Zebra GK420d Printer Settings

Only International Bridge supports ZPL.

This provides information for on how to adjust the settings of a Zebra GK420d thermal printer with Windows driver version 5.1.16.624 to assist with label alignment when printing labels. The information provided is intended for Zebra GK420d thermal printer with Windows driver version 5.1.16.624, only.

There could be many similar attributes and options from one Zebra printer to another, but they are likely not identical and may depend a lot on how old the driver and printer are.

The settings provided are what Window Book found to work best with this specific printer/driver combination. Not all printer models/drivers will have the exact same interface.

And in some situations, label stock, printer models, etc. may require some use of the adjustment fields (for example, top & left center positions) in the event the label does not line up correctly with the default settings.

You should double-check to make sure the resolution selected in DAT-MAIL matches the resolution of the printer being used, otherwise scaling (such as being too big or too little) of the label image may occur, as well as degraded barcode quality (refer to Setup - PMOD Tab - Provider Registration (Required) for more information).

On the computer where the Zebra GK420d thermal printer is installed, launch the Control Panel, select Devices and Printers, and locate the printer. Right-click on it and select Printer Properties.

The Zebra GK420d Properties screen will display.

The settings for label alignment are contained in two separate areas in the Printer Properties: General > Preferences; and General > Advanced > Printing Defaults. The settings in each of the two areas are identical, but each must be set individually.

General > Preferences

In the Zebra GK420d Properties screen, within the General tab, click Preferences.

The Printing Preferences screen will display. Within the Options tab, set Darkness to a value of 15, and set Size: Width to 4.00 and Size: Height to 6.00.

Some printer versions, such as some ZP400 models, will require the paper formats to be portrait instead of landscape.

In the same Printing Preferences screen, select the Advanced Setup tab. Under the Adjustment section, make sure there are no values other than 0.00 set for the fields - Top; Tear Off and Left Positions. Then click Other.

The Other Settings screen will display. Make sure in the Graphic Settings section, the Use ZIP Compressioncheckbox is deselected. Also, under the Commands section, Enable Passthrough Mode checkbox is not selected when printing either ZPL or PNG formats from DAT-MAIL. Click Close when finished.

The Printing Preferences screen will be displayed. Click Apply and then click Close.

General > Advanced > Printer Defaults

From the main Zebra GK420d Properties screen, select the Advanced tab.

Within the Advanced tab, click Printing Defaults.

The Printing Defaults screen will display. In the Settings section, set Darkness to 15 by selecting from the drop-down provided and set Size: Width to 4.00 and Size: Height to 6.00.

Some printer versions, such as some ZP400 models, will require the paper formats to be portrait instead of landscape.

In the same Printing Defaults screen, select the Advanced Setup tab. In the Adjustments section of the screen, make sure there are no values other than 0.00 set for the fields - Top; Tear Off and Left Positions. Then click Other.

The Other Settings screen will display. Under the Graphic Settings section of the screen, make sure Use ZIP Compression checkbox is not selected. Also, in the Commands section, the Enable Passthrough Mode checkbox should be deselected when printing either ZPL or PNG formats from DAT-MAIL. Click Close when finished.

The Printing Defaults screen will be displayed. Click Apply and then click Close.

Now, confirm that you select the correct printer within theDAT-MAIL's PMOD module and Enterprise Shipper, if applicable, with either the landscape or portrait option based on what your printer requires under the Options tab in both sections above. You can then produce a new label and see if it prints correctly.

Do not use the printer and driver chosen for the DAT-MAIL's PMOD module and Enterprise Shipper with any other program, including Postal Package Partner (PPP). Because the settings will get overwritten, you will need to reset all the settings/options listed above.

The instructions listed above are intended to set up a large printer with a Zebra GK420d driver. There could be many similar attributes and options from one Zebra printer to another. They will not all be identical, and it may depend a lot on how old the driver and printer are. We have had Clients use large printers such as a Printronix with a Zebra GK420d driver, and they set up all the options for both sections as written above; the printer worked perfectly. Other Clients have used the smaller Z400 series printers, and they had to change the format to portrait for it to work perfectly. Some printer models/drivers will require adjustments to the Top, Tear off, and Left positions if the label does align correctly with the default settings. Window Book recommends reaching out to Zebra Tech Support for additional assistance on how to make changes/update your printer/driver.

Continue Setup - PMOD Tab - Provider Registration (Required)