Thermal transfer printer, method for producing printed product, printed product, combination of thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer medium, intermediate transfer medium, and thermal transfer sheet

A thermal transfer printer comprising:

• a first supply unit configured to supply an intermediate transfer medium in which, on one of surfaces of a first base, a transfer layer including a receiving layer is disposed;
• a second supply unit configured to supply a thermal transfer sheet in which, on one of surfaces of a second base, a colorant layer and a particle layer are disposed;
• a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet, to transfer a colorant from the colorant layer to the receiving layer to form an image, and to transfer the particle layer onto the receiving layer;
• a third supply unit configured to supply a transfer-receiving body;
• and
• a transfer unit configured to place the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer-receiving body on top of each other such that the transfer-receiving body faces the particle layer on the receiving layer, and to heat the intermediate transfer medium to transfer the transfer layer onto the transfer-receiving body such that the particle layer is placed in at least a portion of a peripheral area of the transfer-receiving body, to produce a printed product,
• wherein the printing unit selectively heats a region of the particle layer of the thermal transfer sheet to transfer the particle layer onto at least part of a peripheral area of the receiving layer to be transferred onto the transfer-receiving body, and
• wherein the transfer unit does not transfer the particle layer from the intermediate transfer medium to an inside of the peripheral area of the transfer-receiving body.