Zebra Printer Calibration Setting

Setting Up Zebra Printer for Badge Printing with EventNook

Zebra desktop printers such as the Zebra ZD500 and ZD620 are perfect for on-site event badge printing. This guide will assist you in understanding setting up your Zebra printer and calibrating your printer.


Zebra Printer Setup

1. Media Type and Sensor Adjustment

Zebra printers support three types of media sensors for badge paper calibration:

  1. Gaps/Notches (Web Sensing)

  2. Black Marks (Mark Sensing)

  3. Continuous Labels

To configure the media type:

  1. Navigate to SETTINGS on your printer.

  2. Under MEDIA TYPE, select:

    • GAP/NOTCH for labels with gaps or notches,

    • MARK for labels with black marks, or

    • CONTINUOUS for continuous labels.


2. Direct Thermal & Thermal Transfer Printing

Zebra printers support two printing methods:

  • Direct Thermal: Uses heat-sensitive labels (no ribbon required).

  • Thermal Transfer: Uses a ribbon for printing (requires mono-color ribbon roll such as Black ribbon).

To set the printing method:

  1. Go to SETTINGS on your printer.

  2. Under PRINT METHOD, select:

    • DIRECT THERMAL for heat-sensitive labels, or

    • THERMAL TRANS for ribbon-based printing.


3. Top & Left Position Adjustments

These settings allow you to make small adjustments to the starting position of your labels (top and left margins). This can be useful if your print is slightly off-center.

To adjust:

  1. Go to SETTINGS on your printer.

  2. Modify the Top and Left positions as needed.

For more detailed instructions, refer to Zebra Support.


4. Print Width

The print width controls the maximum width of your label. By default, it is set to the full width of the label. If your badge is getting cut off, increase the print width in SETTINGS.

Print Width in dots

DPI 203 printer: 4.09 inches x 203 DPI = 830 dots

DPI 300 printer: 4.09 inches × 300 DPI = 1,227 dots


5. Tear-Off Adjustment

The Tear-Off setting allows you to fine-tune label positioning cut-off point alignment.

To adjust:

  1. Go to SETTINGS.

  2. Use the TEAR OFF option to move the label:

    • Press (-) to move the label back.

    • Press (+) to move the label forward.

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