Dye-donor element for use according to thermal dye sublimation transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer containing a dye corresponding to the following formula ##STR1## wherein Z represents CN, COOR.sup.1 or CONR.sup.2 R.sup.3 ;R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each independently represent hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together represent the necessary atoms to close a heterocyclic nucleus or substituted heterocyclic nucleus;Y represents OR.sup.4 or NR.sup.5 R.sup.6 or CN;R.sup.4 represents hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, SO.sub.2 R.sup.7, COR.sup.7, CSR.sup.7, POR.sup.7 R.sup.8 ;R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each independently has one of the significances given to R.sup.4 or represent substituted or unsubstituted amino, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together represent the necessary atoms to close a heterocyclic nucleus or substituted heterocyclic nucleus, including a heterocyclic nucleus with an aliphatic or aromatic ring fused-on;R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 each independently represent substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, substituted or unsubstituted amino or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group or R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 together represent the necessary atoms to close a 5- or 6-membered ring;X represents N-Ar, N-Het, CR.sup.9 R.sup.10, N--NR.sup.11 R.sup.12 or N--N.dbd.CR.sup.13 R.sup.14 ;Ar represents an aromatic nucleus substituted in para position by a substitutent chosen from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted amino, substituted or unsubstituted alkyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio, substituted or unsubstituted arylthio, hydroxy, mercapto;Het represents a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring;R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 each independently represent hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl, a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring, cyano, halogen, SO.sub.2 R.sup.7, COR.sup.7, CSR.sup.7, POR.sup.7 R.sup.8 or R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 together represent the necessary atoms to close a substituted or unsubstituted ring including a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic ring;R.sup.11 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring, including a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic ring;R.sup.12 has one of the significances given to R.sup.4 andR.sup.13 and R.sup.14 each independently represent hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 together represent the necessary atoms to close a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic nucleus, including a heterocyclic nucleus with an aliphatic or aromatic ring fused-on.