Changing your Zebra printer settings on your Zebra ZD621 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:

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.

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.

On the home screen of the 621, touch the "Menu" icon to get into the main menu screen:

After getting into the menu screen, tap the Printer icon

In the printer settings, tap "Print Quality"

Once in the image adjust, we have two settings to modify: 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 drag the bar until you reach "30."

Once done, click the back arrow in the upper lefthand corner. Then click the next setting, Print Speed. drag the bar 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.

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.