58 ZXP Series 9 Card Printer Service Manual P1086708-001
Software
Printer Conguration
y Black monochrome bitmap images
y Color bitmap images
These elements may not always be sent to the driver as expected. For example, a barcode may be
sent as black text, a series of black area lls, or a black monochrome bitmap. Results will depend on
the application used to create the card design. Another variable, again controlled by the card design
application, is the precedence (stacking order) of the various element types in the event that one or
more of them overlap.
If the printer is set up to print both YMC and K on the same side, text, lines and pixels, area lls and
monochrome bitmaps—if (and only if) designated black by the application—can be directed to the
K panel. For this to happen, the graphic type in question has to be selected on the “Black Panel
(K)” tab. For text, lines and pixels, area lls and monochrome bitmaps the designation “black” is set
at RGB values of 0,0,0. This threshold can be adjusted up to 25,25.25, with the Black level slider
adjustment. Near-black doesn’t qualify.
In the Black Panel (K) tab, the “element selection” portion is straightforward—simply designate any
or all of these three graphic types to be printed in K, either K alone, or over process black (YMC).
In the Black Panel (K) tab, the “element selection” portion is straightforward—simply designate any
or all of the three graphic types to be printed in K, either K alone, or over process black (YMC).
Black extraction is quite different. It applies only a fourth graphic type – the color bitmap image. To
perform black extraction, the driver generates a K image by looking for black features (pixels) in the
color bitmap, that is, instances where all three YMC values are at, or close to, the maximum (full
intensity). Each such true-black or near-black instance generates a corresponding cluster of black
pixels in the extracted image, which will be printed with the K (black) panel either on top of the YMC
image, or replacing it entirely – your choice.
A problem that can arise when K is extracted from an entire card image is over-emphasis of every
black cluster; e.g., dark hair in a portrait photo or scenic background. K overprinting in such areas
can be displeasing. To deal with this, set up exclusion zones within which no extraction is performed.
Six such areas are provided for on each side of the card, independently. In the default state, all
areas are null (0,0 offsets, and zero size).
To extract black areas from color images (use the K panel instead of the Y, M, and C panels), several
selections must be made:
Select black panel extraction type
y Disable black extraction – does not use the K panel for any part of the image. This selection
will have the effect of rendering all black images as YMC composite.
y Print YMC composite and K black – uses both the K panel and the Y, M, and C panels to
print the portions of the image that are identied as black. This selection will result in a dark,
black image; but the edges will be smooth (due to YMC printed under the K), not the sharp
edges typically desired for a barcode.
y Print all black data – uses only the K panel to print the portions of the image that are
identied as being black. Note that the areas that are identied as black are based on the
threshold selections made in the black level area in the black extraction from color images
area; see Page 84.
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