Zebra ZE500-4 Ribbons & Labels

The Zebra ZE500-4 does both. In thermal transfer mode it prints through a ribbon for durable, long-life labels; in direct thermal mode it prints straight onto heat-sensitive stock with no ribbon at all, which is how most shipping labels are produced.

The Zebra ZE500-4 takes thermal transfer ribbons up to 4.2" wide, up to 1,970 ft (600 m) long, on a 1" core, wound coated side out (CSO). Wax suits coated paper labels, wax-resin handles synthetics and heavier handling, and full resin is the choice for chemical, solvent and outdoor exposure.

The Zebra ZE500-4 accepts media up to 4.5" wide, with a maximum print width of 4.09". Any narrower label will run as well, so long as the roll core and outside diameter also fit the media bay — width alone is not enough.

The Zebra ZE500-4 takes rolls on 3" cores. A roll on a larger core will not seat on the spindle, and one over the diameter limit will not let the cover close.

Yes — 3" cores are the industrial standard and the Zebra ZE500-4 is built for them, which is what lets it hold the large-diameter rolls that keep reload stops down.

Three things stop a roll loading in this printer: the core is not 3". Label width is usually the first thing people check and the least likely culprit — core size is the common one.

Yes. Because the Zebra ZE500-4 prints thermal transfer, it can image polypropylene, polyester and other synthetic facestocks that direct thermal printers cannot mark. Pair them with a wax-resin or full resin ribbon; wax will not anchor properly to a synthetic surface.

Vantage Labels stocks blank thermal labels and printer ribbons that fit the Zebra ZE500-4, shipped from Canadian stock. Everything listed on this page has been checked against the printer's published media specifications — width, core, roll diameter and ribbon format — rather than matched on the printer's name.