Technical Note 8 - Using the Windows Printer Driver

The P640i printer driver includes setup and diagnostic tools in two distinct groups. These are Printing

Preferences and Properties.

Generally speaking, Properties screens are intended for use only by the trained technician. This is because they can cause unexpected results if modified without the necessary experience. The same applies to two of the Printing Preferences screens, Magnetic Encoding and ID/Log.

Some of the Preferences screens the operator may be asked to refer to and/or modify.

Operator screens

Printing Preferences - Card Setup

Printing Preferences - Image Adjustment

Printing Preferences - YMC (Color) Printing

Printing Preferences - K (Black) Panel

Technician-only screens:

Printer Properties - All screens

Printing Preferences - Magnetic Encoding Printing Preferences - ID/Log

To access the driver screens, follow this sequence:

Start > Printers (or Printers and Faxes) > Right click

Zebra P640i > Printing Preferences or Properties

Printing Preferences

Printing Preferences

Card Setup

Image Size: Sets the image area for both front and back of the card (1 inch = 300 pixels).

Cards: Specifies the type of card loaded in the hopper - typically a PVC/polyester/PVC composite card for applications where durability is important.

Ribbon: This is the color ribbon installed in the

printer. Choice of two for most applications: YMCK = 3 color panels + 1 black panel, and YMCKK = 3 color panels + 2 black panels. For secure applications a third type of ribbon is available: YMCUvK (“Uv” is a panel of ultraviolet responsive resin).

Front/Back: Allows you to apply color or black, or both, to either side of the card. For example, with a 4- panel YMCK ribbon the usual arrangement is YMC (Color) on the front, K (Black) on the back. If you check both YMC and K on one side, this sets up a special condition known as black extraction, page TN8- 2.

Laminate: Allows you to choose whether laminate will be applied to the front side, to both sides, or to neither side.

Orientation: Allows you to set up the front and back images, independently*, for “driver license” (landscape) or “badge” (portrait) configurations. By checking the Rotate box, you can also flip either image upside down.

*The following combination is not available: Front landscape, Back portrait.

 

 

 

 

 

Printing Preferences

YMC (Color)

 

 

Printing

 

 

 

 

The P640i accepts 24-bit color images, meaning that each of the colors (Y, M and C) is represented by 8 bits per pixel. In High Quality, the default setting, all 24 bits are processed. In Low Quality the printer driver transmits a smaller amount of color information, the effect being a slight degradation of the printed image. The advantage of low quality is increased transmission speed, which can be helpful if the connection is through a conventional parallel port. With a USB connection, there will be no noticeable difference.

Printing Preferences

Image Adjustment

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P640i Card Printer User Guide

980541-001 Rev. A