Abstract: In a method and apparatus for magnetic printing on plain paper, using a dot matrix format, a sheet of paper is positioned on the surface of a thin, elongated strip platen of permanent magnet material and a magnetic printhead scans the platen, magnetizing dot size portions of the platen in dot matrix patterns defining magnetic images of the data characters in a line of text; limited quantities of toner are applied to the paper to develop those images as visible characters on the paper. After development, the platen is displaced transversely of the paper surface to an inactive position, permitting movement of the paper, without disturbance of the developed images, to bring the line of developed character images to a separate fixing station at which fixing is effected without incurring the possibility of damage to the platen.