An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit 183 controls a supply motor 152 of an ink ribbon supply unit 15. A winding motor control unit 184 controls a winding motor 162 of an ink ribbon winding unit 16. A remaining amount detection unit 17 detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon 12. A variable calculation unit 185 acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor 152 and the winding motor 162 while voltages are applied to the supply motor 152 and the winding motor 162 respectively from the supply motor control unit 183 and the winding motor control unit 184, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor 152 and the winding motor 162 on the basis of the acquired parameters.
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