A continuous tone themal printing apparatus of the type having a printing station and a receiver paper drive station. The drive station repeatedly advances receiver paper back and forth through the printing station in conjunction with the advance of successive thermal transfer donor dye colors on a carrier web through the printing station to successively print the different color separations. The platen drum in the printing station is coupled to a platen drag force mechanism for imparting reverse torque to the torque imparted by the drive station to impart a degree of tension to the receiver paper as it passes through the printing station that exceeds stick/slip variations in movement of the receiver paper therethrough by the sublimation of the dyes from the donor dye carrier web to the receiver paper in the creation of the image thereon. The platen drag force may be effected by overdriving a motor or generator or drag brake coupled to the platen drum.