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Printer Print Quality Adjustments for a Zebra ZD620 Printer
Printer Print Quality Adjustments for a Zebra ZD620 Printer

Is the print somewhat faded or inconsistent, especially on or near the edges?

Tracey Straub avatar
Written by Tracey Straub
Updated over a week ago

โ“˜ This article is for Event Organizers

Changing your Zebra printer settings on your Zebra ZD620 printer because your badge print quality is fading is a simple, quick task. Simply follow the process noted here.


Before going any further, it is important to note that a cold printer needs some time to warm up and reach room temperature. In addition, each printer should have at least 5 badge print attempts before assessing the print quality, as the printhead inside needs to also heat up.


If the printer is warm and has consistently produced unexpected print quality, then let's move on. We will explore four potential solutions to resolve issues related to poor print quality and/or faded edges. The positive news is that these are Direct Thermal Printers, eliminating concerns about low toner, as they do not utilize toner.

Potential Solutions include:

  1. Ensure the Printer Lid is set correctly

  2. Increase the darkness setting

  3. Reduce the print speed setting

  4. Clean the printer's printhead

It is important to note that a cold printer needs some time to warm up and reach room temperature. In addition, each printer should have at least 5 badge print attempts before assessing the print quality, as the printhead inside needs to warm up.


Ensure the Printer Lid is set correctly

First and foremost, let's conduct a straightforward test related to the printer's lid. The internal printhead needs to apply consistent pressure to the printing media while transferring heat from the heating element. This pressure should be evenly distributed across the badge's width to ensure uniform image transfer.

To perform the test, open the printer's lid and then close it with some pressure, making sure not to slam it. Once closed, you'll hear a click, and feel free to apply a slight downward push on the center of the lid to ensure it's securely closed.

Once done, go ahead and . . .

Then print another badge. If this did the trick, great! If not, please read on for additional solutions.


Increase the darkness setting & Reduce the print speed setting

On the home screen of the 620, hit the hard button under the Home icon.

On the following Settings screen, make sure the gear icon is highlighted with the arrow keys, press the check mark in the middle of the directional arrow buttons to enter the settings:

Click the right arrow until you get to the two needed settings that you can make adjustments to; Darkness and Print Speed. Please do not change any other settings as part of this process.

Darkness will appear first and when you reach this settings simply hold down the "up arrow" until you reach "30."

Once done, click the right arrow button > and the next setting will appear, Print Speed. Hold down the "down arrow" until you reach "2."

You have now successfully changed the Darkness to the maximum setting and changed the Print Speed to the slowest setting.

Now go ahead and print another badge. If this did the trick, great! If not, please read on for additional solutions.


Clean the printer's printhead

Open the lid of the printer. The printhead is located in the lid as illustrated here.

Retrieve one of the alcohol hand wipes included in your equipment to clean the print elements from end to end. The print elements are located in the thin gray line on the printhead.

Please ONLY use the wipes provided by Expo Pass and do not use any other alcohol or hand wipes, as these may permanently damage the printhead.

Now go ahead and print another badge. If this did the trick, great! If not, please read on for additional solutions.

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