an ink jet printing method having the steps of : i ) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals ; ii ) loading the printer with a porous ink jet recording element having a support having thereon a porous image - receiving layer having : particles having a mean particle size of from greater than 0 . 04 μm to about 5 μm ; and water insoluble , cationic , polymeric particles having at least about 20 mole percent of a cationic mordant moiety ; iii ) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition ; and iv ) printing on the image - receiving layer using the ink jet ink composition in response to the digital data signals .