A printing apparatus that transfers an image formed on a transfer film onto a recording medium, comprising: a medium supply section configured to supply the recording medium; an image forming section configured to form an image on the transfer film; a transfer section having a transfer platen and a heating member, and configured to press the recording medium and the transfer film between the transfer platen and the heating member, to transfer the image formed on the transfer film onto the recording medium; a film supply section configured to supply the transfer film; a film winding section configured to wind the transfer film supplied from the film supply section; a film conveying path along which the transfer film travels between the film supply section and the film winding section through the transfer section and the image forming section; a drive unit (Mr2, Mr3) connected to at least one of the film supply section and the film winding section for moving the transfer film along the film conveying path; and a controller configured to control the drive unit (Mr2, Mr3), characterized by further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether a cause affecting the transfer film for over a certain time period by heat of the heating member has occurred or not, when the transfer film temporarily stops on the film conveying path, wherein the controller controls, when the determination unit determines a cause affecting the transfer film for over the certain time period by heat of the heating member has occurred, the drive unit (Mr2, Mr3) to move the transfer film along the film conveying path, so that a film part of the transfer film which is between the transfer platen and the heating member separated from the transfer platen and faces the heating member when the transfer film is temporarily stopped is changed to another film part of the transfer film, in order to prevent the transfer film from being stopped with a same part thereof exposed to the heat of the heating member for over the certain time period. a medium supply section configured to supply the recording medium; an image forming section configured to form an image on the transfer film; a transfer section having a transfer platen and a heating member, and configured to press the recording medium and the transfer film between the transfer platen and the heating member, to transfer the image formed on the transfer film onto the recording medium; a film supply section configured to supply the transfer film; a film winding section configured to wind the transfer film supplied from the film supply section; a film conveying path along which the transfer film travels between the film supply section and the film winding section through the transfer section and the image forming section; a drive unit (Mr2, Mr3) connected to at least one of the film supply section and the film winding section for moving the transfer film along the film conveying path; and a controller configured to control the drive unit (Mr2, Mr3), characterized by further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether a cause affecting the transfer film for over a certain time period by heat of the heating member has occurred or not, when the transfer film temporarily stops on the film conveying path, wherein the controller controls, when the determination unit determines a cause affecting the transfer film for over the certain time period by heat of the heating member has occurred, the drive unit (Mr2, Mr3) to move the transfer film along the film conveying path, so that a film part of the transfer film which is between the transfer platen and the heating member separated from the transfer platen and faces the heating member when the transfer film is temporarily stopped is changed to another film part of the transfer film, in order to prevent the transfer film from being stopped with a same part thereof exposed to the heat of the heating member for over the certain time period. a determination unit configured to determine whether a cause affecting the transfer film for over a certain time period by heat of the heating member has occurred or not, when the transfer film temporarily stops on the film conveying path, wherein the controller controls, when the determination unit determines a cause affecting the transfer film for over the certain time period by heat of the heating member has occurred, the drive unit (Mr2, Mr3) to move the transfer film along the film conveying path, so that a film part of the transfer film which is between the transfer platen and the heating member separated from the transfer platen and faces the heating member when the transfer film is temporarily stopped is changed to another film part of the transfer film, in order to prevent the transfer film from being stopped with a same part thereof exposed to the heat of the heating member for over the certain time period.