Magnetic transfer method and apparatus

A magnetic transfer method comprising the steps of,

• bringing into close contact a magnetic transfer master medium, which is formed of a substrate and a magnetic layer formed on the portion thereof corresponding to the data signal of the surface of the substrate, and a magnetic recording medium, which is a transfer receiving slave medium, and applying a transfer magnetic field to the conjoined body formed by the master medium and the slave medium maintained in the close-contact state, wherein,
• a magnetic field is applied to the slave surface in the track direction to initially magnetize the slave medium in the track direction, then,
• the master medium and the initially magnetized slave medium are brought into close contact, forming a conjoined body,
• a transfer magnetic field is applied to the slave surface in the track direction, and
• the magnetic field intensity of the magnetic field in the direction opposite that of the transfer magnetic field applied in the track direction and across the entirety of the recording surface region of the slave medium is less than or equal to ½ of the magnetic coercive force Hcs of the slave medium, when the magnetic transfer is performed.