Printer Setup
47
Determine the Type of Ribbon to Use
NOTE: This section applies only to printers that have the Thermal Transfer option installed.
What kind of ribbon can I use? Rolls of ribbon are wound with the coated surface of ink on the inside of
the roll or on the outside of the roll. This printer with a standard Thermal Transfer option uses ribbon that is
coated on the outside. An optional ribbon spindle is available to use ribbon that is coated on the inside.
Contact your authorized Zebra reseller for ordering information.
If you are unsure which side of a particular roll of ribbon is coated, perform an adhesive test or a ribbon
scratch test to determine which side is coated.
Adhesive Test If you have labels available, perform the adhesive test to determine which side of a ribbon
is coated. This method works well for ribbon that is already installed.
1. Peel a label from its liner.
2. Press a corner of the sticky side of the label to the outer surface of the roll of ribbon.
3. Peel the label off of the ribbon.
4. Observe the results. Did flakes or particles of ink from the ribbon adhere to the label?
Ribbon Scratch Test Perform the ribbon scratch test when labels are unavailable.
1. Unroll a short length of ribbon.
2. Place the unrolled section of ribbon on a piece of paper with the outer surface of the ribbon in contact
with the paper.
3. Scratch the inner surface of the unrolled ribbon with your fingernail.
4. Lift the ribbon from the paper.
5. Observe the results. Did the ribbon leave a mark on the paper?
If ink from the ribbon... Then...
Adhered to the label The ribbon is coated on the outside and can be used in this
printer.
Did not adhere to
the label
The ribbon is coated on the inside and cannot be used in the
standard printer. To verify this result, repeat the test on the other
surface of the roll of ribbon.
If the ribbon... Then...
Left a mark on the paper The ribbon is coated on the outside and can be used in this
printer.
Did not leave a mark on
the paper
The ribbon is coated on the inside and cannot be used in the
standard printer. To verify this result, repeat the test on the other
surface of the roll of ribbon.