Abstract: A thermal transfer type printing apparatus comprises a paper feeding mechanism, an ink ribbon traversing over a printing paper, a thermal printing head, a head moving mechanism, and a control circuit. The ink ribbon is divided into at least three colors in a width direction thereof and has first through third ink parts extending in a longitudinal direction thereof. The thermal printing head is arranged at such a location that the ink ribbon is interposed between the head and the printing paper. The head comprises first through third heating element groups respectively opposing the first through third ink parts of the ink ribbon, and the first through third heating element groups each has at least one heating element which is selectively heated depending on a color information signal which is indicative of a color picture or the like which is to be printed.

Abstract: A thermal printing head with first through n-th heating elements with respect to at least one printing line, where n is an integer, and an i-th heating element among the first through n-th heating element has an area of M/2.sup.i when a total area of one picture element is represented by M, where i is an arbitrary integer. The first through n-th heating elements are arranged at positions such that printing areas of the first through n-th heating elements do not overlap each other when the first through n-th heating elements carry out printing with respect to one picture element.