5B. Adjusting Print Alignment/Label Offsets
If your previous experience with printing is limited to printing letters and cards to 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper you probably are not familiar with an essential part of label printing – Print Alignment. Standard printers feed a sheet and start printing based on the start of the sheet. They also prohibit printing to the edge of the sheet. This is to avoid any need for alignment. The LX3000e senses the beginning of the label with an optical edge. Because of this it is necessary to align the printer to work with specific types of label stock.
The LX3000e comes from the factory calibrated to print exactly to the edge of Primera label stock. However, due to variability it may be necessary to fine tune these settings at the beginning of each roll. This is especially true for other non- Primera brand label stock.
Important Note: Before adjusting alignment settings first print one label at the quality level you intend for the entire print job. This will ensure the label stock is moving at the same speed and the stock sensor will sense the gap in the same way.
Adjust print alignment using the LX3000e Config Utility. Click on the Alignment Tab (Third Tab).
Three items can be adjusted here:
- Tear off Position. This value adjusts the position of the last label printed after it has been presented for tear off. This only applies if the output mode is set to “Present.” Add to the current value to move the tear point closer to the printer. Subtract from the current value to move the tear point away from the printer. After adjusting the value click the Set Offsets button to send the value to the printer.
- Left Margin Offset. This value moves the printed label left or right. Add to the current value to move the printed label to the right. Subtract from the current value to move the printed label to the left. After adjusting the value, click the Set Offsets button to send the value to the printer.
- Top of Form (TOF). This value moves the print start position up or down on the label. Add to the current value to move the printed label down or toward the printer. Subtract from the current value to move the printed label up or away from the printer. After adjusting the value click the Set Offsets button to send the value to the printer.
You may have to make several adjustments to one or more of these values. After each adjustment you can click the Test Offsets button to print a small test pattern on the label. This will help you find the proper alignment value.