Polaroid 539957-020 Rev. A User Manual
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Polaroid 539957-020 Rev. A User Manual

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Polaroid XPS Card Printer
Installation and User Guide
June 2011
Part No. 539957-020 Rev. A

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Summary of Contents for Polaroid 539957-020 Rev. A

  • Page 1 Polaroid XPS Card Printer Installation and User Guide June 2011 Part No. 539957-020 Rev. A...

  • Page 2: Trademark Acknowledgments

    Trademark Acknowledgments Polaroid and Polaroid & Pixel are trademarks of PLR IP Holdings, LLC, used under license. All other trademarks are the property of the respective owner who has not sponsored, endorsed or approved this product. PLR IP Holdings, LLC does not manufacture this product or provide any Manufacturer's Warranty or support.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Chapter 1: Welcome to Card Printer Information _____________________________________ 1 About the Printer _______________________________________________________________ 1 Printer Components ________________________________________________________ 2 Printer with Input Hopper ________________________________________________ 2 Inside a printer __________________________________________________________ 3 Printer with Duplex Option _______________________________________________ 3 Inside a printer with a duplex option _____________________________________ 4 Printer Configuration Label _________________________________________________ 4 Printer System ______________________________________________________________ 6 Tasks and Users _________________________________________________________ 6...
  • Page 4 Messages and Conditions _____________________________________________________ 46 Messages on the Printer____________________________________________________ 46 Messages on the XPS Card Printer Driver ____________________________________ 47 Messages on the Printer Manager __________________________________________ 47 Other Messages ___________________________________________________________ 47 Responding to Messages ______________________________________________________ 48 Message 100: Request not supported ___________________________________ 49 Message 101: Job could not complete__________________________________ 49 Message 102: Card not in position ______________________________________ 50 Message 103: Printer problem __________________________________________ 50...
  • Page 5 Chapter 6: Card Design and Setup_________________________________________________ 65 Card Components ____________________________________________________________ 66 Color Printing______________________________________________________________ 66 Print Ribbon ___________________________________________________________ 66 Managing Color _______________________________________________________ 67 Printing Text ___________________________________________________________ 67 Printing Graphics_______________________________________________________ 67 Monochrome Printing______________________________________________________ 68 Monochrome Panels in Full-Color Ribbon ________________________________ 69 Monochrome Ribbon __________________________________________________ 69 Printing Bar Codes _____________________________________________________ 69 Printing Text ___________________________________________________________ 70 Printing Graphics ______________________________________________________ 70...
  • Page 6 Fixing the Printer System ________________________________________________ 93 The XPS Card Printer Driver _____________________________________________ 93 ID Software ____________________________________________________________ 93 Using the Printer Plug-in_________________________________________________ 94 Other Components of the System_______________________________________ 94 Installation Troubleshooting ________________________________________________ 94 USB Installation Troubleshooting _________________________________________ 95 Network Installation Troubleshooting ____________________________________ 97 Driver Problems____________________________________________________________ 97 The driver does not detect the network-connected printer _______________ 98 The driver does not detect the USB-connected printer ___________________ 99...
  • Page 7 Power Supply _______________________________________________________ 114 200-Card Input Hopper_______________________________________________ 114 Cables used with the Printer______________________________________________ 115 Data Cable _________________________________________________________ 115 Power Cable ________________________________________________________ 115 Chapter 12: How-To Topics ______________________________________________________ 117 How to Install a Large Output Hopper ____________________________________ 119 How to Install the 200-Card Input Hopper Option __________________________ 120 Install the Lock Option ___________________________________________________ 121 How to Adjust the Colors Printed _________________________________________ 122 Brightness ___________________________________________________________ 122...
  • Page 8 Printer Information ___________________________________________________ 151 Option Information___________________________________________________ 151 Supplies _____________________________________________________________ 151 Test _________________________________________________________________ 152 How to Find the Printer Serial Number _____________________________________ 152 Viewing the Serial Number from the Front Panel _______________________ 153 How to Set Magnetic Stripe Coercivity ____________________________________ 154 How to Set the Print Area ________________________________________________ 155 How to Set the Print Resolution ___________________________________________ 156 How to Set Static IP Address Type_________________________________________ 157...
  • Page 9 Revision Log Polaroid XPS Card Printer Installation and User Guide Revision Date Description of Changes June 2011 First release of this document as a single file.

  • Page 11: Chapter 1: Welcome To Card Printer Information

    Chapter 1: Welcome to Card Printer Information This manual describes the XPS Card Printer and how to use it. Before you use the printer, install and set up the printer. In most cases, install the Windows driver for the printer as part of setup. See “Install the Printer”...

  • Page 12: Printer Components

    “Printer with Duplex Option” • HINTS & TIPS • The printer is designed to issue cards either one at a time or in batches — up to 100 cards at a time. An optional 200-card input hopper is available for some printers.

  • Page 13: Inside A Printer

    Inside a printer Printer with Duplex Option...

  • Page 14: Inside A Printer With A Duplex Option

    Inside a printer with a duplex option Printer Configuration Label The printer has a label on the side of the cover arm that shows the components installed. Find the label on the side of the cover arm: The label shows: •...

  • Page 16: Printer System

    Printer System The card printer is used with other equipment and software to create a card production system. The system produces cards for a specific purpose and the cards must meet requirements. Ask about the requirements for cards that you produce, or see “Card Design and Setup”...
  • Page 17 Information for Users This guide provides operator information and describes how to install, use the printer, and perform routine tasks. An additional Solution Guide is available for use by Administrators or by professionals designing a new system for printing cards. When the XPS Card Printer Driver is installed, the information is also installed.
  • Page 18 Welcome to Card Printer Information...

  • Page 19: Chapter 2: Installation Requirements

    Chapter 2: Installation Requirements Your installation method depends on how many users will print to the card printer, the operating system you will use to send card data and other decisions in your environment. This section describes: “PC Requirements” • “Site Requirements”...

  • Page 20: Requirements For A Network Connection

    • USB 2.0 port or Ethernet network connection • ID software to capture and organize the data to appear on each card. Requirements for a Network Connection To install a printer on a network, the following components are required: • An Ethernet network that uses the TCP/IP protocol and can run at 100 megabits per second, also called 100base-T.

