IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND PRESSURE CONTACT MEMBER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a method for forming an image on a thermal recording medium by converting a laser light into heat through a photothermal conversion material in which highly accurate high speed noncontact recording can be carried out with low energy by pressing a thick press contact member against the thermal recording medium and then irradiating the press contact part with a laser light. SOLUTION: Each sheet is irradiated with laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser while being carried through a device comprising a platen roller 6 and a press contact member 1 of 0.01-30mm thick produced by lapping the surface of photothermal conversion layer of a film 4 containing a photothermal conversion material over the surface of thermal coloring layer of a thermal recording sheet 7 thus obtaining a coloring image 5. The press contact member 1 comprises a heat resistant Pyrex glass tube which can be turned in the carrying direction of each sheet at the time of irradiation printing. The output laser light 3 is regulated to impart a specified energy onto the surface of thermal coloring layer in the thermal recording sheet 7 and the film 4 is stripped upon finishing the irradiation. This structure transmits the generated heat efficiently to the thermal recording sheet 7 thus enhancing the transfer performance.