In order to reduce creases of an ink film so as to offer excellent printing quality, a thermal head for use in a thermal-transfer printer includes a heat-insulating layer; a first projection serving as a part of the heat-insulating layer; a heating element formed on the first projection; common and individual electrodes connected to the heating element; a driver IC connected to these two electrodes; a sealing member sealing the driver IC; and a second projection protruding upstream, with respect to the transport route of the ink film, of the center of a section where the heating element comes into contact with a platen, so as to lie beyond a line connecting the apexes of the first projection and the sealing member.