  • Page 21: Site Requirements

    Site Requirements Set up and use the printer in an environment that meets the following requirements. • Provide space for the printer and for clearance around the printer. The printer dimensions and clearance area is shown in the table below. Dimensions (inches/mm) Printer Model...

  • Page 22: Electrical Requirements

    • Place the printer in a clean office environment. Electrical Requirements ® The power supply has earned the ENERGY STAR and is rated as follows: Printer Model Electrical Requirements P3500S P5500S 110-240V/50-60 Hz/3.0 Amp The power supply detects the input voltage, and works within the range stated. The printer is ENERGY STAR qualified only when used with the included power supply.

  • Page 23: Chapter 3: Install The Printer

    Chapter 3: Install the Printer This section provides information about installing the printer and driver on a PC running a supported Windows operating system. Printer installation includes preparing the printer and then installing the driver. Most often, the driver is installed using the installation CD shipped with the printer.

  • Page 24: Connecting More Than One Printer

    The printer can be installed using one of the following installation methods: The printer ships with a CD in the printer carton. In most cases, Driver CD install the driver from the CD using one of the following cable types: •...

  • Page 25: Prepare The Printer

    To Install Additional Printers For each USB printer installed after the initial USB installation, follow these instructions: Load supplies and then power on the printer. See “Prepare the Printer” the steps to follow. Log on to the PC as a user with Administrator access. Connect the printer to the PC using a USB cable.

  • Page 26: Load Cards

    Load Cards If you are using a manual feed printer, skip this step and keep a supply of blank cards close to the printer. For printers with an input hopper, continue with these steps: Open the input hopper (a). Fan cards before placing them into input hopper (b).

  • Page 27: Load Cleaning Roller

    Remove the print ribbon cartridge. Load a full roll of print ribbon onto the spindle closest to the cartridge handle. Place the empty spool on the spindle with the black gear. Wind the empty spool counter- clockwise one full turn. Load Cleaning Roller Load a new cleaning roller with each new roll of print ribbon.

  • Page 28: Install Ribbon Cartridge

    Install Ribbon Cartridge Install the assembled print ribbon cartridge into the printer. Hold the print ribbon cartridge by the handle and lower into the printer with the handle toward the front of the printer. Check to see that the ribbon cartridge is correctly positioned in the guides.

  • Page 29: Install The Printer Driver

    Install the Printer Driver This section provides information about installing the printer driver on a PC running a supported Windows operating system. See “PC Requirements” for a list of supported operating systems. Most often, the driver is installed using the installation CD shipped with the printer.
  • Page 30 The driver might require additional software, and present a license agreement for that software.  Read the license agreement(s) presented, click the Accept box, and then click the blue arrow pointing to the right. Follow the steps to “Prepare the Printer”. Use the green media controls to view step-by-step instructions about how to Prepare the Printer.
  • Page 31 The Device Driver Installation Wizard dialog appears. Click Finish to complete this stage of installation. Plug in and power on the printer. The installer will prompt you to connect the printer to the PC using a USB cable.
  • Page 32 Connect the printer to the PC using a USB cable. When installation is complete, the Print a Sample Card page appears. Check that “Ready” is displayed on the LCD panel and click the Print Sample Card button. Installation is complete when the sample card prints successfully. For more information on how to print a sample card or a printer test card, see “How to Print Driver Sample Cards”...

  • Page 33: Usb Installation Using A Downloaded Driver

    USB Installation using a downloaded driver The printer ships with an Installation CD in the printer carton. In most cases, install the driver from the Installation CD. If you do not have access to the Installation CD, follow these steps: Log on to the PC as a user with Administrator access.
  • Page 34 The driver might require additional software, and present a license agreement for that software. Read the license agreement(s) presented, click the Accept box and then click the blue arrow. Follow the steps to “Prepare the Printer”. Use the green media controls to view step-by-step instructions about how to Prepare the Printer.
  • Page 35 The Device Driver Installation Wizard dialog appears. Click Finish to complete this stage of installation. Plug in and power on the printer. The installer will prompt you to connect the printer to the PC using a USB cable. Connect the printer to the PC using a USB cable.
  • Page 36 When installation is complete, the Print a Sample Card page appears. Check that “Ready” is displayed on the LCD panel and click the Print Sample Card button. Installation is complete when the sample card prints successfully. For more information on how to print a sample card or a printer test card, see “How to Print Driver Sample Cards”...

  • Page 37: Network Installation Using The Installation Cd

    Network Installation using the Installation CD Log on to the PC as a user with Administrator access. Insert the driver CD in the PC’s drive. On the User Account Control dialog, click Yes. The driver installer window opens. Click the Install a Network Printer button. The driver might require additional software, and present a license agreement for that software. ...
  • Page 38 Follow the steps to “Prepare the Printer”. Use the green media controls to view step-by-step instructions about how to Prepare the Printer. Click the blue arrow pointing to the right. The Device Driver Installation Wizard dialog appears. Click Next. The Windows Security dialog appears. Click Install to install the printer. The Windows Security dialog appears.
  • Page 39 Plug in and power on the printer. Use the LCD panel to retrieve the printer’s IP Address. For step-by-step instructions, see “Retrieve the Printer IP Address”. Return to the Main menu on the LCD display. Check that “Ready” is displayed and the User button glows green.
  • Page 40 The Card Printer installer opens the Printer Properties window automatically. When this window opens, click the Configure Port button and enter the IP Address retrieved in Step 9 in the Printer Name or IP Address area. IMPORTANT! In some cases, Windows may change the Port Number when the printer’s IP address is entered.

