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User's Manual

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071213-511271

Notices: The information in this document is subject to change without notice. NO WARRANTY OF

ANY KIND IS MADE WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,

THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR

PURPOSE. No liability is assumed for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential

damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material. This document

contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of

this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated into another language without prior

written consent.

Trademark Acknowledgments: Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Printing History

FCC Compliance Statement: This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject

to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device

must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

For Users in the United States: This product is intended to be supplied by a UL listed Direct Plug-In

Power Supply marked "Class 2"or a UL listed ITE Power Supply marked "LPS" with output rated

12VDC, 4.5A or higher. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a

Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. In a domestic environment this product

may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures. This

equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in

accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,

there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does

cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the

equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the

following measures:

 Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.

 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver

is connected.

 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Use of shielded cables is required to comply with the Class B limits of Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could

void your authority to operate and/or obtain warranty service for this equipment.

For Users in Canada: This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise for

digital apparatus set out on the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of

Communications. Le present appareil numerique n'emet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant

les limites applicables aux appareils numeriques de la class B prescrites dans le Reglement sur le

brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le ministere des Communications du Canada.

Product Disposal

Do not dispose of the printer or supplies in the same manner as normal household waste. Consult your

local authorities for disposal and recycling options.

Battery Notice

This product contains Perchlorate material. Special handling may apply. For more information, go to

http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/

CAUTION!

TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THE UNIT TO RAIN OR

MOISTURE. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE EXTERIOR

PANELS. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED

SERVICE PERSONNEL. OPERATE THE UNIT WITH ONLY THE PROPER ELECTRICAL

SPECIFICATIONS AS LABELED ON THE PRINTER AND AC ADAPTER.

CAUTION!

USE OF CONTROLS OR ADJUSTMENTS OR PERFORMANCE OF PROCEDURES OTHER

THAN THOSE SPECIFIED HEREIN MAY RESULT IN HAZARDOUS RADIATION.

CAUTION

RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE.

DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.

There are interactive features that will allow you to jump

to different locations within the document. Each listing in

the Table of Contents is interactive. Place the cursor on

either the words or the page number. A small hand with a

pointing finger icon appears. Click on the line with the

icon and the document will jump to that page. If you want

to return to the Table of Contents, move the icon to the top

of the page and click on the arrow marked TOC.

Navigating through the Index is similar. Place the icon on

one of the listings or page numbers, click on it, and it will

move to that page. The text relating to the Index listing

will appear in red. Returning to the Index can be done by

clicking on the arrow marked Index.

Interactive Feature

in this PDF Document

Interactive.qxd 9/6/2005 3:30 PM Page 1

iii

Table of Contents

Section 1: Getting Started ...............................................................................1

A. Choosing a Good Location ................................................................1

B. Unpacking and Inspection ................................................................2

C. Identifying the Parts ...........................................................................3

D. Computer Specifications ....................................................................4

Section 2: Label Stock .....................................................................................5

A. Label and Roll Specifications ............................................................5

B. Installing Label Stock .........................................................................8

C. Adjusting the Label Stock TOF (Top of Form) Sensor ................11

D. Set the Stock Sensor Mode ..............................................................12

E. Set the Output Mode ........................................................................14

Section 3: Status Monitor (PTStatus) .........................................................16

A. Monitoring Ink Levels .....................................................................17

B. Print Head Life Gauge .....................................................................18

C. Using the Cost Estimator .................................................................18

D. Replacing Ink Cartridges/Low Ink Warning ...............................19

Section 4: Printing from a PC ......................................................................22

A. Using BarTender



............................................................................22

B. Add Text, Barcodes and Graphics to a BarTender Label ............27

C. Printing from BarTender ..................................................................28

D. Printing from Other Programs .......................................................29

E. Adjusting Print Alignment ..............................................................30

F. Creating a Full Bleed Print ..............................................................32

G. Printer Driver Settings .....................................................................33

Section 5: Printing from a Mac ....................................................................38

A. Printer Utility Settings (Color Label 900 Utility) .........................38

B. Printing from Swift Publisher .........................................................44

C. Printing from Adobe Illustrator .....................................................46

D. Printing from Adobe Acrobat Reader ............................................50

E. Create a Custom Label Size ............................................................52

F. Adjusting Print Alignment ..............................................................53

G. Creating a Full Bleed Print ..............................................................56

Section 6: Troubleshooting and Maintenance ..........................................57

A. Solving Print Alignment Problems ................................................57

B. Solving Print Quality Problems ......................................................59

C. Color Matching and Design Tips ...................................................61

D. Create a Support Report ..................................................................64

E. Cleaning the Printer .........................................................................64

F. Cleaning the Print Head ..................................................................64

G. Replacing the Print Head ................................................................68

H. Interpreting the Printer’s Indicator Lights ...................................71

I. Technical Support .............................................................................71

Section 7: Technical Specifications .............................................................72

Index .................................................................................................................73

Getting Started 1

Section 1: Getting Started

THANK YOU…

...for choosing an LX900 Color Label Printer. The LX900 Printer

will print razor-sharp text and barcodes, vibrant colors, and

even stunning photo-realistic photographs directly onto rolls

of labels, card stock and a variety of other approved media.

This User's Manual is your complete step-by-step guide to

quickly and easily setting up and printing with your new Color

Label Printer!

A. CHOOSING A GOOD LOCATION

 Place the printer on a flat surface in a location with

adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat build up.

 Do not place the printer near heat sources such as radiators

or air ducts, or in a place subject to direct sun light,

excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shock.

 Allow for adequate clearance in front of the printer to

accommodate the printed label stock as it is leaving the

printer to avoid the possibility of binding or jamming of

the label stock.

 Allow for adequate overhead and left side clearance for

opening the top cover to allow easy access to the label

stock and ink cartridge. The Printer will require 9.5 inches

(24 cm) of additional space on the left side to completely

open the cover (Total = 26.75" or 68 cm). The Printer will

require an additional 15.9 inches (40.4 cm) of overhead

space to open the cover (Total = 25" or 63.5 cm).

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2 Getting Started

B. UNPACKING AND INSPECTION

While unpacking your printer, inspect the carton to ensure

that no damage has occurred during shipping. Make sure

that all supplied accessories are included with your unit. The

following items are included in the supply box:

 Power Adapter

 Separate Power Cord

 USB Cable

 Software Installer CD

 Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black Ink Cartridges

 Warranty Statement and Registration Card

 This Manual and other Printed Information

The following items are inside the printer supply roll area:

 Replaceable Print head

 Starter Roll of High Gloss Label Stock

Save the carton and packing materials. They will come in

handy when transporting the printer.

FRAGILE

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C. IDENTIFYING THE PARTS

This illustration shows the front of the printer with its control

buttons and LED indicator lights.

The Pause Button pauses the printer AFTER the printing of the

current label has finished to allow for loading of label stock

and ink cartridge.

The Power LED indicates that the printer is on and ready to

receive print jobs.

The Load/Feed Button is pressed in order to load label stock if

the printer does not automatically detect the stock. When stock

is loaded each press of the button will cause one label to be fed

from the printer.

The Ink Low LED will illuminate when a cartridge has 10% or

less of its ink remaining.

The Unload Button will unload the installed label stock by

reversing it through the printer. Make sure to tear off the

printed labels before pressing the Unload Button.

The Label Tear Bar is a serrated edge for conveniently tearing

your finished labels from the printer. The printer comes with a

white tear bar guard. For smoother label feeding, leave the

guard in place during printing. When you are ready to tear off

a label, remove the guard, tear off the label and replace it.

Getting Started 3

Unload Button

Pause Button

Pause LED

Power LED

Load/Feed

Button

Ink Low LED

Label Tear Bar

Top Cover

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4 Getting Started

This illustration shows the input ports and power switch found

on the rear panel of the printer.

This illustration shows the interior of the printer.

D. COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS

Recommended PC Specifications

For optimal printing speed you must have a PC with the

following recommended specifications:

• Pentium Dual Core Processor

• 2 GB of RAM

• 10 GB of Free Hard Drive Space

Power Input Port

USB Port

Auxilary Port

Power Switch

Sensor Position Adjustment

Roll Arm

Fixed Throat

Guide

Roll Guide

Movable

Throat Guide

Roll Stop

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Label Stock 5

Section 2: Label Stock

A. LABEL AND ROLL SPECIFICATIONS

A wide variety of label stock can be used in the Printer. Refer

to the specifications and settings in the following sections

before ordering custom stock from Primera or any stock from

another company.

