Tattoo Card Printer User’s Guide Tattoo User’s Guide Part Number : A5205 © December 2002 Evolis Card Printer Rev. 1.
Trademarks Evolis Tattoo is a registered trademark of Evolis Card Printer. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Copyright Information © 2002 Evolis Card Printer All rights reserved. Notice of Royalty The user is obliged to observe the regulations relative to royalties applicable in his country.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY FOR SAFETY AND EMC Manufacturer’s name : EVOLIS Manufacturer’s address : 29, rue de la Fontaine Z.I.
Table of contents Chapter I – Setting Up Page 5 Introduction Page 5 1. Unpacking my printer 2. Description of the printer and its functions 3. Installing my printer a. Installation of the interface and the supply cable b. Installation of the ribbon c. Loading the cards Chapter II – Printing Page Page Page Page Page Page 5 6 7 7 8 9 Page 11 1. Installing my printer driver 2. Configuring the printing settings 3. My first cards Page 11 Page 13 Page 15 Chapter III – Cleaning Page 18 1.
Chapter 1 1. Setting up Introduction We congratulate you on having made the Tattoo printer your choice ! The Tattoo printer is the ideal solution for all your printing of plastic cards in fields as extensive and varied as management of visitors, business cards, loyalty cards, time attendance, members, etc. This product, comes with a wide range of assistance services, from the Evolis company and its partners, specially selected to help you in an efficient and professional manner. 1.
2. Description of the printer and its functions Description of the printer : Functions A B C D E F G H I Thermal Transfer Print Head Media Control Panel Push Button Cleaning Roller Cover Lever Card Feeder Electrical connector USB Port (optional) J Parallel Port K Serial Port (optional) For printing cards. Thermal Transfer Monochrome Ribbon. Shows the printer activity. Shows the printer activity (power ON/OFF) Removes any dust before printing the cards. Allows the printer cover to be opened.
3. Installing my printer a) Installation of the interface and supply cables: 1. Connect the supplied interface cable to your printer as shown while slightly lifting this side of the printer up to get a better reach. 2. Connect the other end of the cable to the appropriate port of your computer. 3. Connect the power cable to the supply then plug in the power cable connector to the printer. Then connect the end of the power cable to an earthed mains power point.
b) Installation of the ribbon 1. Open the printer cover by pressing on the opening lever, then pivoting it. 2. Install the ribbon in the printer as shown. 3. Close the printer cover. WARNING The ribbon must be correctly installed for the printer to function. Only use Evolis printer ribbons. Evolis accepts no responsibility if the printer is damaged following the use of an unapproved ribbon.
c) Loading the cards The Tattoo printer works in three different modes for card loading which are selectable through the printer driver in the « Main » tab : • Feeder The cards are taken automatically from the feeder. • Manual feed The cards are manually inserted one by one by the operator in the feeding mouth at the front of the printer. • Auto select The cards are taken either from the feeder or manually inserted in the feeding mouth whichever card the printer senses first.
TO LOAD A CARD MANUALLY FROM THE FEEDING MOUTH : 1. Insert a card in the feeding mouth. The card will be automatically taken out. IMPORTANT ! Advice about selecting cards : • Only use the types of card appearing in the Specifications page of this manual • Do not touch the printable surface of the cards ; the print quality depends upon this • Do not use damaged or folded cards or ones with an embossed texture.
Chapter 2 2. Printing 1. Installing my printer driver Before using your Tatto printer, you must install its printer driver. Reminder : Evolis Tattoo driver and printers operate under Windows 95/98/2000, Me, NT 4.0 and Xp. For the users operating under Windows : NOTE ! The CD includes a utility which automates the installation of the printer driver. This utility installs the driver that is suitable for your configuration. 1. Start Windows, ensuring that no other Windows application is running. 2.
IMPORTANT ! If your printer will be connected via a parallel interface cable, the driver installation is finished. If your printer will be connected via a USB interface cable, refer to the next section « For the users operating under Windows with a USB interface » for the instructions to be followed. For the users operating under Windows with a USB interface : 1. Install the printer driver by following the instructions given in the previous section « For the users operating under Windows ». 2.
