Brother P-touch QL-series User Manual

Quick start guide, Getting started, Installing the paper guide installing the dk roll

QUICK START GUIDE

English

[

Getting Started]

www.brother.com

Printed in China

LB7065001

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the QL-500/550.
Your new QL-500/550 is a label printer that connects to your personal computer, enabling you to quickly and easily print professional custom labels that
you have created on your personal computer using the label editing software provided.
This guide briefly describes the steps to start using your QL-500/550.
Refer to the User's Guide for more detailed information. The User's Guide can be found in the Manuals folder of the CD-ROM included with the QL-500/550.

Press the ON/OFF button to turn the
QL-500/550 off. Hold the DK Roll
compartment cover at the sides near
the front of the QL-500/550 and firmly
lift up to open the cover.

Place the spool into the
spool guides in the DK
Roll compartment.

Lift the label lever and then thread
the end of the DK Roll into the
slot immediately before the cutter.

Lower the label lever and then close
the DK Roll compartment cover.

Connect the AC power cord to the QL-500/550 and then plug the power supply cord
into a standard electrical outlet.

• Check that the electrical outlet is 220 ~ 240 V before inserting the plug.
• Remove the power supply cord from the electrical outlet after you have finished using the QL-500/550.
• Do not pull the cord when removing it from the electrical outlet. The wire in the cord may become damaged.

Check that the package contains the following before using your QL-500/550. If any item is missing or
damaged, please contact your Brother dealer.

Unpacking Your QL-500/550

The installation procedure differs depending on the operating system running on your personal computer. Refer to the
installation procedure for the appropriate operating system to install the software.

Installing the Software

Connecting to the Power Supply

Your QL-500/550 comes with a paper guide that collects strips of printed
labels that have not been cut off from the machine.

Attach the paper guide to the front of the QL-500/550 as shown in the
figure.

Remove the paper guide when printing more than 10 labels continuously and cutting
each label automatically (QL-550 only).

Installing the Paper Guide

Installing the DK Roll

When using Microsoft

Windows

2000 Professional/XP (Home/Professional)

Start up the PC and put the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM
drive.
The QL-series Installer starts up and the P-touch Setup screen
is displayed.

• It may take a short time to display the screen.

• If it does not start up automatically, double click the “Setup.exe”

icon on the CD-ROM.

If you are happy with you settings, click [Next].

• It may take some time to display this screen.

• If it is not set correctly, click [Back] and set it again.

The Add-In settings screen is displayed.

Click [Next].
The installation of the driver is completed, the User Registration
screen is displayed.

Read the license agreement carefully. If you agree with the
terms and conditions of the license agreement, click [Yes]
to continue the installation.
The Customer Information screen is displayed.

Click [Next].
The Add shortcut screen is displayed.

To instaIl to a different folder click [Browse] and select another
folder.

USB cable

AC Power cord

CD-ROM

Starter roll

Front

Back

FEED button

CUT button
(QL-550 only)

LED lamp

ON/OFF button

CUT lever
(QL-500 only)

DK Roll compartment cover

AC Power cord

USB port

· Make sure that the

spool arms are
inserted firmly in the
spool guides on the
left and right.

· Insert the spool with

the DK Roll located
on the right hand
side of the QL-
500/550.

When unable to thread the end of the DK Roll
into the slot, thread it as far as possible, then
lower the label lever and close
the cover. Press the ON/OFF
button to turn the QL-500/550 on,
and then press the FEED
button to set the roll.

See the reverse side for an example of creating a label.

Paper guide

Cleaning Sheet

QL-500

QL-550

The QL-500/550 includes one starter
roll of DK Die-cut Standard Address
Labels (100 labels),
and one starter roll of DK Continuous
Durable Paper Tape 2-3/7" (25 feet).

Do not connect the QL-500/550 to your
personal computer until directed to do so
when installing the printer driver.

• Quick Start Guide
• DK Label & Tape Guide
• Warranty Card

Safety Precautions

• Do not expose the QL-500/550 to direct sunlight.
• Do not place or store the QL-500/550 near heaters or other hot appliances, in any location exposed to extremely high or low temperatures, high humidity or

dusty locations. Doing so could cause the machine to malfunction.

• Do not place any heavy objects containing water on top of the QL-500/550. If water or any foreign object enters the QL-500/550, immediately disconnect the

machine from the power and contact your Brother dealer.

• Do not insert any objects into or block the label output slot, or USB port.
• Use only the authorized power source for the QL-500/550.
• Do not disassemble the QL-500/550 or let it come into contact with water to avoid possible fire or electric shock. Do not remove the power cord from nor insert it

into the electrical outlet with wet hands. Doing so could cause an electrical shock.

• If the QL-500/550 will not be used for an extended period, remove the power cord from the electrical outlet.
• Always hold the plug when removing the power cord from or inserting it into the outlet. Do not pull on the cord when removing it from the electrical socket.

The wire in the cord may become damaged.

• You should position the QL-500/550 near an easily accessible, standard electrical socket.
• Do not connect the QL-500/550 to your personal computer until directed to do so when installing the printer driver.
• To prevent injury from a broken cutter blade and unit, follow these points: Close the top cover when

operating the cutter unit.

Do not apply excessive pressure to the cutter unit.
When the cutter blade has difficulty cutting the label, replace the existing cutter unit with a new one.
If the cutter blade should break off, unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet and remove the

cutter unit carefully with tweezers so you do not touch the blade.

• If a paper jam should occur due to a build up of adhesive on the paper guide surface, unplug the

power cord from the electrical outlet and wipe away the adhesive buildup on the paper guide surface
with a cloth dipped in ethanol or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. It is recommended that you clean the
paper guide when replacing the cutter unit.

