Print Speed; Formats; Dark Adjust; Printhead Aging - Intermec 4630 User Manual

Please consult your Intermec representative to ensure that you select the
proper media for your application.

Print Speed

The print speed you select greatly affects the printed image. Therefore, it is
important to select the proper media when printing at higher speeds. The
highest quality labels are produced at lower speeds. Optimal print quality for
most direct thermal media is achieved at speeds below 3.5 ips.
In order to achieve optimal print quality at speeds greater than 6.0 ips, you
may need to fine-tune the printer controls. At higher print speeds, it is
important to properly set the dark adjust feature.

Formats

Formats can be modified to improve print quality and print speed. At high
speeds, the best quality bar codes are produced when the drag orientation
(perpendicular to paper motion) is used. For more information on formats,
please refer to Chapter 5, "Designing Labels Using IPL Commands."

Dark Adjust

The dark adjust feature allows tuning of energy levels to optimize print
quality. If you set too high of a darkness level, you may reduce printhead life.
We recommend that you initially leave the dark adjust at zero.
A darkness setting of zero should provide optimal print quality; however, in
order to maintain print quality, you may need to adjust print darkness under
the following conditions:
•
Change in print speed
•
Change in media type (direct thermal to thermal transfer and vice versa)
•
Printhead wear
•
Using large amounts of media
Refer to "Setting the Dark Adjust" in Chapter 2 for more information.

Printhead Aging

Print element wear is common in thermal printers. Over the life of a printhead,
wear can result in a change of resistance in the print elements. The change in
element resistance affects the print quality. If needed, the change in resistance
can be compensated for by using the Dark Adjust command.
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Troubleshooting
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