General Media and Print Specifications
General Media and Print Specifications

General Media and Print Specifications

The printer has a wide variety of media and print handling variations. The range of basic media support is specified here.
For supplies that meet these requirements and are designed to work with your printer, go to zebra.com/supplies.
  • Max media width:
    • Direct Thermal printers: 108 mm (4.25 in.)
    • Thermal Transfer ZD621, ZD621R, and ZD421 Cartridge printers: 118 mm (4.65 in.)
    • Thermal Transfer ZD421, ZD421CN printers: 112 mm (4.41 in.)
  • Min. Media width for all ZD421 and ZD621 models: 15 mm (0.585 in.)
  • Media length:
    • Maximum: 991 mm (39 in.)
    • Minimum for Tear Off and Label options: 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) min. –
    • Minimum for Peel and Cutter options: 12.7 mm (0.50 in.) min. – Peel
  • Media thickness:
    • Minimum (all requirements): 0.06 mm (0.0024 in.)
    • Maximum (all requirements): 0.1905 mm (0.0075 in.)
  • Media Roll Outer Diameter (O.D.) max. – 127 mm (5.0 in.)
  • Media Roll Core Inner Diameter (I.D.):
    • Standard roll configuration:
      • 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) I.D.
      • 25.4 mm (1 in.) I.D.
    • With optional media roll adapter:
      • 38.1 mm (1.5 in.) I.D.
      • 50.8 mm (2.0 in.) I.D.
      • 76.2 mm (3.0 in.) I.D.
  • Ribbon Rolls (74 meter)
    • Ribbon length: 74 m (243 ft.)
    • Ribbon width max: 110 mm (4.33 in.)
    • Ribbon width min. (ZD421 Ribbon Cartridge printers): 33 mm (1.3 in.)
    • Ribbon core I.D.: 12.7 mm (0.5 in.)
    • Wax, wax/resin, and resin transfer materials
  • Ribbon Rolls (300 meter)
    • Ribbon length: 300 m (984 ft.)
    • Ribbon width max.: 110 mm (4.33 in.)
    • Ribbon width min. (ZD421 Ribbon Cartridge printers): 33 mm (1.3 in.)
    • Wax, wax/resin, and resin transfer materials
    Transfer ribbon should always cover the entire width of the media (and liner) to prevent damaging the printhead.
  • ZD421C Ribbon Cartridges
    • Ribbon Length: 74 m (243 ft.)
    • Ribbon width max. – 110 mm (4.33 in.)
    • Ribbon width min.: 33 mm (1.3 in.)
    • Colors available in black: Wax, wax resin, and resin transfer materials
  • Dot pitch:
    • 203 dpi: 0.125mm (0.0049 in.)
    • 300 dpi: 0.085mm (0.0033 in.)
  • Barcode modulus x-dim:
    • 203 dpi: 0.005 – 0.050 in.
    • 300 dpi: 0.00327 – 0.03267 in.

Label Dispenser (Peeler)

The printer supports a field-installed label dispense option with a label-taken sensor for batch processing labels.
  • Paper Thickness:
    • Min.: 0.06 mm (0.0024 in.)
    • Max.: 0.1905 mm (0.0075 in.)
  • Media Width:
    • Min.: 15 mm (0.585 in.)
    • Max. for Direct Thermal printers: 108 mm (4.25 in.)
    • Max for Thermal Transfer ZD621, ZD621R, and ZD421 Cartridge printers: 118 mm (4.65 in.)
    • Max. for Thermal Transfer ZD421 and ZD421CN printers: 112 mm (4.41 in.)
  • Label Length:
    • Max. for all printers (theoretical): 990 mm (39 in.)
    • Max. for Direct Thermal printers (tested): 330 mm (13 in.).
    • Max. for Thermal Transfer printers (tested):  279.4 mm (11 in.)
    • All Printers Min.: 12.7 mm (0.5 in.)

Standard (Media) Cutter

The printer supports a field-installed media cutter option for full-width cutting of label liner, tag or receipt media.
  • Medium-duty cutter for cutting label liner and light tag media (LINER/TAG).
    Do NOT use the cutter to cut through labels, adhesive, or embedded circuitry.
  • Paper Thickness:
    • Min.: 0.06 mm (0.0024 in.)
    • Max.: 0.1905 mm (0.0075 in.)
  • Cut Width:
    • Min.: 15 mm (0.585 in.)
    • Max. for Direct Thermal printers: 109 mm (4.29 in.)
    • Max. for Thermal Transfer ZD621, ZD621R, and ZD421 Cartridge printers: 118 mm (4.65 in.)
    • Max. for Thermal Transfer ZD421 and ZD421CN printers: 118 mm (4.65 in.)
  • Min. distance between cuts (label length): 25.4 mm (1 in.).
    Cutting shorter media lengths between the cuts may cause the cutter to jam or show error conditions.
By design, the cutter is self-cleaning. The internal cutter mechanism does NOT require preventive maintenance.

Linerless (Media) Cutter – Direct Thermal only

The printer supports a field-installed media cutter option for full-width cutting of linerless media.
  • A full width linerless media cutter (LINERLESS CUT).
  • Paper thickness:
    • Min.: 0.06 mm (0.0024 in.)
    • Max.: 0.1905 mm (0.0075 in.)
  • Cut width:
    • Min.: 15 mm (0.585 in.)
    • Max.: 109 mm (4.29 in.)
    Cutting shorter media lengths between the cuts may cause the cutter to jam and show error conditions.
  • Minimum distance between cuts (label length): 25.4 mm (1 in.).
By design, the cutter is self-cleaning. The internal cutter mechanism does NOT require preventive maintenance. See Recommended Cleaning Schedule and the following media path cleaning procedures in the Maintenance section of this guide to maintain optimal operation of the cutter.