AstroNova QuickLabel QL-E100 User manual

QL-E100 User Guide
Part Number 22834710-EN-E
Revision 1.1
7/2023
AstroNova, Inc.®
600 East Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
www.AstroNovaProductID.com

Copyright © 2023 AstroNova ®, Inc.
This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form
by any means without written permission of AstroNova.
Trademarks
QL-E100® and CQL Pro® are registered trademarks of AstroNova, Inc.
Adobe®, Photoshop®, and Illustrator® are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.
Corel® is a registered trademark of Corel Corporation.
Microsoft® Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
FCC Part 15 Compliance
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction
manual, may cause interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
RoHS Compliance
The QL-E100 Label Printer does not contain the substances specified within ANNEX II of
“Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the
restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
(RoHS)”, that is, lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) exceeding their specified maximum concentration
values tolerated by weight in homogeneous materials, except for the exemptions set in ANNEX Ill
of the Directive and its amendments.
This information is offered in good faith to the best of our knowledge, but is subject to revision as
new information becomes available.

Declaration of Conformity
Declaration de Conformité
Ubereinstimmungserklärung
Dichiarazione di Conformità
ID DoC-22834710
Manufacturer’s name and address
Nom et adresse du fabricant
Hersteller
Nome del costruttore
AstroNova, Inc.
600 East Greenwich Avenue
West Warwick, RI 02893 USA
Brand Name(s)
Nom(s) de marque(s)
Markenname(n)
Nome/i dei marchi
QuickLabel ®
Model No.
Modele No.
Model Nr.
Modello No.
QL-E100
Description of Products
Description des produits
Produktbeschreibungen
Descrizione dei Prodotti
Color Inkjet Printer
Standards to which conformity is declared
Standards auquel la conformité appartient
Normen für welche Übereinstimmung erklärt wird
Norme per le quali si dichiara la conformità
EN 55032:2015/A11:2020 (Class A)
EN 55032:2015 (Class A)
EN 55035:2017/A11:2020
EN 55035:2017
EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019/A1:2021
EN IEC 61000-3-2:2019
EN 61000-3-3:2013/A2:2021
EN 61000-3-3:2013+A1:2019
FCC Part 15 Subpart B & Part 2, ICES-003 Issue 7
IEC 62368-1:2018
UL 62368-1 3rd Ed.
CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 62368-1-19
Application of Council Directives
Application des Decisions du Conseil
Anwendbar fur die Richtlinien
Applicazione delle Direttive del Comitato
2011/65/EU
2001/95/EC
2014/30/EU
2014/35/EU
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the equipment specified above conforms to the above Directive and Standard.
Je, Soussigné, déclare que l’équipment spécifié ci-dessus est en conformité avec la directive et le standard ci-dessus.
Ich, der unterzeichnende erkläre hiermit, daß das oben beschriebene Gerät den vorgenannten Richtlinien und Normen entspricht.
Il sottoscritto dichiara che l’apparecchio sopra specificato è conforme alle Direttive e Norme sopra specificate.
Phillip Soares
Quality Systems Manager
AstroNova, Inc.
CE Label First Affixed Date: 23
Date of issue: 5/12/2023
Place of issue: West Warwick, RI
European Contact: Your local AstroNova, Inc. Sales and Service Office.
FRANCE - Parc Euclide, ZA la Clef de St Pierre, 10A Rue Blaise Pascal 78990 Elancourt, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
GERMANY - Waldstraße 70, D-63128 Dietzenbach, Tel. [phone], Fax: [phone]
UNITED KINGDOM - Westacott Way, Maidenhead Berkshire, SL6 3RT Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
INDIA - A-44 Phase 1 Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), NH45, Great Southern Trunk Rd. Tambaram, Chennai 600045, India,
Tel: [phone]

