PURPOSE: To provide an impact printer which embodies a high print quality with less color mixing by smoothly transporting a multi-color ink ribbon to bring a designated color area precisely to a printing head.

CONSTITUTION: A printing head 5 faces a platen 2. An ink ribbon cassette 7 contains a multi-color ink ribbon 6. A ribbon mask 15 is provided for covering a side of the ink ribbon 6 that faces the platen 2 and the reverse side thereof that faces the front end of the head 5. When the cassette 7 is shifted in the directions of arrows C-D, the ink ribbon 6 is smoothly transported in the mask 15 so that a designated color area of the ink ribbon 6 is brought precisely to the front end of the head 5, thus preparing for printing.