in the thermal transfer priner in printing with the ink ribbon (4) in plural columns, a center of a flat portion (1a) being formed on the platen roller (1) of a contact portion of the thermal head (3) and a center of the thermal head (3) are shifted corresponding to an amount (A x) of shift of printing position as against a center of width (R) of the ink ribbon (4). When the printing position is set above as against the center of width (R) of the ink ribbon (4), the center of the thermal head (3), is set above width (P) of the flat portion (1a) being formed on the platen roller (1) of the contact portion of the thermal head (3). When the printing position is set below as against the center of width (R) of the ink ribbon (4), the center of the thermal head (3) is set below width (P) of the flat portion (1a) being formed on the platen roller (1) of the contact portion of the thermal head (3). The present invention can prevent the shifting-up or the shifting-down of the ink ribbon (4) at the thermal head (3) in structure in which the center of the ink ribbon width (R) and the center of the printing shift in the plural columns printing.