  • Page 41: Network Installation Using A Downloaded Driver

    When installation is complete, the Print a Sample Card page appears. Check that “Ready” is displayed on the LCD panel and click the Print Sample Card button to verify that the installation is complete. Installation is complete when the sample card prints successfully. For more information on how to print a sample card or a printer test card, see “How to Print Driver Sample Cards”...
  • Page 42 Choose a location on your PC, such as C:\Temp and click Save. When the File Download dialog appears, click Save. Your network might prevent the download or installation of this file. Ask your network support personnel for help when downloading this file or when installing the driver.
  • Page 43 The driver might require additional software, and present a license agreement for that software. Read the license agreement(s) presented, click the Accept box and then click the blue arrow. Follow the steps to “Prepare the Printer”. Use the green media controls to view step-by-step instructions about how to Prepare the Printer.
  • Page 44 The Device Driver Installation Wizard dialog appears. Click Finish to complete this stage of installation. Connect the printer to the network using an Ethernet cable. Plug in and power on the printer. Install the Printer...
  • Page 45 Use the LCD panel to retrieve the printer’s IP Address. For step-by-step instructions, see “Retrieve the Printer IP Address”. Return to the Main menu on the LCD display. Check that “Ready” is displayed and the User button glows green.
  • Page 46 The Card Printer installer opens the Printer Properties window automatically. When this window opens, click the Configure Port button and enter the IP Address retrieved in Step 11 in the Printer Name or IP Address area. IMPORTANT! In some cases, Windows may change the Port Number when the printer's IP address is entered.

  • Page 47: Retrieve The Printer Ip Address

    When installation is complete, the Print a Sample Card page appears. Check that “Ready” is displayed on the LCD panel and click the Print Sample Card button to verify that the installation is complete. Installation is complete when the sample card prints successfully. For more information on how to print a sample card or a printer test card, see “How to Print Driver Sample Cards”...
  • Page 48 Press the E key (b). NTER “Main Menu” is displayed on Line 1 and “Maintenance” appears on Line 2. Press the down arrow key (c). “Main Menu” displays on Line 1 and “Status” is displayed on Line 2. Press the E key (d).

  • Page 49: Chapter 4: Printing Cards

    Chapter 4: Printing Cards This section explains how to: • Print a card to a printer with an input hopper. See “Printing Cards: Printer with Input Hopper” for details. • Print on both sides of a card. See “How to Print on Both Sides of the Card” for details.

  • Page 50: Printing Cards: Printer With Input Hopper

    Printing Cards: Printer with Input Hopper Make sure cards are loaded in the input hopper. See “How to Load Cards” the steps to follow. Printing from ID Software From the ID software, use the template or design for this card. Choose the printer if you use more than one printer.
  • Page 52 Printing Cards...

  • Page 53: Chapter 5: Using The Printer

    Chapter 5: Using the Printer This section includes information on using the printer and driver. It details information on using the Front Panel and LCD Menus, responding to error conditions, and printer maintenance such as cleaning the printer. “Use the Front Panel” •...

  • Page 54: User Button And Light

    User button and light The printer has a U button with a ring of light: • Press the U button to suspend the printer when it displays “Ready”. • Press to clear a message. • Press for 2 seconds or more to clear all messages. •...

  • Page 55: Card Light

    Card Light The card light blinks amber when the printer has a card problem, such as out of cards. The card light blinks green when a card needs to be inserted. Cards are okay. Green Ribbon is low - less that 10% remains.

  • Page 56: Lcd Menus

    • Print a test card. See “How to Print a Printer Test Card”. • Change the LCD backlight. See “How to Change the LCD Backlight”. LCD Menus The menu system has three major branches: • Use the Maintenance menu to run a cleaning card or a test card.

  • Page 57: Messages On The Xps Card Printer Driver

    • If more than one message was issued, the next message is displayed after you correct the problem and click the U button. • The printer issues messages that focus on recovering from problems. As a result, there are just a few messages. •...

  • Page 58: Responding To Messages

    Responding to Messages Quick Link to a Message: “Message 100: Request not supported” • “Message 101: Job could not complete” • “Message 102: Card not in position” • “Message 103: Printer problem” • “Message 104: Critical problem” • “Message 105: Magstripe data error” •...

  • Page 59: Message 100: Request Not Supported

    “Message 501: The printer connection was lost. Printing the card is • canceled.” “Message 502: The card data is missing or is not usable. The card cannot • print.” “Message 503: The magnetic stripe data is missing. The card cannot •...

  • Page 60: Message 102: Card Not In Position

    Message 102: Card not in position The card did not reach the position for the next action, such as printing the card or ejecting the card. Open the printer and remove the ribbon cartridge. Turn the knob to move the card so the printer can eject it.

  • Page 61: Message 105: Magstripe Data Error

    Message 105: Magstripe data error The printer could not verify the magnetic stripe data written on the card. The printer encoded data on the card but could not verify all of the data. To print the card again: Insert a magnetic stripe card that matches the printer settings. Press the U button on the printer or click “Retry the card”...

  • Page 62: Message 107: Magstripe Read Data Error

    Message 107: Magstripe read data error The printer could not read the magstripe data on the card. To read the card: Insert a magnetic stripe card with data. Insert the card with the magnetic stripe down and to the right side of the printer.

  • Page 63: Message 110: Print Ribbon Out Or Missing

    HINTS & TIPS • Remove any debris from the print area. • If the card is in the printer, turn the knob to move the card so the printer can eject it. Message 110: Print ribbon out or missing The printer does not have usable ribbon. Load the ribbon or replace the ribbon.

  • Page 64: Message 112: Card Hopper Empty

    Message 112: Card hopper empty The printer does not detect cards in the input hopper. Open the input hopper. Insert cards in the input hopper. Cards can stick together: Slide or fan cards to separate the edges before loading the input hopper. Close the input hopper and resume printing.

  • Page 65: Message 115: Wait For Print Temperature

    Message 115: Wait for print temperature The printer is not at the correct temperature to print the card. Printing the card will resume on its own. Hints & Tips • The card, if it started to print, should be discarded. •...

  • Page 66: Message 118: Print Ribbon Type Problem

    Message 118: Print ribbon type problem The printer cannot use the ribbon installed. Use ribbon designed for this printer brand and model. Check the Web site for newer firmware, which might support new ribbon types. Hints & Tips • When the printer recognizes that a supported ribbon is installed, all enhanced •...

  • Page 67: Message 122: Magnetic Stripe Format Problem

    Hints & Tips • When the printer recognizes that a supported ribbon is installed, all enhanced product features are enabled and successful card printing can begin. Message 122: Magnetic stripe format problem The magstripe data sent does not match the format set in the printer.

