Abstract: A thermal sublimation imaging apparatus and a thermal sublimation printer using the same are described. A print head of the thermal sublimation imaging apparatus is fixed, a platen capable of contacting or separating from the fixed print head is lifted up to contact the fixed print head, and an elastic component is used in conjunction to provide a pressure for printing. The platen lays flat in paper feed/reverse mode, and presses downwardly to drive a paper pickup plate to fetch paper. These actions are achieved by a stepper motor together with a sensor through a worm shaft, a worm gear, and at least a gear. Therefore, the number and the cost of the gears are reduced, and the time for switching the printing action is greatly reduced since the switching can be implemented within a very small rotation angle.