METHOD FOR FORMING IMAGE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for simply obtaining a mat-toned image by a thermal transfer process. SOLUTION: A thermal transfer sheet 1 having an overprint layer 3 of thermal transfer properties provided on a base 2 is laid over an image 11 formed on an image receiving body 10 so that the image 11 and the overprint layer 3 come into contact with each other. The overprint layer 3 is transferred onto the image receiving body 10 by heating the thermal transfer sheet 1 from the base 2 side in the totally solid condition by a thermal head, and thereby the gloss of the image is reduced. In this case, a region wherein the heated part of the overprint layer is transferred in whole substantially in the direction of the thickness of a coat, a region wherein the heated part is not transferred at all substantially in the direction of the thickness and/or a region wherein it is transferred through cohesive peeling in this direction are present mixedly.