DataCard UltraGrafix Series User's Guide

User's Guide forImageCard® andUltraGrafix® Series PrintersExpress and Select ClassesJanuary 1999Part No. 526945-001Plastic card solutions for a c

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide1-5Parts of the printerThis section describes the basic components of the printer.74030

A-2Safety and complianceEmissionsFCC notice (USA)This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. If itis not installed and use

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s GuideA-3acceptance of this system you hereby assume all liability consequent to youruse or m

A-4Safety and complianceSafe human interface• Use proper lifting techniques when moving or installing the equipment.• Use standard moving parts safety

Appendix B: SuppliesThis appendix shows the various supplies used with anImageCard or UltraGrafix photo ID printers. It also hasordering information

B-2SuppliesList of suppliesContact your DataCard-authorized service provider for information onordering any of these supplies.• Cards (CR80 type)• Rib

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s GuideB-3Card requirementsCard stock for printing should meet the following requirements.Size

B-4SuppliesThe sticker is either a green dot or a decal that looks like either a color ormonochrome ribbon. (Other stickers on this surface of the ca

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s GuideB-5RibbonOrder from among the following types of ribbons for the printer.Name Descripti

B-6SuppliesCleaning supplies• Cleaning card (part number 557297-001)Figure B:-4 Cleaning card — side 1sccleanFigure B:-5 Cleaning card — side 2• Magne

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s GuideB-7Ribbon cartridge• Ribbon cartridge (part number 555545-999)555545Figure B:-8 Ribbon

1-6Introduction 74030s1Power buttonReady buttonException card slotCard output stackerCard cartridgeTop coverStatus lightFigure 1:-3 Printer front part

B-8SuppliesInterface cable• Interface cable (part number 806797-001)The printer uses an ECP parallel port interface cable.74030c6Figure B:-10 Interfac

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s GuideB-9Power receptacle fuse• Power receptacle fuse (part number 804960-017) 74030c93Power

B-10SuppliesPublications• ImageCard Express Operator's Tutorial CD-ROM (part number 555413-001)• If you want to develop PC software that works wi

I IndexAAC receptacle, 1-7acknowledgments (copyright, etc.), A-4Bbar codes, 5-18Ccable, interface, B-8cables (connecting), 2-4Canadian regulations, c

I-2 Indexfaded image, 4-4ImageCard/UltraGrafix printerscable connections for, 2-4connecting two printers to same PC, 5-11enhanced printing speed featu

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s GuideI-3RREADME.RTF file, 5-24ready button, 1-6reconfigure, printer driver, 3-20removing dri

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide1-7• To pause the printer, press and hold the Ready button for three secondsor less. T

1-8IntroductionDuplex module — On ImageCard S2 and UltraGrafix S2 printers, the duplexmodule contains the hardware for automatic dual-sided printing (

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide1-9Printer software requirementsThe printer must be connected to a PC that provides dat

1-10IntroductionCard quality guidelinesYour cards must meet the following card quality guidelines for the printer tosuccessfully print high quality gr

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide1-11• Make sure that the magnetic stripe on one card does not come intocontact with the

Chapter 2: Getting startedThis chapter contains information on installing the printerdriver for the ImageCard or UltraGrafix photo ID printer,loadin

2-2Getting startedChoosing a siteWhen choosing a location for the printer, consider the followingenvironmental and electrical requirements.Environment

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-3General requirements and intended useConsider the following general printer installa

iiContentsPlease note and heed the WARNING and CAUTION labels that have been placed on theequipment for your safety. Please do not attempt to operate

2-4Getting startedConnecting cablesOnce you have chosen a location for the printer, you will need to connectvarious cables to it. Figure 2:-1 shows t

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-5PCInterface CableSmart Card CablePower Cable74030v21Figure 2:-3 Connections for prin

2-6Getting started3. Replace the card cartridge into the card cartridge cavity, setting thetop in place and pushing the bottom toward the printer unti

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-7iSEL007u12Figure 2:-6 Replace the card cartridge (Express and S models shown)

2-8Getting startedLoading and replacing the ribbonThe printer uses ribbon with color panels or continuous color. To order newribbon, contact your Data

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-9 74030c8aRibbon supplyRibbon take-upFigure 2:-7 Remove the ribbon cartridge 740030c8

2-10Getting startedInstalling the printer driver for the first timeA printer driver is software that prepares data for the printer and manages thecomm

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-11For information on verifying your parallel port configuration andassignment, see Ch

2-12Getting started! See Reconfiguring the printer driver in Chapter 3 for more informationon setting up the driver. Select Settings and thenPrinters