  • Page 68: Printer Driver Messages

    Printer Driver Messages The driver can create and display the following messages. Message 500: The printer is not available. The card cannot print. The driver cannot communicate with the printer. Make sure the printer is powered on and connected to the PC. Connect the power cord.

  • Page 69: Message 502: The Card Data Is Missing Or Is Not Usable. The Card Cannot Print

    Message 502: The card data is missing or is not usable. The card cannot print. The driver could not use the prepared data. The PC did not process the data successfully. Make sure the data is present. Send the card to print again.

  • Page 70: Message 506: A Card Is Currently Processing

    • Find a Bonjour for Windows download and install it. Message 506: A card is currently processing. The driver is currently processing an interactive job. Wait until the current card is complete and then send the card again. Using the Printer...

  • Page 71: Clean The Printer

    Clean the Printer The printer performs best when it is cleaned on a regular basis. The printer should be cleaned when: • The number of cards printed since last cleaning reaches the number for your site • The printer displays a message for which cleaning is a solution •...
  • Page 72 Press the E key to enter the Maintenance menu. NTER Press the E key to choose Cleaning Card. NTER With Cleaning Card displayed on Line 2, press the E key to display Start NTER on Line 2. Press the E key to display “Insert Cleaning Card”...

  • Page 73: Clean The Printhead

    Clean the printhead Clean the printhead when: • The printhead can have contamination stuck to it. You might notice it as unprinted lines on a card. • The printhead can have oils from hands, which can occur when replacing the printhead, or if it is accidentally touched.
  • Page 74 • Avoid touching the printing edge of the printhead cartridge with any sharp objects which can permanently damage the printhead. • Only use the cleaning pen to clean the printhead. Other materials can stick to the printhead and cause damage. •...

  • Page 75: Chapter 6: Card Design And Setup

    Chapter 6: Card Design and Setup Card design is the name given to the combined features of the printed cards. Cards are useful only when all cards contain the required information. Card design includes: • The different types of data such as name and ID number, images including company logo or employee or other photos, and...

  • Page 76: Card Components

    Card Components The printer can personalize cards with the following components: “Color Printing” • “Monochrome Printing” • “Topcoat Printing” • “Card Design: Magnetic Stripe” • “Card Design: Smart Card” • “Printing and Non-Printing Areas” • The arrangement or layout of components helps to determine how well your card design works for users.

  • Page 77: Managing Color

    inches (40mm). The YMC panels of short panel ribbon are approximately half the length of a full card. When printing with short panel print ribbon, the location of the color area is defined in the card design. Color printing begins when the driver detects a color pixel and continues for the length of the ymc panels.

  • Page 78: Monochrome Printing

    over the black background. The printer uses the YMC panels of full-color ribbon to print grayscale graphics. Types of Color Images Cards can include both color photos and a color logo or text. The logo is usually the same on each card, and the photo is unique. Follow these guidelines to obtain the best results for printing both logo and photos: •...

  • Page 79: Monochrome Panels In Full-Color Ribbon

    “Printing Graphics” • “How to Set the Print Resolution” • The printer driver or application on the PC prepares the data for the printer to use. The type of data and the type of ribbon installed determine how the XPS Card Printer Driver renders it.

  • Page 80: Printing Text

    Printing Text Printing text using a K panel can make text look crisp, because only one panel is used for printing. Fine text is often more readable when printed with more power. The font you choose also affects how easy it is to read printed text.

  • Page 81: Card Design: Magnetic Stripe

    Topcoat should not be applied over the magnetic stripe, smart card chip, or signature panel of a card. To prevent topcoat application, see “Printing and Non-Printing Areas” for more information. Hints & Tips Topcoat is applied as an even, consistent film. Card Design: Magnetic Stripe This section describes: “About Magnetic Stripe”...

  • Page 82: Magnetic Stripe Formats

    Magnetic Stripe Formats Three-Track Option The default data formats for a three-track magnetic stripe option are: • Track 1 — IATA • Track 2 — ABA • Track 3 — TTS This combination is often abbreviated IAT. This format is called ISO format. IATA (International Air Transport Association) The maximum number of characters for IATA format is 76 characters.

  • Page 83: Card Design: Smart Card

    From a PC running a Japanese edition of a supported Windows operating system Japanese-language characters are also supported. They include the following special characters: 45 Katakana characters: and the following 10 Katakana characters: Each time you start using Japanese-language characters, or stop using them, a hidden character is added.

  • Page 84: Requirements

    Normally, smart card setup is provided by a value-added reseller or service provider. Information about the smart card module installed and the type of cards to use can be requested from your service provider or value-added reseller. Requirements The following items are required when personalizing smart cards: •...

  • Page 85: Printing And Non-Printing Areas

    Printing and Non-Printing Areas The card design can have areas where printing is not allowed. Such areas can include a magnetic stripe, signature panel, or smart card chip. ID software often manages such non-printing areas automatically. © If you use other applications to print cards, such as Microsoft Word, define non- printing areas using the XPS Card Printer Driver or escape codes.

  • Page 86: Other Areas

    Other Areas If you want to specify more than one area on the same side of the card or want an area other than the standard ones, see “How to Use Print Blocking Escapes”. Hints & Tips • Blocking typically extends 0.1 inch beyond the edges of a feature. The dimensions listed include the extended blocking region.

  • Page 87: Badges

    • Do not place an important image on the front of the card in the same area as a magnetic stripe or other machine-readable feature. Frequent use of a card in a reader can wear away the image on the opposite side of the card. •...
  • Page 88 option and to work with your service provider when troubleshooting problems. See “How to Open the Printer Manager”. • Operators can use the printer front panel and the Properties page of the driver to view card counts and status information. Operators should use the Printer Manager only at the direction of their manager.

  • Page 89: Chapter 7: Printer Driver

    Chapter 7: Printer Driver The XPS Card Printer uses Microsoft XPS print technology to support printing from currently available applications. It also supports applications being developed using the newer architecture of Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. The XPS Card Printer Driver: Receives card data from an application Processes it for personalizing a card Sends the prepared data to the printer...

