A thermal printer is disclosed. The thermal printer includes a thermal head on which plural heat-generating elements are arrayed; and a platen mounted opposite to the thermal head. The thermal printer uses an ink ribbon and paper held between the thermal head and the platen, and the thermal printer performs printing by causing the heat-generating elements to generate heat such that inks of the ink ribbon are transferred to the paper. The ink ribbon has a base film on which color inks and a transparent laminate ink are successively and repetitively arranged, and a pressure force acting between the thermal head and the platen is made different between when the color inks are transferred and when the laminate ink is transferred.