Setting Up a Sheet Printer

If you need to print out forms, using a sheet printer is best. We’ll walk you through how to set up this type of printer in Artisan. Click here to make sure your printer meets Artisan’s requirements in order to run correctly.

Before following this tutorial, make sure your printer drivers are installed. Driver instructions vary depending on your sheet printer brand. Consult your printer driver’s instructions for further details. 

To get started, we’ll need to configure the printer. Head to the “Device Configuration” area in Artisan by clicking on “Tools” in the Toolbar, then “Program Options (Preferences)” at the bottom of the list.

This will open a menu showcasing advanced settings for other areas in Artisan. Click on “Device Configuration” at the bottom.

Notice the Stations section directly below “Device Configuration.” Click here to learn how to set up a Station. 

Next, click on “Printers.”

This opens a list of up to six printers you can use with Artisan. Note: “Printer 1” is designated for printing reports. It is strongly recommended that you do not alter this setting. Instead, choose the next available printer (in this case, “Printer 4.” We set up “Printer 2” and “Printer 3” in our Receipt Printer tutorial and Label Printer tutorial).

Choose a description for this printer, such as “Sheet Printer.”

Make sure “Print to File” is set to “No.”

Notice the section “Windows 10 Printer Name.” Artisan will automatically detect which operating system you are on, and this name will change accordingly (e.g., “Mac OS 11 Printer Name” if you’re using a Mac computer).

Though it’s easier to leave your printer set to default, there might be times where you’ll want to change this. For instance, some versions of Windows try to manage your default printer for you and end up choosing the wrong printer. To ensure you’re connected to the right printer, head into your printer settings on your computer.

For Windows users: Search for “control panel” in your Windows search bar, then click on “view devices and printers.” If there isn’t a checkmark over your selected printer, that means Windows is choosing your default printer based on which printer you print the most from. Select which printer you want to use, click on “set as default printer,” and hit “yes” when asked “do you want to override this setting?

In Artisan, select “Printer Type.” This section lets you confirm what type of printer you are using (thermal, label, sheet, etc.). Since you’re using a sheet printer, choose “Sheet.”

Note: Sometimes the “Final String” section might populate with a default set of characters. It is important to delete these characters from the “Final String” section. If you do not, your sheets will have hanging chads when printed.

If you want the printer to pause between printing copies, choose “Yes.”

Press “save” when finished.

Updated on June 20, 2023

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