DNP Printer Guide

Updated Today · 8 min read

DNP (Dai Nippon Printing) printers are the industry standard for photo booth printing. Their dye-sublimation technology delivers lab-quality prints with vibrant colors, smooth skin tones, and a durable finish that resists water, smudges, and fading. This guide covers setup, configuration, and troubleshooting for the DNP printers most commonly used with Foto Master software.

Common DNP Models

Two DNP models dominate the photo booth market:

DNP DS-RX1HS

Print speed -- 4x6 print in approximately 12.3 seconds
Media capacity -- Up to 700 prints per roll (4x6)
Print sizes -- 4x6, 2x6 strips (cut from 4x6 sheet), 6x8 (with 6x8 media)
Connection -- USB 2.0
Weight -- Approximately 12 kg (26.5 lbs)
Best for -- Operators who want the fastest 4x6 print speed and primarily work with 4x6 or 2x6 strips

DNP DS620A

Print speed -- 4x6 print in approximately 8.8 seconds
Media capacity -- Up to 400 prints per roll (4x6)
Print sizes -- 4x6, 5x7, 6x8, 2x6 strips
Connection -- USB 2.0
Weight -- Approximately 12.7 kg (28 lbs)
Best for -- Operators who need flexible print sizes, including 5x7 and 6x8 alongside standard 4x6

Tip: If you only print 4x6 and 2x6 strips, the DS-RX1HS offers a larger media capacity per roll, which means fewer mid-event media changes. If you need 5x7 or 6x8 prints, the DS620A is the more versatile choice.

Initial Setup

Step 1: Install the Windows Driver

Download the latest DNP printer driver from the DNP Imagingcomm America website (search for your model under "Downloads")
Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts
When prompted, do not connect the printer via USB yet -- let the driver install first
Restart your computer after the driver installation completes

Step 2: Connect the Printer

Power on the DNP printer and wait for it to complete its initialization cycle (the status light will turn solid green)
Connect a USB cable from the printer to your booth PC
Windows should detect the printer automatically using the driver you installed
Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and confirm the printer appears (for example, "DNP DS-RX1HS" or "DNP DS620A")
Print a Windows test page to verify the connection is working

Step 3: Load Media

Open the printer's media compartment
Insert the ink ribbon cartridge first, making sure it clicks into place
Load the paper roll, feeding the paper through the paper path as shown in the printer's quick-start guide
Close the compartment and let the printer initialize the media (it will feed and cut a leader sheet)

Step 4: Select in FMX or FMPrint

Open FMX and navigate to Settings > Printer
Select your DNP printer from the dropdown list
Choose the correct print size to match your loaded media
Send a test print from FMX to confirm everything is working end-to-end

If you use FMPrint for centralized print management, add the DNP printer in FMPrint's printer configuration panel and assign it to the appropriate queue.

Media Types and Print Sizes

DNP media comes in specific sizes. You must load the correct media for the print size you want to produce.

Media Size	Print Output	Typical Prints per Roll	Common Use
4x6	Standard 4x6 prints	400-700 (varies by model)	Most popular event print size
5x7	Premium 5x7 prints	150-250	Portraits, premium events
6x8	Large format 6x8 prints	100-200	Collages, group layouts
4x6 (with 2-inch cut)	2x6 photo strips (2 per sheet)	Same as 4x6 roll	Classic booth strip format

Tip: Always bring at least one spare media set (ribbon and paper) to every event. Running out of media mid-event is preventable -- a spare set in the van avoids the entire problem.

Enabling 2-Inch Cut for Photo Strips

The 2x6 strip format uses 4x6 media with a special cut setting that divides each 4x6 sheet into two 2x6 strips.

Enabling 2-Inch Cut in the DNP Driver

Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners on your booth PC
Click on your DNP printer and select Manage > Printing preferences
In the driver settings, look for the Cut or Cutting Mode option
Enable 2-inch cut (sometimes labeled "Partial Cut" or "2x6 mode")
Click Apply and OK

Configuring in FMX

In FMX, go to Settings > Printer
Select the 2x6 strip layout in your template design
FMX will send two 2x6 images side by side as a single 4x6 print job
The printer will cut the sheet in half, producing two individual 2x6 strips

Tip: Always run a test strip before the event starts to make sure the cut alignment is correct. A misaligned cut will produce strips with uneven borders.

