User`s guide

PRINTER SETUP
146 Copyright © 2006, Cognitive.
VARIABLE DARKNESS
Function This command changes the printhead heat, thereby
adjusting the darkness at which labels are printed.
Always use the lightest acceptable VARIABLE
DARKNESS setting to extend the life of the
printhead.
Explicit Form
Implicit Form
VARIABLE DARKNESS n
V D n
Parameters
n
Darkness value. The allowable
range varies by printer:
Barcode Blaster: -205 to +50
Solus, Blaster Advantage, and Code
Courier: -200 to +813
Lower numbers decrease print
darkness, higher numbers increase
it.
Blaster Advantage TT printers store
separate darkness values for DT and
TT mode, selecting the appropriate
darkness value depending on the
print mode as set by the VARIABLE
PRINT_MODE command.
Comments Darkness is set at the factory for optimum printing
with typical Cognitive print media. It should not
need adjustment under normal circumstances. You
may need to adjust darkness if you change print
speed or use unusual media.
When using thermal transfer printing, you may
observe the print darkness decreasing as you
increase the VARIABLE DARKNESS setting. This is
caused by excessive heat melting the ribbon dye
back onto the ribbon instead of depositing it on the
paper, and indicates that the darkness setting is far
too high. You may need to experiment with
VARIABLE DARKNESS for optimum results with