IMAGE SHAPING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain a recording image having gloss and a wide color reproducing range by superposing a shaping film on the surface of recording paper to pass both of them between a shaping roller and a pressure contact roller toward the shaping roller to shape an image. CONSTITUTION:A belt like shaping film 6 is supported by the shaping roller 1 heated by a heating means 3 and a support roller 4 and a pressure contact roller 2 presses the shaping roller 1 through the shaping film 6. The recording paper 103 having an image recorded thereon by a recording apparatus is inserted between the shaping roller 1 and the pressure contact roller 2 so that the colorant receiving layer thereof is turned upwardly and the colorant receiving layer 102 formed to the recording paper 103 is softened or melted by the heat of the shaping roller 1 and that of the shaping film 6 and pressed to come into contact with the shaping film 6 and released from the shaping film 6 in the vicinity of the support roller 4 to discharge the recording paper 103. The colorant receiving layer radiates heat to be cooled and hardened during a process fed to the vicinity of the support roller 4 and, therefore, the surface smoothness of the colorant receiving layer 102 after shaping is determined only by the surface properties of the shaping film 6 and the shaping roller 1 without receiving the effect due to release and an image having high smoothness can be easily obtained.