What are Epson label printers?

What it is

Instead of buying pre-printed rolls, a business with a ColorWorks printer prints the artwork, text and barcode on a blank label when it is needed. That suits short runs, designs that change and branded packaging.

The TM series are receipt printers for registers and kitchens, most of them thermal. ESC/POS is the command language Epson created for them. Software sends short escape codes for text, cutting the paper and opening the cash drawer, and many other makers support the same codes. Read more in our guides to label printers and receipt printers.

Why it matters to a business

• Color on demand: printing labels as needed avoids stocking many pre-printed designs.
• Branded packaging: color labels let a product carry artwork and a barcode from one print job.
• A widely supported receipt language: ESC/POS means much point-of-sale software already knows how to talk to a TM printer.
• Inkjet or thermal: color inkjet is for presentation. Thermal printing is faster and cheaper per label but usually black only, and direct thermal labels fade with heat and sunlight.

How KawaConnect works with Epson printers

We set up and support Epson receipt printers at retail counters and dispensaries, including the cash drawer connection and the network settings. Where a business needs branded color labels, we help connect the software to a color label printer.

Compliance labels are a separate job. We normally print those on thermal label printers, which is what our product Tagestry prints to. Web applications reach either kind of printer through PrintNode or QZ Tray. Where possible each printer gets a fixed address on a wired network.

Learn more

• Epson websiteThe maker's US site, useful for finding label and receipt printer families and manuals.
• ESC/P on WikipediaBackground on Epson's printer command codes, for readers curious where ESC/POS comes from.
• Thermal printing on WikipediaExplains the heat-based method used in receipt printers, in contrast to inkjet.