtained. The protective layer may be matted by adding a transparent pigment or the like to the protective layer, or a matting pattern is formed on the protective layer after peeling by adding a pigment to the peeling layer for matting. This is a more useful method because matte formation is possible without lowering the transparency of the protective layer. As the matting agent used for such a purpose,
Inorganic fine particles such as silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate and alumina, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, acrylic ester resin, methacrylic acid resin, plastic powder such as polyacrylonitrile and copolymers of acrylonitrile, starch and cellulose. There are fine powders and the like. The particle size of the matting agent is preferably 0.01 μ to 20 μ, and the surface of the protective layer can be made into a desired matt (glossiness) by controlling the type, particle size and addition amount of the matting agent.

Further, in the case where the release layer is not provided on the intermediate image-receiving sheet, the protective layer may be matted by matting the surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet support D. Matted supports include paper, paper / cloth composites, roughened films, sheets and the like.

In the intermediate image-receiving sheet of the present invention, the substance to be used for the heat-sealing layer F to be laminated on the protective layer E is non-adhesive at room temperature and has adhesiveness and fusion property by heat and is excellent in transparency. Further, it is necessary to select a substance which has good adhesion to the protective layer and which can be mutually fused when heated with the intermediate layer of the heat transfer photosensitive material and the colored layer after photoinsolubilization. Examples of these substances are selected from the same substances as those used in the intermediate layer of the thermal transfer photosensitive material, but in this case, the mutual fusion property between the intermediate layer and the colored layer after photoinsolubilization is mainly determined. After considering it, select not only a single substance but also a wide range from mixed systems. When laminating the heat-fusible substance on the protective layer, it may be applied in the form of a solution and dried as in the case of the intermediate layer, or may be laminated in the form of a film. The thickness of the heat-sealing layer is preferably 3 μ or more and 5 to 10 μ.

Finally, the transfer sheet will be described. This can include not only paper, paperboard, plastic film, etc., as described, but also materials such as aluminum plate or cloth that are usually difficult to provide with a heat-sealing layer. ,
It is possible to significantly enlarge the transfer target of a multicolor image.

Among the materials obtained by the present invention, first, the heat transfer photosensitive material is exposed through contact with active light rays of the photosensitive material through a negative film (negative image original) that is net-decomposed for each separated color obtained in the photomechanical process, After that, the unexposed area is washed away with water to form an image [step], but by selecting the light-sensitive material of the present invention corresponding to each separation color (from a negative film corresponding to a cyan plate, A thermal transfer light-sensitive material having each colored image is obtained by closely reversing to the light-sensitive material of the present invention colored in cyan. Here, the intermediate layer B is exposed in the unexposed area (non-image area) of the photosensitive material. The heat-fusion layer F of the intermediate image-receiving sheet is also heat-fused with the colored layer (image portion) C-1 after photoinsolubilization, but this alone is not complete and is exposed to the unexposed portion (non-image portion). Due to mutual fusion with the heat-fusible intermediate layer B, the heat transfer is performed more firmly and completely.

Next, the image surface of the photosensitive material is brought into close contact with the transfer surface (the surface having the heat-sealing layer) of the intermediate image-receiving sheet, and the intermediate layer (unexposed portion, non-image portion) of the photosensitive material is heated and pressed. B
And the thermal fusion layer F of the intermediate image-receiving sheet cause mutual fusion (the photo-insolubilized portion of the coloring layer, that is, the image portion also causes mutual fusion with the thermal fusion layer of the intermediate image-receiving sheet. Since it is not heat-fusible, stronger adhesion cannot be expected to the non-image area.) After that, when the transparent support A of the photosensitive material is peeled off, the color-separated image is easily and firmly transferred to the intermediate image-receiving sheet together with the intermediate layer. To be done. [Step] Further, the colored image of the second color is thermally transferred onto the transferred image. In this case, a heat fusion layer (intermediate layer B of the first color) is formed on the surface after the transfer of the first color. Therefore, it is possible to transfer easily and firmly like the first color [step]. The third and subsequent colors have the same result as the second color, and different colored images can be easily transferred together with the intermediate layer. After the final transfer of the colored image is completed, the transparent support A of the light-sensitive material is peeled off (step). Then, the exposed surface of the intermediate layer B of the photosensitive material is brought into close contact with a desired sheet to be transferred, heated and pressed to cause heat fusion, and then the support D of the intermediate image-receiving sheet is peeled from the protective layer E. A multicolor image can be formed on the transfer sheet [step]. The protective layer E is provided on the uppermost layer (finished surface) of the thus-formed multicolor image, and heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and blocking resistance are imparted, and at the same time it can withstand long-term storage, When the support D is matt-treated, the surface protective layer is also matted and the glossiness is appropriately adjusted. Here, by selecting each color tone (basically cyan, magenta, yellow, black) and density of the colored image close to that of the printing ink, a multicolor image very similar to the final printed matter was obtained, and it was similar to the proof print. It can be used for color proofing.

