Device Profiles & Policies for Zebra Printers

This article explains how to configure various settings for your printers through the Scalefusion Device Profile configuration wizard. These settings allow for granular control over printer behavior, including print quality and speed, power management, Bluetooth connectivity for remote updates.

To access these settings,

1. On Scalefusion Dashboard, navigate to Device Profiles & Policies > Device Profiles

2. Either create a new Printer profile or edit an existing one.

3. The following sections detail the configuration options available within the profile. Click on each section to configure the policies:

   1. Print Settings

   2. Label Settings

   3. Device Settings

   4. Power Settings

   5. Bluetooth Settings

      
      

      

Print Settings

The Print Settings policy allows IT administrators to remotely configure and manage key Zebra printer parameters across all enrolled devices. By centralizing printer settings such as print mode, speed, and power-up behavior, this policy helps ensure consistent performance, minimizes troubleshooting, and enhances operational efficiency.

1. Configure Media Type: Select the media type used in the printer.

   Media Type	Description	Function	Use Cases	Sensor Type	Notes
   Continuous	Media is one long, unbroken length with no gaps, notches, or black marks.	Printer prints based on length settings without detecting gaps or marks.	- Receipt rolls - Full-length labels - Custom-length media	None	Label length must be defined in software or printer settings.
   Gap/Notch	Labels have physical gaps or notches between them.	Printer uses a transmissive sensor to detect gaps/notches for label alignment.	- Standard label rolls - Die-cut labels with backing liners	Transmissive (detects light passing through gaps)	Most common label type.
   Mark	Black marks or bars are printed on the back of the media to indicate label positions.	Printer uses a reflective sensor to detect the black marks.	- Pre-printed labels - Media where gaps are impractical	Reflective (detects light reflected off marks)	Useful for non-standard label formats.

2. Configure Printer Tone: Set the darkness level of printing (i.e., print density).

   1. Allowed Range: 0 to 30

3. Configure Print Mode: Defines the printer’s action after printing a label or group of labels. Following are the options:

   Mode	Purpose	Function	Use Case
   Rewind	Used with a rewind spindle accessory	Rewinds printed labels (with or without backing liner) onto a roll inside the printer	Batch printing where labels are stored for later use
   Peel Off	For peel-and-present operation	Peels label from liner and pauses until removed by user or applicator	Manual application requiring immediate label use
   Tear Off	Default mode for general printing	Advances label to tear bar after printing	Manual tear-off of each label post-printing
   Applicator	For automated label applicators	Signals external applicator when label is ready	High-speed environments with automated application systems
   Cutter	Used with an optional cutter	Cuts label or tag after printing	Batch printing of individual tags or linerless labels
   Delayed Cut	Similar to Cutter mode, but optimized for batch cutting	Waits to cut until a label batch is complete	Reduces cutter wear; groups labels for cutting
   Linerless Peel	For linerless labels using a peeler	Peels and presents linerless labels similar to Peel Off mode	Eco-friendly use cases with no backing liner
   Linerless Rewind	For rewinding linerless labels	Rewinds printed linerless labels onto a core	Storing or shipping linerless labels post-printing
   Linerless Tear	For tearing off linerless labels	Prints and advances label to a tear-off point	Manual removal of labels without a liner

4. Configure Reprint Mode: Enables or disables the reprint feature after printing.

   1. Options:

      1. Off (Default)

      2. On

5. Configure Print Speed: Set the printer's printing speed.

   Hint: Speed is percentage-based to account for different speed ranges across Zebra printer models.

   Default Speeds:

   1. ZD421 & ZD621: 2.0 inch/sec

   2. ZQ630: 1.0 inch/sec

   3. Options:

      1. 0% (Default)

      2. 25%

      3. 50%

      4. 75%

      5. 100%

   Note: Actual speed is calculated using the formula:
   Effective Speed = Minimum Speed + (Maximum Speed - Minimum Speed) × Percentage

   Example:

   1. Printer A: Max = 12 ips, Min = 2 ips, 50% → Speed = 7 ips

   2. Printer B: Max = 8 ips, Min = 2 ips, 50% → Speed = 5 ips

6. Power-Up Media Action: Defines the media action when the printer starts up.

   1. Options:

      1. Calibrate (Default)

      2. feed

      3. length

      4. no motion

      5. short cal

7. Media Action on Head Close: Defines the media action when the printer head is closed. Options:

   Mode	Action	What It Does	Use Case	Pros	Cons
   Calibrate	Performs full media calibration at startup	Feeds several labels to detect label length, gap, mark, or notch; adjusts sensors	When switching media types frequently or needing high accuracy	Most accurate	Uses more media each time printer is turned on
   Feed	Feeds one label forward on startup	Advances to the next label without performing a full calibration	When media is consistent and calibration isn't necessary	Saves time and media	May cause misalignment if media type has changed
   Short Cal	Performs a short calibration	Detects media gap or mark using minimal movement (usually 1–2 labels)	Balances calibration accuracy with label usage	Quicker and uses fewer labels than full calibration	Slightly less accurate than full calibrate
   No Motion	Does nothing to the media on startup	Keeps current sensor settings; media doesn't move	When media hasn’t changed and fast operation is critical	Fastest; no label waste	Risk of misalignment if sensor data is outdated
   Length	Detects only label length	Uses set values or minimal detection to determine label length	Continuous media or fixed-length labels with no gaps/marks	Good for consistent labels	Not suitable for variable-sized or gapped/marked labels

   
   

Label Settings

Configure and manage the various print modes and layout settings for supported label printers.
Hint: Ensure proper label alignment, length, and margins by adjusting the parameters below. Label Configuration Options:

1. Label Length: Set the label's length to ensure correct spacing and alignment during printing.

   1. Value Range: 0 to 32000 dots

   2. Default Value: 2030

2. Label Width: Define the width of the label based on the selected printer model.

   Model-specific Value Ranges:

   1. ZD421: 2 to 1000 dots

   2. ZD621: 2 to 1280 dots

   3. ZQ630: 2 to 832 dots

   4. Default Value: 384

3. Tear-Off Position: Set the tear-off position to control where the label is detached from the backing material.

   1. Value Range: -120 to 120 dots

4. Left Margin Offset: Adjust the left margin to fine-tune the horizontal start position of label printing.

   1. Value Range: -9999 to 9999 dots
      

   

Device Settings

Adjust and manage device-specific configurations to align with operational requirements and hardware capabilities. Device Configuration Options:

1. Enable Feed Setting: Enables or disables the feed function via the printer's front panel.

2. Enable System Logs: Enables system logging for monitoring purposes. When enabled, logs are captured and sent for analysis.

3. Reset Button Enable: Controls whether the physical reset button on the device is active. Not Supported on ZQ630 model.

4. Device Language: Allows you to set the user interface language of the Zebra printer. Available Languages:

   1. English (Default)

   2. Spanish

   3. French

   4. German

   5. Italian

   6. Norwegian

   7. Portuguese

   8. Swedish

   9. Danish

   10. Dutch

   11. Finnish

   12. Japanese

   13. Korean

   14. Simplified Chinese

   15. Traditional Chinese

   16. Russian

   17. Polish

   18. Czech

   19. Romanian

   Note: This setting is not supported on ZD421 and ZD621 models.

   

Power Settings

Configure power management settings for your printers, both when connected to a power source and when running on battery. These settings apply when the printer is connected to a power source.

1. Configure Sleep Mode: Click on the dropdown to set the period of inactivity after which the printer enters sleep mode to conserve energy. You can select from 0 to 9 minutes.

2. Configure Shutdown: Click on the dropdown to set the period of inactivity after which the printer automatically shuts down. Available options include:

3. Battery Led Enable: Configure battery behavior to enhance performance and extend battery life. Controls whether the battery status LED indicator is enabled on the device. This helps monitor battery status visually.

   Note: This setting is not supported on ZD421 and ZD621 models.

   

Bluetooth Settings

Configure Bluetooth settings for supported printer models.

1. Bluetooth Device Discoverable: Allows the printer to be visible to nearby Bluetooth devices for pairing.

2. Bluetooth Mode: Manages Bluetooth power usage, allowing you to choose between different energy profiles. Options:

   1. Classic (Default)

   2. Classic & Low Energy

   3. Low Energy