  • Page 90: Using The Driver

    • When both the printer and PC use the organization's network, the network affects the speed of data transmission, and can affect who can use the printer. • When the printer and PC are connected using a USB cable, the printer and PC automatically set up a local network.
  • Page 91 Printer Properties also provides status information and sample cards. Using Printer Properties, you can: • View or set the printer network port address (see “How to View Network Information”) • Print driver sample cards (see “How to Print Driver Sample Cards”) •...
  • Page 92 Printer Driver...

  • Page 93: Chapter 8: Updates, Upgrades, And More

    Chapter 8: Updates, Upgrades, and More This section describes: “Updates” • “Upgrades and Printer Options” • “Deviations” • Updates An update replaces part of the product you have — usually software — with a newer release. Driver updates and firmware updates are the most common types of update.

  • Page 94: Upgrades And Printer Options

    • The documentation folder In most cases, software used by the driver, including an mDNS responder such as ® Bonjour , and Microsoft components such as the XPS framework, are not updated. Upgrades and Printer Options Printer upgrades and options add functionality to your printer. Upgrades come with installation instructions and are designed to be installed by trained service providers.
  • Page 96 Updates, Upgrades, and More...

  • Page 97: Chapter 9: Removing A Printer From A Windows Pc

    Chapter 9: Removing a Printer from a Windows PC This section includes instructions to remove the XPS Card Printer Driver from a Windows PC. If the PC is going to be used for another purpose or reason, you may want to remove the printer and all driver files.
  • Page 98 Insert the driver CD into the PC’s drive. On the User Account Control dialog, click Yes to continue. Click the Remove Printer Driver icon on the main installer screen. Click the Remove the Driver button. Removing a Printer from a Windows PC...
  • Page 99 Wait until the driver is removed. The installer will show you the progress of the uninstall. You may be prompted to restart the PC. If a restart is required, remove the USB cable and then click the Restart Now button.
  • Page 100 Removing a Printer from a Windows PC...

  • Page 101: Chapter 10: Troubleshooting

    Chapter 10: Troubleshooting This section describes: “Tools for Troubleshooting” • • How to locate the problem (see “Locate the Problem”) • Installation problems (see “Fixing the Printer System”) • Card appearance problems (see “Card Appearance”) • Magnetic stripe problems (see “Magnetic Stripe ”) •...
  • Page 102 The printer, printer driver, and ID software work together to produce cards. If the system is not working as you expect, follow these steps, in the order listed, to isolate the source of the problem before contacting your service provider. Check that the power cable is connected and the printer is powered on.

  • Page 103: Fixing The Printer System

    If no, check the following: • In the application, is the correct printer chosen in the Print Setup or Print dialog? • If the printer produced a blank card, you might have the wrong page size or driver settings. • If the card causes an error, the card might have a type of data the printer does not support.

  • Page 104: Using The Printer Plug-In

    only saves graphic data, while Photoshop saves both graphic and text data. Fonts and escapes require text be sent from the application as text. Using the Printer Plug-in ID software might include a printer plug-in, which takes the data in the ID software and makes it available in the form the driver can use.

  • Page 105: Usb Installation Troubleshooting

    USB Installation Troubleshooting Problem Solution The cable is loose. Reconnect the USB cable to the ports on the PC and the printer. Power the printer OFF, and then back ON. If the PC and printer still do not communicate, restart the PC.
  • Page 106 Problem Solution The USB cable is The first printer installed on a PC using a USB connected before the connection must be installed from the driver CD or driver is installed. downloaded driver. Remove the driver before re-installing the printer. For more information on how to remove the driver, see“Removing a Printer from a Windows PC”.

  • Page 107: Network Installation Troubleshooting

    Network Installation Troubleshooting Problem Solution The cable is loose. Reconnect the data cable to the network port and the printer. Restart the printer. The Status page of Follow your network troubleshooting procedures to Printer Properties shows isolate and test each component of the computer- the printer is not to-printer communication link.

  • Page 108: The Driver Does Not Detect The Network-Connected Printer

    The driver does not detect the network-connected printer Problem Solution The Printer Properties > Make sure you are using the same type of data Status tab shows the cables – USB or network – that were used when printer is not available. installing the printer.

  • Page 109: The Driver Does Not Detect The Usb-Connected Printer

    The driver does not detect the USB-connected printer Problem Solution The Printer Properties > Make sure you are using the same type of data Status tab shows the cables – USB or network – that were used when printer is available, but installing the printer.

  • Page 110: The Driver Status Or Windows Print Queue Does Not Provide Expected Data

    The driver status or Windows print queue does not provide expected data Problem Solution In the print queue The print queue shows jobs that Windows is still (Windows Print tracking. Those jobs can be in the queue at the Manager), print jobs printer, waiting for other jobs to complete are shown as done and are removed, when...

  • Page 111: Card Appearance

    Card Appearance Card appearance problems can be caused by many different factors. Click the link below that best describes the card appearance issue seen on the printed card. “Something did not print” • “Printing includes unexpected data” • “The color printing has flaws” •...

  • Page 112: Printing Includes Unexpected Data

    Printing includes unexpected data Problem Probable Cause Solution Text intended for the The magnetic stripe “How to Use Magnetic Stripe Fonts”. magnetic stripe printed font was not applied to on the card. the text. The escape code was “How to Use Magnetic Stripe typed incorrectly.
  • Page 113 Problem Probable Cause Solution Printing is blurred. The cards have a Use cards that meet the requirements for matte, not glossy, finish. the printer. See “Cards” for specifications. The rollers are dirty. Run a cleaning card. See “How to Run a Cleaning Card”.

  • Page 114: The Printing Is Too Light

    The printing is too light Problem Probable Cause Solution Photos look faded. The image capture Color settings might not be optimal. system needs See information for the image capture adjustment. system. Change color settings. See “How to Adjust the Colors Printed”.

  • Page 115: The Monochrome Printing Has Flaws

    The monochrome printing has flaws Problem Probable Cause Solution Text has broken (partly The monochrome (K) If the card does not include a bar code, printed) characters. power setting is increase the monochrome intensity. If the balanced to print both card includes fine text and bar codes, fine text and bar change the text to improve printing.

