Digital Label Press 3 User’s Manual
Dye-Sublimation
Dye-sublimation is similar to thermal transfer in that it still involves a paneled, multi-pass process beneath the same thermal print head. The difference, however, lies within the special dye-sublimation ribbon, the print media, and in the transfer process itself.
Unlike a thermal transfer ribbon, each colored panel on a dye-sublimation ribbon is composed of colored dye rather than colored ink. When the dyes on the ribbon are heated beneath the thermal Print head, they vaporize and diffuse into the surface of the special dye-receptive print media. By varying the heat intensity of each thermal element within the Print head, the press is able to change the value and hue of each transferred dot of color. This results in the blending of one colored dot into the next, producing continuous-tone, photo-realistic, color-accurate images with no dithering.
Digital Printing and Cutting… Simultaneously!
Your press has two prosessors, one that controls printing, and another that controls cutting. It also has a memory buffer which stores commands allowing your press to print and cut at the same time.
The plotter-style drag knife cutter allows the press to cut any shape that can be imported into our easy to use layout software. The cut line is treated just like a graphic and can be edited to match any shape. The software can even trace around an image to create a perfect contour cut.
B. SPECIAL FEATURES
With its dual function thermal transfer/dye-sublimation color printing capability, this press offers you incredible printing versatility. The press's resin thermal transfer mode prints outdoor-durable labels, signs, and decals on long-lasting vinyl or polyester media. And with its dye-sublimation mode, this press delivers continuous- tone, photo-quality output no other color printing technology can match.
Switching back and forth between these printing methods is easy. All you do is load either the thermal transfer ribbon with the appropriate print media or the dye- sublimation ribbon and print media, and select the appropriate printing choice from within the press's software driver. The entire change-over process only takes just a few minutes.
And, best of all, operation is simple and straight forward. This press will print from any IBM-PC® or compatible running Windows™. This means that you can use virtually any software application running under Windows to create your custom labels or decals. Then, just import your design into PressPrint printing software to duplicate, print, and cut as many labels as needed.
To begin using your press, please refer to the remainder of this manual. The User's Manual is your complete step-by-step guide to setting up and printing with your powerful, new Digital Label and Decal Press.