Abstract: An ink which can cause a change in its adhesiveness by an electrochemical reaction is obtained by impregnating a crosslinked substance such as polyvinyl alcohol with a liquid dispersion medium comprising an organic solvent having a relative dielectric constant of 15 or larger at 25.degree. C. such as ethylene glycol. The ink shows little characteristic change due to drying, etc., and suitably retains its fluidity when left standing in the air for a long period. The ink is supplied with a pattern of energy to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the energy pattern applied.

Abstract: An image recording method and an image recording apparatus using an ink which is substantially non-adhesive but can be imparted with an adhesiveness when subjected to a pH change. In the image recording method, the ink is subjected to a pattern of pH change to be provided with an adhesive pattern, which is then transferred to a recording medium, such as plain paper, directly or by the medium of an intermediate transfer medium to form an ink pattern corresponding to the pH change pattern.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium comprises ink transporting roll for transporting a fluid ink, energy applying element for selectively applying energy to the ink transported by the ink transporting roll, transfer member for transferring to the recording medium the ink whose transfer characteristics are changed upon selectively application of the energy and coating member disposed in an upstream of the energy applying element with respect to a transporting direction of the ink transporting roll so as to oppose the ink transporting roll, for supplying the ink having a predetermined thickness to the ink transporting roll. A distance between the ink transporting roll and the coating member is gradually reduced from the upstream to a downstream.