Mastering Print Accuracy with Epson ET-2826 and CorelDRAW

Users of the Epson ET-2826 paired with CorelDRAW often expect a seamless transition from screen to print. However, discrepancies in output size, such as a difference of 2mm from the intended dimensions, can occur. This guide delves into why these inconsistencies arise and how to resolve them, ensuring that your prints match your designs perfectly.

Understanding the Issue

The core issue here involves the printed stickers being approximately 2mm smaller than their design specifications in CorelDRAW. This problem can stem from several factors including printer settings, document setup in CorelDRAW, or even the printer hardware limitations.

Adjusting CorelDRAW Settings

Firstly, ensure that your document setup in CorelDRAW aligns with your actual print needs. Check the page size and the drawing scale. CorelDRAW provides options to set up a document in true size, but discrepancies can occur if the scale is slightly off or if the page size doesn’t match the sticker paper size.

• Document Size: Verify that the document size in CorelDRAW matches the actual size of the sticker paper you are using.
• Drawing Scale: Ensure that the drawing scale is set to 1:1. This setting will help maintain the dimensions you've set during the design phase through to the printing phase.

Printer Settings Check

On the printer side, the Epson ET-2826 must be configured to handle the specific requirements of sticker printing:

• Printer Preferences: Access the printer preferences through your computer's control panel or system settings. Ensure that the paper size matches the size selected in CorelDRAW and that no scaling options are enabled, such as 'Fit to Page' or 'Shrink to Fit'.
• Print Quality Settings: Higher quality settings can sometimes alter the way printers handle margins and scaling. Test different quality settings to see if this impacts the size of the printed output.

Handling PNG Images and Lines

The composition of your stickers in CorelDRAW, which includes both vector lines and PNG images, might also influence the final print size. Vector lines are typically more consistent in printing accurately compared to raster images like PNGs, which can vary based on resolution and quality.

• Image Resolution: Ensure that the PNG images used in your sticker designs are of high resolution. Low-resolution images can lead to unpredictable results when printed.
• Converting to Vector: If possible, convert PNG images to vector graphics within CorelDRAW. This conversion can help in maintaining the fidelity of the print size and quality.

Calibrating Your Printer

If adjustments to CorelDRAW and printer settings don't resolve the issue, consider calibrating your printer. Calibration aligns the printer’s mechanics and electronics with the software, improving accuracy:

• Using Printer Calibration Tools: Most printers come with calibration tools and tests. Run these tools to ensure that the printer hardware is accurately aligning with the output expectations.

Leveraging Support and Resources

For users who find these adjustments daunting, numerous resources are available. Check out video tutorials on the BCH Technologies YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies, where detailed guides can provide visual walkthroughs of these processes. Additionally, following our tech blog or visiting us locally in Greensboro, North Carolina, can offer more personalized assistance.

By understanding and adjusting the interplay between software settings in CorelDRAW and the hardware settings on your Epson ET-2826, achieving accurate print outputs becomes much more manageable. With the right configurations and a bit of troubleshooting, your printed stickers will match your original designs in no time.