Configuring a Zebra Printer with the CUPS Driver

IMPORTANT! Zebra suggests using the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) driver for use on Unix, i.e. macOS and Linux operating systems. The CUPS driver is pre-installed on macOS operating systems (and so on most of Linux distributions). Therefore, it is not necessary to download and install a driver for Zebra printers on macOS. Zebra macOS X drivers are available for selected Zebra Card Printer models. Read this article to learn more.

NOTE Enter either http://localhost:631/ or 127.0.0.1:631/ to access the CUPS driver, with your Internet browser. The following examples are based on the 2.4.10 version of the CUPS driver.

To configure a printer, it should be previously installed. Please take a look at Adding a Zebra Printer in a CUPS Printing System.

Procedure

1. From the Home menu, select the Printers tab.

2. Select any of the printers installed on Queue Name. In this example, the printer is Zebra_Technologies_ZTC_ZT411-600dpi_ZPL.

3. From the Administration drop-down menu, select Set Default Options.

 

4. General contains the following:
   
   1. Media size: width and height of your label.
   2. Resolution: Your printer's printhead resolution. Please become sure to use the right one.
   3. Media tracking: The type of media in use. Non-continuous (web sensing) is equivalent to media Gap/Notch, meanwhile, Non-continuous (Mark sensing) is equivalent to media with black marks.
   4. Media type: Determines whether the media is direct thermal or thermal transfer.

5. Printer Settings contains the following:
   1. Darkness: Also known sometimes as intensity.
   2. Print rate: Also known as speed.
   3. Label Top: This is the label top offset. It is set upon dots, not in cm, mm nor in.
   4. Print mode: Equivalent to the operation mode (Tear-off, Peeler, Cutter, etc.)
   5. Tear-Off Adjust Position: This is the label left offset. It is set upon dots, not in cm, mm nor in.
   6. Reprint After Error: It reprints a label if an error occurs.

6. In case you see the config as "Printer Default", it means the printer is using its internal config, instead of the driver's.

Advices:

• Some settings may not apply to your printer model. 
• The printer will be set for its maximum setting and ignore the settings above.
• For label printers only: Some advanced settings are not available, so, if necesary, you can send the commands directly to the printer via Terminal. 

Helpful Information:

• Install CUPS Driver for Zebra Printer in Mac OS
• Video: Setup a USB Printer via Pre-installed CUPS Driver on Mac OS X
• Installing a Network Zebra Printer on a Mac
• Adding a Zebra Printer in a CUPS Printing System
• Printing to File with CUPS
• Printing a Test Page With CUPS Driver
• Printing PDF Files on a Mac OS
• ZPL II, ZBI 2, Set-Get-Do, Mirror, WML Programming Guide