Thermal transfer printer

A thermal printer for transferring first ink from a first ink film to a printing medium, and transferring second ink from a second ink film to the printing medium, comprising:

• a transfer roller operable to heat the first ink for transfer of the first ink from the first ink film to the printing medium;
• a first platen against which the transfer roller presses the first ink film and the printing medium;
• a thermal transfer printing section operable to heat the second ink for transfer the second ink from the second ink film to the printing medium;
• and
• a second platen against which the thermal transfer printing section presses the second ink film and the printing medium, wherein
• the transfer roller is positioned upstream relative to the thermal transfer printing section along a medium flow path of the printing medium, and wherein the thermal transfer printing section includes
• an intermediate transfer film,
• a print head having a plurality of resistance heating elements for transfer of the second ink from the second ink film to the intermediate transfer film, and
• an intermediate transfer roller operable to heat the second ink on the intermediate transfer film for transfer of the second ink from the intermediate transfer film to the printing medium.