Abstract: An image transfer method which can prevent poor registering and gives an esthetically fine multi-color prepress proof and a multi-color print with excellent registering, the method comprising imagewise exposing an image-forming material consisting essentially of a substrate, a photosensitive layer formed on the substrate and a protection film attached to the photosensitive layer, peeling off the protection film, and introducing the image-forming material into a nip formed so that the photosensitive layer of the image-forming material and an image receptor come into contact with each other to selectively transfer part of the photosensitive layer to the image receptor and obtain a transfer image,the method using the image forming material prepared by attaching the protection film to the photosensitive layer under a tension at right angles with the axial direction of the rolls.

Abstract: An image-transfer apparatus performs highly accurate registering and comprises a platen having a cut-off portion on its surface, being prepared for attaching an image-forming material thereto, and a transfer cylinder having a cut-off portion on the surface being prepared for attaching an image receptor thereto. The apparatus allows the introduction of an image-forming material and an image receptor into a nip formed by the platen and the transfer cylinder by the rotation of the platen and the transfer cylinder to transfer an image formed in a photosensitive layer of the image-forming material to the image receptor. The image-transfer apparatus further has a printing pressure adjusting device for adjusting the movement of the platen towards the axial center of the transfer cylinder or the movement of the transfer cylinder towards the axial center of the platen, and two first gears which rotate the platen and the transfer cylinder with an actuation mechanism.

Abstract: An image-transfer apparatus equipped with a smoothing device (roller), which device, when an image-forming material is attached to a platen, prevents the formation of a crinkle in the image-forming material thereby to remove a deviation in registering (positioning) the image-forming material, and an image-transfer method using the above imge-transfer apparatus.

Abstract: An image-transfer apparatus for producing an aesthetically fine transfer image includes a platen having a cut-off portion on the surface formed for attaching an image-forming material and a transfer cylinder having a cut-off portion on the surface formed for attaching an image receptor. The apparatus allows the introduction of the image-forming material and the image receptor into a nip formed by the platen and the transfer cylinder by the rotation of the platen and the transfer cylinder to transfer an image formed in a photosensitive layer of the image-forming material to the image receptor heated to a transfer temperature. The transfer cylinder, other than the cut-off portion, has a cylindricity of 100 .mu.m or less, a circumferential deviation, measured in the radial direction of the transfer cylinder, of 60 .mu.m or less and a straightness, measured on a cylinder surface, of 60 .mu.m or less when heated to and kept at a transfer temperature.