2. Configuring the printing settings Your printer has numerous setting functions in the print manager. These printing settings are accessible : • from Start in the Windows bar, Settings then Printers 1. Select Evolis Tattoo 2. In File, in the bar of the Windows window menus, select Properties (for Windows 95/98/2000) or Default Document (for Windows NT 4.0). • From your Windows software. In File, from the menu bar of your application, select Print or Printing Configuration.
On line help A help file guides you in the use of each of the print management settings according to the various printing modes and criteria entered. In order to familiarize yourself with these various settings, we recommend that you consult this help before making any changes. "Main" Dialog Box This dialog box enables the selection of : 1. the color of the ribbon 2. the orientation of the printing (Portrait or Landscape) 3. the number of copies of the card 4. the printing effect (B & W or grayscale) 5.
"General" Dialog Box This dialog box is a Windows information window. It enables a test page to be printed for the sole purpose of checking the communication between the computer and the printer. "Details" Dialog Box This dialog box is a Windows control window enabling the printer port to be selected and to check the use of the appropriate printer driver. The displayed settings must only be changed by an experienced person.
3. The "Margins" dialog box offers "printing margins" • Select 0 cm Your Word window should now appear like this : You are ready to personalize your card by introducing the various composition elements : • Logo and Illustration • Identity photo • Permanent texts and Variables (Identity) • Etc.. Example : Note that this example does not claim to introduce the operator to the Word application.
Tattoo Card Printer Driver Settings To access the settings from the Word window : 1. In the menu bar point to File and select "Print" 2. The dialog box shows you that the Evolis printer is selected. Then click on Properties. 3. The dialog box of the Evolis Tattoo driver opens. Do not forget to refer to the help for each dialogue box The print settings for this graphic example are : 1. "Main" Dialog Box select : • Monochrome Black ribbon • Treatment : Grayscale • Landscape orientation • Copy (number) 2.
Chapter 3 3. Cleaning Protect the validity of your Guarantee! Not observing the cleaning procedures contained in this chapter can invalidate your printer and for print head guarantees. The Evolis company accepts no responsibility if the printer is used in an unauthorised cleaning condition.
To carry out cleaning of the inside of the printer : 1. Remove the ribbon from the printer. Then close cover. 2. Press the Push Button from the printer Control Panel. 3. Open pouch and remove the cleaning card. Insert Cleaning Card in the printer Card Feeder as shown. The cleaning starts. WARNING ! After a cleaning cycle, wait 2 minutes for the cleaning fluid to evaporate completely before using the printer.
2. Cleaning of the print head WARNING ! The print head is a fragile component of your printer. To avoid damaging it, never put the print head in contact with pointed and/or metal objects. Also avoid touching the print head surface with the fingers. Changed print quality or even permanent degradation of the print head could result. The print head is cleaned during the automatic cleaning of your printer (see previous section).
3. Maintainance of the cleaning roller Your Tattoo printer has a cleaning roller. Its adhesive surface retains the dust when cards are running through. Although the cleaning of this roller is carried out during the automatic cleaning of the printer, it is nevertheless recommended that you clean it regularly (about every 100 cards) and simply with a cloth supplied with the cleaning case in order to ensure that the card surface is perfectly clean. To carry out the maintenance of the cleaning roller : 1.
Chapter 4 4. Assistance For the best possible satisfaction of customer requirements, Evolis provides a complete range of technical assistance services. (See section 3 – Customer Assistance) 1. Printer Control Panel Refer to the following conditions to determine the status or the current activity of your printer.
2. Troubleshooting The information below will help you to resolve possible problems that occur when you are using your printer. If, in spite of this information, you are not able to resolve the problem, contact your Evolis retailer or an approved Evolis service provider. ❍ Nothing prints 1. Check the power supply Ensure that: • The power supply cable is correctly connected to the printer and to a mains plug which is functioning. • The printer is switched on.
