Brady 3481 - Manual (Page 19)

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2.1 Media and Ribbon Selection
The following is a limited overview of media characteristics. For complete
information and advice regarding your specific application needs, always
consult a qualified media specialist or a Media Representative.
Media Selection – Direct Thermal
Consider three important factors when selecting direct thermal stock:
• The abrasive qualities of the material that covers the thermal reactive layer
of the paper.
• The ability of that layer to control the chemical reaction that occurs when
the image is “burned”.
• The amount of heat required to create an image on the paper.
Media Selection – Thermal Transfer
Consider three important factors when selecting thermal transfer media
combinations:
• The label top coating and ribbon combinations affect image quality.
• Ribbon backcoating is highly recommended. It provides protection for the
printhead, and may also provide an anti-static coating.
• For additional printhead protection, use ribbon with a slightly greater width
than the overall width of the label and backing material.
2.1.1 Print Quality Controls
The printer provides flexibility with a comprehensive set of print controls. Of
these, the amount of heat applied by the printhead and the rate of media
movement will have the most effect on the barcodes, text, and graphics being
printed. Low cost direct thermal stocks, for example, have raised reaction
temperatures and therefore require higher heat values and slower print speeds to
make a clear image on the media. In general, there are four methods of
controlling print quality:
• The first is the ‘Media Type’ menu setting, which should be set to match the
media being used. For example, when printing with ribbon use the thermal
transfer setting.