[ic] Linux label printers

[Grant]

> > Maybe printing a TIFF or PDF isn't where it's at for the Zebra.  USPS
> > has a third option to create a custom label.  That seems like the one
> > that's suited for printing like this.  You could use custom ZPL or EPL
> > that way.
> 
> If you have one of these custom label files from USPS I should be able
> to at least test it through my Zebra.  I assumed PNG, Brian says
> ZPL or EPL... in any case it works.

Good idea.  I'll see if I can get USPS to tell me if they have a
ready-to-go custom label available.

> 
> >
> >
> > This has me thinking about using an airbill pouch, laser printer, and
> > 8.5x11 instead of the Zebra.  I could print the PDF from a browser and
> > not have to mess with ZPL/EPL or trying to integrate the driver-less
> > Zebra into the workflow.  If anyone wants to compare the merits of
> > airbill pouches and thermal labels, I've got some ideas on that.  Let
> > me know.
> 
> Are the paper, pouches and ink free like the thermal labels ?
> Seems more time consuming to deal with sticky pouches
> and folding paper then to simply peel and place the thermal labels.
> To me those were compelling to choose the thermal option
> not the mention the issues of printing a clear bar code.

I debated this in my head yesterday and couldn't quite come to a conclusion.

Thermal Pros:
- free labels
- small label footprint

Pouched Paper Pros:
- one printer instead of two (less setup, less maintenance, simplicity)
- if shipping internationally, the pouch makes it easy to include the
necessary documents
- more securely affixed (sometimes when I get packages returned to me,
FedEx has covered the label in a clear sticker to keep it on, and when
I track FedEx packages it sometimes says that the label had to be
replaced)
- thermal labels have to be carefully and vigorously applied where
there are no tape creases, pouches do not
- just as professional looking (I never would have thought this was
true but I got a package from Fat Possum Records and they do it this
way and it looked very professional)

One other thing is the possibility of really customizing the label
sheet of paper.  A color laser could print all kinds of things on
there.  The only problem with this is I'm not sure if you could set up
a custom label through a laser printer.  It seems like the printer
might have to have barcode abilities built-in.  There must be some way
to print barcodes on a laser printer though.

- Grant