ZPL media, darkness and print speed commands
ZPL commands for print darkness and speed, media type and tracking, sensors, calibration, backfeed, cutting and the KR403 kiosk presenter.
Settings in this group change how the printer handles the media — how dark and fast it prints, how it finds the next label, what happens after a label is printed — not what is drawn on it. A label preview therefore looks the same with or without them; their effect shows on the printer. Many of them persist only until power-off unless saved with ^JUS.
Commands on this page: ^MD · ~SD · ^PR · ^MM · ^MN · ^MT · ^MF · ^MW · ~JL · ~JC · ^JS · ~JS · ^XB · ^XS · ^SS · ^SI · ^SR · ^JW · ~JK · ^PH / ~PH · ^PF · ^JZ · ^CN · ^CP · ^KV · ~PL · ^PN
^MD — Media Darkness
Syntax: ^MDa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Adjusts darkness relative to the current setting, −30 to 30. Each ^MD is applied to the value on the configuration label (^MD-9 on 16 gives 7), and a ~SD value is added to it. XiIIIPlus, Xi4 and RXi4 accept steps of 0.1.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 301. Zebra guide page →
~SD — Set Darkness
Syntax: ~SD## · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets absolute darkness, 00–30 — the same as the darkness setting on the control panel; the default is the last saved value and a ^MD value is added to it.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 333. Zebra guide page →
^PR — Print Rate
Syntax: ^PRp,s,b · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets print speed (p), slew speed for blank feeding (s) and backfeed speed (b): 1–14 in/s depending on the model, letters A–E = 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 in/s; default A. Applies until changed or power-off; some models return to the default.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 326. Zebra guide page →
^MM — Print Mode
Syntax: ^MMa,b · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Chooses what happens after printing: T tear-off, P peel-off, R rewind, A applicator, C cutter, D delayed cutter, F RFID, K kiosk (KR403); b=Y turns on pre-peel. Available modes depend on the printer.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 305. Zebra guide page →
^MN — Media Tracking
Syntax: ^MNa,b · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets media tracking: N continuous, V continuous with variable length, Y or W web (gap/notch) sensing, M mark sensing, A auto-detect during calibration; b is the black-mark offset in dots (used with M).
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 307. Zebra guide page →
^MT — Media Type
Syntax: ^MTa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Selects the media type: T thermal transfer (with ribbon) or D direct thermal (heat-sensitive, no ribbon). Ignored on the HC100.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 311. Zebra guide page →
^MF — Media Feed
Syntax: ^MFp,h · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets the media feed at power-up (p) and after closing the head (h): F feed to the first web, C calibrate (as ~JC), L measure length (as ~JL), N no feed, S short calibration on some models; default C.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 302. Zebra guide page →
^MW — Modify Head Cold Warning
Syntax: ^MWa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Turns the head cold warning on (Y) or off (N) for the operating environment.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 314. Zebra guide page →
~JL — Set Label Length
Syntax: ~JL · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets the label length by measuring it; the printer feeds one or more blank labels.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 268. Zebra guide page →
~JC — Set Media Sensor Calibration
Syntax: ~JC · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Forces a label length measurement and recalibrates the media and ribbon sensors; in continuous mode only the sensors are calibrated.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 254. Zebra guide page →
^JS — Sensor Select
Syntax: ^JSa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Selects the media sensor: A auto, R reflective, T transmissive. For the S4M and some Z series printers; ignored on ZM400/ZM600 and RZ400/RZ600.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 275. Zebra guide page →
~JS — Change Backfeed Sequence
Syntax: ~JSb · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets the backfeed sequence: A 100 % after printing and cutting, B 0 % after and 100 % before the next label, N normal (90 % after printing), O off, or 10–90 % in steps of 10. Lasts until power-off.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 276. Zebra guide page →
^XB — Suppress Backfeed
Syntax: ^XB · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Suppresses the feed to the tear-off position and so the backfeed before the next label, which speeds up batches; leave it off the last label. In cutter mode it also suppresses the cut.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 371. Zebra guide page →
^XS — Set Dynamic Media Calibration
Syntax: ^XSlength,threshold · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Enables (Y, default) or disables dynamic media calibration of label length and sensor threshold after power-up or after the printer has been opened.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 374. Zebra guide page →
^SS — Set Media Sensors
Syntax: ^SSw,m,r,l,m2,r2,a,b,c · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Overrides the values found by media calibration: web, media and ribbon sensor levels (000–100), label length in dots, media and ribbon LED intensities and mark sensing.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 349. Zebra guide page →
^SI — Set Sensor Intensity
Syntax: ^SIa,b · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets the transmissive sensor brightness (a=1) or baseline (a=2) to a value of 0–196; firmware V53.15.x or later.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 338. Zebra guide page → Firmware: V53.15.x or later.
