Instruction manual

9
PRINTER OPTIMIZATION
This chapter provides information on how to improve your printer’s performance by
 adjusting the print quality
 reducing the imaging time for printing
 providing general tips and hints for designing formats.
This printer uses “smart imaging” to image and print fields on supplies. Smart imaging
remembers the exact boundaries and locations of each field and places a boundary box (white
space) around each field. When a field changes that particular boundary box is cleared and the
new field data is imaged. However, the new field data may require a larger boundary box than
the previous field did. In some cases, neighboring fields that do not change may be covered
with white space from the changing field’s boundary box. To prevent existing fields from being
covered by a changing field, see “Using Option 61 (Reimage Field)
” in Chapter 4.
Note: Smart imaging is automatically disabled on formats with a Data Matrix bar code.
Adjusting the Print Quality
Many factors affect print quality: type of supplies, print speed, print contrast, and the type of
printer’s application. This printer supports both thermal transfer and thermal direct supplies.
The type of supply should match the printer’s application.
 If you want to print at high speeds, you should use premium supplies. Using premium
supplies reduces smudged images, hard to read labels, and faded print. Supply type, print
speed, and print contrast work together to improve the print quality of labels. Contact your
Sales Representative for more information.
 Select the print speed based on desired throughput and print quality. If print quality is more
important, reduce the print speed, because a lower print speed increases the print quality
of labels. If throughput is more important, increase the print speed as high as it will go to
give you the needed print performance. See “Increasing Throughput
” for more information.
 If the print quality is too light or too dark, adjust the print contrast. The correct contrast
setting is important because it effects how well your bar codes scan and how long the
printhead lasts.
Be sure to check the print quality of bar codes with a bar code verifier or scanner. If you
do not have a verifier or scanner, check the bar code visually. A bar code that is IN
SPEC will have complete bars and clear spaces. Small alphanumeric characters will
look complete. A bar code that is IN SPEC may not look as good as one that is too
dark, but it will have the highest scan rate.
Dark IN SPEC Light
Printer Optimization 9-1