PURPOSE: To prevent a paper from being spoiled while keeping a promptness in the movement of the paper by a method wherein positions whereat a paper guiding mechanism can be positioned are defined to three positions.

CONSTITUTION: When a transfer printing of a picture is effected on the continuous paper 11 by forming the picture with a toner 16 by means of a photoelectronic process, an electrostatic recording process or the like, the paper guiding mechanism is constituted so that it is positioned at three positions comprising the first position whereat the paper 11 contacts with a holding body 1, the second position whereat the paper is separated from the holding body and scattered toner will never be adhered to the paper due to the scattering of the toner and the third position whereat the paper has a clearance between the holding body and it is positioned between the first and second positions. The paper is prevented from being spoiled during keeping the promptness in the movement of the paper by a method wherein the gap between the holding body 1 and the paper 11 is made wide when printing is stopped while is made narrow when the next transferring is effected during a short period of time.