JeterBreeze™ Label Software - Choosing a Color Printer

Things to Consider When Selecting a Color Printer.

First, there is the question of laser vs. inkjet. Both types of printers can give excellent results and one needs to weigh several factors when making this choice. Inkjets are generally less expensive to buy, but in high volume environments, laser printers usually have lower operating costs and can generally produce labels faster. Inkjets allow users to print a partial sheet of labels and then re-feed the sheet to print the remaining labels. NEVER feed a partial sheet of labels in a laser printer (pressure and heat will cause adhesive ooze). If volume of printing warrants a laser printer, but there is a need for immediate printing of individual labels, consider using one-up facestock.

• JeterBreeze Software Overview

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Inkjet Printers:

1) Look for a printer that has separate ink cartridges for different ink colors. Some printers combine the colors in one cartridge (tri-color cartridge) and you have to replace the whole cartridge when one color runs out – that can get expensive. The tri-color cartridge also does not produce the best color output for label printing.

2) Look for a printer that has a very straight paper path – feeds or pulls from the back and outputs to the front. Some brands of printers load from the front and output to the front, meaning the media has to make a pretty tight turn inside the printer - more apt to jam or cause feed problems.

Laser Printers:

1) Print quality - remember that, unlike an inkjet where the ink is actually absorbed by the media, laser printers depend on the powdered toner being fused to the media by heat and pressure. The amount and quality of the toner can make a big difference in how the colors look. Less expensive laser printers may not achieve ideal fusion of the toner to the media which can lead to flaking or chipping of the colors, especially if the file is handled a lot. In some cases we recommend the use of overlaminates (a clear adhesive covering for the label) to ensure durability for files that see a lot of handling.

2) Printer Drivers - the printer should ideally have a Post Script driver for easiest configuration and printing from our software. Not all printers have Post Script drivers, so check the manufacturer's web-site before making a purchase decision. Regardless of the driver type, you should choose settings that will a) Download TrueType fonts as bitmaps and b) NOT substitute printer fonts for TrueType fonts.

3) Printer Preferences - It is critically important to use the "Label" or "Heavy Card Stock" or similar setting under the printer preferences. This slows down the print engine, allowing for smoother feed of heavy media and more time through the fuser, thus allowing the heavier media to come to proper temperature for good toner fusion. On some printers this setting also increases the temperature at the fuser.

Basically, just about any color printer can work with our software, but you now know all the things you need to consider when making a color printer purchase.