Direct thermal fanfold labels 100x150mm (4x6 shipping labels)

GoodLabel direct thermal fanfold labels 100×150mm are shipping labels that come as a zigzag-folded stack instead of a roll. The product name also carries the 4x6 inch size, and they print on direct thermal printers without a ribbon.

Sheet count variants and product lineup

Both products also carry 100X200mm variants, so 4x6 and 4x8 shipping labels come from the same product. The Designer setup for the 200mm-long size is covered separately on the direct thermal fanfold labels 100x200 page.

Feeding the fanfold stack through the rear slot

Fanfold labels are not hung on the roll holder inside the printer. The stack sits behind the printer and feeds through the rear slot. The steps below are for the Zebra ZD421T.

• On the thermal transfer model, if the fanfold media door cover is fitted, remove it first.
• Open the top cover, place one label between the media guides, and set the guide stop to the 100mm width.
• Push the label end through the rear slot so it passes between the media guides and the roll holders, then close the cover.
• If the labels wobble side to side or the liner edges fray after feeding a few labels, adjust the stop position again.

Place the stack directly behind the printer, in line with the ZD421T rear slot, so the 100mm-wide labels do not get pulled in at an angle. If the thin liner sags, fit an empty core as wide as the labels between the roll holders to support it.

The TSC TE210 also lists fan-fold among the media types it accepts. On the TE210 the gap sensor is fixed and only the black mark sensor moves, so with a black mark stack, move the sensor to where the marks pass.

Check gap or black mark first

Fanfold labels locate each label in one of two ways: by the space between labels (gap or notch) or by black marks on the back of the liner. The fold line falls on or near the space between labels. None of the four variant names from 500 to 3,000 sheets states the method, so turn the stack over and check for black marks first. For a black mark stack on the TE210, the marks must be at least 2mm high and 8mm wide.

GoodLabel Designer setup

• The shipping template in Templates on the start screen is 100×150mm. It is a blank form where you type the recipient and address, so start from this template instead of entering width 100 and height 150 yourself.
• In Printer settings, set Print method to Direct thermal. With this setting, ^MTD is added to the start of the print job for ZPL printers such as the ZD421T, and SET RIBBON OFF for TSPL printers such as the TE210.
• If there are no black marks on the back, set Media type to Gap labels. TSPL printers take the actual gap in the Gap length field (default 3mm); ZPL printers do not use that field and find the gap with Detect media (~JC).
• If there are black marks, select Black mark. TSPL printers always receive the BLINE 3 mm command, and after you press Detect black mark, turn the printer off and on to print right away.
• The 100mm width goes out as a bitmap 800 dots wide at 203dpi and 1,182 dots at 300dpi. It fits within the 104mm print width of the ZD421T (203dpi) and the 108mm of the TE210.

The location of the Media type field and the Detect media button is shown with screenshots in the guide's Printing chapter.