Brother P-touch PT-9400 User manual

®
Read this User’s Guide before you start using your P-Touch.
Keep this User’s Guide in a handy place for future reference.
USER’S GUIDE MODEL PT-9400

Thank you for purchasing this P-touch!
With your new P-touch, you can create labels for any purpose. Select from a variety of frames, fonts and
character styles to design beautiful custom labels. In addition, the many pre-formatted templates available
make label- and stamp-making quick and easy.
Installing the P-touch Editor software on your computer will provide you with many more illustration and
layout tools to design labels, which can then be printed on your P-touth.
You can print professional-looking labels in no time. The quality and performance of this P-touch make it an
extremely practical machine to meet all your labelling needs.
Although this P-touch is easy to use, we suggest that you read this User's Guide carefully before starting. Keep
this manual nearby for future reference.
PREFACE
Canadian Department of Communications Compliance Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus as set out in the interference-causing equipment standard entitled “Digital
Apparatus”, ICES-003 of the Department of Communications.
Switching the language of the displays between
English and French
Refer tp page 59 for details on switching the language used in the displays between
English and French.
☞The default setting is English.

i
QUICK REFERENCE
Chapter 1
Before You Start....................................................... 1
EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU CAN MAKE
WITH THIS P-TOUCH..................................................................2
GENERAL DESCRIPTION..............................................................4
Features............................................................................................................... 4
LCD display......................................................................................................... 5
Menus................................................................................................................... 5
Keyboard.............................................................................................................. 6
Chapter 2
Getting Started......................................................... 7
PRECAUTIONS.............................................................................8
Connecting the power supply cord...................................................................... 9
Installing a TZ tape cassette.............................................................................. 10
Turning on & off the P-touch.............................................................................11
Chapter 3
Functions ............................................................... 13
Performing basic operations ............................................................................. 14
Entering text....................................................................................................... 15
Editing text......................................................................................................... 21
Formatting......................................................................................................... 24
Storing and recalling files ................................................................................. 46
Printing.............................................................................................................. 49
Setting display features...................................................................................... 57
CONTENTS

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Chapter 4
Using Labels and Stamps........................................ 61
Laminated tape...................................................................................................62
Stamp film...........................................................................................................62
ERROR MESSAGE LIST ...............................................................65
TROUBLESHOOTING................................................................70
MACHINE SPECIFICATIONS......................................................73
Appendix ............................................................... 75
Symbols...............................................................................................................76
Special barcode characters................................................................................80
Fonts...................................................................................................................80
Sizes and widths..................................................................................................81
Type styles ..........................................................................................................82
Framing and shading patterns...........................................................................83
Background designs ...........................................................................................84
Pre-set templates................................................................................................85
Template text styles ............................................................................................89
Text transformation styles ..................................................................................90
INDEX ........................................................................................91
ACCESSORIES.............................................................................93

QUICK REFERENCE
Entering text
Adding a space Space bar
Adding a capital letter + desired character
Adding a series of capi-
tal letters →Type character
Adding an accented
character →Type character →or to select →
Adding a symbol a) → or to select SYMBOL NO. →→or to select (or
type) symbol number →
b) → or to select symbol category →→, ,, or
to select symbol number →
Adding a new line
Adding a new block +
Adding a barcode →Type barcode data →
Adding a special charac-
ter to the barcode →→ or to select special character →
Changing a barcode
parameter →→ or to select parameter →→or to select setting →
→
Editing text
Zooming in and out
Deleting text
Clearing all of the text
and formats + → or to select TEXT & FORMATS →
Clearing only the text + → or to select TEXT ONLY →
Selecting an area of the
text → , , or to select text
Selecting all of the text +
Copying text → , , or to select text →
Pasting text Copy text → , , or to position cursor →→ or to select
OK →
Shift
Caps
Alt
New Block
Symbol
New Block
New Block
Symbol
New Block
New Block
New Block
Code
New Block
Barcode
New Block
Barcode
Symbol
New Block
Barcode
Format
New Block New Block
Zoom
Image
Clear
Back Space
Code
Clear
Back Space
New Block
Code
Clear
Back Space
New Block
Area
All
Code Area
All
Area
All
Copy
&Paste
Copy
&Paste
New Block

