How can I improve my print quality? |
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Solutions Covered:
Extended or unintelligible character when using Windows 98
Solution
When you start Windows 98, a small amount of text may be sent to the local printer. When this occurs, the printer may or may not eject the page after the text is printed. The text varies, but typically includes extended or unintelligible characters. The printer may also display an error code. When you attempt to print a document you may receive a message that the printer is offline or out of paper.
Solution
This is a Microsoft issue and they have provided a solution on their website in Article ID: Q157145. www.microsoft.com
Fonts available on other models are not available on the FS-1000, FS-1200, FS-1750, FS-1800, FS-3750 and FS-3800 printers
Solution
Kyocera Corporation has changed their font manufacturer from Bitstream to Agfa and this means the fonts may have changed slightly, although most users will not notice the difference. Also as part of this change the Agfa fonts are now all scalable and not bitmap.
Solution
When using the fonts from PRESCRIBE and PCL, the font numbers and Bitstream names will work the same as previously, as long as the fonts have been selected correctly. This is done transparently by a font translation table in the printer to convert the Bitstream name to the Agfa name.
If the font selection is unclear the printer will attempt to select the closest match. As all fonts are now scalable this may produce very different results from previous printer models.
To ensure the font is close to the original Bitstream version, please ensure the printer has the latest firmware.
FS-1000, FS-1800, FS-3800 from first production.
FS-1200 : 54.04 system firmware or above.
FS-1750, FS-3750 : 56.13 system firmware or above.
Poor Print Quality even after Service Clean
Solution
An ECOSYS III printer has streaks or fine lines appearing on the printed output after a service clean has been performed. This can be caused by hairs or lines on the Developer application roller, identified in the User Manual.
Solution
The developer needs to be removed and the developer roller cleaned. Use a lint free cloth (provided with each Toner Kit). Be sure to check for fine fibres and hairs on the developer roller surface.
Caution: do not touch the developer roller with your fingers or knock with heavy objects as this can leave marks on prints.
Page formatting differences when changing between 300dpi & 600dpi under Windows
Solution
This problem is not specific to Kyocera printers but other makes of printers too.
Printers: 600dpi and 1200dpi models (also including FS-6500/+)
The differences between 300 and 600 dpi are due to the fact that Windows calculates in units of 16. If you divide 300 (dpi) by 16 you get a remainder of 12. If you divide 600 (dpi) by 16 you get a remainder of 8. This difference of the remainder amount forces rounding differences which causes the driver to make different line spacing and spaces.
Solution
To resolve this issue Kyocera now supply a general printer driver called 'Kyocera FS-Series (PCL)'. The idea behind the driver is to supply a generic FS-Series (300 dpi) driver that can be used for all Kyocera printers (300 & 600 dpi models).
You may wish to consider using this driver for specific applications, users or even generally.
This driver is now available with our general release of Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 drivers.
Printing Directly from Visual Basic
Solution
Requirements to send escape and prescribe sequences directly to the printer.
Solution
The following is an example of using the Escape API to send data to the printer using the driver.
To use these codes create a form (OutputForm) with a CMDialog box named CMD, then call the PrintOut subroutine.
Declare Function Escape Lib 'Gdi' (ByVal hDC%, ByVal nEscape%, ByVal ncount%, ByVal indata$, ByVal oudata As Any) As Integer
Sub PrintData (PCL$)
PCL$ = Chr$(Len(PCL$) Mod 256) + Chr$(Len(PCL$) \ 256) + PCL$
Result% = Escape%(Printer.hDC, 19, 0, PCL$, 0&)
Select Case Result%
Case Is < 0: MsgBox 'The PASSTHROUGH Escape is not supported by this printer driver.', 48: End
Case 0: MsgBox 'An error occurred sending the escape sequence.', 48: End
End Select
End Sub
Sub PrintOut ()
On Error GoTo SPB1
OutputForm.CMD.Flags = &HC0008
OutputForm.CMD.CancelError = True
OutputForm.CMD.Action = 5
Printer.Print ''
Call PrintData('This is a Test')
Printer.EndDoc
GoTo SPBEnd
SPB1:
Resume SPBEnd
SPBEnd:
End Sub
Extended or unintelligible character when using Windows 98
Solution
When you start Windows 98, a small amount of text may be sent to the local printer. When this occurs, the printer may or may not eject the page after the text is printed. The text varies, but typically includes extended or unintelligible characters. The printer may also display an error code. When you attempt to print a document you may receive a message that the printer is offline or out of paper.