Important! Test all custom made label stock with the intended printer before

ordering large quantities! Primera will only assume responsibility for custom

label stock ordered from Primera.

Label Width

Liner Width

Distance from

edge of Media

to edge of Label

Width of Opening

Black Mark

Width

Gap Between

Labels

Label Height

Distance from

edge of Media

Label Sensing Methods

Method 1: Label

Gap Sensing

Method 2: Thru-Hole

Sensing

Method 3: Reflective/Black

Mark Sensing

(Black Mark must be printed

on back side of label stock)

Note: See table below for Max and Min values in inches and mm..

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6 Label Stock

Max Min

Label width 8.25" (209mm) 0.75" (19mm)

Liner/media width 8.375" (212mm) 1.5" (38mm)

Label height/length 17" (431mm) 0.5" (13mm)

Gap between labels 10" (253mm) 0.10 (2.5mm)

Width of thru-hole 0.5" (12.65mm) 0.25" (6.325mm)

opening

Distance from edge of 2.25" (57mm) 0.20" (5.06mm)

media to edge of

thru-hole

Reflective/Black N/A 0.1" (2.54mm)

Mark Width*

Max Outer Diameter (OD) 6.0"(152.4mm) N/A

Inner Core Diameter (ID) 3.0" (76.2mm) 3.0" (76.2mm)

Total Thickness .0010” N/A

(Liner + Label)** (10 mil)

Distance from edge of Printer driver assumes 2 mm gap.

media to edge of label However, this is adjustable via the

left margin offset.

* The Reflective/Black Mark should be opaque to infrared light. The

mark should be between the labels. The end of the mark should

correspond with the beginning of the label.

** This is the recommended maximum. There are two factors that

determine whether the printer will accept any particular stock

thickness.

1. The ability for the printer to pull the paper through the print area.

2. The ability for the sensor to read through the backing if the

sensor is set to die-cut.

If you are printing in continuous or reflective label sensing mode

number 2 does not apply. The fact that the printer must read through

the backing in die-cut mode will limit the thickness much more than

the printers ability to pull the paper through the print area. However,

if you adjust opacity level of the liner enough to allow the label to be

seen by the stock sensor, the thickness will only be limited by the

printers ability to pull it through the printer area. For these reasons

the weight or thickness of the liner is a variable that can not easily be

defined. Primera recommends and uses 40# liner with all label stock.

It is important to test all label stock with the intended printer before

ordering large quantities!

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Label Stock 7

Roll Specifications

Note on Label Orientation: If you are using an applicator

to apply your labels, be sure to order label stock with the correct

orientation for your applicator. For example most applicators will

apply the side of the label first, so you will want to print the labels

sideways.

Label Side Out

Core I.D.

Core O.D.

Roll O.D.

3” 6”

Label Stock

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8 Label Stock

B. INSTALLING LABEL STOCK

The following steps will guide you through loading label stock

in your printer:

Make sure power is connected and printer is on.

1. Open the Top Cover.

2. Lower the Roll Guide and pull it outward to make room

for your label stock.

Lift Here

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Label Stock 9

3. Remove any shipping tape from your label stock roll to

ensure that it can unroll freely, making certain that no

adhesive portion is exposed. It is important to note that

any exposed adhesive surface can attach itself the inner

workings of the print mechanism and cause a media jam.

4. Place your roll of label stock on the Roll Arm and push it

inward until it touches the Roll Stop.

5. Flip up the Roll Guide and slide it inward until it touches

the label stock. The Roll Guide will automatically pull back

slightly to the correct position. There should be

approximately a 1mm gap between the roll guide and the

roll.

Important Note: Be aware that some label stock may have a core that

is slightly too large for the roll or the labels may have wrapped

unevenly causing some to stick out beyond the edge of the core.

Both of these issues can cause feeding problems.

DO NOT PINCH

Roll Guide

Roll Arm

Roll Stop

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10 Label Stock

6. Pull the Movable Throat Guide outward to make room for

the label stock.

7. Place the leading edge of the label stock under

the "label stock" symbols on the Throat Guides.

The label stock should be placed far enough into the throat

of the printer to correctly position the Movable Throat

Guide but not yet into the printer itself.

8. Slide the Movable Throat Guide inward until it almost

touches the label stock.

Important Note: The label stock should be close enough to the Fixed and

Movable Thoat Guides to provide proper guidance but not close

enough to pinch the label stock. (0-1 mm gap on either side)

If the label stock is pinched by the guides, poor print quality or

feeding problems could result.

9. Feed the label stock further into the printer until it senses

the label and automatically feeds it through the printer. If

the printer fails to feed the label stock, press the Load/

Feed button on the front panel while continuing to guide

the label stock into the printer. If the printer does not

automatically grab and feed the stock or continues to feed

the stock without stopping check the Stock Sensor position

or mode (Section 2C or 2D).

DO NOT PINCH

Fixed Throat Guide

Movable Throat Guide

Label Stock

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Label Stock 11

C. ADJUSTING THE LABEL STOCK TOF (TOP OF FORM)

SENSOR

If you are using label stock other than standard square /

rectangular diecut labels such as circular die-cut labels or

through-hole stock use the instructions below to adjust the

position of the label stock sensor. The sensor can be adjusted

using the slide bar on the inside of the printer. Below the slide

bar is a measurement which represents the distance between

the edge of the label stock and the sensor. Measure the

distance from the edge of the label stock to the correct position

on the stock. Set the sensor to this measurement.

Important Note: You must adjust the Stock Sensor before loading

nonstandard label stock.

Circular Labels

If you are using Circular Labels you must adjust the Stock

sensor to correspond with the very top of the label where the

circles are closest together. If the sensor is too far to the right or

the left the printer will still sense the label but the image may

be offset downward because the printer will start printing at

the wrong position. If you are using stock that has multiple

labels across make sure the sensor corresponds to a place on

the stock that has a label and not a vertical gap.

0.5

1.0 1.5

2.0

12.7

25.4 38.1

50.8

in.

Label Stock Sensor Slide

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12 Label Stock

The sensor can only be moved a maximum of 2.3 inches

from the left side of the printable area. This means that the

maximum diameter circular label that can be printed is 4.6

inches. For circular labels larger than 4.6 inches in diameter,

you must have a black mark printed on the back of the label

stock. This means that you must change the Stock Sensor Mode

to Reflective. The printer will now look for the black mark

representing the beginning of the next label instead of the

diecut. For more information on changing the Stock Sensor

Mode see Section 2D.

Through-Hole Labels

If you are using card stock or label stock that has a hole punch

or a notch to identify a transition from backing to label, you

can adjust the Stock Sensor to position it over the identifying

mark.

D. SET THE STOCK SENSOR MODE

The stock sensor mode refers to the method the printer will use

to detect the print starting position for each label. To adjust the

stock sensor mode, open the PTStatus program. PTStatus

automatically installs with your printer driver and can be

accessed through the printer driver or as program that is

accessible in the same manner as all other programs.

Important Note: Set the Stock Sensor Mode BEFORE loading label stock!

Center

of Circle

1 1/8”

1/2”

Center

of Hole

Through-Hole Labels Circular Labels

Set Sensor Bar to 1 1/8" for 2" circular label (1/8" liner edge gap).

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Label Stock 13

1. Connect the printer via USB and turn on the power. The

Stock Sensor Mode setting is stored on printer main board

so you will not be able to access it unless the printer is

turned on and properly communicating with the computer.

2. Go to Start - Programs - Primera Technology - PTStatus.

3. Click on the Alignment Tab (3rd tab from top).

4. Click on the Stock Sensor Mode button.

5. Select the Stock Sensor Mode by clicking on the graphic

that most closely corresponds to the stock you intend to

install.

There are three sensor modes:

Die Cut (Default). If you are using standard die-cut labels that

look similar to the graphic use this setting regardless of the

size of the label. Also, use this setting for Through-hole label

material where a hole is punched through each label or a notch

is cut in the side.

Reflective. Use Reflective for label material where a black

pre-printed line (black mark) on the back of the label stock

indicates the break between labels. Black marks are required

on clear label stock rolls, or label where the label waste matrix

(waste) is left on the liner. Black marks can also be used for

irregular shaped labels, circles larger than 4.6 inches or on any

stock where the print starting position can not be sensed using

the label itself.