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-13• Select the "My computer" choice, and not the "Network" choice

Contents iiiContentsDeclaration of conformity vChapter 1: Introduction 1-1About this manual 1-2Required skills 1-2The printer and its features

2-14Getting startedb) Highlight the printer driver icon by clicking on it once. The printerdriver icon has the name you entered earlier when installi

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-15• Duplex method (automatic or manual)• Ribbon type• Other values based on your card

2-16Getting startedA higher electrical current is used to encode the high-coercivity cardsthan the low-coercivity cards. You cannot use high-coercivi

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-17Figure 2:-11 Magnetic stripe settings tab in Windows 95/98Figure 2:-12 Magnetic str

2-18Getting startedPrinting test cardsYou can print three types of test cards on your ImageCard/UltraGrafixmachine:• Printer test card – You can print

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-1974030s6Figure 2:-13 Printer test card — Express class onlyice0016s Figure 2:-14 Pri

2-20Getting started 74030s1Ready buttonPower buttonFigure 2:-15 Locating the power and Ready buttons (Express and S modelsshown)Print a Windows test p

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-2174030s7CongratulatIf you canread this information you have Microsoft95Figure 2:-16

2-22Getting startedClick on the PrintTest Page buttonon the Generaltab to print aWindows testpage card.Figure 2:-18 Print a Windows test page card in

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-23Printing magnetic stripe test cardsIf your printer is equipped with the magnetic st

ivContentsChapter 4: Troubleshooting 4-1Understanding mes

2-24Getting startedClick here to starta magnetic stripetest card.Figure 2:-20 Creating a magnetic stripe test card

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide2-25The basics of printing from an applicationYou can use the printer to print cards fr

Chapter 3: Day-to-day printer useThis chapter contains information on checking the ImageCardor UltraGrafix photo ID printer's status or changing

3-2Day-to-day printer useAccessing printer featuresYou can check the status of the printer and change settings that affect howthe printer works from t

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-3 Select Settings andthen Printers from themenu to display thePrinters window.Figure

3-4Day-to-day printer useSelect theImageCard/Ultra-grafix printerdriver icon.Select File andthen Properties todisplay theProperties window.Figure 3:-3

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-5Using the default document properties dialog box(Windows NT only)This dialog box con

3-6Day-to-day printer useUsing the status monitorThe status monitor displays the status of the communication between theprinter and its printer driver

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-7Opening and using the status monitorYou can use the status monitor window to do the

3-8Day-to-day printer useLine 1Line 2Line 3Figure 3:-5 The status monitor and its status informationStarting a printer cleaning cycleTo begin a cleani

Contents vDeclaration of conformity

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-9Cleaning the duplex moduleIf you have an ImageCard S2 or UltraGrafix S2 printer, you

3-10Day-to-day printer usemagstrip DataCardMagnetic Stripe Test CardTrack 1 (IATA data, max. 76 chars): !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-11Using What’s This help (Windows 95/98 only)What’s This help provides information ab

3-12Day-to-day printer use3. To close What’s This help, click anywhere on the screen or press theESC key on your keyboard.! Performing a cleaning cycl

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-135. Insert the cleaning card near the bottom of the card cartridge cavity(see Figure

3-14Day-to-day printer usesccleanFigure 3:-9 Cleaning card, oriented for printers with the smart card optionand no duplex modulecleanFigure 3:-10 Clea

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-15 74030c8cRibbon supplyRibbon take-upFigure 3:-12 Insert the ribbon cartridgeFigure

3-16Day-to-day printer useCleaning the printheadA decrease in print quality indicates the printhead may be dirty. Useisopropyl alcohol and a lint-free

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-17Cleaning the magnetic stripe headThe printer's magnetic stripe head should be

3-18Day-to-day printer use4. Remove the cleaning card from the card output stacker after theprinter has completed the cleaning cycle.5. Discard the us

Chapter 1: IntroductionThis chapter contains introductory information on this manualand on the ImageCard® and UltraGrafix® series photo IDprinters.Co

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-19Cleaning the duplex moduleThis procedure applies only to ImageCard S2 and UltraGraf

3-20Day-to-day printer used) Close the swing arm, pressing it down until the push latch clicksinto place.e) Close the top cover.9. Discard the used du

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide3-21Reconfigure the printer driver1. Open the appropriate window:Windows 95/98 users: S

3-22Day-to-day printer use(Any time you change the ribbon in the printer, you must poweroff and power on the printer.) You may find that the printer

Chapter 4: TroubleshootingThis chapter contains information on troubleshooting theImageCard or UltraGrafix photo ID printer, identifying andfixing er

