User`s guide
PRINTER SETUP 
160    Copyright © 2006, Cognitive. 
VARIABLE MEDIA_ADJUST 
Function Adjusts print contrast on object leading edges for 
optimum print quality. Adjustment of this 
parameter is not normally required, but may 
improve rotated bar code reliability in some 
circumstances. Printers that support this command 
employ an advanced "dot history" algorithm, which 
tracks the activity of each printhead dot from one 
dot row to the next. If a given dot was off prior to 
being commanded on, the printer will apply a little 
extra energy to the dot to force it to come up to full 
temperature faster. This can significantly improve 
the reliability of rotated bar codes. This setting is 
independent of the VARIABLE DARKNESS setting, 
and only affects the first dot row of each object (or 
for rotated bar codes, the leading edge of each bar in 
the code). 
NOTE: This feature is only active when printing at 2 IPS 
with 200 DPI print pitch. 
Explicit Form 
Implicit Form 
VARIABLE MEDIA_ADJUST n 
V MEDIA_ADJUST n 
Parameters 
n 
Media adjust value. The allowable range is -
3000 to +3000. Fast media – media that 
prints well with low VARIABLE DARKNESS 
values – will generally print better with high 
MEDIA_ADJUST values. Slow media will 
generally need lower settings. 
Optimum values for MEDIA_ADJUST may be 
found by experimentation. Refer to comments 
below. 
Thermal transfer printers store separate 
values for MEDIA_ADJUST in DT and TT 
mode, selecting the appropriate value 
depending on the current print mode. 
Comments  Optimum MEDIA_ADJUST values depend on the 










