Have just put a new reel of labels on and the print quality has gone very faint.

Several checks:
- Just saying...Ribbon sometimes is placed in the wrong sense and it doesn't print.
- Verify the settings at printer driver. Download a powerful Driver from here: http://www.nicelabel.es/downloads/nicelabel-designer-pro/?uid=10004, and test the darkness option by printing with different measures at each time.
- If that doesn't work, we can check it again, but you should first test this options.

See if it still happens using a fresh label roll. From the Dymo 450 User Guide the common causes of poor print quality issues.

Poor print quality is most frequently caused by one of the following:
• An old roll of labels
• Labels made by a manufacturer other than DYMO
• Labels where the thermal coating has been compromised
• A dirty print head
First, make sure you are using DYMO-branded labels. Do not use third-party labels because the thermal coating on other labels has a different sensitivity than DYMO-branded labels. Also, the perforated holes between the labels made by other manufacturers are frequently not detectable by LabelWriter printers.
If the print quality becomes faint, small dots of white appear scattered through the printed characters, or light and dark patches of printing appear, you are probably using a faulty roll of labels. Try using a different roll from a fresh box. If the second roll prints correctly, the problem is with the first roll of labels.
Another possibility is that the LabelWriter print head needs cleaning. Every LabelWriter printer comes with a cleaning card. See "Caring for Your Printer" on page 17 for information about the
LabelWriter cleaning card.

first you should check the the quality of your paper roll if it doesnt solve your problem you need to change the thermal print head

Hi. Thanks for your question

Print fainting could be caused by number of reasons. First think to check is ink roll. Replacing with new one would get this out of the way. If it still faints next thing I would do is once you opened the cover try and clean the print head and any visible rollers underneath the labels. Print heads can be cleaned with any alcohol solution. Best would be some kind of electronics cleaning solution. next thing to check would be labels themselves. It happened to me that labels where simply not very well finished and ink would not stick to them. Try roll of labels from other box you may have. If this all failed and your printer still faints labels that it never used to it could be the worse. Your print head may need replacing although this is very unusual for them to fail in this way.
I hope this helped you. Please don't hesitate to come back and ask more questions if this is needed. I've worked with thermal printers for 7 years now and I am sure we can find some solution to your problem.
Thanks for using FixYa

Clean the print head ... open the printer software in the printer folder and look around for a maintenance tab ... follow the instructions.

If you are using a windows printer driver then perhaps you have "Direct Thermal" selected in the printer preferences. The driver setting will override anything you have set in the printer. So every time you send a new print job the settings get changed to what they are in the driver.

TRY PUTTING NEW BATTERIES IN THE DEVICE AND THE LETTING WILL GET DARKER SO YOU CAN SEE IT

ROD

Have you gone into printer properties when printing the item then click advanced check what the settings are on. Your default settings may be to print draft quality which produces faint picture because it uses dramatically less ink. If you need further assistance let me know. Also a brand new printer of higher quality can be purchased for around 30$. So repair is definitely not a viable option if it is not a setting problem.
Thank you,
lee

Here is the Dymo site for this issue:
https://global.dymo.com/enUS/RNW/RNW.html?pg=std_alp.php?p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_page=1&p_cv=&p_pv=2.22&p_prods=21%2C22&p_cats=&p_hidden_prods=&prod_lvl1=21&prod_lvl2=22&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

Type "light print" into the search box and the first result is the link you are looking for.
Here is the text of the link:

Poor Print Quality from Electronic Labelmaker Question I have an electronic labelmaker that is printing poorly. The print on the label is either very light, incomplete, or striped. How can I resolve this?
Answer Proceed with the solutions listed below if you have an electronic labelmaker. If you have a LabelWriter printer that is printing poorly, click here.
Solution 1:
Replace the existing batteries with a new/fresh set of alkaline batteries. The print head requires a significant amount of battery power to ensure proper printing on the label. Light print on the label may be an indication that the batteries need to be replaced.
Solution 2:
Replace the existing tape cassette with a new tape cassette. Light printing may be an indication of bad label stock.
Solution 3:
Using the special brush supplied with your labelmaker (located on the inside cover of the cassette compartment) or a cotton swab with a soft solvent (e.g. rubbing alcohol), carefully clean the transporter roller and print head. Dust, dirt, or glue may accumulate on the rubber transport roller or print head inside the cassette compartment and adversely affect print quality.
If the solutions listed above do not resolve the problem, please contact DYMO Technical Support to obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) Number.
Obtaining a Return Material Authorization (RMA) Number:

1. Click the Ask a Question tab at the top of this FAQ.
2. Fill out the email form completely and include the following information in the Problem Description field:

• Full Name
• Full Shipping Address (No PO boxes)
• Phone Number
• Date of Purchase
• Model Name/Number

-hope this helps.

You probably can not repair it. I will say this though, be careful to get the right labels for it.