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14 Label Stock

Continuous. (Sensor off) If you have continuous stock with no

die-cut, reflective mark or holes, set the sensor type to

Continuous. This will turn off the stock sensor. In this mode

there is no way to set the print starting position. The printer

will simply start printing the first label and print each

subsequent label immediately after that previous one. To

produce a gap between prints simply add the desired amount

of white space to the end of the label being printed.

Important Note: You must also set the Stock Sensor Position (Section 2C)

so that the sensor is sensing the correct point on the label stock.

E: SET THE OUTPUT MODE

Toggle the Output Mode to set whether or not the last label

printed will be presented or left inside the printer. To adjust

the output mode, open the PTStatus program. PTStatus

automatically installs with your printer driver and can be

accessed through the printer driver or as program that is

accessible in the same manner as all other programs.

1. Connect the printer via USB and turn on the power. The

Output Mode Setting is stored on printer main board so

you will not be able to access it unless the printer is turned

on and properly communicating with the computer.

2. Go to Start - Programs - Primera Technology - PTStatus.

3. Click on the Alignment Tab (3rd tab from top).

4. Click on the Output Mode button.

5. Select the Output Mode by clicking on the corresponding

graphic.

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Label Stock 15

There are two different output modes:

Present labels - Yes (Default). This setting will cause the

printer to feed the last label printed forward so that it and the

previously printed labels can be torn off using the tear bar. If

no other jobs are sent to the printer within one second after the

last label has printed, the last printed label will present for tear

off.

Present labels - No (Use with Rewinder). In this mode the

label stock does not move after the last label is printed. This

means that part of the last label printed is still in the printer.

This should be used only if you have a label rewinder attached.

To retrieve the final label you must press the Load/Feed button

on the printer control panel.

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16 Status Monitor (PTStatus)

Section 3: Status Monitor (PTStatus)

PTStatus or Status Monitor is used to interact with the printer

for gathering ink levels, maintenance, alignment, cost

calculation and several other functions.

PTStatus automatically installs with your printer driver and

can be accessed through the printer driver preferences or as a

program on your Windows start menu.

1. Connect the printer via USB and turn on the power. The

Status Monitor accesses most of the information it uses

from the printer itself so the printer must be turned on and

communicating for the program to open.

2. Go to Start - Programs - Primera Technology - PTPStatus

Once open, the Status Monitor consist of four tabs that are

arranged on the left side of the window. Each tab opens a

screen that has various similar functions. The tabs will only

be displayed if the printer is idle (not printing).

 Ink Tab (First Tab). Displays ink levels, Print head life,

pauses or cancels a job, displays print counter.

 Cartridge Utilities Tab (Second Tab). Aligns Print Head,

Cleans Print Head and Changes the Cartridges.

 Alignment Tab (Third Tab). Adjust vertical and

horizontal print alignment, Changes the Stock Sensor

Mode and toggles the Output Mode.

 Cost Tab (Fourth Tab). Calculates cost per label based

on last label printed.

In addition to these functions you can also click the "i" icon

to access the Primera Knowledgebase, contact tech support,

gather version information or set applications options.

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Status Monitor (PTStatus) 17

A: MONITORING INK LEVELS

Ink levels can be monitored at any time by using the Status

Monitor. Immediately after printing starts the Status Monitor

will display the ink levels in the lower right corner of your

screen.

The print status will also be displayed on the top bar. At any

time you may click the double up arrows to expand the

window to standard mode. Click the double down arrows to

revert to the smaller mode.

In the standard mode, the ink percentages and print head life

will be displayed, along with four tabs and the Print Counter.

The tabs will only be displayed if the printer is idle (not

printing).

Note: If you are using multiple printers, an instance of the Status Monitor

will open for each printer. If the Status Monitor is in small mode,

each instance will automatically tile justified to the bottom right

portion of the screen. The title of each instance will correspond to

the printer name as shown in the Windows printer list.

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18 Status Monitor (PTStatus)

B. PRINT HEAD LIFE GAUGE

Print Head life remaining is displayed in the status monitor.

Hover your mouse over the icon to display more information.

Print Head Life is calculated by tracking the number of

cartridges used in the print head. A print head is considered to

be at zero life remaining after 26 black or 32 combined color

cartridges. Print heads may still be used after there is zero life

remaining. However, it could fail at any moment. Therefore, it

is recommended that users purchase a back up print head at

approximately 10% life remaining.

Note: If the print head life indicator is not displayed click the refresh button

next to the Magenta ink display.

C. USING THE COST ESTIMATOR

The cost estimator is found on the last tab of the Status

Monitor. The Status Monitor automatically opens as soon as

you begin printing. However, you can also access it at any

time as long as the printer is turned on and communicating by

going to Start - Programs - Primera Technology - PTStatus.

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Status Monitor (PTStatus) 19

Ink cost is automatically and continuously calculated based

on the black and color cartridge costs entered. Only the last

printed label cost is displayed. For reference, the print file and

date of last print is displayed at the top of the window.

 Adjust the cartridge costs according to the actual price paid

for them. The estimate does not take currency into account

so you can assume that whatever value you entered is

displayed in your currency.

 Save a screen capture of the cost by clicking the disk icon.

 Print a screen capture of the cost by clicking the printer

icon.

Important Note: The cost per label represents the average cost per label

over an entire run of labels. This means that the per label cost will

decrease and become more accurate as the number of labels printed

increases. This is because the ink that is used for beginning and

periodic cartridge maintenance is divided into a larger number

of labels.

D. REPLACING INK CARTRIDGES / LOW INK WARNING

You can replace cartridges at any time or wait for the Low Ink

Warning to prompt you to replace cartridges. Low Ink

Warnings occur at the following levels:

 10% - If any cartridge is lower than 10% at the beginning of

a job you will be prompted to change that cartridge. At

this point you can change or ignore.

 0% - If any cartridge reaches 0% during a job you will be

prompted to change that cartridge. At this point you can

change or ignore. Under normal circumstances this will be

your first warning. The 10% warning is only triggered at

the start of a job.

 -10% - If at any point any cartridge is -10% you will be

prompted to change that cartridge. You must change the

cartridge to continue.

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20 Status Monitor (PTStatus)

To change a cartridge, follow this procedure:

1. Press Pause and Load/Feed simultaneously -OR- click the

Change Cartridge button on the second tab of the Status

Monitor. The head carriage will move to the center of the

print area for easy access.

2. Remove the cartridge by pressing the corresponding

colored tab on the back of the print head. The cartridge

will pop up slightly.

3. Remove the cartridge.

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Status Monitor (PTStatus) 21

4. Locate a new cartridge and remove it from its packaging.

Remove the foil outer package and the clear plastic shrink

wrap. Also remove the cartridge cap.

Note: If you opened a cartridge but are not currently using it you can

store the cartridge in the plastic cap shown above to prevent it from

drying out.

5. Place the new cartridge into its corresponding colored slot.

Press down near the back of the cartridge until it clicks

into position.

Important Note: Make sure the cartridge is securely in place. An

improperly positioned cartridge will cause no ink of that color

to be printed.

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22 Printing from a PC

Section 4: Printing from a PC

A. USING BARTENDER®

Primera Special Edition BarTender UltraLite is included with

the LX900. Other programs can be used to print. If printing

from other programs please follow the guidelines in Section

4D.

When you open BarTender you will be given the choice to

select an existing label or create a new one using a wizard. Use

the following instructions as a guide through the wizard setup

process.

1. Choose "Start a new BarTender document..."

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Printing from a PC 23

2. Select "Blank Template". Click "Next".

3. Select "Color Label 900". Click "Next".

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24 Printing from a PC

4. Select "Specify Custom Settings". Click "Next".

5. Set the page size, width and height to match labels

installed in the printer. Click "Next".

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Printing from a PC 25

6. Check the "Picture" box to add a background photo or

graphic to your label. Click "Next". If you click "Finish",

the remaining default wizard options will be set and no

picture will be added.

7. Select "Embedded Picture". Click the "File" Button to

browse to the location of your photo/graphic file. Set the

Size Method to "Stretch". Note the preview to the right.

Click "Next" if you are satisfied with the layout of the

photo or graphic.

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26 Printing from a PC

8. Review the label setup summary. If it is correct, click

"Finish". Your blank label will be displayed.

You can edit any of these settings by going to the File Menu

and selecting "Page Setup". Basic and advanced settings are

available on the various tabs.

