Customising Sample Labels

⭐ This is a premium feature. Please click here for more information.

Label Settings

The Label Settings screen controls how labels are generated and printed in the application. It allows you to define a configuration for the label, and the ZPL code that is generated.

This allows you to configure how labels are generated for your specific label size and printer.

Note: This screen is intended for users with technical knowledge of labels and printing. Familiarity with ZPL code is recommended.

How to Access Label Settings

To access Label Settings, your must have the Label Settings:Manage permission.

If you have the required permission:

1. Open Administration, More Settings, and then select Label Settings.

Template Configuration

The Template Configuration section defines the core properties of the label template. These settings control how the label is sized and interpreted by the system.

Width and Height

The Width and Height settings define the horizontal and vertical sizes of the label. This should match the physical size of your label stock.

If the dimensions are set too small, content may be clipped. If they are too large, content may appear misaligned or scaled incorrectly.

Units

The Units setting controls how the width and height values are interpreted.

Available units:

• Millimeters (mm)
• Centimeters (cm)
• Inches (inches)

Recommendation: Use the same unit system provided by your label supplier or printer documentation to avoid conversion errors.

Label Density (Print Resolution)

Label Density defines how many printed dots are used per millimeter when the label is rendered. This setting directly affects the label size accuracy, text sharpness, and bardcode readability of your label.

Density Options:

• 6 dots/mm
  • Suitable for large labels with simple text or graphics.
• 8 dots/mm
  • Default and most commonly used.
  • Suitable for standard text and barcodes.
• 12 dots/mm
  • Higher detail and sharper output.
  • Useful for smaller labels or dense layouts.
• 24 dots/mm
  • Very high detail.
  • Intended for precision layouts or detailed graphics.

Important: Changing label density affects how all label dimensions are rendered. If labels print at the wrong size, verify units and dimensions before adjusting density.

Printer Support and Limitations

Not all printers support all label densities.

Most printers are designed to print at one or more fixed resolutions. If you select a density higher than your printer can reliably reproduce, the printer may automatically downscale the output.

For best results, use 8 dots/mm for most standard and office printers. Use higher densities only if your printer documentation explicitly supports them. If unsure, start with 8 dots/mm and adjust if needed.

Print Quality

The Print Quality setting controls how images, graphics, and text are rendered on the label.

Available options:

• Bitonal
  • Black and white only.
  • Ideal for text, barcodes and simple logos.
• Grayscale
  • Allows multiple shades of gray.
  • Produces smoother images and better visual quality for graphics.

When to use:

• Choose Bitonal for standard labels with mostly text and barcodes.
• Choose Grayscale when your label contains detailed logos, photos, or complex graphics.

Note: Print Quality affects only how the label looks in the output PDF. All printers can print either quality mode from the PDF. If using a printer that natively prints ZPL, note that some ZPL printers may not support grayscale directly.

ZPL Code

The ZPL Code section allows you to write or paste raw Zebra Programming Language (ZPL) code directly. This gives you full control over text placement, barcodes, graphics and layout of the label.

A default label template is supplied with the application. This template provides a working starting point with standard dimensions. At any point, you can revert your changes and return to the default label template by clicking the undo (↩) button.

You can view how your label looks by clicking the Test in Labelary button. Clicking this link will open your ZPL code in Labelary's viewer, applying all your current settings, including Label dimensions, units, density and print quality. This can be helpful to see how your label will look before printing, helping you catch layout or scaling issues early.

Labels are rendered in LabHQ using the Labelary ZPL rendering engine. For further reading and detailed documentation on ZPL, visit: https://labelary.com/docs.html.

Data Tokens

Data tokens allow you to include dynamic values in your ZPL code. Tokens are written using double curly braces, for example {{SampleId}}.    

When a label is printed, these tokens are automatically replaced with the actual data values.

You can view all available tokens in the Data Tokens list on the Label Settings screen. Clicking a token in the list will insert it into your ZPL code at the current caret position.

Tokens in the ZPL code box are highlighted in a shade of blue to indicate they are valid and recognised.

Test Print and Labelary Preview

The Test Print and Test in Labelary buttons allow you to preview your label for testing purposes.

If your ZPL code contains any data tokens, a dialog will appear where you can fill in test values for each token. Each token is listed only once in the dialog, even if it appears multiple times in the ZPL code. If a token field is left blank, a hyphen ( -  ) will be shown in place of the value.

You can select the Remember these values box to retain the test values for subsequent test prints.

Saving Changes

After making any changes to the label configuration or ZPL code, you must click the Save button to persist your changes.

Missing Data

When printing sample labels, you may encounter situations where certain fields do not contain any data. To ensure that labels remain clear and consistently formatted, the system automatically displays a placeholder where values are missing.

For any field included on a printed label:

• If data is available, the field will display its value as expected.
• If no data is available, a hyphen ( -  ) will be shown in place of the value.

Useful Documentation

For additional help and reference when working with labels and ZPL code, the following resources are recommended:

• Introduction to ZPL: https://labelary.com/zpl.html - A beginner-friendly introduction to Zebra Programming Language.
• ZPL Command Reference: https://labelary.com/docs.html - Detailed documentation of ZPL commands.
• Printer Manufacturer Manuals: Your printer's manual often includes recommended settings for label size, density, and print quality.

Tip: Refer to these resources when creating complex labels, using advanced ZPL features, or troubleshooting print issues.