4-2TroubleshootingUnderstanding messagesThe printer driver displays a message when the printer is unable to processand print a card correctly. If a co

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide4-3General troubleshootingThe purpose of this section is to help you fix print quality

4-4TroubleshootingSymptom Possible Cause Solutioncard is blank. may not be installedproperly.Cards may not meetspecifications or may bedirty.The swing

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide4-5Symptom Possible Cause SolutionChapter 3). If cleaning does notsolve the problem, co

4-6Troubleshooting74030s95Figure 4:-3 Expanded test card74030s96Figure 4:-4 Compressed test card

1-2IntroductionAbout this manualThis manual describes the ImageCard/UltraGrafix print series. It containsprocedures for basic operation of the printe

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide4-7Remove torn or jammed ribbonDo not place the ribbon cartridge on a dirty surface, su

4-8Troubleshooting 74030c8aRibbon supplyRibbon take-upFigure 4:-5 Remove the ribbon cartridge 740030c8bRibbon supplyRibbon take-upFigure 4:-6 Replace

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide4-9Remove jammed cards!In this procedure, you may have to remove the ribbon cartridge.

4-10TroubleshootingiSEL001uFigure 4:-8 Opening the duplex module cover74030d14 Figure 4:-9 Remove a card jammed on the card transport track

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide4-11Making repairs and obtaining serviceFor repair assistance, contact your DataCard-au

Chapter 5: Advanced informationThis chapter contains advanced information on working withthe ImageCard or UltraGrafix photo ID printer and its drive

5-2Advanced informationConfirming the ECP parallel port configurationand assignmentFor optimal performance, the printer should be connected to an ECP

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-3 Select Settings andthen Control Panelfrom the Start menu todisplay the ControlPanel

5-4Advanced informationVerify the ECP parallel port configuration — systemquery1. Close all open applications.2. Reboot the PC.3. Enter the PC BIOS se

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-5Re-installing the printer driverYou can get the most current copy of the printer dri

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide1-3• Magnetic stripe encoding — This option offers the ability to recordinformation on

5-6Advanced information8. Restart the PC by selecting Shut Down from the Windows 95/98 Startmenu, then selecting Restart the computer and clicking Yes

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-7If the installation procedure does not finish without error and youwant to remove th

5-8Advanced information12. In the Printers dialog box, double-click on the Add Printer icon. (Onlythe administrator can use this icon to install the p

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-917. If the PC attached to the printer has other users, set user permissionsto suppor

5-10Advanced informationn) Follow instructions to update the printer firmware if prompted.18. Select the correct value for the following document defa

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-11Installing a second printer (Windows 95/98 only)On a PC running Windows 95 or Windo

5-12Advanced informationConfigure the PC for a second printerThe hardware settings must match the settings you choose in theResources tab.1. See the d

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-13Replacing the printhead cartridgeThe ImageCard/UltraGrafix series printers use an o

5-14Advanced information13. Print a Windows test page card to verify that the printhead cartridgeis installed properly. (See Printing test cards in Ch

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-1574030d4PrintheadcartridgePrintheadcartridge cablePrintheadcartridge slotsPrintheadc

1-4IntroductionFigure 1:-1 shows what the different versions of the printer look like: Expressand S models for both the ImageCard and UltraGrafix line

5-16Advanced information74030s42Printhead cartridge tabSwing arm notchFigure 5:-7 Replace the printhead cartridgePrinting on both sides of a cardImage

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-17Whether you will have automatic or manual duplex printing, keep data onone page if

5-18Advanced informationice0006A sticker on this surfaceindicates the type ofprinthead cartridge.Figure 5:-9 Printhead cartridge and sticker• Use the

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-19Moving the printer from Windows 95/98 to NTIf you want to take an ImageCard/UltraGr

5-20Advanced informationWith any application, test your card design to make sure you get theresults you expect.Whenever you are encoding magnetic stri

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-21♦ Track 1--Magnetic Stripe♦ Track 2--Magnetic Stripe♦ Track 3--Magnetic Stripe♦ Tra

5-22Advanced information• Each time you start using Japanese-language characters, or stop usingthem, the driver adds a hidden character. Each hidden c

ImageCard/UltraGrafix (Express and Select Classes) User’s Guide5-23• When you use the printer with a network-connected PC, be aware of thefollowing:♦

5-24Advanced informationincomplete cards according to your policy for handling the confidentialdata that might be on the card.• The printer is install

Appendix A: Safety andcomplianceThis appendix contains regulatory compliance information,safety information, and trademark acknowledgments for theIma