Brother P-touch 550 User Manual 2
Thank you for purchasing the P-touch 530/550!
With your new P-touch, you can create labels and stamps for any need. Select from the many
frames, character sizes and styles to design beautiful custom labels and stamps. In a addition,
the variety of tape and ink colors available allow you to print personalized labels, useful for
color-coding.
You no longer have to worry about urgent tasks that require professional printing. In the
office, the factory, the lab or the home, the quality and performance of the P-touch 530/550
makes it an extremely practical machine.
Finally, as you may want to refer to this User’s Guide occasionally, we suggest that you keep
it in a handy place.
FCC NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits foe a Class B digital
device, pursuant to 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful 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 instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful 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.
The enclosed interface cable should be used in order to ensure compliance with the limits
for a Class B digital device.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Brother Industries, Ltd. Could void
the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This product is covered by one or more of the following patents.
USP4839742 USP4983058 EP315369 GB2223740
USP4922063 USP5009530 EP322918
USP4927278 USP5069557 EP322919
USP4966476 USP5120147
USP4976558
ABOUT THIS MANUAL..................................................................................1
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
BEFORE YOU START
MACHINE DIAGRAM...................................................................................8
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS.......................................................................10
BATTERIS.................................................................................................11
OPTIONAL AC ADAPTOR.........................................................................12
TAPE CASSETTE.....................................................................................13
ATTACHING LABELS................................................................................16
PRINT HEAD AND ROLLERS....................................................................19
LEARNING THE ROPES
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................22
NAME TAG EXAMPLE..............................................................................23
EQUIPMENT LABEL EXAMPLE................................................................30
ADDRESS LABEL EXAMPLE....................................................................36
STORAGE SHELF LABEL EXAMPLE........................................................45
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................54
FINDING YOUR WAY................................................................................55
On/Off KEY...............................................................................................56
CURSOR KEYS........................................................................................57
Code/Alt/Shift KEYS AND Caps MODE......................................................59
Space KEY................................................................................................62
RETURN KEY...........................................................................................63
New Block FUNCTION...............................................................................66
Cancel KEY...............................................................................................68
BS (BACKSPACE) KEY.............................................................................71
Line Out FUNCTION..................................................................................72
Clear FUNCTION.......................................................................................73
Symbol FUNCTION...................................................................................75
Accent FUNCTION....................................................................................78
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Barcode FUNCTION..................................................................................80
Zoom KEY.................................................................................................85
Contrast KEY.............................................................................................86
Label length FUNCTION............................................................................87
Auto Formats Key......................................................................................88
Area KEY AND ALL FUNCTION.................................................................97
Font KEY.................................................................................................100
Size AND Width KEYS.............................................................................102
Style KEY................................................................................................104
Undl/Frm (UNDERLINE/FRAME) KEY......................................................107
Color KEY...............................................................................................109
Format KEY.............................................................................................110
GLOBAL FRAME FUNCTION..................................................................112
FRAME COLOR FUNCTION....................................................................113
STYLE COLOR FUNCTION.....................................................................114
LENGTH FUNCTION...............................................................................116
FEED (TAPE FEED) FUNCTION..............................................................117
H.ALI (HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT) FUNCTION......................................118
VERT (VERTICAL PRINTING) FUNCTION...............................................119
MIRROR (MIRROR PRINTING) FUNCTION.............................................120
UNIT FUNCTION.....................................................................................121
Print KEY AND Tape Cut KEY..................................................................122
COLOR PRINT FUNCTION.....................................................................123
Stamp FUNCTION...................................................................................125
Special Print FUNCTION..........................................................................128
Seq. Numbering FUNCTION....................................................................130
Store, Recall AND M.Del KEYS................................................................134
ERROR MESSAGE LIST............................................................................139
TROUBLESHOOTING................................................................................146
MACHINE SPECIFICATIONS......................................................................147
FEATURES.................................................................................................148
INDEX.........................................................................................................149
ACCESSORIES...........................................................................................152
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Although the P-touch 530/550 is easy to use, we suggest that you read this manual carefully
before starting. This manual consists of a reference guide and three chapter:
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE This guide provides quick and simple instructions on set-
ting up and using the machine.
BEFORE YOU START This chapter provides basic information concerning the tape
cassettes, power supplies, and labels.
LEARNING THE ROPES The easy-to-follow practice sessions in this chapter are de-
signed to help you become familiar with the machine’s
operations.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION This handy reference chapter contains detailed explanations
of all the machine’s features.
The Quick Reference Guide contains all the information you need to immediately begin
using this machine for making simple labels. Please read the brief Before You Start chapter
for more details on the setup and care of the machine.
If this is your first time using a P-touch or if you would like to brush up on some techniques,
we suggest you work through the exercises in Learning the Ropes. If you have detailed questions about specific features, the For Your Information chapter will provide you with the
answers.
We hope you enjoy using your P-touch 530/550.
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* Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the
mark.
* Do not pull on the tape being fed from the P-touch. Doing so may damage the tape
cassette.
* Avoid using the machine in extremely dusty place. Keep in out of both direct sunlight and
rain.
* When printing a label, a horizontal line appears on your label, this may be an indication
that dust is on the print head. To clean the print head, gently rub a cotton swab over the
print head to remove dust. (See page 19.)
* Be sure tape is properly fed through tape guidelines before installing a tape into the ma chine. (See page 15.)
* Do not expose the machine to high temperatures or high humidity. Never leave it on the
dashboard or in the back of your car.
* Do not leave any rubber or vinyl on the machine foe an extended period of time. Doing so
may cause staining.
* Do not put any foreign objects onto or into the machine.
* To avoid injuries, do not touch the cutter’s edge.
