Online Labels Forum

If you're using a Primera LX400 or Primera LX900 printer for the first time you've probably noticed that the process is quite a bit different than printing 8.5" x 11" sheets with a desktop inkjet or laser model. These printers are very easy to use, but the settings and options required to successfully operate them may take some getting accustomed to.

This thread will spotlight some of the printer settings that may be new to recent users who have converted from inkjet and laser printing. If you have a question about printing your labels that isn't answered in this initial post, please just let us know and we'll work to find an answer for you.

To access the Primera printer settings, open your completed label design and then click the print icon to bring up the print dialog box. From the print dialog box click on the Properties button. This should bring up a new screen with a series of options unique to your Primera LX400 or LX900 printer model.

The available options are detailed below:

Paper Size
This setting is very important - you will need to manually adjust the Paper Size option to the dimensions for the label you intend to print. Any time you wish to print a new label size, you will need to adjust this setting. Even if you selected the correct template size within Maestro Label Designer the Paper Size option will need to be set as well, or you will potentially encounter totally misaligned labels when you print.

Orientation
Choose from either Portrait or Landscape orientations. If your text and graphics print left to right, select portrait. If you want your printing to rotate 90 degrees from what you see on the screen so that it prints horizontally, select landscape.

Print Quality
There are four levels of print quality available. High quality prints take longer to complete. Selecting print quality 1 allows for the fastest print speed while print quality 4 will provide the best looking print. Higher quality settings will typically use more ink as well, so it’s important to experiment with the settings in small quantity runs to find the best setting for your specific application.

Color Matching
There are two color matching options available. “Best for Graphics” is ideal for non-photo prints. This mode uses more ink but will generally provide more vibrant printing results. “Best for Photos” should be used when printing a label that incorporates a photographic image. The print may appear slightly lighter than the Graphics option, but it will more accurately reproduce skin tones and other tricky colors that appear in Photos.

Ink Saturation
Ink Saturation controls the amount of ink being output onto your labels. The default setting is 100% and will provide the most accurate color matching. If you experience any smearing, smudging, or slow dying ink, reducing the Ink Saturation should resolve your issue.

Cartridge Alignment
You shouldn’t have to manually align your ink cartridges often. Anytime you install a new ink cartridge you will be automatically prompted to perform the alignment procedure.

Clean/Change Cartridge & Check Ink Levels
Use this series of settings to check your ink levels and install new ink cartridges. If it has been more than 48 hours since your last print, you should run a Clean/Purge cycle. This will ensure that your ink cartridge continues to function as intended and provide you with excellent print quality.

Sensor Type
This setting basically instructs the printer on how to detect the starting position for each label. The correct setting for our Primera compatible labels will always be “Through-hole/Die-Cut”.

Output Mode
There are two different output modes to choose from. Most users will likely need to select the “Present” setting. This should be the default setting, and is the correct choice if you intend to tear off single labels or strips of labels as you print them. If you are using a label rewinder attachment, you will need to use the setting titled “Do not present”.

Enable Bi-di Printing
This setting defaults to Yes for fastest printing. When enabled you will be required to perform an alignment print anytime a new cartridge is installed. You should not need to alter this setting to operate the printer successfully.

Offsets
These settings will act as a guide or wizard that will allow you to account for slight misalignment issues by shifting the design up, down, left or right.

Ink Cartridge (LX900 Only)
The Primera LX400 utilizes a single ink cartridge that includes both black and color inks. The Primera LX900 utilizes two separate ink cartridges - one for black ink and one for color inks. This setting allows you to choose whether you want to use the both ink cartridges to print, or if you’d prefer to use one of the ink cartridges individually. Using both cartridges is ideal for images that have large areas of black graphics or text. Color only is the default setting and is the best choice for most images. Monochrome Black should be used when printing large black areas or black text. This setting will ensure that no color ink is being used to approximate the black color.

Media Type (LX900 Only)
There are a variety of different material type options available to choose from. Select the one that you think most closely describes the label material that you are printing on to. Colors may appear slightly differently depending on which media type setting you select, so feel free to experiment with the different options to see which one is best for your application.

Rotate 180 Degrees (LX900 Only)
This setting allows you to rotate the printed image by 180 degrees. Enabling or disabling this setting will simply flip the output image so it leaves the printer in the opposite direction.

Hopefully this overview of Primera printer settings will make getting familiar with your new Primera LX400 or Primera LX900 a little bit less daunting. If you have any questions about the functionality of your printer model, please just let us know and we’ll be happy to assist you in any way possible. And if you have any Primera tips or suggestions of your own, please feel free to start a new thread in our Inkjet Roll Labels sub-forum!