Patent ID: 8210672

Claim:
A printing method for producing images comprising printing with an aqueous ink set by inkjet recording on a non-ink-absorptive or low-ink-absorptive recording surface of a recording medium wherein (1) the aqueous ink set includes a chromatic ink and/or an achromatic ink and a resin ink that contains no colorants but contains at least resin particles; (2) the chromatic ink and the achromatic ink each contain at least a water-insoluble colorant, a water-soluble resin component and/or a water-insoluble resin component, a water-soluble penetrating solvent, and a surfactant; (3) the resin ink contains at least thermoplastic resin particles that are insoluble in water but compatible with water-soluble solvents for resins as well as a water-soluble solvent for resins, and the content ratio of the resin particles is equal to or higher than that of the colorants contained in the chromatic ink and the achromatic ink; (4) the content ratio of nonvolatile components contained in the resin ink is equal to or lower than 1/4 of that of the resin component contained in the resin ink; (5) the printing resolution per color is equal to or greater than 360 dpi (dots per inch), the ratio of the resolution of an inkjet nozzle to the printing resolution is in the range of 1 to 2, and the ink viscosity is in the range of 1.5 mPa·s to 15 mPa·s (20° C.), and the printing method further comprises a step of (6) drying performed during and/or after the printing.