❍ A blank card is ejected from the printer 1. Check the ribbon • Check that the ribbon has not run out or cut. Replace or reinstall the ribbon, if necessary. 2. Check the cleanliness of the printer • Clean the cleaning roller. • See chapter «Cleaning » page 18. 3. Check the printer interface cable • Check the connection to the computer and to the printer. • Test with another cable of the same type. 4. Elements of the print head may be damaged.
❍ Partial or incorrect printing 1. Check the settings defined for the printing • Check that no element of your page setup is outside the print margins • Check the orientation of the selected document in the printer driver configuration (Landscape or Portrait) 2. Check the printer interface cable • If unusual characters print, check that you are using the interface cable appropriate to your printer. • Check the connection to the computer and to the printer. • Test with another cable of the same type. 3.
3. Customer Assistance If the suggestions given in the previous section do not enable the problem(s) to be resolved, contact your retailer or one of the Evolis help departments. Evolis Web site If you need some more help, the Evolis Web Site will offer you some technical information in the Support & Services section. This section proposes drivers, firmware, software dowloading or instruction manuals and gives answers to frequently asked questions.
Chapter 5 5. Specifications Printing Mode Monochrome Thermal Transfer Printing Speed 500 cards/hour Resolution 300 DPI Windows™ Drivers For Windows™ 95 / 98 / Me / NT 4.
Chapter 6 6. Evolis warranty 1. Extent of the warranty 1. Evolis warranties the Tattoo printer, to the end customer, against all manufacturing defects for a limited period of one year starting from the date of purchase by the customer. The customer must be able to supply proof of the purchase or the registration of the product. 2. Evolis warranties the print head for a period of one year only on condition of the use of Evolis ribbons, standardized cards and of adequate maintenance and cleaning cycles. 3.
2. After Sales Service in the warranty period In the event of hardware breakdown, and after agreement, Evolis offers the following assistance options: ➤ Evolis authorized Reseller : send the printer to an Evolis authorized Reseller. ➤ Evolis authorized service provider: send the printer to an Evolis authorized after sales service. Do not forget to enclose proof of purchase with each dispatch. IMPORTANT ! The customer is responsible for all damage sustained due to inadequate packaging when returning goods.
Chapter 7 7. Supplies Evolis has a choice of ribbons and various accessories. You will find below the list of supplies available from your authorized Evolis retailer. Mono Color Ribbons Black Monochrome Ribbon 600 cards/ribbon Ref. R2211 Blue Monochrome Ribbon 600 cards/ribbon Ref. R2212 Red Monochrome Ribbon 600 cards/ribbon Ref. R2213 Green Monochrome Ribbon 600 cards/ribbon Ref. R2214 White Monochrome Ribbon 600 cards/ribbon Ref. R2215 Gold Monochrome Ribbon 600 cards/ribbon Ref.
Appendix A A. Magnetic Encoding Introduction Tattoo printers equipped with a magnetic stripe encoder are known as Tattoo MAG printers. The way that a Tattoo MAG printer works is identical to that of a Tattoo printer. The magnetic encoder encodes ISO strips 1, 2 and 3 in a single movement before carrying out data verification.
IMPORTANT ! Use only magnetic strip cards that comply with ISO Standards 7810 and 7811. In order to function correctly, the magnetic strip must be moulded to the card. Never use a card with a glued magnetic strip. 3. Setting Windows Driver During the first installation of the Windows Driver, it is essential to define the functions of the magnetic encoder.
ISO3 accepts up to 104 numeric characters from 0 to 9 as well as the ASCII characters between 48 and 62. Coercivity defines the magnetic encoder at high or low coercivity. An encoded magnetic stripe at high coercivity is more resistant to exterior disturbances than an encoded magnetic stripe at low coercivity. Direct Encoding allows the magnetic stripes to be directly encoded using this window. Enable Macro processing allows magnetic stripe cards to be encoded from Windows applications.