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B. ADD TEXT, BARCODES AND GRAPHICS TO A

BARTENDER LABEL

Once you have created your label size you will need to add

text, a barcode and/or graphics. This can be done using one of

buttons on the button bar at the top of the screen.

Tip! Double-click any object to open settings for that object.

Tip! Go to the Help menu to access the BarTender Manual and Tutorials.

Add Graphic. Click the Image

button. Now click anywhere on

your label. An Image icon will

appear. Double-click it to open

up image settings and browse to

the image/graphic that you

would like to insert.

Add Barcode. Click the Barcode

button. Now click anywhere on

your label. A barcode settings

window will appear. Here you can

choose any type of barcode and

enter the value.

Lines. Click the Line button to

add a horizontal or vertical line.

Print. Click the Print button to

start printing.

Page Setup. Click the Page Setup

button to change your label size,

adjust corner radius or change the

shape.

Add Text. Click the Text button.

Now click anywhere on your label.

"Sample Text" will appear. Edit the

text on screen or double click it to

open up text settings to change

font, size and other settings.

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C. PRINTING FROM BARTENDER

1. To print, click the Print button or go to the File

Menu and select "Print". The Print Dialog window will

appear.

2. Select the Color Label 900.

3. Set the number of copies.

4. Click "Print".

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D. PRINTING FROM OTHER PROGRAMS

Since this printer uses a standard Windows printer driver you

can print from any application you would like. There are just a

few things to remember that will make it much easier.

1. Set the Page/Label Size in the Driver. BarTender

automatically prompts you for the size of the label that you

are using. When printing from any other program you

must do this manually. Before you print, simply set the

custom page size just as you would set print quality in the

printing preferences. In the example below the label size is

4" x 4" so the custom page size is set to 400 x 400

(displayed in .01 inch units).

2. Check the image or document size. The image size or

document size should correspond to the Page/Label Size

set in the driver. If you have set your page size to 4" x 4"

but you image is actually 5" x 3" the printer driver will

automatically shrink your image to fit inside the 4" x 4"

label. The result is that the actual printed label is 4" x 2.4".

Avoid this by setting your page size or image size to match

the label size.

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30 Printing from a PC

3. Choose the right printing program. There are many

different applications that are capable of printing to the

LX900. However there are only a few that are ideal

printing applications. For example, Adobe Illustrator is

an excellent design program but is not always the best

printing program. It can be difficult to find the printing

preferences or to know the exact size of the art board. It is

best to save as a PDF file and print from Adobe Reader or

export as a 300 dpi JPG and print from BarTender.

E. ADJUSTING PRINT ALIGNMENT

If your previous experience with printing is limited to printing

letters and cards to 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper you probably are

not familiar with an essential part of a label printing - Print

Alignment. Standard printers feed a sheet and start printing

based on the start of the sheet. They also prohibit printing to

the edge of the sheet. This is to avoid any need for alignment.

The LX900 senses the beginning of the label with an optical

sensor and is capable of printing to top, bottom, left and right

edge. Because of this it is necessary to align the printer to

work with specific types of label stock.

The LX900 comes factory calibrated to print exactly to the edge

of Primera label stock. However, due to variations in the left

margins and other variables it may be necessary to fine tune

these settings at the beginning of each roll. This is especially

true for other non-Primera brand label stock.

Important Note: Before adjusting alignment settings first print one label at

the quality level you intend for the entire job. This will ensure the

label stock is moving at the same speed and the stock sensor will sense

the gap in the same way.

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Adjust print alignment using the Status Monitor. Go to the

Alignment Tab (third tab).

Three items can be adjusted here:

 Tear off Position. This value adjusts the position of the last

label printed after it has been presented for tear off. This

only applies if the output mode is set to "Present the label."

Add to the current value to move the tear point closer to

the printer. Subtract from the current value to move the

tear point away from the printer. After adjusting the value

click the "Set" button to send the value to the printer.

 Left Margin Offset. This value moves the printed label

left or right. Add to the current value to move the printed

label to the right. Subtract from the current value to move

the printed label to the left. After adjusting the value, click

the “Set” button to send the value to the printer. Note:

Before adjusting this value make sure the label stock is

properly loaded so that there is no gap between the edge

of the liner and the fixed throat guide. Any gap at this

point will greatly affect the Left margin offset value

needed to align the label. Also, if you adjust the value

with improperly loaded label stock you will have to adjust

it again if you load the label stock correctly the next time.

 Top of Form (TOF). This value moves the print start

position up or down on the label. Add to the current value

to move the printed label down or toward the printer.

Subtract from the current value to move the printed label

up or away from the printer. After adjusting the value click

the “Set” button to send the value to the printer.

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32 Printing from a PC

You may have to make several

adjustments to one or more of

these values. After each

adjustment you can click the Test

button to print a small test

pattern on the label. This will

help you find the proper

alignment value.

F. CREATING A FULL BLEED PRINT

1. If you are having trouble making the image cover the

entire label, first make sure the image is printing at least as

big as the label size you have selected. To accomplish this

using BarTender, make the image a few millimeters larger

than the label by dragging the image over the edge of the

label on all sides. The bounding box around the image will

turn red when it is over the edge of the label. Try printing

again to see if it covers the entire label. If not, move on to

step two.

2. Adjust these settings in the printer driver preferences to

create a .05" (1.2mm) over bleed.

Page Size. Increase the page size width in the driver

preferences by .1 inches. Increase the height by .1 inches.

If you are using BarTender, simply change the size under

the File Menu - Label Setup. Increase the size of the image

to fit the new larger page size. If you are using other

graphics programs you will need to change the page size

in the application and in the printer driver preferences.

Left Margin Offset. You must decrease the left margin

offset to center the over bleed on the label. If you over

bleed by .05" you will need to decrease the Left Margin

Offset by 12. This will center the page size increase so there

is a .05 inch over bleed on both left and right sides.

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TOF. Decrease the Top of form by 10. This will cause the

printer to start printing before the label and ensure a fully

printed label.

Note: It is best to over bleed as little as possible to avoid excess ink on the

label backing. Also, over bleeding too much will cause the printer to

skip labels. This is because the printer stops printing too late to sense

the next label.

G. PRINTER DRIVER SETTINGS

Once the printer driver has been successfully installed, you will

need to setup the driver with the appropriate print options.

Refer to the following steps to change or verify your default

printer driver preferences. These settings will apply to all new

designs created in BarTender or other programs after the

preferences were changed. Existing labels saved in BarTender

will not be affected since the preferences are saved with the

label. To change these preferences you will have to change

printer preferences through BarTender. (File Menu - Printer

Settings)

Actual Label Stock

Size = 2” x 2”

Over Bleed Page Size

2.1” x 2.1” (.1 Inch)

Decrease TOF by 10

Decrease Left Margin

Offset by 12

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34 Printing from a PC

To find Driver Settings:

Click the Start button, choose Printers and Faxes (XP), Printers

(Vista), Devices and Printers (Windows 7). Right-click on the

Color Label 900 Icon and select Printing Preferences from the

drop-down menu.

The preferences screen will appear.

Note on PC Settings:

Most applications allow you to change these same printer driver

options from their "Print" and/or "Printer Setup" screens. Some

applications such as BarTender save your settings with the label,

others use settings only for the current print job just sent to the

printer.

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Paper Size

If you are using BarTender, this setting is adjusted during the

label setup wizard. If you are using a program other than

BarTender you will need to set this to the dimensions of your

label. Keep in mind that the dimensions are always relative

to the width and height of the actual label in the printer.

Orientation of an image on the label should not change this

setting. See Section 2A for minimum and maximum label sizes.

Orientation

There are two settings for orientation, Portrait and Landscape.

If your text and graphics print left to right or as shown on the

screen, select portrait . If you wish your printing to rotate 90

degrees from what you see on the screen so it is printing

horizontally, select landscape as your orientation. Remember,

this does not change the width and height Paper Size. It is

only a tool for viewing a label upright on screen that will be

printed sideways on the printer.

Portrait Landscape

Print Quality

There are 4 levels of print quality in the driver. The lower the

Quality, the faster the print. Quality 1 provides the fastest

print available while Quality 4 provides the best quality. It is

recommended that you experiment with the different levels

when designing your label to find a good balance between

print quality and print speed. Quality 2 is the default.

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Ink Cartridge

Color + Black is best for images that have large areas of black

graphics or text. Although you can print these same images

with just the color cartridge, often the blacks will look darker

with this setting.

