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Croma24 ™
ENCAD
.
Copyright
, Inc
1997
REVISION HISTORY
Rev. A
May 1997
Rev. B
June 1997
No part of this manual may be copied or distributed, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval
system, or translated in any human or computing language, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, magnetic or otherwise, or disclosed to a third party without the express written
permission of ENCAD, Inc., 6059 Cornerstone Court West, San Diego, CA 92121, U.S.A.
ENCAD ® and NovaJet ® are registered trademarks and Croma24™ and Quality Image Supplies™
are trademarks of ENCAD, Inc.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Corp.
PostScript and Photoshop are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.
Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT, and PowerPoint are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Croma24™ User's Guide
Wide Format Inkjet Printer
P/N 207103-1 Rev. B
(text P/N 208859-1)
1
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for ENCAD Croma24
Summary of Contents for ENCAD Croma24
- Page 1 ENCAD, Inc., 6059 Cornerstone Court West, San Diego, CA 92121, U.S.A. ENCAD ® and NovaJet ® are registered trademarks and Croma24™ and Quality Image Supplies™ are trademarks of ENCAD, Inc.
- Page 2 • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ENCAD, Inc. could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Note: This product was FCC certified under test conditions that included the use of shielded I/O cables and connectors between system components.
- Page 3 ") to be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a RODUCT period of one year from the date of purchase. In order to submit a Warranty claim, please contact the ENCAD Help Desk at (619) 452-4350. ENCAD reserves the right to make changes or improvements to Products, without incurring any obligation to similarly alter Products previously purchased.
- Page 4 Software Drivers - Readme files on the driver disks contain information for installing and using the various drivers and utilities. Note: When the Croma24 is connected to PC-compatible computers, the computer must be equipped with a bi-directional parallel port.
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Page 5: Table Of Contents
Croma24 ™ Contents PRINTER FEATURES..........7 Printer software ..............8 System requirements............9 Memory ................9 Getting ready to print ............10 Printer details ...............11 Printer controls .............12 Indicators..............13 GETTING THE BEST PRINT QUALITY ....14 Printing tips ..............14 Use the right inks and media ........15 Choose the correct printing mode .........16... - Page 6 Data transfer..............56 Application software .............57 CUSTOMER TECHNICAL SUPPORT....58 Calling for help .............59 TECHNICAL INFORMATION .......60 INTERFACE CABLE PINOUTS ......61 10 GLOSSARY............62 Acronyms ..............64 11 INDEX..............65 12 ENCAD SUPPORT SERVICES......66 Support and parts ............66 ENCAD supplies ordering ..........66 ENCAD on-line .............66...
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Page 7: Printer Features
(15' or more*). Plus, with ENCAD's QIS proprietary inks and media, you can be assured of the highest quality results. Croma24 printers are being used for many types of printing, such as: • Client presentations •... -
Page 8: Printer Software
An optional program, called the ENCAD Print Utility, is also available. It lets you print many bitmapped graphic formats (tif, bmp, pcx, etc.) without opening the software application in which the image was created. -
Page 9: System Requirements
Macintosh - Quadra or higher; 28 MB RAM minimum. Windows 3.x and Macintosh 68K computers will provide lower performance than other platforms due to resource limitations in these systems. Using the optional ENCAD Print Utility can help to improve performance on these slower platforms. Memory Working with large photographic images require lots of disk space. -
Page 10: Getting Ready To Print
User's Guide Getting ready to print Before you can print, the following tasks must be complete: • connect printer to computer • connect the printer to a standard power source • load media • install the print driver and software control panel onto your computer's hard drive •... -
Page 11: Printer Details
Croma24 ™ Printer details The following figure will help you become familiar with the locations of printer features discussed later in the manual. -
Page 12: Printer Controls
User's Guide Printer controls Controls on the front of the printer are for the basic functions of loading, moving, and cutting paper. Green and amber lights indicate the printer's status. Control of other printing functions is done through the printer's software control panel (see Chapter 3). You can also access cartridges at the printer by pressing the move media forward and backward buttons at the same time. -
Page 13: Indicators
Croma24 ™ Indicators Ready to Print User Intervention Meaning Indicator (Green) Indicator (Amber) Blinking slowly Blinking slowly Printer initialization in process. Ready to print Blinking fast Processing print file Blinking slowly Blinking fast Error that requires user intervention (such as loading media or filling ink cartridge). -
Page 14: Getting The Best Print Quality
• When using the optional Croma24 stand and printing images with heavy ink coverage, you should move the paper catcher basket back so fabric does not touch the image and possibly smear it. -
Page 15: Use The Right Inks And Media
Croma24 ™ Use the right inks and media ENCAD's commitment to quality encompasses not only the printer, but the media, ink, and cartridges as well. Our ink and media supplies are scientifically matched to the printer's inking system and to ENCAD QIS media for best color results. -
Page 16: Choose The Correct Printing Mode
User's Guide Choose the correct printing mode Croma24's four print modes - draft, normal, quality, and best - let you tradeoff printing quality and speed. Save time and money by using “draft” and “normal” modes for your concepts. Then, switch to “quality”... -
Page 17: Care Of Your Inkjet Cartridges
Croma24 ™ Care of your inkjet cartridges • Handle cartridges carefully. Do not touch the copper contact area or the inkjet plate. If you accidentally touch it, wipe it with a lint- free cloth moistened with distilled water. Do not use... - Page 18 Seal in a plastic bag and store away from heat and light, or store in cartridge garages available from your ENCAD dealer. • Good color image results require proper alignment of the cartridges. Refer to p. 41 for easy alignment steps.
