PURPOSE: To print an image having a high-picture-quality, and multi-gradation and arbitrary gloss by making use of a surface-porous recording medium.

CONSTITUTION: An ink ribbon 11 and a surface-porous recording medium 12 having a surface-porous layer 12a are sent into a space between a thermal head 3 and platen roller 4 and ink 11a is permeated through and transferred to the surface-porous layer 12a by applying an electric current to a heating resistor of the thermal head 3. Then a surface smoothness part 11c provided on the ink ribbon 11 is sent into a space between the thermal head 3 and platen roller 4 and then the thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller 4 for heating, through which an ink transfer surface is smoothed and glossed.