To obtain a thermal head that is capable of performing printing at high speed in multiple gradation by a method wherein a plurality of lines each constructed with a plurality of heating elements being arranged are provided with resistance values of the heating elements made different respectively for each of the lines, and each of pixels is constructed by the combination of the heating elements belonging to the lines in the plural number.

In an ink transfer printer, a film 2 having through holes 25 is stuck to a thermal head 3 with a spacer 8 interposed in between and a platen roller 4 is provided at a position above the film 2. Heating elements 30 are arranged in two lines along the direction in which the through holes 25 are arranged, and the heating elements 31 and 32 belonging to the first and the second lines are of such that are different respectively in resistance value. Ink is thrust into the through holes 25 of the film 2 with vapor pressure generated on vaporization and expansion of the ink heated by the heating elements 30 and made to pass through the through holes 25 for transferring onto a recording paper P. On transferring, the density of pixels is made variable by the combination of the heating elements 31 and 32 belonging to each of the lines, thereby forming images in multiple gradation.