Abstract: An image recording method and apparatus employing a thermal head capable of making a sublimation type thermal transfer recording and a fusion type thermal transfer recording by means of the same thermal head. This apparatus sets its vertical printing pitch at different values in the sublimation type recording mode and the fusion type recording mode. In the sublimation type recording mode, after making a first printing, this apparatus feeds a recording paper by a distance which is an integral multiple of the vertical printing pitch and makes a second printing using the same printing data as the first printing. In the fusion type recording mode, after making a 1-line printing, this apparatus feeds the recording paper by a 1-line spacing and makes a printing by means of printing data of the next line.