As described above, conventionally, there has been a restriction that transfer can be performed only on a specific material to be transferred having a heat-sealing layer, that is, a dedicated mount. However, an intermediate image-receiving sheet obtained by laminating a transparent protective layer and a transparent heat-sealing layer, which are peelable from the support and have heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and blocking resistance, on the support of the present application. By using, there are the following effects.

A color proof is formed on any support. Since an image is formed on the colored layer on the heat-fusion layer of the heat transfer photosensitive material, the surface of the heat transfer photosensitive material is covered with an image having no adhesive property. When transferring this image to another support,
It was essential that the surface of the material to be transferred be covered with a substance having an adhesive property such as a heat fusion layer.

However, an intermediate image-receiving sheet obtained by laminating a transparent protective layer, which is peelable from the support and has heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and blocking resistance, and a transparent heat-sealing layer on the support of the present application. By using, it is possible to transfer the image of all colors and the heat-fusion layer of the heat transfer photosensitive material onto the heat-fusion layer of the intermediate image-receiving sheet, and the uppermost layer transferred onto the intermediate image-receiving sheet is Since it becomes a heat-fusion layer having adhesiveness of the heat-transfer photosensitive material, it can be transferred to any support. The transferred images of all colors and the heat-fusion layer of the heat-transfer photosensitive material are re-transferred onto any support including the heat-fusion layer of the intermediate image-receiving sheet and the protective layer, as well as a material having no adhesive property itself. By doing so, a color proof can be obtained on a wide range of supports.

Improvement of heat resistance, abrasion resistance and blocking resistance of color proof Heat resistance, abrasion resistance because the color proof surface is covered by a protective layer having heat resistance, abrasion resistance and blocking resistance transferred from the intermediate image-receiving sheet. A color proof having improved properties and blocking resistance was obtained.

Arbitrary surface gloss By adjusting the degree of matting (roughening) of the protective layer surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet, the surface gloss of the formed color proof can be approximated to that of printed matter or adjusted to an arbitrary degree of gloss. became.

As described above, according to the present invention, the versatility as a prepress color proof for color proofing can be improved by expanding the types of materials to be transferred for multicolor images, strengthening the strength of the color proof surface, and adjusting the glossiness. did it.

The light source used for exposing the thermal transfer photosensitive material of the present invention may be any one that can effectively insolubilize the colored layer,
Various mercury lamps, carbon arc lamps, xenon lamps, metal halide lamps, chemical fluorescent lamps, etc. can be used.

〔Example〕

The following examples are provided to further clarify the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the examples, all "parts" are parts by weight.

Example 1 <Release layer forming liquid> <Protective layer forming liquid> <Heat-bonding layer forming liquid> A release layer forming solution is biaxially stretched and has a thickness of 100μ, which is applied to one side of a polyethylene terephthalate film that has been previously corona-discharge treated with a Meyer bar and dried at 100 ° C for 1 minute, and then a release of about 3μ is performed. Layers were formed. Further, this coating film was completely cured. Next, a surface protective layer forming liquid is applied on it with a Meyer bar so as to have a thickness of about 3 μm.
It was dried at 0 ° C for 1 minute to obtain a surface protective layer. Further, a heat-sealing layer forming liquid was applied thereon by a Meyer bar so as to have a thickness of 2 μm and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 minute to form an intermediate image-receiving sheet having a heat-sealing layer laminated.

On the other hand, a multicolor image forming material was obtained by the following method.
That is, a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 75 μ was used as a support, and an ethyl acetate solution of a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate was applied to one surface of the support and dried to obtain 3
Form a μ-thick intermediate layer, then over this A solution having the composition of 1 was applied and dried to form a colored layer having a thickness of 3 μm to obtain a black thermal transfer photosensitive material.

By using phthalocyanine blue, permanent carmine FB and permanent yellow HR in place of carbon black in the colored layer forming liquid, cyan, magenta and yellow thermal transfer photosensitive materials were similarly obtained.

However, the pigment dispersion was obtained by dispersing for 3 hours with an ink kneader with the following composition.

2K of color separation mesh negative film for black (sumi) plate is adhered to the colored photosensitive surface of the above-mentioned black thermal transfer photosensitive material.
It is exposed for 30 seconds from a distance of 1 m with a high-pressure mercury lamp of W, and then the unexposed area is washed away with normal temperature water ejected from a nozzle pressurized to 1 kg / cm ² , and then drained and dried with warm air at 50 ° C. Then, a black-colored positive image was obtained.

For cyan, magenta, and yellow thermal transfer photosensitive materials, use the corresponding color-separating halftone negative film and perform the same operations as above (each exposure time is different.
10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds) Positive images colored in cyan, magenta and yellow were obtained. Both were excellent in resolution.

The image surface of the black thermal transfer material having the positive image and the thermal fusion bonding surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet are overlapped and pressed by a roller heated to 100 ° C., and then the support of the thermal transfer material, that is, 75 μm polyethylene terephthalate. When the film was peeled off, the colored positive image was transferred onto the intermediate image-receiving sheet together with the intermediate layer. Next, a positive image colored in black was transferred, and then the thermal transfer photosensitive material having the positive images of cyan, magenta, and yellow was used to perform thermal transfer on the intermediate image-receiving sheet in the same manner.

