1. Tools
  2. Printer Diagnostics
  3. Printing a Print Quality Report (FEED Self-Test)
  4. Printing a Print Quality Report
Printing a Print Quality Report

Printing a Print Quality Report

You can print a configuration report to use as a reference on the printer’s current settings.
  1. Press and hold
    FEED
     ( ) and
    CANCEL
     ( ) simultaneously for two seconds.
  2. Turn printer power OFF.
  3. Press and hold
    FEED
     ( ) while turning printer power ON. Keep pressing the button until the status indicator is the only indicator that is lit.
    The printer prints a series of labels at various speeds and darkness settings that are higher and lower than the darkness value shown on the configuration label.
    Print Quality Report
  4. Inspect the test labels and determine which one has the best print quality for your application.
    1. If you have a barcode verifier, use it to measure bars and spaces and calculate the print contrast.
    2. If you do not have a barcode verifier, use your eyes or the system scanner to choose the optimal darkness setting based on the labels printed in this self-test. (See Figure 2 and Table 1.)
    Barcode Darkness Comparison
    Visual Darkness Descriptions
    Print Quality
    Description
    Too dark
    Labels that are too dark are fairly obvious. They may be readable but not 'in‑spec.'
    The normal barcode bars increase in size.
    The openings in small alphanumeric characters may appear filled in.
    Rotated barcode have bars and spaces run together.
    Slightly dark
    Slightly dark labels are not as obvious.
    The normal barcode will be 'in-spec'.
    Small character alphanumeric characters will appear bold and could be slightly filled in.
    The rotated barcode spaces are small when compared to the 'in-spec' code, possibly making the code unreadable.
    “In-spec”
    The 'in-spec' barcode can only be confirmed by a verifier, but it should exhibit the following visible characteristics.
    • The normal barcode will have complete, even bars and clear, distinct spaces.
    • The rotated barcode will have complete, even bars and clear, distinct spaces. Although it may not look as good as a slightly dark barcode, the barcode will be 'in-spec'.
    • In both normal and rotated styles, small alphanumeric characters look complete.
    Slightly light
    Slightly light labels are, in some cases, preferable to slightly dark ones for 'in-spec' barcodes.
    Slightly light labels are, in some cases, preferable to slightly dark ones for 'in-spec' barcodes.
    Both normal and rotated barcodes will be in spec, but small alphanumeric characters may not be complete.
    Too light
    Labels that are too light are obvious.
    Both normal and rotated barcodes have incomplete bars and spaces.
    Small alphanumeric characters are unreadable.
  5. Note the relative darkness value and the print speed printed on the best test label.
  6. Add or subtract the relative darkness value from the darkness value specified on the Printer Configuration label. The resulting numeric value is the best darkness value for that specific label and print speed combination.
  7. If necessary, change the current darkness value of the printer to the darkness value on the best test label. See Manual Print Darkness Adjustment.
  8. If necessary, change the current print speed to the speed value on the best test label. See two options for how to do this in Adjust the Print Quality.