Color is the default setting and is best for most images. With

this setting the printer only uses the color cartridge to produce

all colors including gray scale black and white images.

Monochrome Black is for images that have large black areas or

black text. This will ensure that no color ink is being used. In

some cases printing JPG files using Color + Black for an image

that is all black will still cause some color ink to be used.

Monochrome Black is not recommended for gray scale images

such as a black and white picture. The ink spits of a black

cartridge are not as small as the color cartridge. This allows for

faster black printing but at a lower dpi. Using just the black

cartridges for such images may result in a grainy image.

Media Type

There are multiple media type options which correspond with

the various types of label stock sold by Primera. Match this

setting to the media installed in the printer to achieve the

closest color match to the screen. Each of these settings

employs a slightly different color table developed specifically

for the media type listed.

If the printed output is not matching the color on screen,

regardless of what media you have installed you can adjust

this setting to change the color output. You can experiment

with this setting and the color matching setting to adjust the

color of the printed image.

Color Matching

Best for Graphics mode is best used for graphical images

where accurate color reproduction is not as essential. Images

printed in this mode will look more vibrant because more ink

is being used to produce them. However, printing images of

people may produce skin tones that have a reddish tint.

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Best for Photos mode is best used for photographic images

where accurate color reproduction is very essential. Images

printed in this mode will look lighter than those printed in

Photo mode. Skin tones especially will look more natural in

this mode.

Note: Exact color matching of the printed labels to the screen may never

be possible since there are factors that affect this out of the drivers

control. The surface of the label reacts with the ink in the cartridge to

produce the color. For this reason, when printing the same image to

different types of labels with different surfaces the printed output can

look entirely different.

Ink Saturation

This option controls the amount of ink used when printing an

image. The default setting is 100%, which will provide the

most accurate color matching. If the ink is not drying fast

enough or "bleeding", you can decrease the Ink Saturation to

lessen the amount of ink that is applied to the label.

Enable Bi-di Printing

This setting defaults to “Yes” for fastest bidirectional printing.

Stock Sensor Mode

Click this setting to open the Status Monitor. See Section 2D

Output Mode

Click this setting to open the Status Monitor. See Section 2E

Print Alignment

Click this setting to open the Status Monitor. See Section 4D

Cartridge Maintenance

Click this setting to Align the Print Head, Clean the Print Head

or Change a Cartridge. This setting opens the Status Monitor.

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Section 5: Printing from a Mac

A. PRINTER UTILITY SETTINGS (COLOR LABEL 900

UTILITY)

The Color Label 900 Utility is used to interact with the printer

for gathering ink levels, maintenance, alignment, cost

calculation and several other functions.

Once the printer driver has been successfully installed, you

will need to set up the driver with the appropriate print

options. Refer to the following steps to change or verify your

default printer driver preferences. These settings will apply to

all labels printed through your Mac programs.

To Find Color Label 900 Utility:

Color Label 900 Utility automatically installs with your printer

driver and can be accessed through the Printer Setup in Mac

under Apple Icon – System Preferences - Print and Fax (Mac

10.5 and 10.6), Print and Scan (Mac 10.7 and 10.8), Setup, and

Utility.

1. Connect the printer via USB and turn on the power. The

Color Label 900 Utility accesses most of the information it

uses from the printer itself so the printer must be turned

on and communicating for the program to open.

2. Go to the Apple Icon – System Preferences - Print and Fax

(Mac 10.5 and 10.6), Print and Scan (Mac 10.7 and 10.8),

Setup, and Utility. Once open, the Color Label 900 Utility

has 4 tabs that are arranged on the top of the window.

Each tab opens a screen that has various similar functions.

- Cartridges Tab (First Tab). Displays utilizes for aligning

the print head, cleaning the print head, and changing

cartridges.

- Alignment Tab (Second Tab). Adjusts vertical and

horizontal print alignment. Changes the Stock Sensor

Mode and toggles the Output Mode.

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Printing from a Mac 39

- Cost Tab (Third Tab). Calculates cost per label based on

last label printed.

- Info Tab (Fourth Tab). Displays Printer Information

including firmware version, driver version, total prints,

and the default Saturation level for all labels printed.

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40 Printing from a Mac

Set the Stock Sensor Mode

The stock sensor mode refers to the method the printer will

use to detect the print starting position for each label. To access

the Stock Sensor Mode, click on the Alignment button, then

select Stock Sensor Mode.

Important Note: Set the Stock Sensor Mode BEFORE loading label stock!

You must also set the Stock Sensor Position (Section 2C) so that the

sensor is sensing the correct point on the label stock.

Die Cut (Default). If you are using standard die-cut labels that

look similar to the graphic use this setting regardless of the

size of the label. Also, use this setting for through-hole label

material where a hold is punched through each label or a

notch is cut on the side.

Reflective. Use Reflective for label material where a black pre-

printed line (black mark) on the back of the label stock

indicated the break between labels. Black marks are required

on clear label stock rolls, or labels where the label waste matrix

(waste) is left on the liner. Black marks can also be used for

irregular shaped labels, circles larger than 4.6 inches or on any

stock where the print starting position can not be sensed using

the label itself.

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Continuous. (Sensor off.) If you have continuous stock with no

die-cut, reflective mark or holes, set the Sensor Type to

Continuous. This will turn off the stock sensor. In this mode

there is no way to set the print starting position. The printer

will simply start printing the first label and print each

subsequent label immediately after the previous. To produce a

gap between prints simply add the desired amount of white

space to the end of the label being printed.

Set the Output Mode

Toggle the Output mode to set whether or not the last label

printed will be presented or left inside the printer. To adjust the

Output Mode, open the Printer Utility by going to Apple Icon –

System Preferences – Print and Fax (Mac 10.5 and 10.6), Print

and Scan (Mac 10.7 and 10.8). Click on the Color Label 900 and

Select Open Print Queue. Select Setup – Utility – Open Utility.

Select Alignment – Output Mode. Select the Output Mode by

clicking on the corresponding graphic.

Present Labels – Yes (Default). This setting will cause the

printer to feed the last labels printed forward so that it and the

previous printed labels can be torn off using the tear bar. If no

other jobs are sent to the printer within one second after the

last label has printed, the last printed label will present for tear

off.

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42 Printing from a Mac

Present Labels – No (Use with Rewinder). In this mode the

label stock does not move after the last label is printed. This

means that part of the last label printed is still in the printer.

This should be used only if you have a label Rewinder

attached. To retrieve the final label you must press the Load/

Feed button on the printer control panel.

Set Ink Saturation

This option controls the amount of ink used when printing an

image. The default is 100%, which will provide the most

accurate color matching. If the ink is not drying fast enough or

is bleeding you can decrease the Ink Saturation to lessen the

amount of ink that is applied to the label. To locate the Ink

Saturation setting, click on Info in the Color Label 900 Utility.

To change the saturation level, enter the desired value and then

click Set.

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Using the Cost Estimator

The Cost Estimator is found under the Cost tab in the Color

Label 900 Utility.

Ink cost is automatically and continuously calculated based on

the black and color cartridge costs entered. Only the last

printed label cost is displayed. For reference, the print file

name and number of labels in the run is displayed at the top of

the window. Adjust the cartridge costs according to the actual

price paid for them. The estimate does not take currency into

account so you can assume that whatever value you entered is

displayed in your currency.

Important Note: The cost per label represents the average cost label over an

entire run of labels. This means that the per label cost will decrease

and become more accurate as the number of labels printed increases.

This is because the ink that is used for beginning and periodic

cartridge maintenance is divided into a larger number of labels.

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B. PRINTING FROM SWIFT PUBLISHER

1. Set the Page/Label size in the Program. Swift Publisher

will always make a new blank template without prompting

for a paper size. Select File – New for a new document.

Before you start designing your label simply set the

custom page size in the upper right hand corner to the size

of the label stock installed in the LX900. Also make sure to

set the Document Margins to ‘0’.

2. Set the Paper Size in the Print Options. Once your

document is created and ready to print go to File – Print.

The following screen will appear. Before doing anything

else, click the Page Setup button and set the paper size for

the printer. This should correspond to the label size

installed in your printer. If your label size is not listed you

will need to create a custom page size. See instructions in

the next step.

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Printing from a Mac 45

3A. Create a Custom Page Size (Optional). When your

document is done and you are ready to print go to File –

Print. If the paper size you need to print to is not already

in the drop down menu options select Manage Custom

Sizes.

