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Modes of Printing
5/22/2012 GC420t™ User Guide P1052686-001
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.
• 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, Zebra
®
KDU Plus™ or Zebra
®
KDU (Keyboard Display
Unit), etc.
Print Media Types
Your printer can use various types of media:
• Standard media—Most standard (non-continuous) media uses an adhesive backing that
sticks individual labels or a continuous length of labels to a liner.
• Continuous roll media—Most continuous roll media is direct thermal media (similar to
FAX paper) and is used for receipt or ticket style printing.
• Linerless media—Linerless labels have an adhesive backing, but they are wound onto a
core without a liner. The media typically is perforated and may have black marks on the
bottom surface of the media to indicate label separations. The top surface of linerless
media labels have a special coating that keeps the labels from sticking to each other. The
printer must be equipped with a special Linerless option to be able to use linerless media
to keep the media from sticking to the printer.
• Tag stock—Tags are usually made from a heavy paper (up to 0.0075in./0.19mm thick).
Tag stock does not have adhesive or a liner, and it is typically perforated between tags.
For more information on basic media types, see Table 1.
The printer typically uses roll media, but you can use fan-fold or other continuous media too.
Use the correct media for the type of printing you require. You must use direct thermal
media.When printing without a ribbon, you must use direct thermal media. When using
ribbon, you must use thermal transfer media.
Important • 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 http://www.zebra.com/howtobuy.