Media Types

Media Types

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 to prevent premature printhead wear. To purchase supplies, go to www.zebra.com/howtobuy.
Your printer can use various types of media:
  • Standard media—Most standard media uses an adhesive backing that sticks individual labels or a continuous length of labels to a liner. Standard media can come on rolls or in a fanfold stack.
  • Tag stock—Tags are usually made from a heavy paper. Tag stock does not have adhesive or a liner, and it is typically perforated between tags. Tag stock can come on rolls or in a fanfold stack.
Roll and Fanfold Media
Media Type
How it Looks
Description
Non-Continuous Roll Media
Roll media is wound on a core that can be 25 to 76 mm (1 in. to 3 in.) in diameter. Individual labels or tags 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
Fanfold 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 25 to 76 mm (1 in. to 3 in.) 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. Sometimes a cutter is used to cut apart individual labels.