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Page 19: Choose The Right Media For The Job
Croma24 ™ Choose the right media for the job ENCAD offers a wide range of sheet and roll media and is always adding new products. Check with your authorized ENCAD supplies dealer or contact ENCAD (888-747-9303) for the dealer nearest you. - Page 20 User's Guide QIS photographic paper This photo quality media is excellent for posters, photo images, and framed art. It is also ideal for client, courtroom, or marketing presentations, as well as point-of-purchase displays. Choose the finish appropriate to your project. Photo Gloss - 7 mil Photo Semi-Gloss - 7 mil Gloss and semi-gloss papers...
- Page 21 Croma24 ™ QIS ultra white - 4 mil Tough, dimensionally stable, glossy, bright white polyester film. Perfect for signs, posters, banners, and presentations. Can be imaged on both sides. Specialty media Canvas Inkjet coated artists' canvas for art work, portraits, or any image which requires an artist's canvas look.
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Page 22: Care Of Your Media
User's Guide Care of your media Store media in its original packaging in a cool, dry area until you are ready to use it. The environment should be relatively constant; i.e., no extreme temperature changes, and non-condensing humidity. If storage conditions are outside the operating ranges recommended for the printer, allow the media to acclimate in a proper operating environment for at least 24 hours before use. -
Page 23: Media Sizes And Printing Areas
Croma24 ™ Media sizes and printing areas The table which follows provides details on the media sizes and maximum printing areas for rollfeed media. Media Sizes and Maximum Printing Areas for Rollfeed Media Paper Size Normal Print Area Expanded Print Area GRAPHICS (U.S. - Page 24 User's Guide The table which follows provides details on the media sizes and maximum printing areas for sheet media. Media Sizes and Maximum Printing Areas for Sheet Media Paper Size Normal Print Area Expanded Print Area GRAPHICS (U.S. OFFSET) 8.5" 11.0"...
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Page 25: Printing
Croma24 ™ PRINTING This chapter tells you how to load media, and how to set parameters in the host software to control your print jobs. Note: The printer control software is available for both the PC and Macintosh platforms. The functions available are identical, even though the appearance of the user interface differs slightly. -
Page 26: Loading Media
User's Guide Loading media You can use roll media up to 4" in diameter or cut sheets; the default setting is roll media. To load, follow the instructions provided for roll or cut sheet media. To load roll media: To assure smooth loading, cut any wrinkled or damaged edges from the roll before loading. - Page 27 Croma24 ™...
- Page 28 Position one sheet of media in the slot, aligning it with the alignment guide. The sheet must contact the pinch rollers for the media to load. Press the Load Media button. Croma24 shown with cover off - front view Croma24 rear view...
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Page 29: Choosing Printing Options
From your application's File menu, choose Print. In the Print dialog box, choose Croma24 as the printer and click the Properties button. (Some applications use the Setup button for this.) In the Croma24 window, click on the Paper tab. Set media size, orientation, usage, and source. -
Page 30: Using The Software Control Panel
User's Guide Canceling a print job To cancel a job that has been sent to the printer: Press the Power button Delete the file from the computer's print queue. Press the Power button again. Using the software control panel The software control panel lets you perform these utility functions: •... - Page 31 Croma24 ™ About ENCAD This tab of the software control panel lists the revision level of the control panel software. You'll need this information if you call for technical support. Printer control Forward - Moves media forward. Backward - Moves media backward.
- Page 32 User's Guide Print Settings - clicking this button prints the current printer settings, including the ink levels. Calibration Horizontal and Vertical Alignment - use to set proper carriage alignment. After evaluating the test pattern, enter the number for the part of the pattern which represents the best alignment. (See p. 41 for more details.) Run Calibration - load paper, then select this button to print the calibration test patterns.
