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Print Operations
Replacing Supplies
1/13/2016 ZD420 User’s Guide 212485-001 Rev. A
Replacing Supplies
If media (ribbon, labels, receipts, tags, tickets, etc.) run out while printing, leave the printer power
on while reloading (data loss results if you turn off the printer). After you load a new media, press
the Feed button to restart.
Adjusting the Print Quality
Print quality is affected by the heat (density) setting of the printhead, the print speed, and the
media in use. Experiment with these settings to find the optimal mix for your application. Print
quality can be configured with the Zebra Setup Utility’s ‘Configure Print Quality’ routine.
The darkness (or density) setting can be controlled by:
• The Set Darkness (~SD) ZPL command (consult your ZPL Programming Guide).
• See the Manual Print Darkness Adjustment on page 111
• See the Operator Darkness Control on page 96
If you find that the print speed needs to be adjusted, use:
• The Windows printer driver or application software such as ZebraDesigner ™ .
• The Print Rate (^PR) command (consult your ZPL Programming Guide).
Use the printer’s ‘Print Quality Report’ (also known as the FEED Self Test) to print a range of
labels that help you identify print DARKNESS and SPEED settings for optimizing general print
and barcode quality. See the Print Quality Report (FEED self test) on page 101 for details.
The printer’s media settings can be verified by printing a Printer Configuration label. See the Test
Printing with the Configuration Report on page 41 for more details.
The maximum distance that the automatic media type detection and sensing will check can be
reduced by using the ZPL Maximum Label Length command (^ML). It is recommended that this
distance be set to no less than two times the longest label being printed. If the largest label being
printed was a 2 by 6 inch label, then the maximum label (media) length detection distance can be
reduced from the default distance of 39 inches down to 12 inches.
Adjusting the Print Width
Print width must be set:
• Before you use the printer for the first time.
• Any time you change the width of the media in use.
Print width may be set by:
• The Windows printer driver or application software such as ZebraDesigner ™ .
• Controlling printer operations with ZPL programming; refer to the Print Width (^PW) command
(consult your ZPL Programming Guide).
Note • Media manufacturers may have specific recommendations for speed settings for
your printer and the media. Some media types have lower maximum speeds than your
printer’s maximum speed.
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