PURPOSE:To reduce running cost, by providing a recording body consisting of a porous membrane layer impregnated with heat-meltable ink, a porous layer base provided thereon, and a means for applying heat to the surface of the recording body according to a pattern. CONSTITUTION:A signal from the outside is sent to a heat generating part 4 to selectively allow heat generators 5 arranged in an arrays form to generate heat, and the heat is conducted to a porous membrane layer 1b and a porous base 1a of the recording body 1 contacted with a heat generating part 4 to lower the viscosity of the ink 2 infiltrated in said membrane layer 1b. The ink 2 having a lowered viscosity permeates the porous membrane layer 1b to form an ink image having a predetermined shape according to the heating part of the heat generating part 4. Next, the recording body 1 rotates and moves in the direction shown by an arrow and, before the ink is solidified in the downward direction, the ink image formed on the porous membrane layer 1b is contacted with the recording body 1 and transferred to a recording medium 3 pressed by a platen roller 6 at a position opposed to said recording body 1 to form an image on the recording medium 3.