  • Page 116: For Managers Only

    Problem Solution The card has dirt or Encode and print the card again. If the message damage on the appears again, run a cleaning card to clean the magnetic stripe. mag stripe head. The magnetic stripe on To use the cards you have, select low coercivity the card is low encoding.
  • Page 117 available to users who choose “Advanced” on My XPS Card Printer, for information about using the Printer Manager. See “How to Open the Printer Manager” to access the printer manager. In most cases, you can perform advanced troubleshooting with the guidance of your service provider.
  • Page 118 Troubleshooting...

  • Page 119: Chapter 11: Supplies And Parts

    Chapter 11: Supplies and Parts This section describes the supplies used with the printer and parts for the printer. It includes: “Print Ribbon ” • “Cards” • “Cleaning Supplies” • “Replacement Parts” • “Cables used with the Printer” • Print Ribbon Print ribbon kits are available from your dealer.

  • Page 120: Monochrome Print Ribbon

    ribbon, check Printing Preferences to make sure that the selection 'Front side rotate image 180 degrees' is disabled. Both full panel and short panel print ribbons use the following color panels: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan/blue), K (black), and T (topcoat, clear). The following color print ribbon kits are available: •...

  • Page 121: Cards

    • The print ribbon maintains its quality for about one year. For optimum card quality, purchase and store quantities that can be used within one year. • The print ribbon and card stock might require secure storage and tracking. Follow your policy for storing and tracking the supplies used to make cards. •...

  • Page 122: Pre-Punched Cards

    Pre-Punched Cards For best results, punch cards after printing them. The cards can have a punched area within 1-inch (25mm) of the left-hand edge, as the cards are loaded in the printer. If the card has a magnetic stripe, the card cannot be punched anywhere in the stripe.

  • Page 123: Card Handling

    • Card edges must be free of raised burrs, which can cause printing voids. This is especially true when printing edge-to-edge. Card Handling These guidelines apply to unprinted cards. • Any debris or particles on an unprinted card’s surface can reduce print quality and damage the printhead.

  • Page 124: Print Ribbon Cartridge

    Do not touch the printing edge of the printhead in the printhead cartridge. Clean the printhead following the steps in “How to Clean the Printhead”. Print Ribbon Cartridge The ribbon cartridge holds the print ribbon and the replaceable cleaning sleeve in the printer. Cleaning Supplies The print ribbon kit includes a cleaning card and a replaceable cleaning sleeve.

  • Page 125: Cables Used With The Printer

    Cables used with the Printer The printer uses a data cable and a power cable. Data Cable The data cable connects the printer to the network or PC sending cards. The data cable can be: • USB cable • Network cable USB Cable Use a USB data cable, 6 feet (2 meters) long, to connect the printer to the PC.
  • Page 126 • Chinese power cable • Japanese power cable Tips for Success • Use only one data cable with a printer. • If you need to connect more than one PC to a printer, use a network connection. Supplies and Parts...

  • Page 127: Chapter 12: How-To Topics

    Chapter 12: How-To Topics “How to Install a Large Output Hopper” • “How to Install the 200-Card Input Hopper Option” • “Install the Lock Option” • “How to Adjust the Colors Printed” • “How to View Card Counts using the Driver” •...
  • Page 128 “How to Rotate the Card” • “How to View Printer Status” • “How to Find the Printer Serial Number” • “How to Set Magnetic Stripe Coercivity” • “How to Set the Print Area” • “How to Set Static IP Address Type” •...

  • Page 129: How To Install A Large Output Hopper

    How to Install a Large Output Hopper The output hopper included with the printer holds about 25 cards. The printer can be used with an optional large output hopper that holds up to 100 cards. The large output hopper kit includes two base sections and a large output hopper.

  • Page 130: How To Install The 200-Card Input Hopper Option

    Push up (a) to insert the four tabs in the slots and then push the base back (b) to lock it to the printer. Remove the 25-card output hopper from the printer. Slide it out, similar to a drawer. Slide the 100-card output hopper into the assembled base and printer.

  • Page 131: Install The Lock Option

    Load up to 200 cards in the hopper and close the cover. The printer is ready to print cards. Install the Lock Option The lock option is a user-installed feature that does not require special tools to ® install. The package contains a Kensington Lock with keys, instructions, and a metal security plate.

  • Page 132: How To Adjust The Colors Printed

    How to Adjust the Colors Printed The XPS Card Printer driver for use with Windows operating systems includes a Color Adjustment feature in Printing Preferences. Using the Color Adjustment tab, you can: • Change the brightness of color printing on the card •...

  • Page 133: Contrast

    Evaluate the appearance of the cards. Repeat these steps until the cards meet your requirements. Click the Apply button to save the new values. Contrast To change the degree of difference between the light and dark values of an image, change the Contrast setting. Click the Up arrow to increase contrast, or the Down arrow to decrease contrast.
  • Page 134 Determine which color needs adjustment: • Increase red, or decrease red to add cyan (light blue). • Increase green, or decrease green to add magenta (red-purple). • Increase blue, or decrease blue to add yellow. • If changing the obvious color does not produce the desired effect, try changing the other two.

  • Page 135: How To View Card Counts Using The Driver

    How to View Card Counts using the Driver The XPS Card Printer Driver displays card counts in the Printer Properties dialog. Follow the steps in this topic to view card counts using the XPS Card Printer Driver. Open the Printer Properties dialog. Click the Card Counts tab.

  • Page 136: How To View Card Counts From The Printer Lcd Menu

    How to View Card Counts from the Printer LCD Menu The printer front panel has an LCD menu system that displays information about the printer, including card counts. See “Use the Front Panel” for information on all the LCD menu system. Begin with the printer powered on and in the “Ready”...

  • Page 137: How To Change A Card Design

    Press the E key to view the cycle count. NTER Press the E key to display “Completed Card” on Line 2. NTER Press the E key to view the Completed Cards count. NTER Press the E key to display “Rejected Cards” on Line 2. NTER Press the E key to display the Rejected Cards count.
  • Page 138 • Use cards with a magnetic stripe or bar code in a reader to verify the data works as expected. • If you print large groups of cards (batches), print a typical group of cards and check cards printed at the beginning, middle, and end to make sure they all work.

  • Page 139: How To Run A Cleaning Card

    How to Run a Cleaning Card Run a printer cleaning card to clean debris from the inside of the printer. The cleaning card can remove most contaminants from the printer. Begin with the printer powered on. Open the printer cover and remove the print ribbon cartridge.