Formatting text
Changing the font
Changing the character
size
Changing the character
width
Changing the character
style
Changing the italic set-
ting
Changing the line effects
Changing the vertical
printing setting
Changing the label
length → or to select LENGTH →→or to select (or type) setting →
Changing the margins →or to select MARGIN →
→
or to select setting →
Changing the horizontal
alignment →or to select H.ALI →
→
or to select setting →
Changing the pitch →or to select PITCH →
→
or to select setting →
Changing the back-
ground a) →or to select BACK →
→
or to select design →
b) →or to select BACK →
→
or to select
SMALL or LARGE →
→type text → to select font and →
Using a template
Creating a label or
stamp from a template a) →or to select TEMPLATE NO. →
→
or to select (or
type) template number →→ Type line of text and →Continue with 1,
2, 3, 4or 5
b) →or to select template category →→or to select
template number →→Type line of text and →Continue with 1, 2, 3,
4or 5
1Changing the style
of the template or to select CHANGE STYLE →
→ →
or to select setting
→→
2Editing the template
text or to select CONTINUE →
→Change the text →
3Printing a template
other than one from
the STAMP category
or to select PRINT →→or to select OK →
Font
Size
Width
Style
Italic
/
Vert
Format
New Block
Format New Block
Format New Block
Format New Block
Format New Block
Format
New Block Font
New Block
New Block
Templt
New Block
New Block New Block
Templt
New Block
New Block New Block
New Block
New Block New Block
New Block New Block
New Block New Block

Changing the print
options (for a template
other than one from the
STAMP category)
or to select PRINT →→or to select OPTION →→
Continue with 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, Aor B
4Printing a template
from the STAMP cat-
egory
or to select PRINT →→or to select PRINT STAMP →
Printing an ID label (for
a template from the
STAMP category) or to select PRINT →→or to select PRINT LABEL →
5Storing the template
text or to select FILE →
→
or to select SAVE AS or SAVE →
→
or to select file name →Type file name →
Storing, recalling deleting text files
Saving a file that has not
been saved before →or to select SAVE AS →
→
or to select file number →
→Type file name →
Saving a previously
saved file →or to select SAVE →
→Edit file name →
Recalling a previously
saved file a) →or to select OPEN →
→
or to select file number →
b) →or to select OPEN →
→Type file name →→
or
to select file →
Deleting a previously
saved file a) →or to select DELETE →
→
or to select file number →
→
or to select OK →
b) →or to select DELETE →
→Type file name →→
or to select file →
Printing text
Previewing the label
appearance +
Feeding and cutting 1”
(25 mm) of tape
Printing using the cur-
rent print options →or
to select OK →
Changing the print
options →or
to select OPTION → → Continue with 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, A
or B
6Printing many cop-
ies or
to select COPIES → → or to select (or type) number →
New Block New Block
New Block New Block
New Block
New Block
New Block
New Block New Block
File
New Block
New Block
File
New Block
New Block
File
New Block
New Block
File
New Block
New Block
New Block
File
New Block
New Block
New Block
File
New Block
New Block
New Block
Code Zoom
Image
Feed
& Cut
Print
New Block
Print
New Block
New Block

7Printing many cop-
ies while increasing
selected text
or to select NUMBER → → ,, or to select start of num-
bering field → → or to select end of numbering field → →
or to select (or type) number →
8Printing a mirror
image of the text or
to select MIRROR → → or to select ON →
9Inverting the printed
and unprinted areas or
to select INVERT → → or to select ON →
0Changing the shape
of the text or
to select TRANSFORM → → or to select setting →
AChanging how
labels are cut or
to select CUT → → or to select setting →
BEnlarging text and
printing it on 2, 3 or
4 labels
or to select SPLIT → → or to select setting →
New Block New Block
New Block
New Block
New Block
New Block
New Block
New Block

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EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU CAN
Quickly create a label for a home video by using the Template function (➩p. 59). If you
wish, you can then change the overall style of the text (➩p. 61).
Use the NUMBER (numbering)
function (➩p. 68) to print several
numbered labels at one time, with-
out changing the text for each label.
You can also invert the printing to
make the light parts dark and the
dark parts light (➩p. 71).
With the New Block function (➩p. 34), your labels can contain sections with dif-
ferent numbers of lines. In this label, part of the text was formatted using a different
font (➩p. 43) and a different style (➩p. 46). In addition, the Barcode function
makes creating and printing barcodes easy.
Decorate your text using the many frames and shadings (➩p. 50). Then,
just before printing, use the TRANSFORMATION function (➩p. 72) to
change the shape of the text.

