Sometimes, it’s as simple as turning it off and on again!
Elevated Signals provides a useful printer utility called Giraffe that allows ZPL printers to receive print jobs created in Elevated Signals. If Giraffe isn’t working, first confirm that your printer is set up correctly. Giraffe can be re-introduced as soon as the printer is confirmed working, but Giraffe itself cannot directly test, tune or calibrate your Zebra printer.
Before reaching out to Elevated Signals support, make sure you can print a configuration label. This configuration label will contain information that Elevated Signals support needs in order to provide further support. On the most common ZD420 printer model, the steps (directly from the user manual linked below) are:
1. Turn printer ON
2. Hold both the Feed and Cancel buttons for two (2) seconds and then release
3. The printer begins printing the configuration label
When you reach out to Elevated Signals support, include the following information:
a clear picture of the full configuration label
the specific printer model
a short description of how the printer is connected via USB or network
last time the printer worked (if ever)
If you can’t get the printer to successfully print a configuration label, confirm that each aspect of the printer is functional. Once the printer can successfully print a configuration label by:
directly initiating configuration label using buttons on printer
remotely initiating configuration label using computer or network
You can then reach out to Elevated Signals support for further assistance.
User manuals for common printers:
Power
Make sure the power cable is securely plugged into both the printer and the wall socket
Make sure that the printer shows signs of life when plugged in and switched on
Are there blinking lights that should turn on?
Does the outlet the printer is plugged into have power?
Consumables
Is there enough label paper in the printer?
Is there enough thermal transfer ribbon in the printer?
Is the label paper being used supported for the printer?
Connectivity
Are the correct printer drivers installed for the printer and the operating system?
USB
Is the USB cable securely plugged into both the computer USB port and the printer USB port?
Are you using the cable that came with the printer?
Is the printer detected in Windows/MacOS and does it show up when looking at system printers?
Try a different USB port or cable
Network
Is the printer plugged in via ethernet cable, or does it connect to the network wirelessly?
Is the ethernet cable securely connected to both the printer and the network socket?
Is the printer detected in the network printers section of the OS?
Does the printer itself have connectivity to the local network?
If no, is there a firewall or network security-related blockage?
Calibration
Are there any blockages in the printer feed such as:
jammed label paper
stuck rollers, for either label paper or thermal transfer material
Has the printer been auto-calibrated for the specific paper used?
Is the latch on the part that opens up (to reveal printer internals like paper) securely closed?
If all else fails
If you have exhausted all of the investigation options above and the printer still won’t work, try factory resetting the printer. This will provide a clean slate to start with and will also automatically print a configuration label following a successful reset. On the most common ZD420 model, the reset button is:
Full instructions to reset any printer can be found in the appropriate owner’s manual.
🌟 Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Support Team should you require any further assistance!