Apparatus and method for forming thermal transfer printing sheet, thermal transfer printing sheet and thermal transfer printing method

There is provided an apparatus for forming a thermal transfer printing sheet. The apparatus includes: a release sheet feeder that feeds a release sheet having a release surface; a first image forming section that transfers an image, which is to be thermally transferred and printed on a transfer medium, onto the release surface of the release sheet; a second image forming section that forms a thermoplastic resin pattern corresponding to the image as a transfer base material and transfers the thermoplastic resin pattern onto the release surface of the release sheet; and a fixing section that fixes the image and the thermoplastic resin pattern onto the release surface of the release sheet in a film shape, through heat and pressure.