Dye-donor element for use according to thermal dye transfer methods, said element comprising a support having thereon a dye/binder layer comprising a 2-N-alkyl-substituted carbamoyl-4-[N-(p-substituted aminoaryl)-imino]-1,4-naphthoquinone cyan dye carried by a polymeric binder resin, said dye being a 2-N-alkyl-substituted carbamoyl-4-[N-(p-substituted aminoaryl)-imino]-1,4-naphthoquinone cyan dye, the N-alkyl group of which is methyl that is substituted with a branched-chain non-cyclic C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 alkyl group or the N-alkyl group of which is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 straight chain alkyl group that on its omega-carbon atom is substituted with a branched chain C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 alkyl group, an aryl group, or a cycloalkyl group.