PURPOSE: To improve nonuniformity in heat-generating temperature due to scattering of resistance vales, uniformize the distribution of heat generated at each heat generating part and thereby enhance printing quality, by thermal transferring an unfired resistor film onto a substrate provided with lead electrodes, and thereafter completely firing the resistor film to form a heat generating resistor.

CONSTITUTION: An unfired resistor film sheet 20 is placed, with a resin film 18 thereof directed downward, on a substrate 22 which is provided with lead electrodes. Thereafter, a light-shielding slitted mask 21 is pressed against the sheet 20. A thermal energy source provided above the mask 21 is scanned in the longitudinal direction of a thermal head to be manufactured, whereby the sheet 20 is irradiated with thermal energy (a), and the resistor film 19 is thermally transferred to a predetermined part of the surface of the substrate 22. The resistor film 19 is then completely fired to form a heat generating resistor 16. Further, a glass paste is applied to the heat generating resistor 16 by printing, and is fired to form a protective layer 17.