Getting started

ZPLab runs in the browser at app.zplab.org with no installation and no ZPL knowledge required. The desktop app adds native printing and file dialogs.

1. Set up the label

The label dimensions and print resolution are shown in the header (width × height mm · dpmm). Deselect everything by clicking the empty canvas, then edit them in the Properties panel.

The print resolution (dpmm = dots per millimeter) must match your printer. Common values:

dpmm	dpi
6	152
8	203
12	300
24	600

Check your printer’s manual if unsure; 8 dpmm is the common default.

2. Add objects

Drag items from the left panel onto the canvas, or double-click an item to place it in the center.

Available objects include text, serial fields, barcodes (28 symbologies including Code 128, QR, DataMatrix, PDF417, and Maxicode), shapes (box, line, ellipse), images, and graphic symbols (®/©/™).

3. Edit properties

Select an object to configure its content, size, font, barcode options, and other settings in the Properties panel.

Select multiple objects by holding Shift or drawing a lasso.

4. Print or export

The ZPL panel at the bottom shows the generated ZPL. It updates in real time as you edit, and the code itself remains editable.

• Copy sends the ZPL to the clipboard, ready for your printer software or custom tools
• Preview renders the label through Labelary or, on desktop, the connected printer’s own firmware
• Export ZPL in the File menu downloads a .zpl file
• Print as Image (browser) in the File menu opens the preview and triggers the browser print dialog (shown only while the Labelary preview is enabled)

Multiple labels (pages)

File menu → Add page creates additional labels in one design. All pages share the same dimensions; import and export handle each page as a separate label, and the control at the bottom center of the canvas switches between them.

Saving your work

Both formats round-trip cleanly, but they carry different things:

• .zpl (File → Export ZPL) holds all printable content and works as a design source: re-import it and keep editing.
• .json (File → Save Design) additionally stores designer-only state with no ZPL representation: locked or hidden objects, export exclusions, custom object names, and group structure.

Preview accuracy

The canvas is a design preview, not a pixel-perfect simulation: shapes, spacing, and positions match the print, while text approximates the printer’s built-in fonts to within a few dots. For a faithful render, use the Preview panel (Labelary, or on desktop the printer’s own firmware). The Labelary preview does not cover every ZPL feature; some less common elements (e.g. Codablock F, Maxicode) may look wrong there even when the actual print is fine.

Have existing .zpl files? See Importing ZPL for the byte-for-byte round-trip guarantees.