Printing apparatus and printing method

摘要

A printing apparatus for printing a recording medium includes a recording medium transport device for transporting the recording medium from a supply portion along a transport path; a first printing device arranged on the transport path for forming an image on the recording medium or an intermediate transfer medium through a thermal transfer film; a thermal transfer film transport device for transporting the thermal transfer film; a second printing device arranged on the transport path for transferring the image to the recording medium; and an intermediate transfer medium transport device for moving the intermediate transfer medium back and forth relative to the second printing means. A control device controls the printing apparatus so that the second printing device prints at the same time the thermal transfer film is being transported for the first printing device to print the thermal transfer film.