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MAKE WITH THIS P-TOUCH
With the Area function (➩p. 40), you can
select certain parts of the text and change their
font, size and style (➩p. 43–49). Give your
label a different look by adding one of the 13
different background designs (➩p. 58). The
[SMALL] and [LARGE] background settings
allow you to create your own background
design.
Using clear tape and the MIR-
ROR function (➩p. 70) to
print in reverse, this sign for a
glass door can be read from
the adhesive side. In this
example, a warning symbol
was added (Symbol function
➩p. 35), and the entire text
was framed using the Frame/
Shading function (➩p. 50). In
addition, the label was
printed vertically using the
Vertical function (➩p. 49).
Create a table using the Frame/
Shading function (➩p. 50) to put a
box around each line of each block
in the text. Then, use the Area func-
tion (➩p. 40) to format the headings
of the table.
Create larger labels by enlarging the text and printing it on two,
three or four labels, which can then be put together (➩p. 74). You
can decorate your label using the 475 symbols and pictures avail-
able with the Symbol function (➩p. 35).

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Features
Cover release button
Tape compartment cover
LCD display
Keyboard
Tape exit slot
Handle
Lettering stick
Power supply connector

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LCD display
Menus
1Caps indicator ➩p. 33 9Tape length setting ➩p. 54
2Alt indicator ➩p. 33 0Margin setting ➩p. 55
3Template indicator ➩p. 59 ACursor ➩p. 32
4Zoom indicator ➩p. 39 BStyle setting indicator ➩p. 46
5Background indicator ➩p. 58 CItalic setting indicator ➩p. 47
6Half cutter indicator ➩p. 73 DVertical printing indicator ➩p. 49
7Font setting ➩p. 42 ECharacter size setting ➩p. 43
8Tape width indicator ➩p. 28
MARGIN:WIDE AUTO
0.0" HELSI
Style Italic Vertical
Caps Alt Template Zoom Back-
ground Half
Cutter
36mm
24mm
18mm
12mm
9mm
6mm
1 1/2"
1"
3/4"
1/2"
3/8"
1/4"
A
1 2 3 4 5 67
E
8
0
A
B C D
9
[ ]:CONFIRM
Style Italic Vertical
Caps Alt Template Zoom Back-
ground Half
Cutter
36mm
24mm
18mm
12mm
9mm
6mm
1 1/2"
1"
3/4"
1/2"
3/8"
1/4"
A
BACKGROUND
OFF
[SMALL]
[LARGE]
FLOORING
PLATE
TILE
The color of the arrows on the ends of
the scroll bar shows whether or not more
settings are available. When the arrows
are light ( and ), no more settings
are available. When the arrows are dark
( and ), more settings can be seen by
pressing or to move üor èup
or down.
In menus where üappears beside a set-
ting or function, pressing con-
firms the selection.
In menus where èappears beside a
function, pressing displays the menu
for the selected function. On the other
hand, pressing confirms all of
the settings displayed in the menu.
New Block
New Block
[ ]:CHANGE SETTINGS
Style Italic Vertical
Caps Alt Template Zoom Back-
ground Half
Cutter
36mm
24mm
18mm
12mm
9mm
6mm
1 1/2"
1"
3/4"
1/2"
3/8"
1/4"
A
OPTION
COPIES:1
NUMBER:OFF
MIRROR:OFF
INVERT:OFF
TRANS :
FORM ABC

