A firmware is a resident software, embedded in a flash memory on the main board and that operates as a layer between the hardware and the software. It is mainly used to directly manage the resource and is provided by Evolis for exclusive use with its printers.

A regular update is strongly advised to receive all the latest improvements:

• Enhanced performances

• New command(s) and feature(s)

• Bug fixing.

Each main board has its own firmware, which can be downloaded from this website.

Note:
The Secution printer has got 2 firmwares : a first one for the printing station and another one for the lamination station. You can up-to-date these 2 firmwares using only one file (*.exe)

A driver is software used to communicate with the printer through the computer in order to manage ribbon choice, print intensity, contrast, insertion modes, magnetic settings, lamination settings, etc.

The driver also broadcasts internal notification and information from the printer. The driver must be installed before the first use of the printer and must be compatible with the target operating system.

Administrator rights are required for its installation.

To know the driver version in use by the computer, open the Driver Properties/Graphic screen and click the About menu item.

The driver version will be required by Evolis whenever you need assistance.

To know the firmware version of an Evolis printer, open the Driver Properties/Tools menu screen and click the Printer self test button:

A technical test card will then be output to the printer, stating the current firmware version of the printer, as shown below:

Dualys 3 drivers are available for the following platforms:

• Windows XP (32 bit) /2003/Vista (32- & 64-bit)

• Windows 7 32/64 bit

• Mac OS X 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 & 10.6

• All Linux-based platforms.

Monochrome printing can be performed with different color ribbons:

• Black

• Blue

• Green

• Red

• Gold

• Silver

• Scratch-off (not for the Tattoo 2 )

• White

• Black Wax

The difference between the standard black monochrome ribbon and the Black Wax one is in the ink composition. The Black Wax ribbon will enable you to print on cards (ABS, PET, paper …) which are not compatible with the standard black ribbon.

It’s not possible to print with an YMCKO ribbon on a card that has already been printed with this ribbon. The ink can be applied only once on each side of the card.

In fact, printing will optimize colors only on a white background.

If the printer skips ribbon panels during the printing process, please check the following points:

1. Make sure you are using a genuine Evolis ribbon (not a generic one)

2. Make sure the printer has been upgraded with the latest firmware

3. Within the Driver Properties/Graphic screen, make sure that the selected ribbon type is correct and click on the Set Ribbon button to validate

4. Make sure there is a color ribbon inside the printer. Open the Driver Properties/Tools/Bi-directional communication screen and send the following command which will adjust the color sensor:
   Sa;c.

If you still have the same glitch even after following these points, please contact your Evolis reseller or distributor.

If no LED light is on, including the power button, please check the following points:

1. Is the power supply connected to a live electrical wall socket?

2. Is the power supply an Evolis one?

3. Is the power supply faulty? (The power supply displays a green light when it operates properly).

4. Is the power supply suitably connected to the printer?

The “User’s Guide” provides you a clear explanation of every LED on the control panel.
This guide is available on the Evolis CD-ROM shipped with the printer, or, it can also be downloaded from our website. 

Printers with a LPT port (models before Pebble4) can be networked via a print server.

Click on the following link to access technical details on print servers that have been successfully tested with Evolis printers:

• D-link dp-301P+

• Axis 5400+

The dimensions of the card that will be used with the Evolis printer must be strictly respected. These dimensions correspond to the ISO CR80 norm as described below:

For the card thickness a manual gauge will allow you to use cards from 0.25 (10mil) to 1mm (40mil)

Printing and magnetic data can be sent to the printer through the Evolis Ethernet port. Smart or/and contactless encoding data have to be handled locally.

Card 5 offers 2 possible ways of sending the printing/encoding job to the printer: (1) by using the integrated Evolis driver (DCL Driver), or (2) by using the Windows Evolis driver (installed by the user).

• With the DCL driver, magnetic encoding requires no adjustment, except for the level of coercitivity.

• With the Windows Evolis driver, the Lead-in code and Trailer have to be changed from the Evolis driver or from Card 5.

In the Evolis Driver Properties/Tools/Encoder Settings screen, change the Lead-in and the Trailer values as shown below:

The data that can be encoded on the track depends on the encoding format/standard:

• ISO1 accepts up to 76 alphanumeric characters, from A to Z and from 0 to 9

• ISO2 accepts up to 37 numeric characters, from 0 to 9

• ISO3 accepts up to 104 numeric characters, from 0 to 9

• SIPASS accepts up to 21 numeric characters

• C2: custom mode

• JIS2: Japanese industrial standard.

This issue relates to the quality of the card.

The card’s flatness (which is really important with sublimation printers) is thinner around the chip area. Ink cannot be applied appropriately onto this area.

The only way to resolve this defect is to use higher-quality cards.

A color profile may solve this issue; check the following points:

• The color profile of your screen needs to be installed on your computer. Contact your IT Manager for more information.

• Select the Evolis color profile from the printer driver as indicated below:

Open the Driver
Properties/Color Management screen and select the Evolis Profile (evolis_profile_v701) which was installed during driver setup.

The resolution, i.e. the details in an image, is of 300 dpi (11.8 dots/mm).