Quick Reference Guide
for Windows 2000 & XP
Please visit our Technical Support website at www.microboards.net
Print Image Diameter Settings
The Microboards PF-3 Print Factory includes the ability to mask the print image
diameters to ensure that your media is not being printed outside of the printable
surface. While SureThing Disc Labeling software creates circular templates 120mm
in diameter, other applications may not limit the design to the correct size.
The default
Inner Diameter
setting is 360 (36mm). If you are using a print template
with an inner hub of less than 36mm, you must change the Inner Diameter setting
to match that of the template for the image to print correctly.
To change the Diameter settings, please follow these steps:
Select
Printers and Faxes
from the
Windows Start
button.
1.
In Windows 2000 or Windows XP with the Classic Start Menu layout, you will
need to go to the
Settings
selection, then to the
Printers and Faxes
from the
Start
button. Right-click the Microboards PF3 and select
Printing Preferences
.
2.
Click the
Diameter Settings
tab.
3.
Toggle the
Enable Masking
checkbox to turn this option on or off.
4.
The
Outer Diameter
setting will define where the masking clips the outer edge
of the print image. In the example shown below, the image will print to the
default diameter of 118mm (the Parameter Unit is set to 0.1mm).
The
Inner Diameter
setting will define how far towards the center of the disc
the image will print. This setting will need to be changed when printing to hub-
printable media. The default of 36mm diameter of unprinted area is shown
below.
5.
Click the
Apply
button to save the changes.
PF-3 Print Factory Configuration
INK CARTRIDGES CAN BE USED!
As is true with all printers, the quality of ink cartridge and the quality of the ink
within the cartridge will affect your output. To ensure quality results, the PF-3
Print Factory will not operate with any other ink cartridges in place.
The use of refilled ink cartridges will void your warranty!
ONLY V102C and V101B
In order to guarantee quality results from the PF-3 Print Factory,
Print Image Alignment
Your PF-3 Print Factory has been factory aligned to .1mm precision. Fine tuning
may be required depending on the media brand and printable surface type you are
using to provide full surface coverage.
1.
Select
Printers and Faxes
from the
Windows Start
button.
In Windows 2000 or Windows XP
with the Classic Start Menu layout,
you will need to go to the
Settings
selection, then to the
Printers and
Faxes
from the
Start
button.
NOTE: IN BOTH WINDOWS 2000
AND WINDOWS XP, THE
ALIGNMENT VALUES MUST BE
ENTERED THROUGH THE
PRINTERS AND FAXES
WINDOW FOR THE SETTINGS
TO BE SET AS THE DEFAULT
SETTINGS, NOT FROM WITHIN ANY APPLICATION!!!
2.
Right click on the icon for the
Microboards PF3
and select
Printing
Preferences…
3.
On the
Print Quality
tab, select
Photo
for the
Print Mode
and
Best
or
Max
DPI
for the
Print Quality
.
Photo Best
or
Max DPI
should
always
be selected when aligning the printer, in
order to insure the greatest accuracy during the alignment process. Other
settings may not result in the best alignment.
4.
Select the
Alignment
tab. The
.1mm
Resolution
setting must be selected
before setting alignment values (see
below). Set the
Top
and
Left Side
alignment values to those required for
image alignment.
These settings will change the size of the top and left margins, respectively.
Decreasing the values will move the image up or to the left, increasing will
adjust down or to the right.
5.
Click the
Apply
button to save the changes, found on the bottom of the Printing
Preferences window.
6.
Verify the alignment by printing a full disc image on the media. Repeat these
steps if further alignment adjustments are required.
For further details on the alignment process, please refer to the
section on Alignment in the PF-3 Print Factory User’s Manual.
Printer Toolbox
The
Printer Toolbox
contains
several utility functions for the
PF-3 Print Factory. The toolbox
will open automatically after
installation of the PF-3, and
each time the PC boots up. It
can also be run by double-
clicking the
PF3 Toolbox
icon
in the tool tray.
The functions of the Toolbox
include:
•
Printhead Cleaning Utilities
•
Pen Calibration
•
Automatic Margin Calibration
•
Test Print
•
Belt Exerciser
•
Low Ink warnings
For more information on the Toolbox, please refer to the User’s Manual.
Be sure your computer meets the Minimum System Requirements as stated
in the User’s Manual and that you have read these instructions and the
Manual prior to contacting Microboards Technical Support with installation
or configuration questions!