PURPOSE: To make highly accurate press forming of a product having large radius of curvature or the like by forming a curved face utilizing the difference of tensile stress.

CONSTITUTION: The upper face of a plate 10 to be formed is pressed by a reference forming face consisting of tips of forming rods 14 by lowering a die 12, and tensile stress is generated in each direction of the face. When the lower face of the plate 10 to be formed presses a part of tips of shifting rods 18, the shifting rods 18 that received pressing force go down, and the other shifting rods 18 go up in compensation. Accordingly, the distribution of press pressure between two opposite rods 14, 18 becomes equal in horizontal direction, and tensile stress is evened off until the plate 10 to be formed is held between the two rods 14, 18 and the slip is perfectly checked by frictional force. When the die 12 is further lowered and the plate 10 to be formed is pressed vertically, tensile stress is given to each part of the plate 10 to be formed, and a required press formed product is obtained.