4–5
Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Controlling Print Quality
The following two factors have the greatest effect on print quality:
•The amount of heat applied by the printhead
•The location of the printhead in relation to the label
For example, low-cost direct thermal media often have very high

reaction

temperatures

, which means that it takes a great deal of heat to make a clear
image. Resin ribbons and film media may require higher print intensity for a
quality image.
The printer provides four ways to increase the heat:
•Running the printer slower
•Using the Print Intensity host command
•Setting the print intensity to a higher value with the Print Intensity
function, accessed via the host or through the secondary operator panel.
This causes more heat to be transferred into the media, thereby
generating a darker image.
•Adjusting the printhead position. This adjustment may be required if the
media thickness is changed substantially from the factory default setting
(4 mils).
Also, the printhead should be cleaned frequently to ensure that foreign material
does not accumulate on the printhead and interfere with heat transfer. If smears,
voids or white lines appear in the printed form, the printhead should be cleaned
with a cotton swab moistened with anhydrous alcohol (see Figure 4–1).
Figure 4–1. Cleaning the Printhead