* When inserting new batteries, be sure to do so within five minutes of removing the old
ones, otherwise all text files will be lost (unless the machine is plugged into an AC outlet
with the AC adapter).
* Use only the AC adapter (model AD-60) designed exclusively for this machine. Use of any
other adapter will void the warranty.
* When the machine is not being used for a long period of time and it is not necessary to
keep the text files stored in the memory, disconnect the AC adapter, and remove the
batteries to prevent them from leaking and damaging the machine.
* If the adapter is removed from the AC outlet before unplugging in from the machine, the
text files in the memory will not be deleted if the batteries are correctly installed.
* Use only AA alkaline batteries in this machine.
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+ White garments made from 100% cotton with a plain (smooth) surface are best for
making iron-on transfers.
You can also make transfers to garments made from 100% linen or cotton/polyester
blends as long as they have a plain (smooth) surface.
The iron-on will not adhere properly to any cloth with a rough surface, such as pile or
denim, or with a waterproof surface. Hart- sensitive materials, such as nylon, acetate
or other similar fibers, are unsuitable as they may be damaged when they are pressed
with an iron at a high temperature.
Press the iron straight down onto the cloth. Do not move the iron while pressing,
otherwise the label may move out of place.
After the backing tape has been removed, the transferred iron-on may appear glossy.
In addition, some white spots may have appeared on the label if it was touched while
the backing tape was peeled off. These can be removed by ironing over the iron-on
transfer with a piece of cloth placed between it and the iron.
The iron-on transfer will have a white background on colored cloth.
Since the transferred iron-on cannot be removed once it is applied, make all transfers
with care.
Washing
Garments with iron-on transfers can be washed over 20 times if the iron-on has been transferred correctly. Normal biological and non-biological household detergents may be used.
The iron-on may become discolored if the garment is placed in bleach for an extended
length of time.
Be careful that hard objects such as buckles or buttons do not come into contact with the
iron-on in the wash.
Do not dry clean garments which have had iron-on transfers applied.
Drying
Garments with iron-on transfers may be dried either inside or outside out.
Do not tumble dry. The transfers will come off and may stick to other items of clothing.
Ironing
Iron garments with transfers using normal temperature settings.
Be sure to place a piece of cloth between the iron and label when you iron over it to
prevent the label from sticking to the iron.
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Occasionally, specks of dust or dirt become attached to the machine’s print head and rollers.
This is particularly likely when you are using the unit outdoors or in a very dusty environment.
If a section of the print head is covered with dust, a blank horizontal streak may
appear through the text in the printed label.
Therefore, as with a tape recorder, the machine’s head may need to be cleaned from time to
time.
TO CLEAN THE PRINT HEAD
Ê Turn off the machine.
Ë Open the tape compartment cover, then remove the tape cassette if one is installed.
The print head and rollers are located in the tape compartment.
Ì Print head: Use a dry cotton swab to gently wipe the print head with an up-and - down
motion.
Rollers: Use a dry cotton swab to wipe each roller with an up-and-down motion while
rotating them with your finger.
Í Try printing again.
If dust still remains:
Î Repeat step Ì using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
If none of the above works, contact your service representative.
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In Learning the Ropes, you will find a series of label-making examples. As the example labels
become increasingly more complex, you will learn how to use the more advanced features
of the machine. The first exercise consists of creating a simple one-line name tag. The second,
an equipment instruction label, takes advantage of several additional machine capabilities.
The third is a four-line address label. Finally, the storage shelf label shows you how to use
the unit’s more expert functions.
If you are a first-time user, we suggest that you work through these exercises to become
acquainted with the various features of this machine. Since they do not require much time,
they can be done in four separate practice sessions or all at once.
The Learning the Ropes examples is constructed as shown below:
+ Although the P-touch 530 display is shown in the examples, the operation does not
change for the P-touch 550.
To best use this training section, simply follow the flow of the practice sessions. Read the
background explanations, then follow the instructions, checking that your results match the
illustrations provided. If you would like more detailed information about a particular point,
simply check in the For Your Information chapter.
Now, let’s see how easy it is to make beautiful labels with the P-touch 530/550!
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After you have inserted the batteries and the enclosed tape cassette as explained in the Before
You Start chapter, we can practice using some of the basic functions of your P-touch 530/550.
We must first begin by turning on the power to the machine.
The WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) mode allows you to see exactly how the
label would appear if it were printed. The flashing bracket that appears on the display is
called the “cursor”. Its is like a pointer which shows your current position and lets you select
characters in your text.
Some format settings are indicated by the rectangles which appear at the top and bottom of
the display. The default settings (the settings when the machines is turned on for the very first
time) have been pre-programmed into the machine and represent the most common settings
for labels. However, you can design your own label to have any format that you wish.
Detailed explanations of the formats can be found on page 97 to 120 of For Your Information.
Your P-touch 530/550 is also equipped with an Auto Formats function, which allows you to
make labels more quickly and easily then if you formatted the text yourself. With this function,
simply, select from the many preset label templates that are available and enter the text
to create labels which are already formatted with certain fonts, styles and other layout settings.
For more details on this function, refer to the Auto Formats KEY section on pages 88 to 96.
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In this first example, we will use the most basic functions of your P-touch to print simple
name tag shown below.
+ The label in this example was made using a ½” (12-mm)-wide tape cassette.
ENTER THE TEXT
For this label, we will begin by typing “JOHN SMITH”, then later we will edit the text and
change its format. Typing on the P-touch is just like typing on a typewriter or a computer.
Since, at first, we want all of the text to be in capital letters, we will use the Caps mode, which
Allows us to enter many capital letters quickly. The Caps indication in the top left-hand corner
of the display lights up when the machine is in Caps mode.
Now, we can type in the first name.
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