3B. Add a New Custom Paper Size. Click the plus (+) button

to add a new custom paper size. Enter the size on the right.

Be sure to adjust the top, bottom, left and right margins to

0. Change the name from "untitled" to the size of your cus-

tom page (W x H). When you have finished adding your

new custom page size, this size will appear in your drop

down menu options for paper size on future print jobs.

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46 Printing from a Mac

4. Set the Print Quality Settings. After selecting your paper

size, select Printer Features from the drop down selection.

Change your printer settings to the desired quality.

When you have finished adding your page size and selecting

your print quality settings, press Print.

C. PRINTING FROM ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR

1. Set the Page/Label size in the Program. Create your

document using the File – New command. Set your width

and height to correspond with the label stock installed in

the LX900. Also be sure to set the bleed size to ‘0’ for Top,

Bottom, Left, and Right.

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Printing from a Mac 47

2. Set the Paper Size in the Print Options. Once your

document is created and ready to print go to File – Print.

The following screen will appear. Before doing anything

else, click the Page Setup button and set the paper size for

the printer. This should correspond to the label size

installed in your printer. If your label size is not listed you

will need to create a custom page size. See instructions in

the next step.

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3A. Create a Custom Page Size (Optional). If the paper size

you need to print to is not already in the drop down menu

options select Manage Custom Sizes.

3B. Add a New Custom Paper Size. Click the plus (+) button to

add a new custom paper size. Enter the size on the right. Be

sure to adjust the top, bottom, left and right margins to 0.

Change the name from "untitled" to the size of your custom

page (W x H). When you have finished adding your new

custom page size, this size will appear in your drop down

menu options for paper size on future print jobs.

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Printing from a Mac 49

4. Set the Print Quality Settings. After selecting your paper

size, click the Printer button to change the print quality

settings for this print.

Select Label Printer Settings from the drop down selection.

Change your printer settings to the desired quality.

When you have finished adding your page size and

selecting your print quality settings, press Print.

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D. PRINTING FROM ADOBE ACROBAT READER

1. Set the Page/Label size in the Program. Open up your

.pdf file and select File – Page Setup. Select your paper size

from the Paper Size drop down menu. This should

correspond to the label size installed in your printer. If

your label size is not listed you will need to create a

custom page size. See instructions in the next step.

2A. Create a Custom Page Size (Optional). If the paper size

you need to print to is not already in the drop down menu

options select Manage Custom Sizes.

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Printing from a Mac 51

2B. Add a New Custom Paper Size. Click the plus (+) button

to add a new custom paper size. Enter the size on the right.

Be sure to adjust the top, bottom, left and right margins

to 0. Change the name from "untitled" to the size of your

custom page (W x H).

3. Set the Print Quality Settings. After selecting your paper

size, click File - Print. Click Copies and Pages on the print

preview screen.

A drop down menu will appear. Click Printer Features.

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52 Printing from a Mac

Change your printer settings to the desired quality.

Click Print.

E. CREATE A CUSTOM LABEL SIZE

1. Create a Custom Page Size. Open the program you would

like to print from and select File – Page Setup. Using the

Paper Size drop down menu select Manage Custom Sizes.

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Printing from a Mac 53

2. Add a New Custom Paper Size. Click the plus (+) button to

add a new custom paper size. Enter the size on the right.

Be sure to adjust the top, bottom, left and right margins to

0. Change the name from "untitled" to the size of your

custom page (W x H).

F. ADJUSTING PRINT ALIGNMENT

If your previous experience with printing is limited to printing

letters and cards to 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper you probably are

not familiar with an essential part of label printing – Print

Alignment. Standard printers feed a sheet and start printing

based on the start of the sheet. They also prohibit printing to

the edge of the sheet. This is to avoid any need for alignment.

The LX900 senses the beginning of the label with an optical

edge. Because of this it is necessary to align the printer to work

with specific types of label stock.

The LX900 comes from the factory calibrated to print exactly to

the edge of Primera label stock. However, due to variables it

may be necessary to fine tune these settings at the beginning of

each roll. This is especially true for other non-Primera brand

label stock.

Important Note: Before adjusting alignment settings first print one label at

the quality level you intend for the entire print job. This will ensure

the label stock is moving at the same speed and the stock sensor will

sense the gap in the same way.

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54 Printing from a Mac

1. Adjust print alignment using the Color Label 900 Utility.

Go to Apple Icon – System Preferences – Print and Scan.

Select the Primera Color Label 900 and select Open Print

Queue.

2. Select Setup – Utility – Open Printer Utility.

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Printing from a Mac 55

Adjust print alignment using the Color Label 900 Utility.

Go to Alignment – Print Alignment.

Three items can be adjusted here:

* Tear off Position. This value adjusts the position of the last

label printed after it has been presented for tear off. This

only applies if the output mode is set to “Present.” Add to

the current value to move the tear point closer to the

printer. Subtract from the current value to move the tear

point away from the printer. After adjusting the value click

the Set Offsets button to send the value to the printer.

* Left Margin Offset. This value moves the printed label left

or right. Add to the current value to move the printed label

to the right. Subtract from the current value to move the

printed label to the left. After adjusting the value, click the

Set Offsets button to send the value to the printer. Note:

Before adjusting this value make sure the label stock is

properly loaded so that there is no gap between the edge of

the liner and the fixed throat guide. Any gap at this point

will greatly affect the Left Margin Offset value needed to

align the label. Also, if you adjust the value with

improperly loaded label stock you will have to adjust it

again if you load the label stock correctly the next time.

* Top of Form (TOF). This value moves the print start

position up or down on the label. Add to the current value

to move the printed label down or toward the printer.

Subtract from the current value to move the printed label

up or away from the printer. After adjusting the value click

the Set Offsets button to send the value to the printer.

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56 Printing from a Mac

You may have to make several adjustments to one or more of

these values. After each adjustment you can click the Test

Offsets button to print a small test pattern on the label. This

will help you find the proper alignment value.

G. CREATING A FULL BLEED PRINT

1. If you are having trouble making the image cover the

entire label, first make sure the image is printing at least as

big as the label size you have selected. Increase the selected

page size by .05 inches on the width and .05 inches on the

height to create an over bleed. Make sure under scaling

options to select ‘Fit to Page’ in the print dialogue box if

printing from Illustrator.

Left Margin Offset. You must decrease the Left Margin

Offset to center the over bleed on the label. If you over

bleed by .05 inches, you will need to decrease the Left

Margin Offset by 12. This will center the page size increase

so there is a .05 inch over bleed on both the left and right

sides.

TOF. Decrease the Top Of Form by 10. This is cause the

printer to start printing before the label and ensure a fully

printed label.

Note: It is best to over bleed as little as possible to avoid excess ink on the

label backing. Also, over bleeding too much will cause the printer to

skip labels. This is because the printer sops printing too late to sense

the next label.

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 57

Section 6: Troubleshooting and

Maintenance

A. SOLVING PRINT ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS

Image is Vertically Offset

The LX900 decides where to start printing by detecting the

start of die-cut label, detecting a black mark on the back or

detecting a thru-hole that corresponds to the start of the label.

The following items can cause the label sensor to improperly

detect the start of a label:

1. Top of Form (TOF). TOF stands for Top of Form and this

setting allows you to fine tune the alignment of your

printing on your label stock. This will be factory

calibrated. If fine tuning is needed, increase this setting to

move the image down on the label; decrease this setting to

move the image up on the label. The unit of measure is

0.1mm. This setting is found on the Alignment Tab of the

PTStatus Monitor.

2. Nonstandard / Non-translucent Backing Material. Test the

unit with the label sample material that came with the

unit. If it prints correctly, your label stock may not be

compatible. The label sensor needs to see the difference

between a label and a backing material by seeing through

the label stock for light variations. If it can not see through

the label, problems will arise. If you must use this type of

backing, try label stock that has a black mark on the back

to show where the label begins. You will need to change

the Stock Sensor Mode in the Status Monitor.

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58 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

3. Insufficient Label Gap Distance. See Section 2A for label

specifications.

4. Page Size is Bigger than Label Stock Size. If the page size

set in the driver is larger than the actual label stock, ink will

be printed on the gaps and the sensor will start

looking for a gap too late. This can cause label skipping

or inconsistent print starting points.

