Printing Problems Category
Table of Contents
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Contents of Printing Problems
Printing Problems
When I try to print off text, all I get are small rectangles.
This is generally caused by an incompatible text format
- Create a text box on the template screen of exPressit
- Try increasing the size of your text
- Try changing the text font to Arial.
- Then try typing something inside the text box and you should see the standard characters appearing
It then might be worth re-installing the font and trying it again in exPressit as it could be that the font is corrupted in someway.
Lots of free fonts can be downloaded from here
Support Admin
Printed designs do not line up when I print them off.
There are several things that could be causing this.
- Check that you have selected the correct paper size (A4 or US Letter) in both exPressit™ (layout menu) AND in your printer settings.
- For most printers, there is a ‘Settings’ or ‘Properties’ button on the printer dialogue box that appears when you click ‘Print’ in exPressit™. If you are unsure how to change your printer settings, please consult your printer manual.
- Ensure that your printer drivers are up to date. Go to you printers website and you should be able to download the corresponding driver.
- Ensure that the feeder on your printer is adjusted to fit the paper exactly. This will make the print position consistent.
If this doesn't solve the problem, it is likely that your printer needs calibrating. Because printers are mechanical devices, each different model will print in a slightly different area on the paper.
- To solve this problem, exPressit™ uses a calibration tool to nudge, or offset your designs in a particular direction so that they fit the labels.
- To calibrate, select 'Printer Calibrate' from the print menu, print a calibration sheet on a plain sheet of paper, then follow the instructions on the sheet.
- Lastly, it is good practice to use the entire bleed area around the edge of each label. This will give you some margin for error when printing your designs.
- If you are still experiencing problems you can always use the below steps to manually calculate the offset-settings.
1 - Make a new design with only the circles drawn in the CD-Label template
2 - Set both calibration settings to 0.0
3 - Print the label on a blank paper
4 - Set both calibration settings to +10.0
5 - Print the label on a blank paper
- You can measure the distance between the edge of the paper and the printed area and compare that with a label sheet. You also can see how many millimeters the printout shifted after increasing the calibration value. Knowing this you need 1 label to test the setting, you can first print in yellow, then in green, then blue.
- Doing this you can print many times on one label. Give the ink a little time to dry before you reprint.
Full instructions for this can also be found in a pdf format at this link
Support Admin
What printer settings should I use for clear labels?
It is important to select the 'transparency' setting in the paper type section of your printer settings dialogue box.
As all printers use slightly different phrasing in these options, it is impossible for us to recommend the exact setting, but it is likely that at least one 'Inkjet transparency' or 'Overhead projector paper' setting will be offered.
Choosing that should ensure the correct results and if you have any queries we would recommend you ask us in a helpdesk ticket.
Support Admin
How do I calibrate the Printer?
- Select calibrate printer from the file menu.
- Click the Print Sheet button without altering the x or y values. This will print of a sheet with cross hairs on them.
- Fold the sheet in half and then in half again. Open the sheet back out and where the centre of the folded part is where your printer thinks the centre is.
- Take the X & Y values from this and then enter them in the respective boxes and print the sheet again.
- The dotted lines should now appear on the folds in the A4 page, and this indicates that the printer is calibrated
- Enter a name (Generally the printer Make and Model eg Epson Photo 2100) in the box provided and click Save
Support Admin
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