Contents
QL-E100 User Guide 5
Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Quick Setup Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Installation and Setup Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Choosing an Installation Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Unpacking and Inspection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Installing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Connecting the Power Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Preparing Roll Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Installing the Initial Ink Cartridge and Powering On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Installing the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Identifying Printer Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Printer Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Operation Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Rear Panel Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Chapter 2: Media and Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Purchasing Media and Ink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Handling Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Initial Ink Cartridge Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Replacing the Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Recycling Empty Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Media Rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Supported Media Types and Sensing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Installing the Media Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Replacing a Media Roll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 3: Installing and Setting Up the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Initial Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Upgrading the Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Installing Multiple Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Setting up Printer Driver Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Setting up Label Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Setting up Custom Label Sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Setting up Appearance Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Setting up Layout Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Viewing Status Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Viewing Printer Driver Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Chapter 4: Printing from a PC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Preparing Label Artwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Choosing Design Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Image Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Disabling Anti-aliasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Printing from Adobe or other Third-Party Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Printing from CQL Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Contents
QL-E100 User Guide 6
Chapter 5: QuickPrint Printing from USB or Printer Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
About QuickPrint Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
QuickPrint Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Managing Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Printing from QuickPrint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Chapter 6: Touchscreen Controls and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Main Screen Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Ink Level and Ink Change Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Main Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Printing Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Media Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Maintenance Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Printer and Media Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Main Area Tabs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Home Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
QuickPrint Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Offsets Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Media Settings Tab (QuickPrint Functions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Alignment Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
System Settings Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Help Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Chapter 7: Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
General Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Cleaning the Printhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Cleaning Ink Cartridge Electrical Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Upgrading the Printer Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Printing Issues and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Incorrect Label Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Ink Smears on Printed Labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Label Media Tracking Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Labels Not Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Print Quality Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Resolving Media Jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Resolving Printer Driver Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Status and Error Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Media Status and Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Printer Status Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Printer Error Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Additional Product Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Chapter 9: Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Power Supply and Power Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Chapter 10: Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Getting Started
QL-E100 User Guide 7
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Quick Setup Guide
This QL-E100 User Guide provides detailed information about setting up and using the printer. A
related publication, the QL-E100 Quick Setup Guide, is also available to help you set up the
printer. The QL-E100 Quick Setup Guide uses illustrations to show this process.
The QL-E100 Quick Setup Guide is included in the printer’s shipping carton.

Getting Started
QL-E100 User Guide 8
Installation and Setup Overview
This section provides a summary of all installation and setup steps. Refer to this information as
you prepare the printer for use. Each step in the overview has a link to more details later in this
user guide.
1. Before installing the printer, select an appropriate location and make sure that the system
requirements are met.
•See “Choosing an Installation Location” on page 9.
•See “System Requirements” on page 9.
2. Unpack the printer. Make sure that all parts are included and verify that no items were
damaged in transit. See “Unpacking and Inspection” on page 10.
3. Connect the power cable. See “Connecting the Power Cable” on page 11.
Note: Do not turn the printer’s power on at this time.
4. Load a roll of labels on the roll holder in the correct orientation, and then set the roll holder in
the printer. See “Preparing Roll Media” on page 11.
5. Unpack the supplied ink cartridge and then install it in the printer. Turn the printer power on to
check the ink status. See “Installing the Initial Ink Cartridge and Powering On” on page 13.
6. Install the printer driver. As part of the driver installation process, you will connect the printer to
your computer with the USB cable. See “Installing the Printer Driver” on page 14.
Important: Do not connect the printer to your PC with the USB cable at this time. The USB
cable will be connected later in this procedure when prompted.
7. Feed the label media into the printer and adjust the media guide to the required width. See
“Installing the Media Roll” on page 30.
8. Prepare your software and start a print job. This process will vary based on how you will be
printing.
• If you are using CQL Pro software from QuickLabel:
Set up CQL Pro based on your label and print specifications. Then start a print job. See
CQL Help for details.
• If you are using Adobe or other third-party software:
Set up the printer driver based on your label and print specifications. See “Setting up
Printer Driver Preferences” on page 39.
Start a print job. See “Printing from Adobe or other Third-Party Software” on page 49.
• If you are using QuickPrint printing:
Make your label files available to the printer with a USB flash drive. Then start a
QuickPrint print job. See “QuickPrint Printing from USB or Printer Memory” on page 50.

