Variquest Poster Maker 3600 User manual

User’s Guide
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VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide iii
Copyright
This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved. No portion of this manual may be copied or
reproduced by any means without the prior consent of Varitronics, LLC.
While every precaution has been taken in preparation of this document, Varitronics assumes no
liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions or by statements
resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Varitronics further assumes no liability for
incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of this document. Varitronics disclaims
all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Varitronics reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any product or system
herein to improve reliability, function or design.
Reproduction of this material, in part or whole, is strictly prohibited without the written permission
of Varitronics, LLC. For more information contact: Varitronics®at 2355 Polaris Lane North, Suite
100, Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 USA.
Trademarks
Varitronics is a registered trademark of Varitronics, LLC. VariQuest is a trademark of Varitronics,
LLC.
All other brand or product names referenced in this manual are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.
Standard warranty
Varitronics, LLC warrants the equipment and accessories comprising the VariQuest®Poster
Maker 3600 will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one (1) year from the date
of customer purchase. Original serial number must appear on product. Removal of serial
numbers will void this warranty and any equipment and accessories that have been altered or
modified in any way and are not as originally purchased will void this warranty.
Varitronics will at its option repair, replace or refund the purchase price of any accessories,
supplies or equipment found to be defective under this warranty. THIS WARRANTY IS
EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
In the event of breach of this expressed warranty, or any other warranty, whether expressed or
implied, Varitronics liability shall be limited to the remedy provided by the preceding paragraph.
IN NO EVENT WILL VARITRONICS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, NOR WILL VARITRONICS EVER BE LIABLE FOR BREACH
OF WARRANTY, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF THE MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS, IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN
THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED BY THIS EXPRESSED
WARRANTY. No agent, distributor, salesperson, wholesaler or retail dealer has authority to bind
Varitronics to any other affirmation, representation or warranty concerning these goods.

iv VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
FCC Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communication. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility Notice)
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing
Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numerique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Reglement sur le
material broilleur du Canada.
© Varitronics, LLC
2355 Polaris Lane North, Suite 100
Plymouth, MN 55447
Phone: [phone]
Revision C

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide iv
Contents
Copyright ..................................................................................................iii
Trademarks ..............................................................................................iii
Standard warranty ....................................................................................iii
FCC Notice ...............................................................................................iv
Getting Started ........................................................................1-1
Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer ..................................................... 1-2
Items included in the Package ..............................................................1-2
Unpacking the Printer ............................................................................1-3
Positioning the Printer ...........................................................................1-4
Connecting to a Computer ....................................................................1-4
Connecting the Power Cord ..................................................................1-5
Safety Precautions .................................................................................... 1-6
Proper Use of the Printer .......................................................................1-9
Printer Features, Parts and Paper ............................................2-1
Poster Maker Features .............................................................................. 2-2
System Parts .............................................................................................. 2-5
Front View .............................................................................................2-5
Rear View ..............................................................................................2-5
Scanner .................................................................................................2-6
Printer ....................................................................................................2-6
Control Panel .........................................................................................2-7
Message Display/Standby Screen .....................................................................2-8
Poster Maker Paper ................................................................................... 2-9
Automatic Supply Sensing ....................................................................2-9
Paper Types ..........................................................................................2-9
Direct Thermal Paper (DTP)...............................................................................2-9
Thermal Transfer Paper (TTP)...........................................................................2-9
Heavy Duty Poly Paper (HDP).......................................................................... 2=9
Tips for using Poster Maker Paper ......................................................2-10
All Poster Maker Paper Types..........................................................................2-10
Direct Thermal Paper (DTP).............................................................................2-10
Thermal Transfer Paper (TTP) and Heavy Duty Poly Paper (HDP).................2-10
Paper Storage and Handling ...............................................................2-11
Removing Ink Film from TTP and HDP Paper ....................................2-11

v VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
The Basics ................................................................................3-1
Installing Poster Maker Paper ..................................................................3-2
Installing the Left Paper Bracket ...........................................................3-4
About Scanning and Printing Areas ........................................................3-5
Printing a Basic Document ....................................................................... 3-7
Printing Multiple Copies ........................................................................... 3-9
Changing the Paper Cutting Option ...................................................... 3-10
Changing the Print Mode ........................................................................3-11
Changing the Contrast ............................................................................ 3-13
Changing the Output Size ......................................................................3-15
When Output Size is Smaller than the Paper ......................................3-17
Printing Banners ..................................................................................... 3-18
Enlarging Part of a Document ................................................................3-19
Creating a Command Sheet ................................................................3-21
Printing the Enlargement .....................................................................3-22
Split Printing ............................................................................................ 3-24
Selecting the Display Units ....................................................................3-27
Advanced Features ...................................................................4-1
Advanced Setup Mode .............................................................................. 4-2
Function Descriptions .............................................................................. 4-3
Troubleshooting and Maintenance ...........................................5-1
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................5-2
Error Messages and Responses ...........................................................5-2
Problems and Solutions ........................................................................5-4
Cleaning the System ................................................................................. 5-7
Cleaning the Printer ...............................................................................5-8
Cleaning the Scanner ............................................................................5-9
Specifications ...........................................................................6-1

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 1-1
1 GettingStarted
Thank you for purchasing the VariQuest® Poster Maker 3600! To get the most from your Poster
Maker, please read this user’s guide thoroughly and follow all instructions carefully. Keep this
guide near the Poster Maker so that it is available for reference.
This chapter provides instructions for unpacking and setting up your VariQuest® Poster Maker
3600 and contains information about how to use the Poster Maker properly and safely.
The chapter contains these sections:
• "Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer," page 1-2
- "Items included in the Package," page 1-2
- "Unpacking the Printer," page 1-3
- "Positioning the Printer," page 1-4
- "Connecting to a Computer," page 1-4
- "Connecting the Power Cord," page 1-5
• "Safety Precautions," page 1-6
- "Proper Use of the Printer," page 1-9

Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer
1-2 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer
Items included in the Package
Verify that all of the following items have been included in the Poster Maker box.

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 1-3
Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking the Printer

Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer
1-4 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
Positioning the Printer
To ensure proper functioning of the printer, allow adequate space around the system as shown
below. (Units are inches/mm.) Position the printer on a sturdy, flat surface that is capable of
supporting its weight.
Connecting to a Computer
The Poster Maker provides a standard interface for connecting to a computer using a USB
connector. You will need to install the printer driver on the computer and connect the appropriate
cable. If you are connecting to the VariQuest® Design Center, the drivers are pre-installed.
CAUTION!
CAUTION!
When installing the VariQuest® Design Center Software on a PC, do not connect the
USB cable on the Poster Maker until instructed to do so during the software
installation process.

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 1-5
Unpacking and Setting Up the Printer
Connecting the Power Cord
Connect the power cord to the printer. Then insert the power plug into a three-prong wall socket.
CAUTION!
CAUTION!
Always connect the power cord to the printer before inserting the plug into a power
socket.

Safety Precautions
1-6 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
Safety Precautions
The instructions in this manual have been labeled with various types of caution and warning
symbols. These symbols indicate information that must be followed to avoid damage to property
or injury to users of the printer or people in the vicinity of the printer.
The degrees of damage or injury that may result from failing to properly follow the instructions in
this manual are classified as follows:
Different types of instructions are labeled with the following symbols. (Other symbols are also
used in this manual.)
Improper use of the printer may result in injury or
damage to property Improper use of the printer may result in serious injury or death.
Instructions labeled with this symbol must ALWAYS be followed.
An explanatory illustration will accompany the symbol.
Instructions labeled with this symbol are warnings against actions that should NEVER be
taken.
An explanatory illustration will accompany the symbol.