Solution
This is a Microsoft issue and they have provided a solution on their website in Article ID: Q157145. www.microsoft.com
Fonts available on other models are not available on the FS-1000, FS-1200, FS-1750, FS-1800, FS-3750 and FS-3800 printers
Solution
Kyocera Corporation has changed their font manufacturer from Bitstream to Agfa and this means the fonts may have changed slightly, although most users will not notice the difference. Also as part of this change the Agfa fonts are now all scalable and not bitmap.
Solution
When using the fonts from PRESCRIBE and PCL, the font numbers and Bitstream names will work the same as previously, as long as the fonts have been selected correctly. This is done transparently by a font translation table in the printer to convert the Bitstream name to the Agfa name.
If the font selection is unclear the printer will attempt to select the closest match. As all fonts are now scalable this may produce very different results from previous printer models.
To ensure the font is close to the original Bitstream version, please ensure the printer has the latest firmware.
FS-1000, FS-1800, FS-3800 from first production.
FS-1200 : 54.04 system firmware or above.
FS-1750, FS-3750 : 56.13 system firmware or above.
Poor Print Quality even after Service Clean
Solution
An ECOSYS III printer has streaks or fine lines appearing on the printed output after a service clean has been performed. This can be caused by hairs or lines on the Developer application roller, identified in the User Manual.
Solution
The developer needs to be removed and the developer roller cleaned. Use a lint free cloth (provided with each Toner Kit). Be sure to check for fine fibres and hairs on the developer roller surface.
Caution: do not touch the developer roller with your fingers or knock with heavy objects as this can leave marks on prints.
Page formatting differences when changing between 300dpi & 600dpi under Windows
Solution
This problem is not specific to Kyocera printers but other makes of printers too.
Printers: 600dpi and 1200dpi models (also including FS-6500/+)
The differences between 300 and 600 dpi are due to the fact that Windows calculates in units of 16. If you divide 300 (dpi) by 16 you get a remainder of 12. If you divide 600 (dpi) by 16 you get a remainder of 8. This difference of the remainder amount forces rounding differences which causes the driver to make different line spacing and spaces.
Solution
To resolve this issue Kyocera now supply a general printer driver called 'Kyocera FS-Series (PCL)'. The idea behind the driver is to supply a generic FS-Series (300 dpi) driver that can be used for all Kyocera printers (300 & 600 dpi models).
You may wish to consider using this driver for specific applications, users or even generally.
This driver is now available with our general release of Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 drivers.
Printing Directly from Visual Basic
Solution
Requirements to send escape and prescribe sequences directly to the printer.
Solution
The following is an example of using the Escape API to send data to the printer using the driver.
To use these codes create a form (OutputForm) with a CMDialog box named CMD, then call the PrintOut subroutine.
Declare Function Escape Lib 'Gdi' (ByVal hDC%, ByVal nEscape%, ByVal ncount%, ByVal indata$, ByVal oudata As Any) As Integer
Sub PrintData (PCL$)
PCL$ = Chr$(Len(PCL$) Mod 256) + Chr$(Len(PCL$) \ 256) + PCL$
Result% = Escape%(Printer.hDC, 19, 0, PCL$, 0&)
Select Case Result%
Case Is < 0: MsgBox 'The PASSTHROUGH Escape is not supported by this printer driver.', 48: End
Case 0: MsgBox 'An error occurred sending the escape sequence.', 48: End
End Select
End Sub
Sub PrintOut ()
On Error GoTo SPB1
OutputForm.CMD.Flags = &HC0008
OutputForm.CMD.CancelError = True
OutputForm.CMD.Action = 5
Printer.Print ''
Call PrintData('This is a Test')
Printer.EndDoc
GoTo SPBEnd
SPB1:
Resume SPBEnd
SPBEnd:
End Sub