Color Profiles and Print Quality

Installing DNP Color Profiles (ICC Profiles)

DNP provides ICC color profiles for their printers that help ensure accurate color reproduction.

Download the ICC profile for your specific DNP model from the DNP website
Right-click the downloaded .icc file and select Install Profile
In the printer driver settings, select the installed ICC profile under the color management section

Color Matching Tips

Calibrate your booth monitor so that what guests see on screen closely matches the print output
Avoid heavy color grading in your FMX overlays and filters if print accuracy matters -- dramatic filters look different on screen versus on paper
Test prints under event lighting -- prints viewed under warm tungsten lights look different than under cool daylight
Use the "matte" finish option if available on your media for a more subdued, professional look. A glossy finish produces more vivid colors and stronger contrast.

Print Orientation Settings

The print orientation must match your template layout in FMX. Mismatched orientation results in rotated or cropped prints.

Portrait orientation -- Taller than wide (4 inches wide by 6 inches tall). Most common for single-person or couple photos.
Landscape orientation -- Wider than tall (6 inches wide by 4 inches tall). Common for group photos and horizontal layouts.
Set the orientation in both the DNP printer driver properties and in your FMX template settings. Both must agree.

If prints come out rotated 90 degrees, check that the driver orientation matches the FMX template orientation.

Using Multiple DNP Printers

For high-volume events or multi-booth setups, you can connect multiple DNP printers to increase throughput and provide redundancy.

Printer Pool in FMX

FMX supports printer pooling, which distributes print jobs across multiple connected printers:

Connect two or more DNP printers to your booth PC via USB (use a powered USB hub if needed)
Install drivers for each printer -- Windows will assign unique names (for example, "DNP DS-RX1HS" and "DNP DS-RX1HS (Copy 1)")
In FMX, navigate to Settings > Printer and enable Printer Pool or Multi-Printer mode
Add each printer to the pool
FMX will automatically route print jobs to the next available printer, providing load balancing

Load Balancing with FMPrint

For larger setups with multiple booths feeding a shared print station, FMPrint provides more advanced load balancing:

Round-robin distribution -- Sends each job to the next printer in rotation
Availability-based routing -- Sends jobs to whichever printer finishes first
Queue monitoring -- View all pending and completed jobs across all printers from a single dashboard
Failover -- If one printer goes offline (jam, out of media), jobs are automatically redirected to the remaining printers

Tip: When running multiple printers, label each printer physically (Printer A, Printer B) and match those labels to the Windows printer names. This makes it much easier to troubleshoot when one specific printer has an issue at an event.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

White Lines on Prints

White horizontal or vertical lines across your prints are usually caused by dust or debris on the thermal print head or rollers.

Power off the printer and unplug it
Open the media compartment and remove the ribbon and paper
Use a DNP-approved cleaning kit or a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol to gently wipe the thermal print head
Clean the feed rollers with the same cloth
Let everything dry completely before reloading media
Run a test print to confirm the lines are gone

Tip: Carry a cleaning kit to every event. A quick clean between media changes keeps print quality consistent throughout a long event.

Poor Image Quality or Banding

Check media condition -- Make sure the ribbon and paper are not damaged, wrinkled, or expired. Store media in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Check driver settings -- Ensure the print quality is set to the highest level in the DNP driver properties
Update the driver -- Download the latest driver from the DNP website. Older drivers can introduce quality issues.
Inspect the ribbon path -- If the ribbon is not feeding smoothly, it can cause banding or uneven color

Paper Jams

Power off the printer
Open the media compartment
Follow DNP's jam-clearing procedure for your model: gently pull the jammed paper in the direction of the normal paper path (do not pull it backwards)
If the paper is torn and stuck inside, use the printer's manual feed release (refer to your model's service manual) to free it
Remove the ribbon and paper, inspect both for damage, and reload
Power the printer back on and run a test print

Do not force jammed paper or use sharp objects inside the printer. If a jam cannot be cleared with gentle pulling, contact DNP support or your dealer.

Printer Not Recognized by Windows

Try a different USB cable (use a short, high-quality cable under 6 feet)
Try a different USB port on the booth PC (avoid USB hubs for initial setup)
Reinstall the printer driver
Restart both the printer and the PC
Check the Windows Device Manager for any error indicators on the printer entry

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