Product Info

19
SP Series Info Central: Setup Guide
Changing settings in the printer
This section describes the settings in the printer that you might want to change. These settings can be
used to customize the performance of the printer to meet the demands of your card design.
Tips for success
• You must use a PC to which the printer is directly connected to change operational settings
(locally attached or directly networked). You cannot change operational settings from a client
PC using shared printing.
• Your service provider can guide you in making settings that will meet your specific needs.
• Printer settings should be changed only by someone familiar with the operation of the printer
and with Windows. Allow enough time to perform all steps of the procedures to achieve the
card quality desired.
• If this information does not result in the print quality that you want, contact your service provider
for assistance.
You can work with the following settings:
• Printing intensity: You can fine-tune the appearance and function of cards you print by changing the
intensity used to print black (K) and topcoat (T) panels. Intensity affects the thickness of letters and
barcodes–higher intensity prints thicker letter or barcodes. Use the Printhead tab of the Printer Toolbox
to change the printing intensity.
• Fine-tune edge-to-edge printing: You can change where the printing is positioned on the card. When
you select “Edge to edge” as the Print Margin value, you should set the Leading Edge for best
appearance and smooth operation. (Print Margin is set in the Properties, Document Default Properties,
or Printing Preferences dialog box.) You can also change the position of printing to address card quality
concerns. Use the Edge to edge tab of the Printer Toolbox to fine-tune where printing occurs on the
card.
Process for changing settings
This section contains several procedures which help you make specific changes to settings. All of the
procedures use the following basic steps. This overview can help you prepare for the specific processes
that follow.
Materials to use
• Blank cards, for making “test cards” before and after changing settings. If you will be making
printer test cards and the printer includes a magnetic stripe module, make sure the magnetic
stripe test cards and the printer have the same coercivity.
• Permanent marker (for recording data on cards) or a pen (if you record data on paper).
• Paper and tape, if you want to create log pages. A log page has “test cards” taped to it with
corresponding data (such as setting values) written on the page. Only one side of the card is
visible when it is taped to the log page, but you can write more information on a log page than
on a test card or sample card.
Suggested process
1 Make sure the printer is powered on and is directly connected to the PC.
2 Identify the setting to change and the result you want. (Stating the desired result in a measurable way
can help you identify when you have met your goal.)