Print Quality Problems
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Print Quality Problems

If print quality problems occur, use these sections to resolve issues.

No print on the label.

The printed image does not look right.

  • The printhead is dirty. Clean the printhead.
  • The printhead is under temperature.
  • Adjust the print darkness and/or print speed.
    • Use the
      ^PR
      (speed) and
      ~SD
      (darkness) commands referenced in the ZPL Programming Guide available from zebra.com/support.
    • Use the
      D
      (darkness/density) and
      S
      (speed) commands in the EPL Programmer’s Guide available from zebra.com/support.
    • Manually adjust print darkness with the six-flash sequence of FEED Button Modes.
    • The Windows printer driver or the application software may change these settings and may require a change to optimize print quality.
  • The media being used is incompatible with the printer. Use the recommended media for your application, and always use Zebra-approved labels and tags.
  • The printhead has worn out. The printhead is a consumable item and will wear out due to friction between the media and the printhead. Using unapproved media may shorten life or damage your printhead. Replace the printhead.
  • The platen may need cleaning or replacement. The platen (driver) roller may be losing traction due to:
    • Foreign objects attached to its surface,
    • The rubbery smooth surface has become polished and slippery, or
    • There is damage to the usually smooth and flat print surface such as from box-knife cuts.

There are long tracks of missing print (blank vertical lines) on several labels.

  • The printhead is dirty. Clean the printhead.
  • The printhead elements are damaged.

Print does not start at the top of the label or misprinting of one to three labels.

  • The media may NOT be threaded correctly. See Loading Roll Media.
  • The printer may need to be calibrated for the media you loaded. Refer to details of the two-flash sequence of FEED Button Modes.
  • For ZPL label formats:
    • The correct media sensor may not be activated. See Manual Calibration to make sure the correct media-sensing method is being used for the labels you loaded. Also seethe
      ^MN
      command in the ZPL Programming Guide available from zebra.com/support.
    • Verify that the Label Top (
      ^LT
      ) command is correctly set for your application. See the ZPL Programming Guide.
  • For EPL label formats:
    • The correct media sensor may not be activated for label dispensing, blackline or notch sensing, or Gap/Web sensing. Manual calibration selects the media sensing method for the labels being used. See the
      O
      and
      Q
      commands in the EPL Programmer’s Guide available from zebra.com/support.
    • EPL label formats—Verify that the Set Label Length (
      Q
      ) command is correctly set for your application, See the EPL Programmer’s Guide.

A ZPL label format was sent to, but not recognized by the printer.

  • Is the printer in pause mode? If so, press
    FEED
    .
  • If the status LED is on or flashing, see Status Light Descriptions and Error Resolutions.
  • Make sure the data cable is correctly installed.
  • A communications problem has occurred. First, make sure that the correct communications port on the computer is selected. Refer to Connecting your Printer to a Device.
  • Verify the correct Format and Control Prefix on the printer match what you are using in your ZPL programmed label format. The default format (
    COMMAND CHAR
    ) is caret (
    ^
    ) and the Control (
    CONTROL CHAR
    ) is a tilde (
    ~
    ) character. Verify the characters with the Configuration Status label printout. Refer to the one-flash sequence of FEED Button Modes for instructions on printing this label.

An EPL label format was sent to, but not recognized by the printer.

  • Is the printer in pause mode? If so, press
    FEED
    .
  • If the printer has label dispensing enabled, the printer may be waiting for the label to be removed. The liner/web must be properly threaded through the label-dispenser mechanism (peeler) to correctly operate in label dispense mode, refer to Label Dispenser Option.
  • If the status LED is on or flashing, see Status Light Descriptions and Error Resolutions.
  • Make sure the data cable is connected properly.
  • A communications problem has occurred. Make sure that the correct communications port (USB) on the computer is selected. See Connecting your Printer to a Device.