Changing Operational Settings; Overview - DataCard ImageCard IV User Manual

Using the printer driver

Changing operational settings

This section describes the operational settings for the printer that you can change
using the printer driver. These settings can be used to customize the performance of
your printer to meet the demands of your card design.
Detailed information about how to change settings is available in help for each tab.

Overview

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You can work with the following:
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User's Guide for the ImageCard® IV Printer
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.
Printer values
Before changing many operational settings, record the current values in the
printer using the Printer Values tab. This record will allow you to return to current
settings if the changes you make do not address your concerns.
You can view or save printer values only from the PC to which the printer is
directly connected (locally or using a network).
Shade count
For each type of ribbon panel, you can change the shade count (the number of
shades printed). When you change the shade count, the corresponding intensity
changes. The printer requires more time to print a larger number of shades. Use
the Printhead tab of Advanced Setup to change the shade count.
Preheat
You can change the print performance and appearance of cards you print by
changing the preheat value. The preheat value determines the temperature of the
printhead during the print process but when the printhead is not actually printing.
A higher preheat value keeps the printhead closer to the temperature needed to
print a color, so it more readily prints pale shades or thin lines. Too high a preheat
value prints a color where the card image does not contain that color (such as an
empty background). The preheat usually does not need to be changed from the
recommended default values. The recommended default values are 96 for Black
(K), 47 for YMC and Tonal, and 7 for Topcoat. Use the Printhead tab of Advanced
Setup to change the preheat values.
Printing intensity
You can fine-tune the appearance and function of cards you print by changing the
intensity used to print types of ribbon panels. For full-color printing (YMC panels),
intensity affects the lightness or darkness of printing. For black (K) panels,
intensity affects the thickness of letters and barcodes–higher intensity prints
thicker letter or barcodes. For topcoat (T) panels in the print ribbon, intensity
affects the degree of topcoat coverage. Use the Printhead tab of Advanced Setup
to change the printing intensity.
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