<p>Disclosed is an image forming method comprising the steps of: providing a print output by a nonsilver photographic color hard copy recording system; providing a protective layer transfer sheet comprising a thermally transferable protective layer having a single or multi-layer structure separably provided on a substrate sheet; putting the print and the protective layer transfer sheet on top of each other and thermally transferring the protective layer onto an image in the print so as to cover at least the printed portion in the print; and separating the substrate sheet from the protective layer transfer sheet. <IMAGE></p>