Method and associated apparatus for positioning a thermal donor media, having a plurality of transfer panels, each having a transfer area that is greater than the total area of a number of receiving media, such that a single transfer panel can provide an area of donor exclusively to each of the number of receiving media. The dimensions of unused areas of the thermal donor media are matched with the dimensions of the next to-be-printed image to enable a transfer printing to take place at an area that has dimensions that are equal to or greater than that required for the printed image. When an available area is identified the thermal donor media is moved into alignment and the transfer takes place. In one embodiment of the invention the thermal donor media is in the form of a ribbon that is wound between driven spools to bring unused areas into vertical printing alignment with the receiving media and the receiving media is displaced transverse to the ribbon to provide a horizontal alignment.