Before You Begin: Initial Checks
Before diving into specific settings, it's best to perform a few initial checks. These steps can help you determine if the issue is with the printer itself or with its connection to Logiwa.
Print a Windows Test Page: The first step is always to confirm that your computer can communicate with the printer. You can do this by printing a test page directly from Windows. To do this, find your printer in "Printers & Scanners," click "Manage," and then select "Print a test page." If this test page doesn't print, it indicates a problem with the printer's connection to your computer, not with Logiwa.
Try Printing from PDF Preview: If Direct Print isn't working, try printing the document from the PDF preview instead. If the PDF preview prints successfully, the problem is likely related to the printer driver settings. If the PDF preview
also fails to print, the issue is not caused by the Logiwa Printer Service and likely lies with the printer itself or its drivers.
Restart Your Computer: If you've recently reinstalled or made changes to the printer driver, it's always a good idea to restart your computer before troubleshooting further to ensure all new settings are correctly applied.
Scenario 1: Direct Print Isn't Working At All
This scenario applies when you can print successfully from the PDF preview, but nothing happens when you use the Direct Print function.
Verify the Logiwa Printer Service
First, confirm that the Logiwa Printer Service is downloaded and that your printers are selected. You can check this by clicking the printer icon in the top-right corner of the Logiwa interface.
Next, check your computer's services to ensure the service is active. Open the "Services" application in Windows and confirm that "LogiwaPrinterService" is running.
Check "Printing Defaults" Settings
This is a critical step. For Direct Print actions, Logiwa's system specifically uses your printer's "Printing Defaults" settings, not the "Printing Preferences".
In the Windows search bar, search for "Printers & Scanners". Find your label printer in the list and click the Manage button.
On the next screen, click Printer Properties.
Navigate to the Advanced tab and click the Printing Defaults button.
Confirm Page and Print Options
Within the Printing Defaults window, first check the Page Setup to confirm that the dimensions (width and height) are set correctly for your labels.
Next, go to the Print Options tab to ensure the "Printing mode" (e.g., Thermal transfer) is correctly selected.
Perform Final Checks
If all of the above settings are correct, we suggest you check for any pending browser or Windows updates. You should also check for any internal applications (like firewalls or antivirus software) that could be blocking the Direct Print request on your computer.
Scenario 2: The Printout Layout is Incorrect (Shifted in any direction)
This happens when the label prints, but the content is shifted in any direction (up, down, left, or right).
Check "Printing Defaults": As outlined in Scenario 1, navigate to your printer's "Printing Defaults" settings. Verify that the Page Setup is correct and ensure there are no offsets selected that could be causing the shift.
Calibrate the Printer: If the page settings are correct, the printer itself may need to be calibrated.
For many smaller Zebra models, you can calibrate by pressing and holding the "Feed" button until the indicator light blinks twice. This process helps the printer detect the gaps between labels and can often fix shifting issues.
For other brands or larger industrial printers, the calibration process might be more complex. It's best to consult the printer manufacturer's website or follow the steps on the printer's built-in user interface for manual calibration.
Scenario 3: There Are Unwanted Gray Dots on the Label
This issue is typically caused by the printer's dithering settings, which try to simulate shades of gray.
Adjust Dithering in "Printing Defaults": This setting needs to be adjusted from the "Printing Defaults" menu.
Navigate to the Graphic Options tab. You will see a dithering slider with "Photo" on one end and "Clipart" on the other.
To eliminate gray dots and achieve a sharper, black-and-white print, move the slider closer to the "Clipart" setting. This may be a trial-and-error process to find the best setting for your labels.
On some older printer drivers, you may have the option to select "None" for dithering, which should also resolve the issue.
Scenario 4: The Print Quality is Poor
If the label prints but the quality is faint, blurry, or inconsistent, you may need to adjust the darkness and speed settings.
Check "Print Options": Go to the "Printing Defaults" menu and open the "Print Options" tab.
Adjust Darkness and Speed: Here you will find settings for Darkness and Speed. There are no perfect values that work for all printers; finding the right balance is a trial-and-error process. Generally, increasing the darkness can improve quality, especially for carrier labels. Reducing the speed can also sometimes result in a higher-quality print.
An Important Note: "Printing Defaults" vs. "Printing Preferences"
It's very important to understand the difference between these two settings in Windows, as they affect printing in different ways.
Printing Defaults: These are the base settings for the printer.
Logiwa's Direct Print feature uses these settings. Any changes needed for Direct Print must be made here.
Printing Preferences: These settings apply when you print from a standard Windows print dialog, such as when you print a PDF from a document preview.
Best Practice: To ensure consistent print results whether you use Direct Print or print from a document view, it's highly recommended to keep the settings in both "Printing Defaults" and "Printing Preferences" the same.