Dynamic Print Control - Printronix SLPA8000 User Manual

Thermal Printer Technology

Dynamic Print Control

Print quality in thermal printers depends on how well the thermal ribbon and
thermal transfer paper respond to the heat of the thermal printhead. The
thermal printhead must reach a specific temperature to print, then must cool
down in the shortest possible time after printing. Print quality therefore
depends on precise control of the energy supplied to the thermal dots. If
uneven print density occurs, it is usually caused by the stored heat from dots
printed previously.
The SLPA uses Dynamic Print Control technology to ensure even print
density. Dynamic Print Control is printer software that monitors and adjusts
printhead temperatures. Based on stored results of previously printed dots,
the printer predicts the amount of heat required to print subsequent dots and
regulates the electrical energy applied to the printhead. This prevents uneven
print density and permits the printing of narrow-ladder bar codes and vertical
grid lines that are absolutely straight.
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