PURPOSE: To enable reliable self-testing of a total number, by a method wherein, in an inspection of a transfer sheet for a negative pattern, devices, which are easy to procure, such as a television camera, a microcomputer, a test timing detector, and the like are combined together.

CONSTITUTION: After the pattern of a transfer sheet 5 is transferred to a printed matter, it is wound around a winding roll 7, and a negative pattern 6 is brought to a standstill on a light table 1 one time or more. The timing of the standstill is detected by a test timing detector 12. Meanwhile, if a CPU10 starts, a static condition is detected by the test timing detector 12, the CPU10 is brought to a HOLD condition through operation of a DMA/interrupting circuit 8, an address bus and data bus are set to a floating condition, and after the static picture image signal of the negative pattern 6 photographed by a television camera 2 is converted into a digital signal by means of an A/D converter circuit 11, it is recorded in a picture memory circuit 9.