Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 1

Professionally Branding Receipts with the TSP100 and futurePRNT

Introduction This application note explains how to use the futurePRNT Configuration Utility to customize and brand receipts with logos, coupons, and watermarks with NO changes to your existing POS software! Supported Printers: TSP100ECO, TSP100USB/PUSB, TSP100LAN, TSP100GT Supported Interfaces: USB, PoweredUSB, Ethernet Supported Environments: Windows 7 (32/64-bit), Windows Vista (32/64-bit), Windows XP Star Tools Required: futurePRNT Utility, found on the Installation CD and the Star Micronics Global Support Site Other Tools Needed: Premade logo and/or coupon graphics to appear on customer receipts stored on the PC Table of Contents I. Adding Graphics to futurePRNT …………………………………………………………………. Page 1 II. Assigning a Graphic as a Logo, Coupon, or Watermark ……………………………. Page 7 III. The "Lucky Shopper" Promotion ………………………………………………………………. Page 12

I. Adding Graphics to futurePRNT 1. Ensure the TSP100 is currently installed on the PC. For installation instructions, choose the printer connection type to find documentation on Star’s FAQ Site:

TSP100 USB Printers

TSP100 Ethernet Printers

2. Click the Start button and navigate All Programs > StarMicronics > Star TSP100 > Configuration Utility

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 2

3. Select “Star Line Mode” and click OK.

4. Click “Image List” in the left menu bar.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 3

5. Click “Add New”.

6. Browse to the location of the premade graphics. Select one to save in futurePRNT and click “Open”.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 4

7. The selected graphic appears in the above editor screen. These controls enable users to fine tune an image before storing it in futurePRNT, with all changes being previewed in the top window as they are made. The customization components on this screen are described below.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 5

8. Enter a name for the graphic in the “Image ID Name” field to easily identify it within futurePRNT. If desired, reduce the width of the graphic by sliding the scroll bar to the left or typing a number in the text field.

9. Change the dithering method by choosing one of the four options. These options modify shading of the image.

10. Modify the Black, White, and Transparency levels by sliding the scroll bar or entering a number in the text field. If creating a watermark for the receipt background, increase the Transparency setting until the image is light enough for text to be easily read when printed on it.

11. Once the graphic looks satisfactory in the preview window, click “Test Print” to check the actual printed quality. Then, click “Use Image” to store it within futurePRNT.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 6

12. The graphic is stored in futurePRNT. It appears in the “Image List”.

13. Repeat steps 5 ~ 10 until all desired graphics have been modified and added in futurePRNT.

14. Click “Apply Changes” in the lower right hand corner.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 7

II. Assigning a Graphic as a Logo, Coupon, or Watermark

1. Click “Logos & Cropping” in the left menu bar. This screen assigns the print location of the stored graphics. Top Image List: Graphics assigned here print at the top of the receipt Bottom Image List: Graphics assigned here print at the bottom of the receipt Merge Image: Graphic assigned here prints behind receipt text

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 8

2. Click “Add” to assign a graphic in the desired location.

3. The above prompt appears showing all images stored in futurePRNT. Highlight the desired file in the list and choose its alignment. Then, click “Use”.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 9

4. The image is added. In the above example, this coupon will now print at the bottom of every receipt.

5. Repeat steps 2~3 until all logo and coupon images are assigned.

6. In the case where multiple images are assigned to the top or bottom of the receipt, it is possible to choose printing one at a time or all at once. Choose “Cycle” to print only one image per receipt in sequential order. Choose “Print All” to print every assigned image on every printed receipt.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 10

7. Go to the “Merge Image” section to enable watermark printing. Check “Include logos and coupons when merging” if the watermark should be visible through these graphics; if not, leave this box unchecked. Then, click “Select”.

8. Choose the desired graphic to use as the watermark and click “Use”.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 11

9. After all graphics are assigned to the proper location, click “Apply Changes” in the lower right hand corner. Congratulations! You have successfully stored graphics in futurePRNT and enabled them to print on receipts. Check out Section III of this document entitled “The Lucky Shopper Promotion” or view Star Micronics’ next futurePRNT application note detailing how to assign text triggers. Text triggers enable the printing of chosen images based on keywords and more.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 12

III. The “Lucky Shopper” Promotion This is an example marketing activity which can be run using the “Cycle” functionality in the Top or Bottom Image Lists. The “lucky shopper” promotion is equivalent to setting up a lottery at the point of sale by using two or more coupon graphics. For this demonstration, two coupons were created: one offers 5% off the next purchase, while the other offers 20%. Using futurePRNT, three customers will receive 5% as their coupon, while the fourth lucky customer will receive 20%. 1. Decide how many customers will receive a lower reward on their receipts before the higher reward prints. This example demonstrates 1 in 4 receiving the best reward, but this number can be any figure desired: 1 in 20, 1 in 50, and so on.

2. Add the coupons in the “Image List” as described in Section I.

Application Note

06/2012, V1.0 Page 13

3. In “Logo Printing and Cropping” as detailed in Section II, add the lower reward coupon for as many times as standard shoppers should receive it. Then, add the higher reward coupon. 4. Ensure “Cycle” is selected for the coupons. 5. Click “Apply Changes” at the bottom of the window. Now customers one, two, and three will receive a 5% off coupon and every fourth customer will receive one for 20%. * * * * * * * * * * * * The example listed above is just one idea of how the power of futurePRNT can help your business in providing one-to-one marketing without any extra cost to you. Remember, futurePRNT is provided for free for every TSP100 Series Printer. Be sure to visit the futurePRNT Tips and Tricks section on the Star FAQ Site to learn how the powerful TSP100 is intelligent enough to conserve paper and power for a greener tomorrow!

Star Micronics Worldwide

Star Micronics Co., Ltd. 536 Nanatsushinya Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka 424-0066 Japan +81-54-347-2163 http://www.star-m.jp/eng/index.htm Star Micronics America, Inc. 1150 King Georges Post Road Edison, NJ 08837 USA 1-800-782-7636 +1-732-623-5500 http://www.starmicronics.com Star Micronics EMEA Star House Peregrine Business Park, Gomm Road High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP13 7DL UK +44-(0)-1494-471111 http://www.star-emea.com Star Micronics Southeast Asia Co., Ltd. Room 2902C. 29th Fl. United Center Bldg. 323 Silom Road, Silom Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand +66-2-631-1161 x 2 http://www.starmicronics.co.th/

Star Micronics is a global leader in the manufacturing of small printers. We apply over 50 years of knowhow and innovation to provide elite printing solutions that are rich in stellar reliability and industry-respected features. Offering a diverse line of Thermal, Hybrid, Mobile, Kiosk and Impact Dot Matrix printers, we are obsessed with exceeding the demands of our valued customers every day. We have a long history of implementations into Retail, Point of Sale, Hospitality, Restaurants and Kitchens, Kiosks and Digital Signage, Gaming and Lottery, ATMs, Ticketing, Labeling, Salons and Spas, Banking and Credit Unions, Medical, Law Enforcement, Payment Processing, and more! High Quality POS Receipts, Interactive Coupons with Triggers, Logo Printing for Branding, Advanced Drivers for Windows, Mac and Linux, Complete SDK Packages, Android, iOS, Blackberry Printing Support, OPOS, JavaPOS, POS for .NET, Eco-Friendly Paper and Power Savings with Reporting Utility, ENERGY STAR, MSR Reading, futurePRNT, StarPRNT… How can Star help you fulfill the needs of your application? Don’t just settle on hardware that won’t work as hard as you do. Demand everything from your printer. Demand a Star!