• The average number of cuts is 5,000 or more depending on the operating environment. Difficulty

cutting, the inability to cut straight, or frequent paper jams may indicate that the cutter life is near the
end. Replace the cutter if these conditions occur.

• The last label on the DK roll is not attached to the core.

As a consequence, the last label may not be cut correctly, however this does not indicate a problem with the QL-500/550 printer.
Should there be a problem with the last label, remove any existing labels, insert another DK Roll and re-print.
Each roll contains a few more labels than stated.

Paper guide surface

Click “Standard
Installation”.
The preparation for
installing the software
starts and the License
Agreement screen is
displayed.

Each button selects the
following operations.

Standard Installation

P-touch Editor 4.2, P-touch Address Book 1.0, Printer Driver,
and User's Guide are all installed.

Custom Installation

P-touch Editor 4.2, P-touch Address Book 1.0, Printer Driver,
and User's Guide can be installed individually.

Show User's Guide

The Software User's Guide PDF manual can be viewed without
actually installing the QL-500/550 software.

Install Acrobat Reader

“Adobe

Acrobat

Reader

” can be installed so that you can

view the Software User's Guide (PDF Manual).

Adobe

Acrobat

Reader

5.1 will be installed. If you have a

later version already installed you do not have to install it.

Click [Finish].
The software installation is
now complete. Connect
the printer to complete the
driver installation.

When the installation is
complete, you may be
prompted to reboot the
PC. To restart the PC,
select “Restart” and click
[Finish].

Select if you want to register your printer and then [Next].
• If you select “Yes, display the page”, you will be directed to

the online user registration page. After user registration,
continue with the installation (registration is recommended).

• If you select “No, do not display the page”, the installation will

continue.

Starting up the installed software.
• When starting P-touch Editor, click [Start] - [All Programs

(Programs)] - [Brother Ptouch] - [P-touch Editor 4.2].

• When starting P-touch Address Book, click [Start] - [All

Programs (Programs)] - [Brother P-touch] - [P-touch Address
Book 1.0].

Check the box for each
Microsoft

Office

application that you
want to install the Add-
in for, then click [Next].

Make sure that you
have closed all
Microsoft

Office

applications.

For details on Add-In
setting, See the
“Software User's Guide
(PDF Manual)”.

The Driver Setup (Brother P-touch) screen is displayed.

When using Mac OS

The Pre-Installation
Summary screen is
displayed.

Click [Next].

You can choose which
programs are installed.
Uncheck any programs that
you do not want to install.

The Choose Alias Folder
screen is displayed.

Check the content and click [Continue].
The License agreement screen is displayed.
When continuing the installation, click [Agree].
The Select a Destination screen is displayed.

Start up your Mac

and put the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

The QL-Series screen is displayed.

If it does not start up automatically, double click the QL-Series (CD-ROM)
icon.

Click [Install].
The screen in which the name and password of the administrator is
now displayed.
Input the “Name” and the “Password” of the administrator and
click [OK].
The screen to check the installation is displayed.
When continuing the installation, click [Continue Installation].
The installation starts.

Select the destination you
want to install, and click
[Continue].
The Easy Install screen is
displayed.

Select the drive where the
Mac OS

X is installed.

When the installation is completed and the message “The
software was successfully installed” is displayed, click [Restart].
Your Mac

will restart.

The installation of the printer driver is now complete.

Connect the USB cable to the USB port of the Mac

Press the ON/OFF button ( ) of the printer to turn on the power.

If you are using a USB hub and your Mac

has problems recognizing the

printer, try connecting the printer directly to your Mac

Double click the drive where Mac OS

X is installed, and click in

order [Applications]-[Utilities]-[Printer Setup Utility (Print Center)].
The Printer List screen is displayed.

When the Printer List screen is displayed, click [Add].

After rebooting, connect the USB
cable and power cord to the printer.

Remove the caution label before
connecting the USB cable.

3
4

Click [USB], “QL-500” or
“QL-550”, and [Add].
The screen returns to Printer
List screen.

Click [Add] (Add Printer).

Check that “QL-500” or “QL-550” is added, and close the Printer
List screen.
You can start using your Brother QL-500/550.

Double click the drive where P-touch Editor is installed, click in
order [Applications] - [P-touch Editor 3.2] and double click
P-touch Editor 3.2 icon. P-touch Editor will start.

Check the content and click [Next].
The Important Information screen is displayed.

Check the content and click [Next].

Click [Install].
The installation starts.
When the installation is complete, click [Done].
The software installation is now complete.
Next, install the printer driver.

Click [Continue].
The Important Information screen is displayed.

Click [Continue].
The Software License Agreement screen is displayed.

Select the location where you want to create the alias, and click
[Next].

See the reverse side for an example of creating a label.

Click the [Mac OS X] folder and double click [P-touch Editor 3.2
Installer].
P-touch Editor 3.2 Installer starts up and the Introduction
screen is displayed.

Double click [QL-Series Driver.pkg] in [Mac OS X] folder.
The Driver Installer starts up and the Driver Setup
screen is displayed.

2
3

Enter your user name
and company name,
then click [Next].
The Choose the
Destination Location
screen is displayed.

Check the locations
where you want the
installer to add the
program shortcuts and
click [Next].
The Start Copying Files
screen is displayed.

Click [OK] on the Driver Setup (Brother P-touch) screen
to start the installation.

USB cable

USB port

Power cord slot

Power cord

USB cable

USB port

Power cord slot

Power cord

This manual is related to the following products:

QL-550 QL-500A QL-500