Thermal label printers:
Q: My printer has general print quality issues, the print is not very sharp. Why is this so?
A: The printer is set to the incorrect speed or darkness. For optimum print quality, set the darkness and print speed to the lowest possible settings for your application via the control panel on the printer, the printer driver, or the software. Bear in mind that as you increase print speed, then you will need to increase the darkness setting also and the higher the darkness setting being constantly used, the shorter the printhead life will be. Printheads should be considered a consumable however they are also quite expensive and if production constraints permit, slower speeds will extend the life of the printhead. If these settings are correct and there are still issues and you are using thermal transfer ribbon, then there may be an incorrect combination of labels and ribbon. Try switching the media or ribbon to try to find a compatible combination. For certain label materials and coatings, there are preferred ribbon grades that will give optimal results.
Q: Why do I get white lines through my print?
A: If the lines are sharp edged and are parallel to the direction the labels are feeding, there may be faulty pixels on the printhead. If they are more fuzzy edged, the printhead may just need cleaning with Isopropyl alcohol. It is recommended that the printhead and platen roller should be cleaned after each roll of labels are printed. For thermal transfer printing some wavy lines can be experienced if the ribbon wrinkles during printing. There is usually adjustment present for guides or rollers that will eliminate the wrinkling.
Q: Why is my print lighter on one side?
A: The printhead may either be mis-aligned or has uneven pressure on the label. Pressure adjustments are usually straight forward (printer user manuals usually detail this adjustment). Printhead alignment is usually a bit more involved, and we recommend a service for your printer by a qualified technician.