PURPOSE: To make it possible to perform sharp printing, by making the moving distance of a thermal transfer medium between an irradiation position and a nipping press rollers equal to the value calculated by multiplying the feed speed of said medium by a time not larger than a time from laser irradiation to the disappearance of an ink melting state.

CONSTITUTION: Continuous recording paper A and a sheet like transfer medium B are held between nipping press rollers 1, 2 in a superposed state and sent at the paper feed speed Vo due to the peripheral speed by a driving side roller 2. On the other hand, the irradiation position P of a laser irradiating device 10 is present between the unused roll 4 and the grasping position of the nipping press rollers 1, 2 and the distance L of P and X is set to a value calculated by multiplying the paper feed speed Vo by a time Ti less than a time from irradiation when the transfer sheet B is not contacted with the recording paper A to the disappearance of an ink melting state due to irradiation. Therefore, the ink melted by irradiation reaches the grasping position of the nipping press rollers 1, 2 each comprising a heat insulating material in a molten state and good transfer is performed. By this method, sharp printing can be obtained.