5. Portrait / Landscape. If the Portrait / Landscape setting

does not correspond to the label stock installed this will

also cause the printer to print over the gap and onto the

next label. Make sure this is set correctly.

6. Stock Sensor Position. Circular, nonstandard label shapes

or multiple labels across will require precise adjustment of

the label sensor. If you are using circular or other non

rectangular die-cut labels see Section 2C for instructions.

The image is printing horizontally offset

Three things can affect this issue.

Label Stock Loading. It is very important to correctly load the

label stock so that there is no space between the throat guides

and the label liner edge. If there is a gap between the throat

guides and the label stock it may "walk" back and forth

causing inconsistent horizontal printing. See section 2B for

label stock loading instructions and tips.

Left Margin Offset. This adjustment is found on the Alignment

tab of the PTStatus monitor. See Section 4D.

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 59

Page Size. Often the page size is not large enough for the

label. If this is the case you may see white space on the right

(printers left) side of the the label and no image over-lap on

the opposite side. This indicates that the page size needs to

be increased. Increase the page size through the printer

preferences enough to cover the label.

B. SOLVING PRINT QUALITY PROBLEMS

Many factors can affect the quality of the print. The following

are listed in order from most likely to least likely:

1. Quality Setting. Change your quality setting. The lowest

(and fastest printing) quality may not be sufficient for many

photos or graphics. The highest quality setting may cause

ink to bleed on certain graphics in combination with certain

label stock. Increasing the quality increases print time

because the printer makes more horizontal movements

across the label.

2. Clean the Print Head. Run an automatic print head

cleaning print or manually clean the print head as

described in Section 5F .

3. Change Cartridge. Try a new cartridge. Make sure that the

ink cartridge has ink remaining. Check the ink levels via

the Status Monitor.

4. Align Print Head. Normally, print head alignment is

only necessary after changing a print head. However, in

certain cases, running the alignment again can improve

print quality. Align the print head by opening the PTStatus

Monitor. Click on the Align Print Head button on the

Cartridge Utilities Tab (second tab). Follow the onscreen

prompts to load your paper for alignment.

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60 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

5. Clean the Maintenance Station. Clean the maintenance

station located on the right side of the print area. This

includes the rubber cartridge nozzle cap and the plastic

squeegee. Under normal use this can become dirty with

ink. Clean with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel.

6. Color Matching. Change your Color Matching setting to

Graphics or Photos via the printer driver preferences. See

Section 4F.

7. Cartridge Setting. Change the cartridge setting in the

driver. Try Color + Black or Color only. To change the

cartridge setting, right click on the printer in the Printers

and Faxes area - choose preferences -click cartridge - set it

to Color + Black or Color. Color only will still print black,

but will use the color cartridge to print it. We recommend

"Color" only for the best possible quality on photographic

images with small amounts of black. If your image has

large areas of black text, graphics or barcodes, we

recommend Color + Black for the best quality.

8. Media. Make sure your label stock is inkjet printable.

Many thermal label stocks look the same as inkjet but do

not allow the ink to soak into the surface of the media.

Maintenance

Station

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 61

9. Source File Image Mode. The image mode of the source

file may be set to RGB instead of CMYK. This can cause the

color matching to be off. Change the image mode of the

original file, resave and reprint.

10. Copper Contacts. Clean the copper contacts on the back of

the print carriage and the contacts on the print head with

rubbing alcohol.

11. Image Resolution (DPI). Try another Image. Perhaps the

resolution of the current image is not sufficient for a quality

print. Many graphics suitable for viewing onscreen have a

DPI of 72. This is the minimum DPI for proper screen

display. However, if you print this image it will look blurry

and pixilated. 72 is a typical DPI for images or graphics

saved from web sites. We recommend a 300 dpi image.

12. Cable. Try another USB cable. Make sure that it is less than

6ft (2 Meters) long. Faulty cables or cables that are too long

interrupt communications which can result in print quality

issues.

13. Saturation. If ink is bleeding, decrease saturation in driver

preferences.

14. Change the Print Head. If print nozzles of certain colors

are still clogged after repeated cleanings it may be time to

replace the print head. See Section 5G.

C. COLOR MATCHING AND DESIGN TIPS

Whether you contract your graphic design or do it yourself,

these guidelines will help you get the best quality labels out of

your LX900.

1. Image Size/Shape. The image size should correspond with

the size of the label you will be printing. Note: If the source

image is smaller and must be enlarged to fill the entire label

space, this will affect the DPI. A 2" x 2" 300 dpi label blown

up to fit on a 4" x 4" label would have an effective dpi of 75.

This would not be a sufficient resolution. See item 2.

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62 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

2. Resolution. Resolution is measured in dots per inch or dpi.

300 dpi is sufficient to get the best possible quality from

most images. A 72 DPI image will look fine on screen but

WILL NOT print well. Graphics and logos found on

websites are typically 72 DPI. The image below was printed

from a 72 DPI image. Notice the jagged edges. Remember,

print quality settings found in the label printer driver will

have no effect on improving a low dpi source image.

On the other hand, resolutions higher than 300 DPI will not

produce better quality but may require more RAM to print

and hard drive space to store. They could even slow down

the print process.

3. Image File Format. Most graphics are created in a graphic

application. Since this graphic application is not usually on

the same computer as the label printer doing the printing, it

is necessary to export the graphic into a universal format

that can be read by other programs. We recommend TIF

and BMP files for graphics. These formats are

uncompressed. JPG files also work well for graphics that

include photographs. All three formats can be imported

into the BarTender application.

72 DPI Image printed with the LX900

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 63

4. Color Mode. Set the color mode in the source graphic

application to CMYK. In most cases this will produce the

most accurate color reproduction of the image on screen.

However, if CMYK is not producing the desired color

matching try changing the source image to RGB and then

exporting the image again in one of the universal formats

mentioned above.

Note: Often it is useful to request that your graphic designer provide you

with several different formats for you to try printing. For example you

could request your image in six different formats: A JPG, BMP, and

TIF in RGB color mode and a JPG, BMP and TIF in CMYK color

mode.

5. Media Type Setting. Experiment with the Media Type

setting in the printer preferences (Section 4F) to achieve the

best color matching. There are multiple media type options

which correspond with the various types of label stock sold

by Primera. Match this setting to the media installed in the

printer to achieve the closest color match

to the screen. Each of these settings employs a slightly

different color table developed specifically for the media

type listed.

If the printed output is not matching the color on screen,

regardless of what media you have installed you can adjust

this setting to change the color output.

If you are still not getting the correct color output, the

graphic designer may need to change the color values of

the source graphic to achieve the proper print output.

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64 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

D. CREATE A SUPPORT REPORT

If you are encountering any problems with you LX900 tech

support may ask you to create a Tech Support Report. You

can do this from the Status Monitor by clicking the "i" icon

and clicking Create Report… A zip file will be create on your

desktop.

E. CLEANING THE PRINTER

If any ink has gotten on to the printer casing itself, the case of

the printer can be cleaned with an ammonia based window

cleaner and a lint-free cloth.

Over time, ink overspray may gather at the base of the printer.

The printer is designed using a vacuum system to gather most

of this ink on a series of saturation pads. Eventually, these pads

may need to be replaced. Contact tech support to

determine if pad replacement is necessary.

F. CLEANING THE PRINT HEAD

It may be necessary to clean the print head nozzles if you notice

reduced print quality, missing colors or if you suspect an

cartridge nozzle has become slightly dried out or clogged. Try

the following solutions:

1. Secure Cartridges. Make sure the corresponding cartridge

is snapped into place. Remove and reseat the cartridge to

make sure an air tight connection has been made. You

should hear a "click" when the cartridge is installed

properly.

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 65

2. Clean the Copper Contacts. Ink over spray can build up

inside the printer over time causing interrupted electrical

signals. Remove the print head and clean the copper

contacts on the print head carrier and the print head.

(Area 1, 2 and 4 below). Do not clean the print nozzles! (Area 3).

3. Clean the Print Head.

DO NOT touch the print head nozzles with a tissue or paper

towel. This can damage the nozzles! This may be different that

previous printers. Instead used the methods described below:

1. Open PTStatus monitor.

2. Click Clean print head on the Cartridge Utilities Tab

(second tab).

Area 1 & 2

Figure A

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66 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

3. Make sure the "purge cartridges before clean" box is

checked. Follow the onscreen prompts. You will need a

sheet of paper for this process.

