PURPOSE: To provide a constant and positive setting of a multicolor ribbon with respect to a printing head, by selectively moving the multicolor ribbon up and down with respect to the printing head and subsequently performing the winding feed operation of the multicolor ribbon prior to printing operation.

CONSTITUTION: When a predetermined color is instructed from a host computer, the up-and-down movement of a color ribbon cassette 11 relative to a printing head 10 is controlled and a color ribbon specified in the multicolor ribbon 12 is set to a printing position corresponding to the printing head 10. Next, for example, by operating a carriage one line, the color ribbon is subjected to winding-feed (blind-feed) to receive constant tension and securely held to a predetermined printing position. Therefore, such accident can be prevented that the color ribbon set to the printing position is caught on the end part of the printing head prior to starting printing operation.