Microfilm/fiche Printing
Tips and Troubleshooting
Media Services workers must always be prepared to give prompt assistance to patrons who need help with the printers. The printers are not especially user-friendly, so patrons unfamiliar with the machines usually require assistance. As some people are reluctant to ask for help, staff must be ready to volunteer assistance to patrons who appear to be having problems. In most cases, patrons’ problems can be remedied following the basic operating instructions found below in roman numerals I through IV. Roman numerals V through XII address other problems and their solutions
I. FOCUS
For best results, the image on the screen must be in focus. If the print on the screen is blurry, the scanned image will also be blurry. If the printout continues to appear blurred, zoom in on the image and refocus the lens. Small print will copy better if it has been magnified on screen as much as possible.
II. BRIGHTNESS
All of the machines have controls for adjusting the intensity (lightness or darkness) of the copy. Copies made from films with dark backgrounds should be lightened. Conversely, copies made from films with light backgrounds should be darkened. Careful intensity adjustment will produce a much better copy.
III. FILM QUALITY
In some cases, film quality will itself affect the quality of the printout. Films with very little contrast between the print and background or made from originals with many stains and marks will copy less successfully. In most cases, these films will copy best on machines with ScreenScan equipment. Adjusting the ScreenScan’s intensity control can eliminate many blemishes while leaving the print dark enough to read. At times, no machine will make a good copy of some illustrations or poor-quality texts.
IV. POSITIVE VERSUS NEGATIVE FILM
Nearly all of Media Services microfilms and microfiche are photographic positives. Positive film appears on screen as dark print against a lighter background. Occasionally a patron will need to use a photographic negative film. These appear on screen as white print upon a dark background. When printing from negative film, each machine can be adjusted so the printout will appear as black print on white paper, making more readable copies and wasting less toner. To adjust the ScreenScan machines, press the button on the console labeled “Positive” so that the adjacent light is unlit. The negative mode on ScreenScan will require a darker than normal intensity setting. The Minolta photocopier will automatically adjust for positive and negative, but can also be adjusted manually if the machine “misreads” the film type.
V. STREAKED COPIES
If copies have light streaks running through them, try darkening the intensity. If the copies still have light streaks, the printer is probably low on toner. Toner cartridges for the laser printers are stored in the toner cabinet on the fourth floor. For additional information on changing toner cartridges, see the page “Toner Cartridges (what goes where? And more)” on this weblog.
VI. UNUSUALLY DARK COPIES:
If a copy comes out solid dark,
the machine is most likely in the wrong mode.
If the film or fiche is positive, make sure the machine is set to
positive. If the material is negative,
make sure the machine is set to copy negative (see above). The automatic mode on the machines sometimes
mistakes positive films with dark backgrounds as negatives and attempts to
print them as such. Please avoid making too many dark copies, as they waste a great deal of
toner.
VII. OUT OF PAPER
Each copier and laser printer has a paper tray in the front or side, which may be pulled out for convenient paper loading. Be sure not to load the paper past the fill mark on the tray as this may cause jams. Make sure that the paper tray is firmly back in its place before trying to make more copies. Otherwise, the paper will not feed properly.
VIII. MACHINE WON’T TURN ON
If turning on the power switch does not cause the machine to come on, check to make sure it is plugged in and that the power strip is on. If the machine still has no power, check to see if the access door on the side has been closed properly.
If the film carriage will not advance and rewind, make sure the carriage itself is on. Some of the machines have separate power switches on their film carriages which should be left on at all times.
IX. SCREENSCAN PROBLEMS
ScreenScan machines are usually free of trouble. If the printer will not print, make sure that it has paper. If so, turn off the power strip behind the machine so that the printer and ScreenScan unit can reboot.
If the ScreenScan console has a flashing light next to the label “Error”, you will need to switch the unit off and back on. To do this, follow the cable from the console to the other purple box to which it is attached. The power button is a small black button on the rear right-side of this larger purple box.
X. THE “FISHBOWL” EFFECT
If the printout is dark around the outside edges, but becomes progressively lighter and less readable towards the center of the page, try changing the setting from 16mm to 35mm or vice versa. A knob underneath the table, on the front, left-hand side, adjusts this setting. Try whichever setting provides the most light. If adjusting this knob doesn’t work, make sure that the standard 16-35 mm lens is on the machine. If not, check another machine and swap lenses.
XI. MINOLTA PHOTOCOPIER ERROR CODES
This machine is located on the
far left of the three machines facing out the window in the sixth floor
The Minolta photocopier sometimes experiences paper jams which the error code can help you locate. A code of “P-1” indicates a jam in the back of the machine. The copier has a back panel which may be opened to expose and remove the jammed paper. Always be sure to close this panel securely or additional jams may occur.
A code of “P-3” refers to a jam somewhere inside the machine. In this case, turn off the machine and open the access door on the right-hand side. Inside will be a knob that says “Open” which will expose the section where the paper has jammed. Use caution! The machine may be hot! Be sure to close everything before making copies.
Occasionally, the machine might say there has been a jam when there hasn’t. If no jam can be found, turn the machine back on and try copying again.
2. OUT OF PAPER (P-0)
A code of “P-0” means that the machine is out of paper. The paper tray is located on the right-hand side of the machine. Be careful not to overfill the machine. At times, the machine may give this error code though it still has paper. If this happens, turn the machine off and back on. Also check to make sure the paper tray is firmly in place before trying to make another copy.
XII. UNFIXABLE PROBLEMS
If a problem proves impossible to
fix, place an out-of-order sign on the affected machine. These signs are kept in a folder beside the
ID card box under the front counter.
Always be sure to leave a note for the