Zebra Technologies Z6Mplus manual Print Quality Problems and Solutions

Troubleshooting

Print Quality Problems

Print Quality Problems

Table 13 • Print Quality Problems and Solutions

Issue	Potential Problem	Recommended Solution
General print quality issues	You are using an incorrect media	Consult your authorized reseller/distributor
	and ribbon combination for your	for information and advice.
	application.
	The printer is set at an excessive	For optimal print quality, set the print speed
	print speed to achieve optimal	to a lower setting via ZPL II, the driver, the
	quality.	software, or the front panel.
	The printer is set at an excessive	For optimal print quality, set the darkness
	darkness level to achieve optimal	level to a lower setting via the front panel,
	quality.	the driver, or the software.
	The printhead is dirty.	Clean the printhead according to the
		instructions in Clean the Printhead and
		Platen Roller on page 77.
	There is light printing (or no	The pressure adjustment dials need to be
	printing) on the left or right side	adjusted. Follow the printhead pressure
	of the label or the printed image	adjustment instructions on Set Printhead
	is not sharp.	Pressure on page 46.
Gray lines on blank labels	The printhead is dirty.	Clean the printhead according to the
with no consistent pattern		instructions in Clean the Printhead and
		Platen Roller on page 77.

Light, consistent vertical lines	The printhead or platen roller is
running through all labels	dirty.

Clean the printhead, platen roller, or both according to the instructions in Clean the Printhead and Platen Roller on page 77.

Intermittent creases on the left and right edges of the label

There is too much pressure on the printhead.

Reduce the printhead pressure. See Set Printhead Pressure on page 46.

Wrinkled ribbon	The ribbon is not loaded	Load the ribbon correctly. See Load the
	correctly.	Ribbon on page 40.
	The darkness setting is incorrect. Set the darkness to the lowest possible
		setting for good print quality. See
		DARKNESS on page 57.
	Incorrect printhead pressure or	Set the pressure to the minimum required for
	balance.	good print quality. See Set Printhead
		Pressure on page 46.

The media is not feeding correctly. It is walking from side to side.

Make sure that the media guide and media supply guide touch the edge of the media.

13163L Rev. 3 5/20/2004 Z4Mplus/Z6Mplus User Guide 91