To improve convenience in printing of print data including coded information and increase a security function in decryption printing.

The printing method includes a print mode selection step, a code information restoring step, and a print data processing step. In the print mode selection step, at least a first print mode for performing printing including decryption and a second print mode for performing printing without decryption are provided as alternatives to an output device and the output device selects either of print modes. If the first print mode is selected, in the code information restoring step, coded information included in print data is decrypted to obtain code information. In the print data processing step, a composite image is created based on the code information and the print data, and after the composite image is printed, the code information is deleted.