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 1-7
Safety Precautions
•Connect the printer to a 120V power source ONLY.
Connecting to a power source of any other voltage may result in fire or electrical
shock.
•Do not damage, crease or fold the power cord.
Altering the power cord, placing heavy objects on it or allowing it to become
damaged, creased or folded may result in fire or electrical shock.
•Do not connect the printer to a two-way or multiple-way extension cord.
Doing so may result in fire or electrical shock.
•Never insert or remove the plug with wet hands.
Doing so may result in electrical shock.
•Do not remove the cover from the printer.
Doing so may result in electrical shock.
•Always hold the plug firmly when removing it from the power socket. Do not
simply pull on the cord.
Pulling on the cord to remove the plug from the power socket or applying excessive
force when doing so may damage the cord, which may in turn result in fire or
electrical shock.
•If the printer overheats, emits smoke or gives off an unusual odor, turn off the
power switch immediately and remove the plug from the power socket.
If these problems occur, contact your Poster Maker Dealer. Continuing to use the
printer after such problems occur may result in fire or electrical shock.
•If metal objects, water or other liquids get inside the unit, turn off the power
switch immediately and remove the plug from the power socket.
If this problem occurs, contact your Poster Maker Dealer. Continuing to use the
printer after this problem occurs may result in fire or electrical shock.
•Always be sure the printer is properly grounded.
Failing to do so may cause power leakages, which may in turn result in fire or
electrical shock. If for some reason you are unable to ground the unit, contact your
Poster Maker Dealer for instructions.
•Never disassemble or modify the printer.
Doing so may result in fire or electrical shock. If the printer breaks down, turn off the
power switch, remove the plug from the power socket and contact your Poster
Maker Dealer.

Safety Precautions
1-8 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
•Do not place the printer on an unstable surface.
Doing so may cause the printer to fall, which may in turn result in bodily injury to
you or other people in the vicinity of the printer.
•Do not obstruct the ventilation slots.
Doing so may cause the internal temperature of the printer to rise to abnormally
high levels, which may cause a fire.
•Do not place vases, potted plants, metal objects, glasses or containers
holding water or other liquids on top of the printer.
If water or metal objects get inside the unit, a fire or electrical shock may result.
•Do not use the printer in areas subject to high humidity or large amounts of
dust.
Doing so may result in electrical shock.
•Never insert metal or easily flammable objects inside the unit through the
ventilation slots.
Doing so may result in fire or electrical shock.
•Do not place heavy objects on top of the printer.
Doing so may cause the printer to fall, which may in turn result in bodily injury to
you or other people in the vicinity of the printer.
•Avoid overexertion when moving the printer.
Do not try to pick up or move the printer by yourself; this may result in bodily injury.
•Never push against the printer with excessive force or tilt the system at an
angle.
Doing so may cause the printer to fall, which may in turn result in bodily injury to
you or other people in the vicinity of the printer.
•If the printer has been dropped or the cover damaged, turn off the power
switch and remove the power cord from the power socket.
If such problems occur, contact your Poster Maker Dealer. Continuing to use the
printer after such problems occur may result in fire or electrical shock.
•Before moving the printer, first turn off the power switch and remove the
power cord from the power socket.
Allowing the power cord to become damaged, creased or folded may result in fire
or electrical shock.
•If the printer will not be used for a long period of time, turn off the power
switch and remove the power cord from the power socket.
Failing to do so may cause power leakages, which may result in fire or electrical
shock.

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 1-9
Safety Precautions
Proper Use of the Printer
• When installing paper, pull the end of the roll out
so that any slack is removed from the paper.
Align the paper with the guide marks on both the
left and right. If the paper is not inserted properly,
the poster may print at an angle or the paper may
wrinkle.
• Turn off the printer power switch before opening
the cover.
• Before printing, verify that the printer cover is
properly closed by pushing down on BOTH
SIDES until it locks into place. If both sides of the
cover are not closed, only part of your poster will
print.
• Do not turn the power off while the printer is
initializing or printing. Be sure the Ready indicator
on the control panel is lit before turning the power
off.
• Do not pull the paper out of the printer during
printing. Doing so may affect the quality of the
poster.
• Before printing, be sure the cutter is positioned on
the right side of the printer. If the cutter stops
operating due to an error and you need to move it
to the right manually, hold the cutter from the
bottom (as shown below) and move it towards the
right until it stops. Do not hold the top section; this
may damage the cutter.
• Avoid pressing down on the printer or scanner
cover while the printer is in operation.
• Do not lift the paper upward during the cutting
operation. This may cause a paper or cutter jam.
Printing tip
It is best to turn the printer off before opening the cover to install paper. If you leave the printer on
and then install paper and close the cover, the printer will automatically advance the paper roll by
approximately 1.8" (45 mm), resulting in wasted paper. This does not occur if you turn the printer
off before installing paper.

