A dye-donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and an infrared-absorbing material which is different from the dye in the dye layer, and wherein the infrared-absorbing material is a merocyanine dye. In a preferred embodiment, the merocyanine dye has the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or hetaryl group having from about 5 to about 10 atoms;R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 each independently represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, sulfonyl, carbamoyl, acyl, acylamido, alkylamino, arylamino or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or hetaryl group; or any two of said R, R.sup.1,R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 groups may be joined together to complete a 5- to 7-membered substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;A represents hydrogen, --COR, --CO.sub.2 R, --CONHR, --CONR.sub.2, --SO.sub.2 R, --SO.sub.2 NHR, --SO.sub.2 NR.sub.2 --SR, or --CN;B represents --NHR, --NR.sub.2, --OR, --SR or --R;or A or B may be joined together or with R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 to complete a 5- to 7-membered substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;Y represents a dialkyl-substituted carbon atom, a vinylene group, an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom, a selenium atom, a tellurium atom, NR, or a direct bond to the carbon at the R.sup.2 position;Z represents the atoms necessary to complete a 5- to 7-membered substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; andn is 3 to 5.