- Page 33 Croma24 ™ Cartridges (Windows 3.x) Reset - selecting the Reset button resets the ink counter to “full”. Do this whenever you refill a cartridge or replace it with a new, filled cartridge. Apply Settings button - click to apply changes.
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Page 34: Caring For Your Printer
User's Guide CARING FOR YOUR PRINTER This section covers standard maintenance items such as: • Cleaning the ink cartridge jet plate • Replacing/refilling cartridges • Aligning and calibrating cartridges • Replacing the cutter • Cleaning the service station The printer's software control panel controls accessing the ink cartridges, moving the cartridge carrier, aligning, priming, and calibrating the cartridges. -
Page 35: Cleaning The Ink Cartridge Jet Plate
Croma24 ™ Cleaning the ink cartridge jet plate Inkjets may clog when used in low humidity or when unused for a long period of time. Typical symptoms of clogged inkjets include skipped or broken lines or uneven printing. When inkjets are clogged, first try priming the unit to remove dry ink from the cartridge (see p. - Page 36 User's Guide ! Never use alcohol to clean the jet area of the cartridge. ! Do not wipe as wiping may damage the jets. Insert the cartridge into the carrier and click it into place. Select Access Cartridges in the printer's software control panel to return the carrier to the service station.
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Page 37: Replacing Ink Cartridges
Croma24 ™ Replacing ink cartridges Cartridges eventually wear out. Deteriorating print quality that does not improve when the cartridge is primed and the jet plate cleaned is a sign of cartridge wear. • Don't attempt to install or remove an ink cartridge from the carrier... - Page 38 User's Guide Pull the top of the cartridge toward you to unlatch it. Lift up to remove it from the carrier. Remove the protective tape from the new cartridge. Put the cartridge in the carrier “bottom first,” then click it into place. Be sure to match the color designation of the cartridge to the designation on the carrier.
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Page 39: Refilling Cartridges
• Use only the ENCAD-branded ink refill supplied with your ENCAD QIS cartridge or from an ENCAD refill kit. Remember that using any other ink may damage the printer. Be sure to refill the cartridge with the same color and type of ink it originally contained. -
Page 40: Priming, Aligning, And Calibrating Cartridges
User's Guide Priming, aligning, and calibrating cartridges Priming the cartridges Priming the cartridges clears the jets and helps to assure that all cartridges are firing properly. To prime the cartridges: Load a sheet of paper into the printer. Select Prime Cartridges in the printer's software control panel. A test pattern prints with bands of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. - Page 41 Croma24 ™ Aligning and calibrating the cartridges After assuring that all cartridges are firing properly, you will want to align them. For best results you should align the cartridges each time you install a new cartridge or remove them for any reason.
- Page 42 User's Guide Current Heads (Y, M, C) shows yellow, magenta, and cyan "+"s which represent the horizontal and vertical alignment between the cartridges. When the colored + lines up horizontally and vertically with the black alignment marks, no adjustment is required. Magenta Yellow Cyan...
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Page 43: Replacing The Cutter
Croma24 ™ Replacing the cutter When the cutter becomes worn it can cause ragged cuts and could cause the carrier to jam. Replace it after about 200 cuts. It may need to be replaced more frequently if very heavy media such as canvas is used often. -
Page 44: Cleaning The Service Station
User's Guide Cleaning the service station The service station wipes excess ink from the cartridges. However, ink and dust can accumulate in it. The cartridges can pick up this residue, resulting in poor print quality. Depending on how frequently you print, you may want to clean the service station once a month or more frequently using the following procedure. -
Page 45: Application Notes
Photoshop at 300 dpi, save as a .tif file, and print from Photoshop. • In Quark Xpress, in order to use ENCAD color management, it may be necessary to turn off EFI color correction. PhotoCD users Change the color space in your image to RGB and save as RGB. -
Page 46: Powerpoint
Make sure your standard pages fit the media you have loaded in your printer. Click the Properties button. The Croma24 window, you can apply custom settings for printing. Set orientation to Portrait. Check the Save Paper and Expanded Margins boxes. - Page 47 Croma24 ™ Check Disable Gamma Control. In the Type/Color, choose Line Art, not Photographic Images. (Choosing Photographic Images will cause printing to take much longer in this application.) Choose the type of ink and media you are using. Use Custom Page Size to size the document to your desired final size.
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Page 48: Quick Fixes
User's Guide QUICK FIXES Information in this chapter will help you solve possible problems for the Croma24 printer. The problems addressed are divided into these types: • Printer health • Print quality • Data transfer • Application software Troubleshooting quick list Many common problems can be solved by checking whether the printer is connected to a good power source. - Page 49 Croma24 ™ If your printer fails during these steps, call your ENCAD distributor/dealer or call ENCAD Technical Support. Otherwise, continue with these steps: Send a demo print directly to the printer. If step 1 fails, repeat using another computer. If any of these steps fail, your printer may not be correctly connected to your computer and/or network.
