Manual Calibration — Zebra ZT111

Created by JR Formenti, Modified on Tue, 29 Apr at 9:36 AM by JR Formenti

For a visual walkthrough of Manual Calibration, see

What is Manual Calibration?

Manual calibration adjusts the printer’s sensors to correctly detect:

The start and end of each label (label gaps, black marks, or notches)
The ribbon presence (since you're using Thermal Transfer)

If calibration is off, you might see problems like:

Printer feeding multiple labels at once
Printing across two labels instead of one
Skipped labels or media out errors when the roll is fine
Poor print quality (if ribbon tension isn’t right)

?️ When Should You Perform Manual Calibration?

You should manually calibrate the printer if:

You're loading a new label size (different width/height)
You're switching between label types (e.g., gap, black mark, tag stock)
The printer shows frequent label errors (even when loaded correctly)
You notice print alignment issues (prints halfway off the label)
After installing a new ribbon or changing ribbon materials
After cleaning the printer or sensors

Tip: Calibration is not needed every time you load a new roll of the same type of labels — only when changing label types, sizes, or after issues.

Performing Manual Calibration

You may need to manually calibrate the printer if you see issues with the print output.

- On the control panel, press and hold
  PAUSE
  and
  CANCEL
  for 2 seconds.
  The status and pause lights flash yellow once. Then the pause light blinks yellow.
- Release the printhead assembly.
  As the printhead lever rotates upward, the printhead assembly pivots upward.
- Extend the media approximately 150 mm (6 in.) out of the printer, and then remove the exposed labels so that only the liner remains.
- Pull the media into the printer so that only the backing is between the media sensors.
- Move the ribbon (if used) to the right, away from the sensors.
- Close the printhead assembly.
- Press
  PAUSE
  to begin calibration.
  The pause light turns off, and the supplies light flashes yellow. The process is complete when the supplies light turns off and the pause light turns yellow.
- Release the printhead assembly.
  As the printhead lever rotates upward, the printhead assembly pivots upward.
- Reload the ribbon (if used) by moving it to the left and straightening it, and turn the ribbon take-up spindle to take up the slack.
- Pull the media forward until a label is positioned between the sensors.
- Close the printhead assembly.
- Press
  PAUSE
  to complete calibration.
  The supplies light flashes yellow. The process is complete when the supplies light turns off and the pause light turns yellow.
- Press
  PAUSE
  again to enable printing.
- Press
  FEED
  to verify that a label feeds to the correct position.