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Ribbon Detected Error After Printing a Label – Zebra Designer Problem

Target Audience: IT Manager, Basic User

Article #: 13886

Summary

The ribbon sensor in a Zebra printer falsely threw a ‘ribbon detected’ error when the label did require a ribbon for printing. Printer settings for one specific Zebra Designer (aka NiceLabel Designer) label were putting the printer into Direct Thermal mode. Every time that label was printed, the print job sent to the printer incorrectly put it into Direct Thermal mode.

Situation and symptoms

  • Thermal transfer labels used
  • Ribbon loaded in the printer
  • One label design has ‘Printing mode’ in Printer Settings set to Direct Thermal

Figure 1 – NiceLabel v10 Printing Mode

Explanation

Zebra Designer (made by Loftware / NiceLabel) allows the user to set printer settings for specific label designs. If a label design’s Printer Settings have Printer mode set to Direct Thermal and it is used to print to a label that requires a ribbon, it will cause the error if the ribbon is loaded. Since the printer is now set to Direct Thermal mode, this may cause the same problem with subsequent label jobs sent to that printer.

Solution

Set the label to Thermal Transfer for Printer mode and save the label to keep the new settings permanent. Another option would be to set Printer mode to Use settings on printer. This will prevent the label from changing the settings in the future.

Figure 2 – Use setting set on printer option

Additional comments

Issue Found: Zebra Designer / NiceLabel Designer v10

If you need further assistance, please contact us.

Author

Dave Klement

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