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Datacard Group Confidential
information provided on the tag to take advantage of enhanced value-added features available in
the SP75 Plus card printer.
These enhanced features include:
+ Automatic Supply Validation – When a print ribbon is installed, the printer automatically
checks to see that the loaded print ribbon matches the requirements of the current print
job.
+ Automatic Printer Settings & Offsets – When a new print ribbon is installed, the printer
detects the change and updates the printer settings automatically. This insures
optimum image quality.
+ Ribbon Saver – Maximizes the yield of the print ribbon
Color Printing: The printer identifies the print ribbon without consuming one ribbon
set of color panels; eliminating wasted ribbon.
Monochrome Printing: The printer uses only the minimum amount of print ribbon
required to print the specified card, increasing the yield from each ribbon.
+ Ribbon Low Warning Message – Ribbon print jobs are tracked and an operator
message is provided when the printer is almost out of ribbon, helping reduce the
downtime between ribbon changes.
Q. What is the Ribbon Saver feature and how does it work?
A. The Ribbon Saver feature is unique to the Datacard® ribbons used in SP Plus series card printers.
Monochrome print ribbon: Instead of advancing one card length of ribbon for every printed
card, the SP75 Plus card printer advances just past the actual portion of the ribbon that
has just been used. Depending on the card design, this feature can potentially triple the
standard yield of a monochrome print ribbon.
Color panel ribbon: The SP75 Plus card printer is able to automatically identify the ribbon
configuration without advancing the print ribbon one panel set. This eliminates the
unnecessary loss of ribbon when the printer is turned off and reinitialized.
Q. Can I take a partially used print ribbon, laminate, or topcoat from one SP75 Plus card
printer and use it in another SP75 Plus card printer?
A. Yes. The individual print ribbon information is maintained on the RF tag; not in the card printer.
When a partially used print ribbon is installed into a second SP75 Plus card printer, the RF tag on
the take-up core informs the printer of the type of print ribbon installed and the remaining number
of images available on the supply core. When multiple SP75 Plus printers are used in a
print-farm, print ribbons can be freely exchanged between printers.
Q. Do the ribbons that are presently available for use in other SP series card printers and SP
Plus series printers work in the SP75 Plus card printer?
A. All of the print ribbon kits that are available for use in the SP35, SP35 Plus, SP55, SP55 Plus, and
SP75 card printers can be used in the SP75 Plus card printers. This helps keep inventory costs
low. We have introduced several print ribbon kits that are available for use only in the SP75 and
SP75 Plus card printer. These ribbons are not qualified for use in other SP series and SP Plus
series card printers.
Q. Can the SP75 Plus card printer work with other Datacard
®
print ribbons or laminates?
A. Ribbons and laminates qualified for use in earlier Datacard printers are not designed, qualified or
recommended for use in the SP75 Plus card printer. Ribbons used with other Datacard printers
do not contain the new core design and the RF tag that provides enhanced printer features such
as Ribbon Saver and auto ribbon detect.