Using ZC10L Printer via PrintNode

Zuddl’s badge printing solution has now expanded to support the ZC10L printer, enabling color badge printing on PVC cards through PrintNode integration. This guide outlines the process for setting up and using the ZC10L printer with Zuddl.

How it works

The illustration below shows how Zuddl communicates with your Windows system to give print commands to ZC10L via PrintNode. 

1. The user clicks the print badge on the mobile app. The ZC10L printer should be connected to a Windows computer via USB.
2. The app talks to the PrintNode cloud via API. PrintNode’s API key must be added on Zuddl so that the Zuddl Onsite app detects the printers from PrintNode.
3. The PrintNode cloud then passes the data to the Windows machine with PrintNode software. PrintNode software must be installed on the Windows computer to enable communication between the ZC10L printer and Zuddl’s onsite app.
4. The Windows machine gives the print job to the ZC10L printer.

1. Connect and install the ZC10L printer

The first step is to install the ZC10L printer on your Windows computer using the printer driver.

1. Connect your ZC10L printer to your computer using USB.
2. On your machine, use the driver software that came with the printer to connect your ZC10L printer.
3. Using the driver software, configure the printer with all the supported printing options
   
   Supported printing options
   • Direct to card—dye diffusion
   • Full color or monochrome printing
   • Single-sided printing
   • Max print speed single-side color 195 cph*
   • Max print speed single-sided K mono 360-410 cph*
   • Photo-quality images
   • Edge-to-edge printing
   
   Card Specifications
   Card thickness - 24 mil
   Card size - 5.5 in. x 3.46 in. (140 mm x 88 mm)
   Card material - PVC
   Smart cards -  HF, UHF, Dual HF/UHF
   
   

2. Install PrintNode client

1. Go to the PrintNode website and sign up for an account.
   
   
2. Download and install PrintNode on your macOS or Windows device.
3. After installation, open the PrintNode application and log in using your PrintNode account credentials.
   
   
4. Verify the connection by checking the PrintNode icon on your screen.
5. On the PrintNode client, under the Printers tab, select a printer from the list of printers.
   
   
6. To verify the connection, go to api.printnode.com (authenticate via your API key). If the printer appears in the dropdown list, the printer is connected.
   
   

To test, print a sample badge. If the print is successful, your printer is successfully connected.

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3. Zuddl - PrintNode integration - Dashboard settings

You need to integrate PrintNode with Zuddl in order for the Zuddl mobile app to give print commands for ZC10L via PrintNode.

Prerequisite - PrintNode API Key
To access your PrintNode API key:
  1. Login to the PrintNode account.
  2. Click API Keys.

  3. Enter your password and click Next.
  4. Enter your API key description and click Create.
  5. Copy the generated API Key.

1. In Zuddl’s dashboard, navigate to Onsite > Badges > Settings.
2. Enable PrintNode by toggling the Enable PrintNode option.


3. Enter your PrintNode API key to complete the integration.

4. Using the ZC10L printer with Zuddl’s Onsite app

1.Install the Onsite by Zuddl app

1. Download and install the Onsite by Zuddl app from the provided links. Install the Onsite by Zuddl App from Apple Appstore or Android Play Store.
2. Log in to the app using your Zuddl account email and the verification code.

2.Connect to your printer

1. Tap the gear icon located at the top right corner to open the settings page.
2. On the settings page, click on “Select a Printer” under the Printer options section.
3. Ensure the printer is connected to the router and your mobile device/iPad is on the same network.

4. On the Connect via WAN page, on the Select printer source field

   • Zebra Printer: For previously supported Zebra printers.

   • PrintNode Servers: For the ZC10L printer.
     
     
     

5. Select the desired PrintNode printer from the list of Available printers. On the right, the Online status is shown for printers that are currently connected to printnode and Offline for those that aren't connected.
   

   Note: 
   Along with the printer names, the list shows the DPI of the printer and the Windows machine it's connected to. This helps in the easy identification of the desired printer.
   
   
   

Open the lead list and test-print some badges to ensure that the printers are working well. Your printer is now set up, and you can start printing badges for your event.

Troubleshooting checklist

1. Check if the computer and printer are online.
2. If yes, check if your internet connection is stable.
3. If yes, check if the computer connected to ZC10L is a Windows computer.
4. If yes, check if the PrintNode software is correctly installed.
5. If yes, check if the printer source is selected as ‘PrintNode.’
6. If yes, check if the right API key from PrintNode has been set up.
7. If yes, check if the parameters (dimensions, paper type) are correctly specified to the printer via the Zebra Setup Utilities.
8. If yes, check if a PVC card is used for printing, as ZC10L supports printing ONLY on PVC cards.