Label Printing
Brother POS can generate and print product labels containing barcodes, prices, product names, and other details. Labels are printed using network label printers that support ZPL (Zebra), TSPL (Munbyn), or ESC/POS protocols. Label templates are configurable in the admin panel, and printing can be done from both the POS register and the admin interface.
Before You Begin
- The label printing setting must be enabled in your store settings.
- A label printer must be configured for your register in the admin panel.
- Label templates must be set up in Admin > Label Templates (accessible from the Settings page).
- Products must have SKU or barcode values assigned for the barcode element to print correctly.
Label printing is a feature-flagged capability. If you do not see label printing options in the POS, ask your admin to enable it in store settings.
Supported Printers
Brother POS supports label printers that understand one of the following command languages:
| Language | Printer Brands | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| ZPL | Zebra | Zebra Programming Language |
| TSPL | Munbyn, TSC | Taiwan Semiconductor Command Set |
| ESC/POS | Generic thermal printers | Standard receipt printer commands |
Supported printer types are: Zebra, Munbyn, Generic, Dymo, and Brother.
Common Label Printer Models
- Zebra ZD220/ZD420 -- ZPL, network or USB
- Munbyn ITPP941 -- TSPL, network or USB
- Dymo LabelWriter -- supported via generic protocol
- Brother QL series -- supported via generic protocol
Label Contents
A product label can include any combination of the following elements, depending on your template configuration:
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Product name | The full product name | "Blue Dream 3.5g" |
| Price | The retail price | "$35.00" |
| SKU | The product's stock keeping unit | "BD-001-35G" |
| Barcode | A scannable barcode encoding the SKU | (barcode graphic) |
| Brand | The product brand or manufacturer | "Aurora" |
| Strain type | Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid (cannabis) | "Sativa" |
| THC/CBD | Cannabinoid percentages (cannabis) | "THC: 22% / CBD: 0.5%" |
| Package size | Weight or count | "3.5g" |
| Custom text | Any additional text you define | "Sale!" |
Cannabis-Specific Label Elements
For cannabis products, labels can include regulated information:
- THC and CBD percentage ranges
- Strain type classification
- Package weight
- Weight preset barcodes (unique barcode per weight tier for a product)
Label Templates
Label templates are configured in the admin panel and define the layout, size, and content of printed labels.
Template Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | A descriptive name for the template (e.g., "Standard Shelf Label") |
| Width | Label width in millimeters or dots |
| Height | Label height in millimeters or dots |
| Printer type | The command language to use (ZPL, TSPL, ESC/POS) |
| Elements | A list of positioned content elements (text, barcode, image) |
Element Positioning
Each element on the template has:
- X/Y coordinates -- Position on the label (in dots from top-left corner)
- Size -- Font size for text elements
- Bold -- Whether to render text in bold
- Alignment -- Left, center, or right alignment
- Width/Height -- Dimensions for barcode or image elements
Templates are managed by your admin. If you need a different label layout or want to add/remove elements, submit a request through your store's admin.
Printing Labels From the POS
Single Product Label
- Find the product in the POS product grid or search.
- Tap the Info button (the information icon in the top-right corner of the product card) to open the Product Detail modal.
- Tap Print Label inside the modal.
- The default label template is automatically selected. Set the quantity of labels to print.
- Tap Print to send to the label printer.
Reprinting Labels From a Sale
After completing a sale, you can reprint labels for the items sold:
- Open Sales History from the Recent Activity section in the cart panel (visible when the cart is empty).
- Select the sale.
- Tap Reprint Labels.
- Labels are printed for all items in the sale using the configured template.
This is useful when a customer needs replacement labels for purchased items.
Printing Labels From the Admin Panel
Managers and admins can also print labels from the admin interface:
- Navigate to Admin > Products.
- Select the product(s) you want to print labels for.
- Click Print Labels.
- Choose the template and quantity.
- Print.
Bulk label printing from the admin panel is useful when receiving new inventory or repricing items.
Weight Preset Barcodes
For weight-based cannabis products, Brother POS can generate unique barcodes for each weight preset:
| Weight | Barcode |
|---|---|
| 1g | SKU-001-1G (unique barcode) |
| 3.5g | SKU-001-35G (unique barcode) |
| 7g | SKU-001-7G (unique barcode) |
| 14g | SKU-001-14G (unique barcode) |
| 28g | SKU-001-28G (unique barcode) |
When a cashier scans the weight-specific barcode, the product is added to the cart at that weight automatically, skipping the weight selection modal.
Print weight-specific labels for pre-packaged items. This speeds up checkout because the scanner identifies both the product and the weight in one scan.
Printer Configuration
Network Label Printer Setup
- Connect the label printer to your local network (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
- Note the printer's IP address from its configuration printout.
- In the admin panel, go to Admin > Registers (accessible from the Settings or Cash Drawers page).
- Select the register.
- Enable Label printer.
- Enter the label printer IP and port (default: 9100).
- Select the printer type (Zebra, Munbyn, Generic, Dymo, Brother).
- Save the settings.
USB Label Printers via Printer Bridge
If your label printer connects via USB:
- Run the Printer Bridge service on the computer with the USB printer.
- Configure the register's label printer to use the bridge computer's address. See the Printer Bridge setup guide for details.
Offline Label Printing
Brother POS can print labels even when the POS is offline. Label templates and product data are cached locally, and the label command generator runs entirely in the browser:
- The system uses cached label templates and product data.
- Label commands (ZPL, TSPL, or ESC/POS) are generated in the browser.
- Commands are sent directly to the network printer from the browser.
Offline label printing requires that the label printer is on the same local network as the register. The printer connection is direct (browser to printer), not routed through the Brother POS server.
Image Support
Label templates can include images (such as store logos or product images). Images are automatically converted to 1-bit monochrome bitmaps for thermal printing using the browser's Canvas API:
- Images are resized to fit the defined element dimensions.
- Color images are converted to black and white using dithering.
- The converted bitmap is encoded in the printer's native format (ZPL, TSPL, etc.).
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Print Label option not visible | The label printing setting is not enabled, or no label printer is configured for your register. |
| Labels print blank | Check that the template has elements positioned correctly. Verify the printer type matches your printer (ZPL vs. TSPL vs. ESC/POS). |
| Barcode does not scan after printing | Verify the product has a valid SKU. Check print quality -- a dirty print head or low-quality labels can produce unscannable barcodes. |
| Wrong label size | The template dimensions do not match your physical label stock. Adjust the template width and height in the admin panel. |
| Label content is cut off | Elements are positioned outside the printable area. Reduce font sizes or reposition elements within the label boundaries. |
| Printer not responding | Verify the printer is powered on, connected to the network, and the IP/port are correct in register settings. |
| Image not printing | The image may be too large or in an unsupported format. Use PNG or JPG images and keep file sizes reasonable. |
Best Practices
- Use consistent label stock. Standardize on one label size across your store to avoid template confusion.
- Print weight-specific barcodes for pre-packaged cannabis. This dramatically speeds up checkout.
- Test print before bulk runs. Print one label and verify alignment, content, and barcode scannability before printing a large batch.
- Clean the print head regularly. Thermal print heads accumulate residue that degrades print quality.
- Keep label stock stocked. Running out of labels during a price change or new inventory arrival causes delays.
- Review templates periodically. Ensure label content meets current regulatory requirements, especially for cannabis.
What's Next?
- Barcode Scanner -- Scan the barcodes you print
- Receipt Printing -- Configure receipt printers for sale receipts
- Scale -- Weigh products and print weight-specific labels