Changing the print roll

A standard DNP roll yields about 700 4×6 prints or 1400 2×6 strips. Eventually you'll run out and need to swap. This article walks through when and how.

Who this is for: Operators changing photo media themselves.

When to change the roll

The Sales tab and the dashboard header bar both show a Prints Remaining indicator. Use these to plan ahead:

  • More than 200. You have plenty for a normal day. No action
  • 100-200. Check this evening / before next event
  • 50-100. Change the roll today, before you run out mid-session
  • Under 50. Change the roll now before the next customer
  • 0. The booth has stopped printing. Change immediately

For busy events (hundreds of customers), start with a fresh roll so you don't have to swap mid-event.

Before you start

  • Have a fresh DNP roll and ribbon ready. Genuine DNP only.
  • Wash your hands. Greasy fingers on the print head reduce print quality.
  • (Optional) Take the booth out of customer service while you swap. Switch to Free Play + put a sign on the front saying "back in 5 minutes", or just do the swap quickly between customers.
  • Keep the printer powered on during the swap (the booth knows when the door is open and pauses).

Step 1: Open the printer service door

The DNP DS-RX1hs has a service door for media access. The exact location depends on how your kiosk is mounted, but it's usually a hinged or sliding panel on the side or front of the printer.

Open the door fully. The printer's status LED may change to indicate "door open."

The Printer pill in admin will turn red while the door is open. That's expected.

Step 2: Remove the empty roll

Inside the printer you'll see:

  • The paper roll on a spindle
  • The ribbon assembly (a separate cartridge or spool)

Both need to come out:

  1. Lift the paper roll out of its spindle. If it's on a removable spindle, pull the spindle out with the roll.
  2. Lift out the ribbon assembly. If it's a cartridge, just lift; if it's a separate spool system, remove both spools.

Discard the empty paper core and the spent ribbon. They're not reusable.

Warning
Do not save partially-used media for "later." Exposed media degrades. Use it up or replace it.

Step 3: Unbox the new media

Open the new DNP media box. Inside you'll find:

  • A new paper roll (sealed in plastic)
  • A new ribbon (sealed in plastic)

Don't open the plastic until you're ready to install. The media is sensitive to dust and humidity.

Step 4: Install the new ribbon

  1. Open the ribbon plastic.
  2. Identify which spool is the supply side and which is the takeup side. The DNP ribbon has clear markings or different colors on each end.
  3. Seat the ribbon into the printer following the printer's diagram (printed on the inside of the service door, or in the printer's manual).
  4. The ribbon should be taut. Not loose, not over-tight.
  5. Don't twist or fold the ribbon. A wrinkled ribbon will print streaks.

Step 5: Install the new paper roll

  1. Open the paper roll plastic.
  2. Place the roll on the spindle (or in its mounting position).
  3. Feed the leading edge of the paper through the printer's media path according to the diagram.
  4. The leading edge should be straight and clean.

Step 6: Close the door

Close the service door firmly. You should hear a click or feel it latch. The printer's status LED will indicate "ready" within a few seconds.

The Printer pill in admin should turn green when the door is closed and the printer has detected the new media.

Step 7: Run a Test Print

Always do a test print after a media change:

  1. Open admin → Diagnostics tab.
  2. Find the Test Print button (in the Diagnostics tab or the Settings tab Quick Actions).
  3. Tap it.
  4. A test print should come out within 10-20 seconds.
  5. Inspect the test print:
    • Borderless? Should be edge-to-edge with no white margin
    • Color accurate? No tinting or streaks
    • Sharp? No blurriness
  6. If the test print looks good, the swap is complete.
  7. If the test print has problems, see Printer issues (coming soon).

Step 8: Update your records

Note when you changed the roll:

  • The booth's Prints Remaining indicator will reset to about 700 (or whatever a fresh roll yields)
  • (Optional) Note the date in your maintenance log so you can predict roll life over time

How to dispose of the old media

  • Paper core: recycle as paper
  • Ribbon: general waste (not recyclable in most municipalities)

Common problems

Service door won't close.

Paper or ribbon not seated correctly. Re-open and re-seat both.

Printer pill stays red after door close.

Door not fully latched, or media misfeed. Re-open and try again.

Test print is blank.

Ribbon installed backwards. Re-seat ribbon facing the right direction.

Test print has streaks.

Ribbon wrinkled or twisted. Re-seat ribbon carefully.

Test print has wrong colors.

Defective media. Try a different roll.

Prints remaining indicator still shows old number.

Cache hasn't refreshed. Power-cycle the kiosk.

Don't do this

  • Don't force the door if it won't close. Re-seat the media instead
  • Don't reuse partially-spent ribbons. The takeup side isn't designed for re-use
  • Don't mix media batches. Use one box of paper with its matching ribbon
  • Don't touch the print head. It's fragile and oils from your skin damage it
  • Don't use third-party media. DNP-branded only

Verify it worked

The roll change is successful when:

  • The service door is closed and latched
  • The Printer pill in admin is green
  • A test print comes out clean and borderless
  • The Prints Remaining indicator has increased
  • A real customer session prints correctly

Next steps

  • Cleaning the printer. Periodic deeper cleaning.
  • Printer issues (coming soon). When the swap doesn't go smoothly.