You may need to repeat this process up to 4 times depending

on how clogged the print head is. Only repeat the procedure if

you start to see improvement after each clean print.

During this process the printer will make several loud whirring

noises. This is normal! This is the sound of a pump forcing ink

through the nozzles. If you do not hear this sound, the clean

purge print did not complete successfully. Try again.

4. Preventing clogged nozzles.

Clogged nozzles on the print head can be caused by non use

of the printer for extended periods of time. Follow these

guidelines:

 Always keep the LX900 plugged in and turned on. The

printer will do periodic maintenance to make sure the

nozzles do not clog.

 Never store a used print head outside of the printer. The

nozzles will dry out with exposure to air. If you must store

a print head outside of the printer, place full or empty

cartridges in the print head and put the entire print head

and cartridges in a sealed plastic bag.

 Use the printer regularly!

5. Quality Setting. Change your quality setting. The lowest

(and fastest printing) quality may not be sufficient for many

photos or graphics. The highest quality setting may cause

ink to bleed on certain graphics in combination with certain

label stock. Increasing the quality increases print time

because the printer makes more passes over the media.

6. Backup Print Head/Cartridge. The cartridge may be empty

or defective. The print head nozzle for one color could be

clogged. The fastest way to diagnose a quality problem is to

have backup print heads and cartridges available for

comparison testing. If one color is missing, replace that

color cartridge(s). Next try replacing the print head.

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 67

7. Defective Print Head/Cartridge Replacement Procedure.

If you think your cartridge/print head is defective, please

contact tech support to arrange for a replacement. Tech

support may ask you to perform troubleshooting before

sending a replacement cartridge or print head.

Notes on Ink/Print Head Replacement

• All replacements for defective cartridges or print heads

must be processed through Tech Support.

• To receive replacement cartridges, you may be required to

send in your defective cartridges/print head.

• Tech Support will perform the cleaning procedures and

tests mentioned above on all cartridges/print heads

received.

• Tech Support will not replace cartridges with less than 50%

ink remaining.

• Print heads with zero percent life remaining will not be

replaced.

• Print heads with greater than zero percent life remaining

prints may be replaced depending on the description and

circumstances of the failure at the discretion of Primera

Tech Support.

Replaceable Print Head - Part Number 53450

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68 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

G. REPLACING THE PRINT HEAD

Regular replacement of the print head is not necessary.

However it may become necessary if you notice a gradual

decrease in print quality or if some of the print nozzles are

still clogged after repeated manual cleanings as described in

Section 5F.

Follow this procedure:

1. Press the Pause and Load/Feed buttons simultaneously to

move the print carriage to the center of the print area.

2. Remove all cartridges. Press the release tab at the front of

the carriage to release the latch.

Press Pause + Load/Feed

to Start and Finish.

Power

Ink

Pause

Load/

Feed

Unload

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INDEX

Troubleshooting and Maintenance 69

3. Remove the print head. Grasp the print head near the back

as shown in the illustration.

4. Locate a new print head and place it in the carriage.

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70 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

5. Close the latch until you hear a click.

6. Press the Pause and Load/Feed buttons simultaneously to

move the print carriage back to normal position.

7. Now align the print head as described in Section 5B.

Press Pause + Load/Feed

to Start and Finish.

Power

Ink

Pause

Load/

Feed

Unload

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Troubleshooting and Maintenance 71

H. INTERPRETING THE PRINTER’S INDICATOR LIGHTS

Most error messages will appear on your computer screen via

the Status Monitor application. However, if the error prevents

communication with the computer the LED lights may be used

to help diagnose the problem.

LED Explanation

Intermittent Flashing Printer is doing maintenance.

Pause Appears during start up or after a

cartridge change.

Slow Flashing Power Missing Label Stock.

Solid Power Light Power is on.

Rotating Ink, Power Firmware update is in progress - do

and Pause LEDs not remove power or USB

I. TECHNICAL SUPPORT

If you have difficulties in operating your Printer, the procedures

in this manual and the software User's Guide should, in most

cases, solve the problem. If you still have difficulty, contact the

technical support using one of the methods listed below.

Source Location

Primera Knowledge Base www.primera.com/knowledgebase.html

BarTender Software Help files Open the software. Click on the Help

Menu - Contents

Email Support www.primera.com/contact_tech_support.cfm

Phone Support 763-475-6669 (Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 6 p.m CST)

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72 Technical Specifications

Section 7: Technical Specifications

Print Method: Thermal inkjet with Primera Imaging

Perfection enhancements

Print Resolutions: Up to 4800 DPI

Print Speeds: Draft Mode: 4.5" per second

Normal Mode: 1.8" per second

High Quality Mode: 0.8" per second

Print Head: Semi-permanent, user-replaceable

Ink Tanks: Individual ink cartridges for Cyan, Magenta,

Yellow and Black

Colors: 16.7 million

Color Matching: Z-Color™ Color Matching Software

Max. Print Width: 8.25" (209.5mm)

Media Width: 8.375" (212mm)

Media Types: Roll-fed pressure-sensitive labels, roll-fed

tags, fan-fold labels or tags

Media Sensing: Moveable see-through sensor for die-cut labels;

reflective sensor for labels and tags with black

stripe; can use continuous and pre-printed

labels and tags

Supply Roll: 6" (152mm) maximum diameter on 3" (76mm) core

Ink Level Warning: Calculates actual number of prints remaining

based upon ink usage of graphics being printed

(patent-pending)

Indicator Lights: Power, Pause, Ink

Controls: Pause, Feed, Unload

Operating Systems: Windows XP

, Vista

and Windows 7

Data Interface: USB 2.0; External Control Port

Label Design Software: BarTender™ SE Primera Edition included.

Can also be used with most other popular

label design and graphics software programs

Electrical Rating: 12VDC, 5.0A

Power Requirements: 100-240VAC, 50/60 Hz, 60 watts

Certifications: UL, UL-C, CE, FCC Class B

Weight: 36.5 lbs. (16.6 kg)

Dimensions: 17.25"W x 9.1"H x 17.25"D

(438mmW x 231mmH x 438mmD)

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INDEX

Index 73

Index

Align Print Head.............................................................................59

Alignment Tab .....................................................................13, 16, 38

Bidirectional.....................................................................................37

Black Mark ...................................................................................6, 12

Cartridge Utilities Tab ..............................................................16, 59

Circular Labels ................................................................................11

Color Matching ....................................................................36, 60 61

Continuous Stock ......................................................................14, 41

Cost Estimator ...........................................................................18, 43

Cost Tab ......................................................................................16, 39

Die Cut .......................................................................................13, 40

DPI ....................................................................................................61

Fixed Throat Guide ..................................................................31, 55

Full Bleed ...................................................................................32, 56

Ink Low LED .....................................................................................3

Ink Saturation ............................................................................37, 42

Ink Tab ..............................................................................................16

Installing Label Stock .......................................................................8

Label Cost ..................................................................................19, 43

Label Size .................................................................29, 44, 46, 50, 52

Label Tear Bar ....................................................................................3

Left Margin Offset ....................................................6, 31, 32, 55, 56

Load/Feed Button ............................................................................3

Low Ink Warning ............................................................................19

Media Type ..........................................................................36, 63, 72

Movable Throat Guide ...................................................................10

Orientation ...................................................................................7, 35

Output Mode .............................................................................14, 41

Power LED .........................................................................................3

Present Labels............................................................................15, 41

Print Alignment ............................................................16, 30, 53, 57

Print Counter ...................................................................................16

Print Quality ..............................................................................35, 59

Printer Driver Settings ...................................................................33

TOC

74 Index

Print Head

Aligning ....................................................................................38

Cleaning ........................................................................38, 59, 64

Replacing ..................................................................................68

Print Head Life Gauge ...................................................................18

Printing .....................................................................22, 38, 44, 46, 50

PTStatus .....................................................................................12, 16

Resolution ..................................................................................61, 62

Sensor Type ......................................................................................14

Sensor Position ................................................................................58

Status Monitor .................................................................................16

Reflective ................................................................................6, 13, 40

Roll Arm .............................................................................................9

Roll Guide ..........................................................................................8

Roll Specifications .........................................................................5, 7

Roll Stop .............................................................................................9

Tear Off Position ........................................................................31, 55

TOF .................................................................... 11, 31, 33, 55, 56, 57

Unload Button ...................................................................................3

Using BarTender .............................................................................22

Printed in the United States of America

P/N 511271

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