Print Operations
Determining Printer Configuration
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P1062653-002 Rev. A ZD500 Series™ Thermal Transfer Printer User’s Guide 1/16/2014
Determining Printer Configuration
The ZD500 Series™ printer uses the configuration report to provide the printer’s status for
both ZPL. Operational status (darkness, speed, media type, etc.), installed printer options
(network, interface settings, cutter, etc.) and printer description information (serial number,
model name, firmware version, etc.) are all includes on the status label. See Test Printing with
Configuration Report Printouts onpage 27 to print this label.

Thermal Printing

Modes of Printing

You can operate this printer in many different modes and media configurations:
• Direct thermal printing (which uses heat sensitive media to print).
• Thermal transfer printing (which uses ribbon to heat transfer print to the media).
• Standard Tear-Off mode allows you to tear off each label (or batch print a strip of labels)
after it is printed.
• Label Dispense Mode: If an optional dispenser is installed, the backing material can be
peeled away from the label as it is printed. After this label is removed, the next one is
printed.
• Media Cutting: If an optional media cutter is installed, the printer can cut the label liner
between labels, receipt paper or tag stock depending upon the cutter option purchased.
• Stand-alone: The printer can print without being connected to a computer using the
printer’s auto running label form feature (programming based) or by using a data input
device connected to the printer’s serial port. This mode accommodates data input devices,
such as scanners, weigh scales, a Zebra Keyboard Display Unit (ZKDU), etc.
• Shared network printing: Printers configured with the Ethernet interface option include an
internal print server with ZebraLink™ printer configuration web page and ZebraNet™
Bridge software for managing and monitoring status of Zebra® printers on a network.
Caution • The printhead becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the
printhead and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the printhead. Only use the cleaning
pen to perform printhead maintenance.
Caution • The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the
human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the printhead or electronic
components used in this device. You must observe static-safe procedures when working
with the printhead or the electronic components under the top cover.