Then, the heat-fusing surface of the thermal transfer material on which the four-color positive image is formed and the coated paper are superposed and pressed by a roller heated to 100 ° C., and then the support of the intermediate image-receiving sheet, that is, 100 μm.
When the polyethylene terephthalate film of m was peeled off, a four-color positive image was transferred onto the coated paper together with the protective layer of the intermediate image-receiving sheet. Good adhesion after transfer,
This is very similar to the final printed matter, and color proofing, etc. could be easily done without printing on a printing press.

The surface glossiness of the protective layer was 80% at 75 ° glossiness, which was close to the ink surface glossiness when printed on coated paper by offset printing. Furthermore, the protective layer is weather resistant,
It was excellent in heat resistance and abrasion resistance and had a sufficient function as a surface protection.

In the examples, the final transfer was performed on the coated paper, but by this method, it was possible to transfer to the coated paper, glass plate, cotton cloth, aluminum plate and the like.

Example 2 The same procedure as in Example 1 was carried out except that the multicolor image-forming material in Example 1 was changed as follows.

That is, on one side of 75μ polyethylene terephthalate,
The release layer forming liquid of the intermediate image-receiving sheet used in Example 1 was applied and dried on the surface which was previously subjected to corona discharge treatment so that the thickness after drying was 3 μ, and the polyester resin (Vylonal MA-14 Then, Toyobo Co., Ltd. was applied to have a thickness of 5 μm and dried at 100 ° C. for 2 minutes.

Then, the same colored layers as in Example 1 were coated on each of the four colors to obtain multicolor image forming materials of black, cyan, magenta and yellow.

The following operations were all performed in the same manner as in Example 1.

When this multicolor image forming material was used, it could be transferred to coated paper, plastic film, glass plate, aluminum plate, cotton cloth and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 schematically shows the method of the present invention step by step. In the figure, A: transparent support of heat transfer photosensitive material B: intermediate layer of heat transfer photosensitive material C-1 to C-4: each colored image of the heat transfer photosensitive material after exposure and development D: support of intermediate image-receiving sheet E: Protective layer of intermediate image-receiving sheet F: Thermal fusion layer of intermediate image-receiving sheet

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A heat transfer photosensitive material comprising a transparent support and a colored layer which is soluble in water and insolubilized by light is provided on the transparent support through an intermediate layer of a heat-fusible material. A step of contact exposure with an actinic ray, followed by washing away the non-exposed area with water to form an image, and further forming the image surface on the support, peelable from the support, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and resistance to abrasion. A transparent protective layer having a blocking property and a heat-sealing surface of an intermediate image-receiving sheet obtained by laminating a transparent heat-sealing layer are brought into close contact with each other, followed by heating and pressing, and then peeling the transparent support from the intermediate layer. The process consists of transferring the colored image to the intermediate image-receiving sheet together with the intermediate layer, preparing different colored tones of the light-sensitive material at that stage, and selecting a negative document according to each tone, and making a close contact. Exposure, washing with water and evaporating to form an image Then, after transferring a colored image of a specific color tone among them to the intermediate image receiving sheet, the image surface of the photosensitive material on which a colored image having a different color tone from the above is formed, A step of closely contacting with the already transferred surface, heating and pressing, and then peeling off the transparent support from the intermediate layer, and transferring a colored image together with the intermediate layer onto the already transferred surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet. Repeat the steps to transfer the colored image onto the already transferred surface of the intermediate image-receiving sheet,
After the final transfer, the transparent support of the heat transfer photosensitive material is peeled off from the intermediate layer, the surface of the intermediate layer is brought into close contact with the transfer sheet, heated and pressed, and then the support of the intermediate image-receiving sheet is protected. A method for forming a multicolor image, characterized in that it is processed through a step of peeling it off. 2. A thermal transfer photosensitive material obtained by laminating a colored layer for forming an image on a transparent support through a heat-fusible intermediate layer, wherein the heat-fusible intermediate layer is polyester or ethylene. A vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene copolymer such as an ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, an acrylic acid ester copolymer, or a polyolefin, or a mixture thereof.
A method for forming a multicolor image according to item. 3. A colored layer containing one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric substances selected from polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, polyacrylamide and copolymers thereof. The method for forming a multicolor image according to item 1. 4. A coloring layer containing a photoinsolubilizing agent comprising a condensate of a diazonium salt, particularly a formalin condensate of paradiazodiphenylamine.
A method for forming a multicolor image according to item. 5. A coloring layer containing, as a main component, a modified polyvinyl alcohol having at least one selected from a stilbazolium group and a stilquinolinium group as a photosensitive component addition group, and a colorant. Range first
A method for forming a multicolor image according to item. 6. The method for forming a multicolor image according to claim 1, wherein the coloring layer contains a color pigment dispersible in water as a coloring agent.