diff --git a/printer_zpl2/__manifest__.py b/printer_zpl2/__manifest__.py
index 7d3d916..4ed0f44 100644
--- a/printer_zpl2/__manifest__.py
+++ b/printer_zpl2/__manifest__.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
     "Apertoso NV, Odoo Community Association (OCA)",
     "website": "https://github.com/OCA/report-print-send",
     "license": "AGPL-3",
-    "external_dependencies": {"python": ["zpl2"]},
     "depends": ["base_report_to_printer"],
     "data": [
         "security/ir.model.access.csv",
diff --git a/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2.py b/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2.py
index dfd860a..e9e5e9b 100644
--- a/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2.py
+++ b/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2.py
@@ -14,12 +14,9 @@ from odoo import _, api, exceptions, fields, models
 from odoo.exceptions import ValidationError
 from odoo.tools.safe_eval import safe_eval, wrap_module
 
-_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+from . import zpl2
 
-try:
-    import zpl2
-except ImportError:
-    _logger.debug("Cannot `import zpl2`.")
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class PrintingLabelZpl2(models.Model):
diff --git a/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2_component.py b/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2_component.py
index 9342ec5..eccd2ef 100644
--- a/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2_component.py
+++ b/printer_zpl2/models/printing_label_zpl2_component.py
@@ -5,12 +5,10 @@ import logging
 
 from odoo import api, fields, models
 
+from . import zpl2
+
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-try:
-    import zpl2
-except ImportError:
-    _logger.debug("Cannot `import zpl2`.")
 
 DEFAULT_PYTHON_CODE = """# Python One-Liners
 #  - object: %s record on which the action is triggered; may be void
diff --git a/printer_zpl2/models/zpl2.py b/printer_zpl2/models/zpl2.py
index 00db219..d9600b6 100644
--- a/printer_zpl2/models/zpl2.py
+++ b/printer_zpl2/models/zpl2.py
@@ -8,15 +8,7 @@
 import binascii
 import math
 
-try:
-    from PIL import ImageOps
-except:
-    ImageOps = None
-
-try:
-    strcast = unicode
-except:
-    strcast = str
+from PIL import ImageOps
 
 # Constants for the printer configuration management
 CONF_RELOAD_FACTORY = "F"
@@ -136,7 +128,7 @@ class Zpl2(object):
 
     def _write_command(self, data):
         """Adds a complete command to buffer"""
-        self._buffer.append(strcast(data).encode(self.encoding))
+        self._buffer.append(str(data).encode(self.encoding))
 
     def _generate_arguments(self, arguments, kwargs):
         """Generate a zebra arguments from an argument names list and a dict of
@@ -492,12 +484,6 @@ class Zpl2(object):
 
     def graphic_field(self, right, down, pil_image):
         """Encode a PIL image into an ASCII string suitable for ZPL printers"""
-        if ImageOps is None:
-            # Importing ImageOps from PIL didn't work
-            raise Exception(
-                "You must install Pillow to be able to use the graphic"
-                " fields feature"
-            )
         width, height = pil_image.size
         rounded_width = int(math.ceil(width / 8.0) * 8)
         # Transform the image :
diff --git a/printer_zpl2/tests/test_printing_label_zpl2.py b/printer_zpl2/tests/test_printing_label_zpl2.py
index f78322d..41f1470 100644
--- a/printer_zpl2/tests/test_printing_label_zpl2.py
+++ b/printer_zpl2/tests/test_printing_label_zpl2.py
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
 # Copyright 2016 LasLabs Inc.
 # License AGPL-3.0 or later (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html).
 
-import logging
-
 import mock
 
 from odoo import exceptions
 from odoo.tests.common import TransactionCase
 
-_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-try:
-    import zpl2
-except ImportError:
-    _logger.debug("Cannot `import zpl2`.")
+from ..models import zpl2
 
 model = "odoo.addons.base_report_to_printer.models.printing_server"
 
diff --git a/printer_zpl2/wizard/wizard_import_zpl2.py b/printer_zpl2/wizard/wizard_import_zpl2.py
index 6493564..f6adc79 100644
--- a/printer_zpl2/wizard/wizard_import_zpl2.py
+++ b/printer_zpl2/wizard/wizard_import_zpl2.py
@@ -11,12 +11,9 @@ from PIL import Image, ImageOps
 
 from odoo import _, fields, models
 
-_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+from ..models import zpl2
 
-try:
-    import zpl2
-except ImportError:
-    _logger.debug("Cannot `import zpl2`.")
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def _compute_arg(data, arg):
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index f1fc07a..3426931 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
 # generated from manifests external_dependencies
 pycups
-zpl2