  • Page 140: How To Clean The Printhead

    Replace the ribbon cartridge and close the printer. The printer is ready to print cards again. Discard the used cleaning card and cleaning sleeve. How to Clean the Printhead Begin with the printer powered off. Open the printer cover and remove the print ribbon cartridge.

  • Page 141: How To Set The Driver Network Port Value

    How to Set the Driver Network Port Value The XPS Card Printer Driver uses the Printer IP Address to communicate with the printer when using a network connection. Follow these steps to view or change the IP Address that the driver uses. If needed, obtain the printer IP Address.

  • Page 142: How To Encode Magnetic Stripe Without Printing

    If the printer changes address often and that causes problems, ask your manager or network support person to assign a printer name, and enter the printer name using these steps. See “How to Set Static IP Address Type”. The Ports tab shows the Windows “Enable Printer Pooling” checkbox. The XPS Card Printer driver does not support pooling.

  • Page 143: How To Change The Lcd Backlight

    Hints & Tips • In a PC application, use only one page if sending Encode Only data. A two- page document will cause an error and the card will not be encoded. • See How“How to Use Magnetic Stripe Fonts” for information on formatting data using fonts.

  • Page 144: How To Get The Printer Network Ip Address

    How to Get the Printer Network IP Address The printer can display the IP address it uses when connected to the network. It also displays the Subnet Mask, Gateway Address, and MAC Address. Begin with the printer power connected, and the printer connected to the network.

  • Page 145: How To Get The Printer Usb Ip Address

    How to Get the Printer USB IP Address Follow these steps if the printer is connected using a USB cable and you want to use the Printer Manager. Begin with the printer power connected, and the printer connected to the PC using a USB cable. Press the P button (if needed) to power on the OWER...

  • Page 146: How To Load Cards

    How to Load Cards Open the input hopper (a). Fan cards before placing them into input hopper (b). Insert magnetic stripe cards with the stripe down and toward the right-hand side of the input hopper. Close input hopper (c). How to Load Ribbon Load the ribbon when you install the printer and when the ribbon runs out.

  • Page 147: Load Cleaning Roller

    Load a full roll of print ribbon onto the spindle closest to the cartridge handle. Place the empty spool on the spindle with the black gear. Wind the empty spool counter- clockwise one full turn. Load Cleaning Roller Load a new cleaning roller with each new roll of print ribbon.

  • Page 148: How To Open Printing Preferences

    Close the printer cover. How to Open Printing Preferences You can open the Printing Preferences dialog in the following ways: • Using the Open Printers Window button in My XPS Card Printer • From the Start Menu in Windows 7 or Vista •...

  • Page 149: Open Preferences From The Start Menu In Windows 7 Or Vista

    Open Preferences from the Start Menu in Windows 7 or Vista From the Windows Start menu, choose Control Panel. Click the Hardware (Printers) choice to open the Printers Window. Right-click the icon for the printer to select it. Choose Printing Preferences from the Pop-up Menu.

  • Page 150: How To Open The Printer Manager

    • Advanced button: • See “How to Rotate the Card” • See “How to Encode Magnetic Stripe without Printing” • Settings return to default values if the printer name is changed in the Printers (and Devices) window. How to Open the Printer Manager The printer includes the Printer Manager, which displays information about the printer.
  • Page 151 Press the E key. NTER In the Please Log In: area, enter the Username and Password. • The default Username is WebUser. • The default name does not require a password. • Your printer might require a password. Click the Log In button. The Welcome to Printer Manager page appears.

  • Page 152: How To Open The Printer Properties

    How to Open the Printer Properties You can open the Printer Properties dialog in the following ways: • Using the Open Printers Window button in My XPS Card Printer • From the Start Menu in Windows 7 or Vista • From the Start Menu in Windows XP Hints &...

  • Page 153: Open Printer Properties From My Xps Card Printer

    Open Printer Properties from My XPS Card Printer Open My XPS Card Printer from the desktop icon. Click the Open Printers Window choice. On the Printers Window, right-click the icon for the printer to select it. Choose Printer Properties from the Pop-up Menu.

  • Page 154: Open Printer Properties From The Start Menu In Windows Xp

    Open Printer Properties from the Start Menu in Windows XP From the Windows Start menu, choose Printer and Faxes to open the Printers Window. On the Printers Window, right-click the icon for the printer to select it. Choose Properties from the Pop-up Menu.

  • Page 155: How To Print Driver Sample Cards

    From the Permissions list, select the access: To enable printing, select Allow for Print, Manage Printers, and Manage Documents. For a user who should not print to the card printer, select Deny for all permissions. Select Apply to save the change. Save changes for each name. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to add other users or groups.

  • Page 156: How To Print A Printer Test Card

    Hints & Tips • The sample card verifies communication between the driver and the printer. The images and text do not change. • The magnetic stripe test card verifies that the driver sends magnetic stripe data to the printer and that the printer encodes it. The data cannot be changed.

  • Page 157: How To Print On Both Sides Of The Card

    After the card prints, press the U button to return the printer to Ready. How to Print on Both Sides of the Card Some printers include an automatic duplex module which automatically turns the card to print both sides. Check the configuration label located on the left side of the printer to verify if the printer includes a duplex module.
  • Page 158 Create the card: • Add graphic elements such as a logo or background • Add a photo • Add text, such as name, address, or ID number • As you add elements, place them on page 1 or page 2 Open Printing Preferences from the Start menu.

  • Page 159: How To Print More Than One Copy Of A Card

    How to Print More Than One Copy of a Card The Layout tab of Printing Preferences contains a Number of Copies entry area used for printing several copies of the same card design. You can print from 1 to 255 copies of the same card. To print more than one copy If you are using a card design application, set the number of copies in the application.

  • Page 160: How To View Printer Status

    How to View Printer Status The XPS Card Printer Driver includes the Properties Status page, which shows the printer status, any messages that apply to the printer, and the ribbon installed. The following types of information are available: Open the Printer Properties dialog. “How to Open the Printer Properties”.