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Keyboard
1(power supply) key ➩p. 29 GCopy & Paste key ➩p. 42
2Print key ➩p. 67 HBarcode key ➩p. 36
3Feed & Cut key ➩p. 67 IZoom key ➩p. 39
4File key ➩p. 64 Image function ➩p. 67
5Templt (template) key ➩p. 59 JArea key ➩p. 40
6Format key ➩p. 54 All function ➩p. 41
7Setup key ➩p. 75 K(enter) key ➩p. 32 & 34
8(frame/shading) key ➩p. 50 New Block function ➩p. 34
9Font key ➩p. 42 LCursor keys ➩p. 32
0Size key ➩p. 43 MSymbol key ➩p. 35
AWidth key ➩p. 45 NSpace bar ➩p. 33
BStyle key ➩p. 46 OCode key ➩p. 32
CItalic key ➩p. 47 PCancel key ➩p. 32
D(line effects) key ➩p. 48 QShift key ➩p. 33
EVert (vertical) key ➩p. 49 RCaps key ➩p. 33
FBack Space key ➩p. 39 SAlt key ➩p. 33
Clear function ➩p. 39
Print
$
/
Clear
C
Shift
<>
1
2
3 456 78 90 ABCD E
F
G
H
I
J
L
K
MNO
P
Q
R
S
Feed
& Cut File Templt Format Setup Font Size Width Style Italic Vert
Copy
&Paste
Back Space
Barcode
New Block
Zoom
Image
Area
All
Symbol
CodeCancel
Shift
Caps
Alt
/
Shift
Q
/
/

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Getting Started
Chapter
ChapterChapter
Chapter
2
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PRECAUTIONS
●Use only Brother TZ tapes with this machine. Do not use tapes that do not have the
mark.
●Before installing a tape cassette, be sure that the tape is correctly fed under the tape guides.
●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 places. Keep it out of both direct sunlight and rain.
●Do not expose the machine to extremely high temperatures or humidity.
●Do not leave any rubber or vinyl on the machine for an extended period of time. Doing so may
cause staining.
●Do not clean the machine with alcohol or other organic solvents. Only use a soft, dry cloth.
●Do not put any foreign objects into or heavy objects on the machine.
●To avoid injuries, do not touch the cutter’s edge.
●Use only the power supply cord designed exclusively for this machine. Use of any other cord
will void the warranty.
●When the machine is not being used for a long period of time, disconnect the power supply
cord.
●A blank horizontal line appearing in a printed label may indicate that there is dust on the print
head. Clean the print head by gently wiping up and down along the print head with a dry cotton
swab. For more details, see page 95.
●Never try to disassemble the P-touch.

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Connecting the power supply cord
This P-touch can be used anywhere a standard electrical outlet is available.
1Insert the plug on the end of the power supply cord into the power supply connector on the
back of the P-touch.
2Insert the pronged plug on the other end of the power supply cord into an AC outlet.
NOTE
Only use the power supply cord designed exclusively for this machine.

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Installing a TZ tape cassette
A TZ tape cassette is supplied with this P-touch.
TZ tape cassettes are available for this machine
in a wide variety of colors and sizes, making it
possible to make distinctive color-coded and
stylized labels. In addition, this machine has
been designed to allow you to change the tape
cassettes quickly and easily.
1Press the cover release button, and then lift
open the tape compartment cover.
2If a tape cassette is already installed and
you wish to replace it, remove it by pulling
it straight out.
3If the ink ribbon is loose in the tape cassette
to be installed, use your finger to wind the
toothed wheel in the direction of the arrow
on the cassette until there is no slack in the
ribbon. Also, make sure that the end of the
tape feeds under the tape guides.
4Insert the tape cassette firmly into the com-
partment, making sure that the entire back
of the cassette touches the bottom of the
compartment.
.
5Close the compartment cover and press the
power supply key ( ) to turn on the
machine if it is off. The width of the cur-
rently installed tape is shown by the tape
width indicator on the right edge of the dis-
play.
6Press once to remove any slack in the
tape and cut off the excess.
NOTE
When inserting the tape cassette, make sure that the
ink ribbon does not catch on the corner of the
metal guide.
MARGIN:WIDE AUTO
0.0" HELSI
Style Italic Vertical
Caps Alt Template Zoom Back-
ground Half
Cutter
36mm
24mm
18mm
12mm
9mm
6mm
1 1/2"
1"
3/4"
1/2"
3/8"
1/4"
A
Feed
& Cut

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Turning on & off the P-touch
The power supply key ( ) is located in the
top right corner of the machine’s keyboard.
This P-touch will automatically turn off if no key
is pressed or no operation is performed for 30
minutes. In addition, if it has remained plugged
in, the previous session’s text is displayed when
you turn it on again.
●Press to turn on or turn off the P-touch.

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