Print Media Types

Your printer can use various types of media.

Zebra strongly recommends the use of Zebra-brand supplies for continuous high-quality printing. A wide range of paper, polypropylene, polyester, and vinyl stock has been specifically engineered to enhance the printing capabilities of the printer and prevent premature printhead wear. To purchase supplies, go to zebra.com/howtobuy.

Standard media—Most standard (non-continuous) media uses an adhesive backing that sticks individual labels or a continuous length of labels to a liner.

Continuous roll media—Most continuous roll media is direct thermal media (similar to FAX paper) and is used for receipt or ticket style printing.

Linerless media—Linerless labels have an adhesive backing, but they are wound onto a core without a liner. The media typically is perforated and may have black marks on the bottom surface of the media to indicate label separations. The top surface of linerless media labels has a special coating that keeps the labels from sticking to each other. The printer must be equipped with a special Linerless option to be able to use linerless media to keep the media from sticking to the printer.

Tag stock—Tags are usually made from heavy paper (up to 0.0075in./0.19mm thick). Tag stock does not have adhesive or a liner, and it is typically perforated between tags.

The table below provides more information on basic media types.

The printer typically uses roll media, but you can use fan-fold or other continuous media too. Use the correct media for the type of printing you require. You must use direct thermal media. When printing without a ribbon, you must use direct thermal media. When using ribbon, you must use thermal transfer media.

Types of Media Roll and Fanfold Media
Media Type	How it Looks	Description
Non-Continuous Roll Media		Roll media is wound on a core that can be 0.5 to 1.5 in. (12.7 to 38.1 mm) in diameter. Labels have adhesive backing that sticks them to a liner, and they are separated by gaps, holes, notches, or black marks. Tags are separated by perforations. Individual labels are separated by one or more of the following methods: Web media separates labels by gaps, holes, or notches. Black mark media uses pre-printed black marks on the back side of the media to indicate label separations. Perforated media has perforations that allow the labels or tags to be separated from each other easily. The media may also have black marks or other separations between labels or tags.
Non-Continuous Fanfold Media		Fan-Fold media is folded in a zigzag pattern. Fanfold media can have the same label separations as non-continuous roll media. The separations would fall on or near the folds.
Continuous Roll Media		Roll media is wound on a core that can be 0.5 to 1.5 in. (12.7 to 38.1 mm) in diameter. Continuous roll media does not have gaps, holes, notches, or black marks to indicate label separations. This allows the image to be printed anywhere on the label. A cutter can be used to cut apart individual labels. With continuous media, use the transmissive (gap) sensor so the printer can detect when the media runs out.