A thermal transfer type printing device, for instance, a character printer having a thermal head for use in printer, copier, facsimile device, etc. and ink medium such as ink ribbon, ink sheet or the like. One of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of the ink sheet. The printing device comprises a thermal head, ink sheets, installment means capable of selecting one of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on the printing device, a heat energy source, and switching means for changing heat energy which drives the thermal head depending on the sort of ink sheet to be selected.