IMAGE FORMING METHOD BY HEAT-SENSITIVE TRANSFER SYSTEM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming method by heat-sensitive transfer system for providing a printed image of preferable image quality by preventing the occurrence of a relief (an image level difference) on the printed image. SOLUTION: The image forming method comprises: a step of providing a heat-sensitive transfer sheet having a thermal transfer layer containing thermal transferable dye; a step of providing a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having at least one heat insulation layer containing hollow polymer and at least one receptor layer containing at least one kind polymer latex in the order on a support; a step of feeding the heat-sensitive transfer sheet and the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet through between a thermal head in which heat-generating elements are arrayed in a main scanning direction and a rotatable platen roller to move the heat-sensitive transfer sheet and the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet in a sub scanning direction approximately perpendicular to the main scanning direction and form an image on the heat-sensitive transfer sheet, wherein the thermal head has a glaze formed in a convex shape and the heat-generating elements disposed on the glaze and the convex vertex of the glaze is shifted to the upstream side in the sub scanning direction with respect to the center position of the heat-generating elements. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT