Operation Manual

Printer Setup and Operation

Ribbon Overview

P1048261-005 11/5/15

Ribbon can be wound with the coated side on the inside or outside. The ribbon used must

match the Thermal Transfer option installed. The standard Thermal Transfer option (black

ribbon spindle) uses ribbon coated on the outside, and the alternate Thermal Transfer option

(gray ribbon spindle, available on the ZM400 and RZ400 only) uses ribbon coated on the

inside. If you are unsure which side of a particular roll of ribbon is coated, perform an adhesive

test or a ribbon scratch test to determine which side is coated.

Adhesive Test

If you have labels available, perform the adhesive test to determine which side of a ribbon is

coated. This method works well for ribbon that is already installed.

To perform an adhesive test, complete these steps:

1. Peel a label from its liner.

2. Press a corner of the sticky side of the label to the outer surface of the roll of ribbon.

3. Peel the label off of the ribbon.

4. Observe the results. Did flakes or particles of ink from the ribbon adhere to the label?

Ribbon Scratch Test

Perform the ribbon scratch test when labels are unavailable.

To perform a ribbon scratch test, complete these steps:

1. Unroll a short length of ribbon.

2. Place the unrolled section of ribbon on a piece of paper with the outer surface of the

ribbon in contact with the paper.

If ink from the ribbon... Then...

Adhered to the label The ribbon is coated on the outside and can be

used in this printer.

Did not adhere to the label The ribbon is coated on the inside and cannot

be used in this printer.

To verify this, repeat the test on the other

surface of the roll of ribbon.

Adhered to the label The ribbon is coated on the outside and can be

used with the standard Thermal Transfer

option (black ribbon spindle). In the ribbon

loading procedure, instructions are marked

with this symbol.

Did not adhere to the label The ribbon is coated on the inside and can be

used with the alternate Thermal Transfer

option (gray ribbon spindle). In the ribbon

loading procedure, instructions are marked

with this symbol.