PRINTING METHOD

PURPOSE:To obtain a heat-foamable image having good printing quality, by transferring an ink recording part to receiving paper by controlling the application of heat energy and subsequently foaming only the transferred part. CONSTITUTION:A thermal head 21 is used as a heat energy applying means and a permanent magnet 26 is used as a magnetic attraction force generating means and the recording part of thermoplastic magnetic ink 24 is transferred to receiving paper 25 containing a foaming agent foamed by heat by magnetic attraction force under the control of the application of heat energy and, thereafter, only the transferred part is selectively heated to be foamed. Because of such a structure that the thermoplastic magnetic ink 24 is not brought into contact with the receiving paper at a non-recording part, a defect inferior in printing quality generated when printing is applied to receiving paper having a rough surface by conventional technique is solved and high quality printing becomes possible without being affected by a surface state. Therefore, a thermally foamed image having good resolving power and good printing quality even after foaming can be obtained.