A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, and wherein the polymeric binder comprises a mixed cellulose ester and the dye-donor element contains a colorless, nonpolymeric material for increasing dye transfer efficiency having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein both R groups represent --CO.sub.2 J or --O.sub.2 CJ and are located either ortho or meta to each other; and each J independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted carbomonocyclic or carbobicyclic ring having from about 5 to about 12 carbon atoms, with the proviso that when either or both of J is substituted, then the total number of substituent carbon atoms in each J group is about 8 or less.