Safety Precautions
1-10 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
• When manually cutting the paper with the paper
cutter, be sure the piece of paper to be cut is at
least 2" (50 mm) wide. Cutting a narrower strip of
paper could cause a paper or cutter jam.
• When moving the printer, be careful not to bend or
dent the cutter guard on the front of the system.
• Do not touch the paper cutter while the cutter is
operating. This could result in injury to yourself or
damage to the system
• Ensure that pins, paper clips and other foreign
objects are not dropped inside the printer.
• Avoid contact with the thermal heads (which
retain heat) immediately after using the printer.
Be careful not to damage the platen rubber. Do
not wipe the platen rubber with alcohol or other
solvents.
•When cleaning the printer, carefully follow the
instructions in "Cleaning the System," page
5-7. Do not use abrasive cleaners, thinners,
benzine or rubbing alcohol to clean the printer;
these may cause the plastic to deteriorate or
change color. When cleaning the thermal heads,
use only high-grade isopropyl alcohol applied to a
foam tip swab.
• Avoid placing the printer in a location where it is
subjected to direct sunlight or large amounts of
dust, or near an air conditioning or heating unit.

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 2-1
2 Printer Features, Parts and Paper
This chapter provides an overview of the major features of the VariQuest® Poster Maker 3600. It
also illustrates the system’s parts and controls and contains information about the paper you can
use with the Poster Maker.
The chapter contains these sections:
• Poster Maker Features (page 2-2)
• System Parts (page 2-5)
- Front View (page 2-5)
- Rear View (page 2-5)
- Scanner (page 2-6)
- Printer (page 2-6)
- Control Panel (page 2-7)
- Message Display/Standby Screen (page 2-8)
• Poster Maker Paper (page 2-9)
- Automatic Supply Sensing (page 2-9)
- Paper Types (page 2-9)
- Tips for using Poster Maker Paper (page 2-10)
- Paper Storage and Handling (page 2-11)
- Removing Ink Film from TTP and HDP Paper (page 2-11)

Poster Maker Features
2-2 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
Poster Maker Features
Ë You can connect the Poster Maker to the VariQuest® Design Center or to a PC on which the
VariQuest® Design Center Software has been installed. This allows you to create and print
posters directly from the computer—making the Poster Maker even easier to use!
Ë The Poster Maker is designed so that even first-time users can quickly print high-quality
enlargements of letter-sized documents. You can print up to ten copies of a document at the touch
of a button and can use three different print modes to create a variety of posters.
Ë You can easily create both horizontal and vertical signs and banners from long input documents.

VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide 2-3
Poster Maker Features
Ë Use the partial enlargement feature to enlarge an area of interest on the original document.
Ë Create posters in a variety of sizes. Paper rolls are available in 17", 23", 29" and 36" widths.
Ë Choose from a variety of paper types and colors. The printer automatically reads the paper type,
color and width from the installed roll of paper.
•
Direct thermal paper (DTP) —Cost-effective and striking, direct thermal paper is available in
several colors and is suitable for posters that will be displayed indoors.
•
Thermal transfer paper (TTP) —Similar to regular paper, thermal transfer paper resists
discoloration and is suitable for posters that will be displayed for long periods of time.
•
Heavy duty poly paper (HDP) —Heavy duty poly paper is made of plastic, which means it is
waterproof, resists discoloration and is extremely durable. It is suitable for posters that will be
displayed outdoors.
For more information, refer to
"Poster Maker Paper," page 2-9 .

Poster Maker Features
2-4 VariQuest®Poster Maker 3600 User’s Guide
Ë Connect the printer to an individual computer with a USB 2.0 cable. The printer driver is Windows
2000, Windows XP and Windows 7 compatible. As previously noted, you can then use the
VariQuest® Design Center Software to create and print posters from the computer.
Ë Both the printer and scanner are contained in one compact, light unit, making it easy to set up the
system in restricted spaces.