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Page 50: Printer Problems
Multiple jobs will not print You cannot spool more than one job when running under Windows. On Macintosh platforms, be sure the spooler is turned on. File will not print If you are using a serial cable, check that it is ENCAD PN 203977. - Page 51 Do not use media thicker than 20 mil. (0.010"). Make sure media is properly aligned when loading. Use ENCAD QIS or ENCAD-recommended media. Automatic cutter doesn't work or tears the paper Make sure the Cut option in printer's software control panel is set to ON (the default).
- Page 52 Caution: do not use lubricant of any kind on the shaft. Carrier stall may also be caused by media which curls. Be sure to use ENCAD QIS media. Remove the cutter from the left side of the carrier and check it for damage.
- Page 53 Croma24 ™ Overall print quality is poor Clean. Prime. Calibrate. Check for white lines in a printed pattern which could indicate a clogged cartridge or inkjet failure. Use a better grade of media. Streaks Clean the service station at least once a month, or more often, depending on the number of prints you are running.
- Page 54 User's Guide Ink smears at the beginning of a canvas print Due to the structural integrity of canvas, the media may not lay flat on the platen. Try feeding 3-4" of media before starting to print. Smudged or dark characters Be sure you are using the correct type of paper for the application.
- Page 55 Clean. Prime. Calibrate. Replace problem cartridges. Excessive banding in area fills Use specially coated inkjet media such as ENCAD QIS media. Try a higher quality output mode. Draft mode will band in heavy fill areas. Clean. Calibrate. Portions of lines are missing Prime.
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Page 56: Data Transfer
Data transfer "Error connecting to printer" and/or "Error on connect to printer" message In the printers control panel, be sure Croma24 is set at the default printer. If other printers are trying to control the same printer port as Croma24, temporarily reassign them to another port. -
Page 57: Application Software
Croma24 ™ Application software Isolating a problem to your software Sometimes printing problems are specific to your application software. Try printing a simple file from your software application or from another application. If this prints correctly, the problem may be with your file or the software. -
Page 58: Customer Technical Support
Help Desk hours are: 5 a.m. - 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday. ENCAD On-Line ENCAD is continually improving its products. You have access to driver and firmware upgrades from ENCAD's bulletin board (BBS) or from the Internet WEB site. -
Page 59: Calling For Help
Computer model operating system connection (serial or parallel) Note: If you have not previously supplied an ENCAD Warranty Registration and a Purchase Invoice, you will need to do so now to qualify for Warranty Service and Support. -
Page 60: Technical Information
INTERFACES: Optional stand: 24 lb. Centronics Parallel (IEEE 1284 CERTIFICATIONS: compliant) RS-422 Serial (GA models only) EMULATION: TUV GS ENCAD-RTL only FCC Class B CE Mark POWER: CISPR-22 - Class B 90-246 VAC 47-63 Hz Made in the U.S.A. Consumption:... -
Page 61: Interface Cable Pinouts
ENCAD, Inc. The cable must be shielded and should not exceed 25' in length. If you are using a serial cable provided by a vendor other than ENCAD, be sure that the pinouts match those shown here. If the non-ENCAD serial cable is not working, order ENCAD cable 203977. -
Page 62: Glossary
User's Guide GLOSSARY alignment The placement of cartridges relative to each other. Proper alignment will improve print quality. application A computer program designed to help users perform a certain kind of work (rendering, page layout, etc.) An application differs from an operating system (which runs the computer), a utility (which performs maintenance or general-purpose chores), and a language (with which computer programs are created). - Page 63 Croma24 ™ Dots per inch. A measure of screen and printer resolution that is expressed as the number of dots that a device can print or display per linear inch. Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) A file format that stores PostScript information in an image file so...
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Page 64: Acronyms
User's Guide raster image processor (RIP) A hardware and/or software device that converts vector graphics and/or text to raster images. rasterize To convert vector graphics to raster or bitmapped graphics. resolution The clarity or fineness of detail attained by a printer or monitor in producing an image. -
Page 65: Index
Croma24 ™ INDEX power, 60 PowerPoint, 46 aligning, 40 indicators, 13 priming, 40 application notes, 45 ink cartridge printer cleaning, 35 caring for, 34 refilling, 38 printer control, 31 replacing, 37 printer problems, 50 buffer, 60 ink cartridges printing, 22, 23... -
Page 66: Encad Support Services
ENCAD printer. A list of our current line starts on p.19. Call your authorized ENCAD dealer for information about ENCAD QIS supplies or to place an order. For the name of your nearest ENCAD dealer, call: ENCAD The Americas: San Diego, CA...
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