^SR — Set Printhead Resistance
Syntax: ^SR#### · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets the printhead resistance, 0488–1175. Keep it at or below the value printed on the printhead — a higher value can damage it; newer models set it automatically.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 348. Zebra guide page →
^JW — Set Ribbon Tension
Syntax: ^JWt · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Sets ribbon tension to L (low), M (medium) or H (high); PAX series printers only.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 279. Zebra guide page →
~JK — Delayed Cut
Syntax: No syntax in the guide · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Delayed cut. The guide names ~JK only on the ^MM page, together with the delayed cutter print mode (^MMD); it has no page of its own and no documented syntax.
Mentioned in the Zebra guide on page 306; no page of its own.
^PH / ~PH — Slew to Home Position
Syntax: ^PH · ~PH · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Feeds one blank label: ^PH after the current format has printed, ~PH once the current format is done or when the printer is paused.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 317. Zebra guide page →
^PF — Slew Given Number of Dot Rows
Syntax: ^PF# · In Labelixa's preview: Drawn in the preview
Slews — feeds at high speed without printing — the given number of dot rows (0–32000) at the bottom of the label, so a label with a blank lower part prints faster.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 316. Zebra guide page →
^JZ — Reprint After Error
Syntax: ^JZa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
Reprints a label cut short by ribbon out, media out or head open once the error is cleared (Y, the power-up value) or not (N). Active until changed or power-off.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 281. Zebra guide page →
^CN — Cut Now
Syntax: ^CNa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
KR403 in kiosk mode (^MMK) only: cycles the cutter now — 0 using ^KV's kiosk cut amount, 1 a full cut.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 162. Zebra guide page → Printers: KR403.
^CP — Remove Label
Syntax: ^CPa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
KR403: moves a presented label — 0 eject, 1 retract, 2 the action set in ^KV's c parameter.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 165. Zebra guide page → Printers: KR403.
^KV — Kiosk Values
Syntax: ^KVa,b,c,d,e · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
KR403 kiosk values: cut amount (0 full, 10–60 mm left uncut), cut margin 2–9 mm, present type (eject, retract or nothing on the next page), present timeout 0–300 s and presenter loop length 3–1023 mm (default 400).
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 288. Zebra guide page → Printers: KR403.
~PL — Present Length Addition
Syntax: ~PLa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
KR403: adds 000–255 mm to how far a page is ejected in a present cycle, on top of the fixed 50 mm (total 50 mm + ~PL + ^PN). The guide's format line prints this command as ^PLa.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 318. Zebra guide page → Printers: KR403.
^PN — Present Now
Syntax: ^PNa · In Labelixa's preview: Printer setting — no visual effect
KR403: runs a presenter cycle now, ejecting 0–255 mm of media in addition to the fixed 50 mm and ~PL.
Zebra ZPL II Programming Guide (P1134473-11EN Rev A), page 321. Zebra guide page → Printers: KR403.
^LL · ^PW · ^MC · ~TA · ^ML · ^PQ
ZPL commands list and reference →
Try ZPL in the online viewer
