QuickLabel QLS-4100 Xe - Manual (Page 55)

QLS-4100 Xe 4-9
Ready State & Adjust Menu
Options in this category are accessed in two ways. You can access these
options by pressing the NEXT or PREVIOUS keys while the printer is in a
Ready state, or you can pause the printer and access them via the Adjust
menu. The following sections detail each of the features within this menu
category.
Print Intensity
The printhead intensity determines the temperature of the printhead heating
elements. The amount of heat applied to the thermal transfer ribbon
determines the darkness of the print. The amount of heat that is actually
applied to the film by the printhead is determined by two factors:
• Length of time that power is applied to the printhead
• Rate at which the media is traveling under the printhead
The print intensity setting determines the first factor and the second is
controlled by the print speed. The printer has 32 discrete heat settings. A
setting of 1 is the coolest setting, resulting in the lightest print. A setting of 32
is the hottest setting, resulting in the darkest print. The appropriate heat
setting will vary depending on the media and ribbons being used as well as
the print speed setting. As a general guideline, the ribbon types listed below
will function best in the following print intensity ranges:
Ribbon Type Range
Wax 1 - 12
Wax / Resin 10 - 20
Resin 16 - 32
In general, lower-quality media that requires more heat to produce a
satisfactory image is less advantageous in terms of speed and performance
than higher-quality media that images easily and quickly at lower
temperatures. If you use media that requires more heat, it is recommended
that you set the print speed to a slower rate.
Note: Some thermal transfer ribbon (typically, Resin type) reacts differently,
actually printing lighter if too much heat is applied. This is a result of over-
burning the ink. If this occurs, decreasing the heat will darken the printed
image.