After applying an ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite 30 on a print pattern 22 of dry state and also permeating the resin composite through the print pattern to thereby reproduce the adhesion of the print pattern 22, the print pattern 22 is transferred under water pressure onto the surface of article 10 to form the decoration layer 22D on the surface of the article 10. Then, the preliminary irradiation of ultraviolet ray permeating only near the surface of this decoration layer 22D is performed to form a fine surface height variation portion 23 by shrinkage of ink in the surface of the ink printing portion of the decoration layer 22D. Thereafter, the complete irradiation of ultraviolet ray permeating through the total thickness of the decoration layer 22D is performed to completely harden the total thickness of the decoration layer 22D while maintaining the surface height variation portion 23. This enables the matting of the decoration layer in a controlled state without applying a topcoat.