Getting Started
QL-E100 User Guide 9
Choosing an Installation Location
Select an installation location that meets the requirements described below. These requirements
will help ensure safe operation and optimal printing results.
• The printer power cable must be able to connect to an appropriate power outlet. This power
outlet must be easily accessible.
• Avoid installing the printer near water sources such as faucets, water heaters, humidifiers, or
refrigerators.
• The environment temperature must be within 59°F to 89°F (15°C to 32°C).
• The environment humidity must be within 20% to 80% RH (non-condensing).
• The environment must be well ventilated and free of dust.
• No printer feet should float. The printer must be held level constantly.
• The installation surface must be sturdy and stable enough to support the weight of the printer
and any accessories.
• A minimum of 4 inches (10 cm) of free space is required on each side of the printer.
System Requirements
Verify that your PC meets the following system requirements.
• Microsoft Windows® 11, 10, 64/32-bit Driver
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
• 8 GB RAM
• 350 MB free hard drive space
• Internet access
• One available USB 2.0 port for USB installation

Getting Started
QL-E100 User Guide 10
Unpacking and Inspection
The printer is secured using cushioning materials to protect it against vibration and shock during
transportation. Use the following instructions to unpack and inspect the printer.
Note: Keep the packaging materials for future transportation.
1. Open the top of the shipping carton. Remove the accessory box.
Open the accessory box and verify the following parts are included.
• Power adapter
• AC power cables (North American and European)
• USB-C to USB-A cable
• Ink cartridge (CMY)
2. Lift the printer out of shipping carton. Remove the packaging inserts from the printer. Place the
printer on a sturdy table.
3. Inspect the printer and accessories. Verify that no items were damaged during transit.

Getting Started
QL-E100 User Guide 11
Installing the Printer
This section describes the tasks required to install the printer.
Connecting the Power Cable
Use the included power adapter to supply power to the printer.
1. Connect the power cable to the power adapter. Plug the adapter’s power cord into the printer’s
power inlet. The power inlet is located on the back of the printer.
2. Plug the power cable into an AC power receptacle. The power button on the front of the printer
will light red when power is connected.
Note: Do not turn the printer’s power on at this time.
Preparing Roll Media
The printing system uses roll media. You will load a roll of labels on the roll holder in the correct
orientation, and then set the roll holder in the printer. During printing, the roll holder will turn freely
and unwind labels as they are fed into the printer.
1. Open the upper lid.

Getting Started
QL-E100 User Guide 12
2. Lift the empty roll holder out of the printer.
The roll holder is made from two flanges connected by a spindle. The wide flange is not
removable. The narrow flange can be removed to allow for loading a media roll.
3. Loosen the screw on the narrow flange until the flange moves freely on the spindle. Remove
the narrow flange.
Orient the label roll as shown. Then install it on the roll holder. Make sure the side of the roll is
pressed flush against the wide flange.
Install the narrow flange. Make sure the narrow flange is pressed flush against the side of the
roll. Tighten the screw on the narrow flange to secure the flange.
Important: Make sure the roll is oriented as shown. With the wide flange on the left side of the
roll, the labels must be unwinding from the bottom of the roll. If labels are unwinding from the
top of the roll, repeat this step and turn the roll around.
4. Set the roll holder in the printer as shown.
5. Close the upper lid.
Before printing, you will feed the media into the printer. See “Installing the Media Roll” on
page 30.

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Installing the Initial Ink Cartridge and Powering On
The printer uses one ink cartridge that contains cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) ink. An ink
cartridge is included with the printer to help you get started. The printer is shipped without the ink
cartridge installed.
Use the following instructions to install the ink cartridge. You will power on the printer after
installing the ink cartridge.
1. Ink cartridges have special handling precautions. Follow these precautions when you work
with ink cartridges. See “Handling Ink Cartridges” on page 24.
2. Open the front lid. The ink cartridge cradle is located on the right side of the printer.
Remove the new ink cartridge from its packaging. Carefully remove the plastic tape covering
the ink nozzles.
Caution: Do not touch the ink cartridge ink nozzles or copper contacts. Touching these parts
will result in clogs, ink failure, and bad electrical connections. Do not remove the copper strips.
They are required electrical contacts.
3. Hold the ink cartridge so that the copper strip is on the bottom and facing the printer. Slide the
ink cartridge into the cradle as shown.
Tilt the end of the cartridge facing you downward as you insert it. When the cartridge has
reached the back of the cradle, tilt it back upward to its normal position until it clips into the
cradle.
Note: If the ink cartridge slides back toward you, it is not seated properly. Lift the ink cartridge
and press it into the cradle. When installed properly, the ink cartridge will be held in place and
it will not freely move in any direction.
4. Close the front lid.