  • Page 161: Port Type

    Icon Printer Status Initializing The printer is powering on. The printer is off, is shutting down, or is not connected. Port Type The Port Type line shows: • “USB” for a locally connected printer. • “Network” for a printer connected using a network connection. The line also displays the printer IP address.

  • Page 162: Test

    Icon Printer Status Unknown The ribbon is missing or is printer is not processing a card. Ribbon remaining shows 0% (percent). Ribbon Type For supported ribbons, the type of ribbon, such as YMCKT or K, is shown. ymcKT is short-panel ribbon. If the ribbon is missing or is not a supported ribbon, “Missing”...

  • Page 163: Viewing The Serial Number From The Front Panel

    Viewing the Serial Number from the Front Panel Begin with the printer powered on and in the “Ready” state. Press the U button. The LCD panel display shows “Suspended”. Press the E key to enter the menu system. NTER Press the down arrow to display “Status” on line 2. Press the E key to enter the Status menu.

  • Page 164: How To Set Magnetic Stripe Coercivity

    How to Set Magnetic Stripe Coercivity The printer setting for coercivity can be changed from the LCD panel, if needed. Usually, coercivity is a system-wide decision and does not change. Begin with the printer “Ready”. The U button shows steady green. Press the U button to display “Suspended”...

  • Page 165: How To Set The Print Area

    How to Set the Print Area The XPS Card Printer Driver can prevent printing and topcoat on specific areas of the card. By default, the entire side of the card is printed. If your cards include a magnetic stripe, a smart card chip, or other area, define the area to block printing. For custom print areas, see How to Use Blocking Escapes.

  • Page 166: How To Set The Print Resolution

    How to Set the Print Resolution The card printer can be set to print at standard resolution, high resolution, or a combination of resolutions. For example, the black text of a card design can print at high resolution while the color images print at standard resolution. The ability of a printer to support high resolution printing is set at the factory.

  • Page 167: How To Set Static Ip Address Type

    How to Set Static IP Address Type The Address Mode determines how the network address of the printer is assigned. The choices are DHCP and Static IP. DHCP stands for “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol” and means that the network assigns the IP Address to the printer. The printer is set to DHCP in the factory.
  • Page 168 Obtain the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway Address for each printer before you begin this procedure. Begin with the printer “Ready”. The U button glows steady green. Press the U button to display “Suspended” on Line 1 and Menu available on Line 2.
  • Page 169 Enter the assigned address: • The IP Address has 4 bytes, separated by periods. • A curser appears under the digit that will change. Use the arrow keys to change one digit at a time. Use the E key to navigate NTER through the address bytes.

  • Page 170: How To Use Print Blocking Escapes

    How to Use Print Blocking Escapes TheXPS Card Printer Driver provides two methods to prevent printing and topcoat on specific areas of the card. See “Printing and Non-Printing Areas” more information. By default, the entire side of the card is printed. If your cards include a magnetic stripe, a smart card chip, or other area, do not print or apply topcoat to the area.

  • Page 171: Print Blocking

    • ~ is the beginning of the statement • XX represents the type of action – Block Print, Add Topcoat, or Remove Topcoat. • n1 is the distance from the top of the card to the start of the area •...

  • Page 172: Topcoat Remove

    The topcoat add statement begins with ~TA% Examples: ~TA%0 0 86.5 37? Topcoat is applied to one large area of the card and any topcoat setting in Preferences are not used. ~TA%16.8 0 37.1 5;30.5 45.23 15 15? Printing is blocked in two areas and any topcoat setting in Preferences is not used.
  • Page 173 • Blocking printing but not topcoat • Non-standard areas, such as a preprinted logo or a signature panel • More than one area on the same side of the card...

  • Page 174: How To Use Magnetic Stripe Escapes

    How to Use Magnetic Stripe Escapes The data to encode on a magnetic stripe is entered as text and can look like data to print. The XPS Card Printer Driver uses special characters called Escape Codes to identify data to encode. Data within escape codes is not printed. The driver supports several Escape Code systems to allow easy compatibility with other card printers.

  • Page 175: Supported Escape Codes

    Supported Escape Codes The Escape Code defines the track for the data. The data format for each track is set in the printer, and you must enter the type of data the format requires. The table below shows the default ISO format data, and how the data looks when formatted.

  • Page 176: How To Use Magnetic Stripe Fonts

    How to Use Magnetic Stripe Fonts The driver provides fonts to format magnetic stripe data. Use these fonts with applications such as Microsoft Word that do not usually support magnetic stripe data. Use the application’s page setup feature to set the paper size to ISO ID-1. Reduce the page margins to match the card design.

  • Page 177: How To View The Driver Version

    Verify the encoding success by passing the card through a card reader. HINTS & TIPS • Do not use character formatting, such as kerning. • Do not use smart quotes. • Use an application in which you can enter and save text, and then edit it after saving.

  • Page 178: How To View Network Information

    How to View Network Information When the printer and PC using the XPS Card Printer Driver are connected using a network, the network settings on the PC and the printer must match. The driver Printer Properties dialog includes the Ports tab for specifying or viewing the printer IP Address being used.

  • Page 179: Chapter 13: Legal Notices

    Chapter L: Legal Notices Safety and Compliance Please note and heed the WARNING and CAUTION labels that have been placed on the equipment for your safety. Please do not attempt to operate or repair this equipment without adequate training. Regulatory Compliance Notice for USA (FCC notice) This equipment has been tested and found to be within the limits for Class A computing devices, pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules, designed to...

  • Page 180: Notice For Taiwan

    EG. This printer conforms to Class A of EN 55022 and to EN 301 489-5. Operation of this equipment in a residential environment may possibly cause interference. In the event of interference, the user, at their own expense, will be required to take whatever measures are necessary to correct the problem.

  • Page 181: Safety

    Acknowledgments Polaroid and Polaroid & Pixel are trademarks of PLR IP Holdings, LLC, used under license. All other trademarks are the property of the respective owner who has not sponsored, endorsed or approved this product. PLR IP Holdings, LLC does not...

  • Page 182: Fonts

    The Color Blue with Platinum Flecks mark is a registered trademark of DataCard Corporation in the European Union and other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Vista are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Photoshop is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. TrueType, Apple, and Bonjour are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
  • Page 184 Legal Notices...

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