How to Get Your Zebra Printer to Work with Light Colored Ribbons
Thermal label printers may only be able to print with a single color ribbon roll but this doesn’t mean you’re stuck with black only. A variety of colored ribbons are available for almost every printer model in wax, wax/resin, or resin rolls. However, when you start using lighter colors of ribbon (red, yellow, pink), the printer will sometimes have difficulty sensing that a ribbon is installed properly. Most printers just need a little calibration to get up and running.
Zebra printers are some of the most commonly used label printers today and the ZM400, ZM600, and S4M are a few of the more popular models. Follow these steps from the front control panel on the printer to configure it to handle any color of ribbon with ease
Ribbon Calibration Procedure for Zebra Z-Series:
- Printer error or ready?
- Tap Setup / Exit
- Darkness should display
- Tap Previous button
- Ribbon LED is displayed
- Tap adjustment arrows
- Enter Password displayed
- Enter”1234”
- Tap Next/Save
- Tap adjustment arrows until 012 is displayed
- Tap Setup / Exit-set for permanent
- Turn off printer power and reload ribbon and labels
- Turn on power
Printer should recalibrate on startup
Ribbon Calibration Procedure for Zebra S4M:
- Printer error or ready?
- Tap menu
- Darkness should display
- Tap CANCEL or the “X” button
- Advanced setup 3 is displayed
- Tap ENTER
- Enter”1234”
- Tap ENTER
- Tap CANCEL or the “X” button 3 times
- RIBBON GAIN is on display
- Using the UP or down arrow to achieve number 200
- Tap MENU
- Tap ENTER
- Turn off printer power and reload ribbon and labels
- Turn on power
Printer should recalibrate on startup.
For any questions on setting up your printer or getting colored ribbons, contact us at Barcodes Inc.
