Method of forming an ink image and printing the formed image

A printing method comprising the steps of:

• forming a printing plate having on a printing surface a part receptive to ink and a part capable of repelling ink;
• placing an ink remover via a thermo-sensitive ink layer, all of which is in a heated state on the printing surface of the printing plate;
• separating the printing plate and the ink remover after they are cooled so that the ink layer on the part capable of repelling ink is transferred to the ink remover;
• and
• transferring an ink image obtained on the printing plate or the ink remover to an object.

A printing method comprising the steps of:

• forming a printing plate having on a printing surface a part receptive to ink and a part capable of repelling ink;
• forming an ink sheet having a thermo-sensitive ink layer on an ink remover in the form of a sheet, placing said printing plate and said ink sheet on each other such that the thermo-sensitive ink layer of said ink sheet comes in contact with the printing surface of said printing plate while heating all of said ink sheet;
• separating said printing plate and said ink remover after they are cooled so that the in layer on the part capable of repelling ink is transferred to the ink remover;
• and
• transferring an ink image obtained on said printing plate or said ink remover to an object.