Metal donor sheets for the thermal mass transfer process

A thermal mass transfer donor element comprise a carrier layer that has on one surface a mass-transferable layer of thermoplastic organic polymeric binder plus metal flakes of average length to thickness ratio greater than 20:1. Also claimed are (1) a process for forming a thermal mass transfer donor element that can provide a metal image; (2) a thermal mass transfer donor element comprising a carrier layer that has one surface in continuous contact with a thermal mass transferable layer and at least one thermal mass transferable layer as above over the surface; (3) a thermal mass transfer donor element comprising a carrier layer that has on one of its surfaces, in continuous contact with that surface, a material comprising a thermal mass transferable layer as above; (4) a thermal mass transfer donor element as (3) above with a backside non-stick coating; (5) a thermal mass transfer donor element comprising at least one thermal mass transferable layer as above, a carrier layer, and an intermediate release layer, which is in continuous contact with the other two layers; and (6) a method for producing a metallic image.