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QL-E100 User Guide 14
5. Press the power button for two seconds and then release it. The power button will light green
and you will hear the printer initializing.
6. When the printer has fully powered on, the touchscreen will be ready for use. Check the ink
level area on the left side of the touchscreen.
The ink level will be displayed using visual CMY bars. The ink level is also displayed as a
percentage under the bars. After installing the new ink cartridge, the ink level will be shown as
full (100%).
Note: If the ink level is not displayed, the ink cartridge might not be installed properly. If this
happens, reinstall the ink cartridge and be sure it fully clips into the cradle.
Installing the Printer Driver
The QL-E100 printer driver software allows your computer to communicate with the printer. Use
the following instructions to download and install the printer driver on your computer.
Important: This procedure requires administrator rights in Windows.
1. Make sure that the printer is powered off. If the printer is on, press the power button for
two seconds and then release it. The power button will light red and the printer will shut down.
Important: Do not connect the printer to your PC with the USB cable at this time. The USB
cable will be connected later in this procedure when prompted.
2. Download the QL-E100 printer driver from the AstroNova Product Identification website.
See AstroNovaProductID.com/QL-E100support. Save the file to your desktop for
convenience.
The file will be named Setup_QL_E100_WindowsDriver_V#.##.exe. The last part of the file
name indicates the version number of the driver.

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3. Double-click the installer file. The installation process will begin.
4. The first screen shows the printer model and software version number.
Choose the Next button.
5. The next screen shows the license agreement.
To proceed with the installation, accept the terms and choose the I Agree button.

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6. The next screen shows the components that will be installed.
Make sure the QL-E100 Printer option is selected. Then choose the Next button.
7. The next screen shows where the printer software will be installed.
If necessary, select an installation location for the software. The default location should be
used in most cases. Then choose the Install button.

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8. The software installation will start. You will be prompted to connect the printer to the computer.
9. Use the supplied USB cable to connect the printer’s USB-C port to an available USB port on
your computer.
10. Press the power button for two seconds and then release it. The power button will light green
and you will hear the printer initializing.
11. When the printer has fully powered on, Windows will automatically detect the printer and begin
setting up the device. A Windows notification will alert you about this process.
A Windows notification will alert you after the Windows setup process has completed. This
process usually requires less than 30 seconds.

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12. Return to the printer driver software installation screen.
Choose the Next button.
13. The next screen shows the USB port that will be used. The USB ports will automatically be
scanned and the printer will appear in the port list.
• If your printer was found, it will be shown in the port list.
• If your printer was not found, disconnect and reconnect the USB cable. Then rescan the
USB ports.
With the printer selected in the port list, choose the Next button.

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14. The installation process will continue. A Windows Security prompt may appear.
If this prompt appears, choose the Install button.
15. The next screen shows that the printer driver has been successfully installed on your
computer.
Choose the Finish button. The installer software will close.

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QL-E100 User Guide 20
Identifying Printer Parts
This section provides a visual overview of the printer. Parts are identified and described using
illustrations and tables.
Printer Overview
# Name Description
1 Touchscreen The seven-inch touchscreen provides access to all
printer menus. It also displays information about the
status of the printer.
2 Front Lid The front lid provides access to the ink cartridge and
cutter.
3 Media Exit Slot Media is ejected through this slot.
4 Upper Lid The upper lid provides access to the media roll area.
5 Operation Panel The operation panel provides three function buttons
and the power button.
1
4
5
2
3