Jovi Bon Kenobi
Well-known member
What is the Brother P-Touch? An inappropriate monk? One of the most unfortunately named products in modern times? Yes and No. It's also the device I use to label my pedals. I wanted to create this thread to show my process of how I utilize this machine since a few people asked how I do my enclosures and I would rather link to this because I'm lazy and can't type fast.
This is the machine I use. Mine is three and a half years old and is still chugging along.
Brother P-Touch PTD600
You need cartridges of clear tape and they come in many colors and sizes. I prefer to use 18mm tape but occasionally have to use 12mm because all the color options aren't available in 18mm. They make tape in 24mm but color options are even fewer. The bigger the tape, the fewer color options. For the clear tape cartridges I've found ink colors in white, black, blue, red, and gold. These labels are waterproof, rub proof, and UV resistant. I always buy the knock off brands because they are way cheaper!
Here's a link to the knockoff tape I use.
This machine comes with software that you can download called "P-Touch Editor". I only use this software, not the stock fonts that come on the unit. You simply plug in the included USB cable to your computer and it bypasses the keypad and screen on the unit. Basically, it's now just another printer. The software allows you to do a variety of editing functions from resizing, stretching, bending words into a radius, etc. The function I use the most is "Snap Mode". This allows you to screenshot anything on your monitor then send it into the editing page. It looks like this:
In this photo I used Snap Mode to capture "Grievous Angel" from a font website. I had to snap it in a few sections, like just the G, then rievou, then the s, etc. I did this because the font I used had variations in the same typeface, like those swashes that create bookend flourishes. And the L in angel didn't have that swash coming off of it so I snapped a swash and placed it in a pleasing looking spot. All the single letters or groups of letters were stretched, moved, and resized to fit together nicely. Once I had my name I "grouped" it together in the software menu.
All files I create are saved onto my computer through the software. This allows me to come back to them and quickly print designs that I use most often, like my logo, the in/out header, or the curved radius letters that I use for control knobs and I just retype a new word in that same radius.
Print em out!
Next, I cut. I use very sharp fine scissors and wear my Optivisor to get in there nice and close. I find that it looks the least noticeable on the enclosure when I cut directly on the edge of the letters. It's even less noticeable if you add a border and cut right along it's edge.
If I need to cut a straight line I use a ruler and my Swann Morton Retractaway Scalpel. Hands down my favorite craft knife. Surgically sharp and no slip refillable blade, heavy!, doesn't roll, retracts, has a hole for hanging on pegboard)
All cut!
Peel 'n' stick em on! I use the knob as a guide and carefully place each control label then move it to the next until all are done. Make sure your enclosure is clean as a whistle before adhering.
I use an eraser to really squish the label down good so there are no bubbles. Protip: just push hard, don't rub. Rubbing will leave residue.
All done!
This is the machine I use. Mine is three and a half years old and is still chugging along.
Brother P-Touch PTD600
You need cartridges of clear tape and they come in many colors and sizes. I prefer to use 18mm tape but occasionally have to use 12mm because all the color options aren't available in 18mm. They make tape in 24mm but color options are even fewer. The bigger the tape, the fewer color options. For the clear tape cartridges I've found ink colors in white, black, blue, red, and gold. These labels are waterproof, rub proof, and UV resistant. I always buy the knock off brands because they are way cheaper!
Here's a link to the knockoff tape I use.
This machine comes with software that you can download called "P-Touch Editor". I only use this software, not the stock fonts that come on the unit. You simply plug in the included USB cable to your computer and it bypasses the keypad and screen on the unit. Basically, it's now just another printer. The software allows you to do a variety of editing functions from resizing, stretching, bending words into a radius, etc. The function I use the most is "Snap Mode". This allows you to screenshot anything on your monitor then send it into the editing page. It looks like this:
In this photo I used Snap Mode to capture "Grievous Angel" from a font website. I had to snap it in a few sections, like just the G, then rievou, then the s, etc. I did this because the font I used had variations in the same typeface, like those swashes that create bookend flourishes. And the L in angel didn't have that swash coming off of it so I snapped a swash and placed it in a pleasing looking spot. All the single letters or groups of letters were stretched, moved, and resized to fit together nicely. Once I had my name I "grouped" it together in the software menu.
All files I create are saved onto my computer through the software. This allows me to come back to them and quickly print designs that I use most often, like my logo, the in/out header, or the curved radius letters that I use for control knobs and I just retype a new word in that same radius.
Print em out!
Next, I cut. I use very sharp fine scissors and wear my Optivisor to get in there nice and close. I find that it looks the least noticeable on the enclosure when I cut directly on the edge of the letters. It's even less noticeable if you add a border and cut right along it's edge.
If I need to cut a straight line I use a ruler and my Swann Morton Retractaway Scalpel. Hands down my favorite craft knife. Surgically sharp and no slip refillable blade, heavy!, doesn't roll, retracts, has a hole for hanging on pegboard)
All cut!
Peel 'n' stick em on! I use the knob as a guide and carefully place each control label then move it to the next until all are done. Make sure your enclosure is clean as a whistle before adhering.
I use an eraser to really squish the label down good so there are no bubbles. Protip: just push hard, don't rub. Rubbing will leave residue.
All done!
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