A printing apparatus is provided that can appropriately suction and hold a print medium on a platen by employing suction in accordance with the properties of different types of print media. In the printing apparatus, grooves are formed in the support face of the platen on which the print medium is held, and are extended in a conveying direction in which the print medium is to be conveyed. Groove suction holes are formed inside the grooves to apply suction. Rib suction holes are formed in the support face of the platen. The printing apparatus employs at least either the stiffness of the print medium or the print duty to control a ratio between the amount of suction applied via the groove suction holes and the amount of suction applied via the rib suction holes.