Product Info

Table Of Contents
7
SP Series Info Central
Making Test Cards
You can make the following types of test cards.
Printer test cards verify the function of the printer. You print them using controls on the printer. The
personalization of the card is determined by the printer, the print ribbon, and modules (such as
magnetic stripe) installed in the printer.
The Windows test page, which you can print on a card, verifies that the PC and printer work together.
You print them using the printer Properties dialog box on the PC. The appearance of the card is
determined by Windows.
Printer magnetic stripe test cards, which verify that the driver sends magnetic stripe information to the
printer and verifies that it is encoded. Use controls in the Printer Toolbox to print magnetic stripe test
cards. See Magnetic stripe test card for steps to follow.
Sample cards, which are made using files provided with the driver. Sample cards are made at
installation to verify that the printer produces the same result at the factory and at your site. See “Print a
sample card” in Install the Driver for steps to follow.
You can also make sample cards using the card creation application to test print quality and card
design. Do not make sample cards until you are sure the printer and driver work properly (by printing a
printer test card and Windows test page).
Making a printer test card
The SP Series printer does not need to be connected to a PC to print this card.
1 Power off the printer.
2 Confirm that cards and print ribbon are loaded in the printer. See the SP35 Printer Guide or SP55
Printer Guide if needed.
If the printer has a magnetic stripe module, the cards for a printer test card must have a magnetic
stripe.
If it is a three-track module, be sure to use high coercivity blank cards (which are shipped in the
Starter Kit).
3 Power on the printer (1). Within 5 seconds, press and hold the Ready button (2), as shown in the
following illustration. Hold the Ready button until the printer sounds three tones, usually about 15
seconds.
4 Release the Ready button and observe the printer. You hear the internal components initialize and the
printer starts processing the card.