Using the brother pt1230 label printer

• Configure xstow in your home : Using xstow for local installations
• Download the following repository:

git clone https://gitlab.com/arcoslab/pt1230

• Use the included Makefile to compile it and install it: (check its dependencies)

cd ~/local/src/gitlab/arcoslab/pt1230
make
export PREFIX=${HOME}/local/DIR/pt1230
make install
cd ~/local/DIR/
xstow pt1230

• textlabel generates images in bitmap format from text. For example:

textlabel --font "Times New Roman" "test" | pt1230 -d /dev/usb/lp1 -b

• This generates a bitmap image for “test” and it will be sent to the printer using the pt1230 command.

• For multiline text use text-multi-line instead of textlabel. For example:

text-multi-line -f "Courier New:bold" -s 100  "line1
line2
line3
line4" | pt1230 -d /dev/usb/lp1 -b -c

• This command generates a bitmap image with the text “line1 line2 line3 line4” separated in 4 lines and each centered. It automatically adjusts there size. The result is sent to the printer with pt1230 command.

• “-c” option of pt1230 command avoids the printer to “feed” the tape. It conserves tape because for each print it normally feeds a lot of empty tape to allow to cut it correctly. Use the “-c” option as much as possible before ending printing. Then “feed” at the last print to cut correctly.

• You can print barcodes with this labeler using:

bincodes -e 39 -b "1" "2343452345325452345" | line2bitmap

• Create your preferred logo in inkscape
• Be sure to rotate the image so that the width of the printer tape is in the x axis.
• Convert to two colors: black and white. (using the object properties)
• Export to png. Use a x resolution of 64 pixels
• Open in gimp.
• Layer→Transparency→Remove Alpha Channel
• Colors→Threshold
• Select a threshold that produces a nice printable image (specially if it contains fonts)
• Export to xbm file format.
• Convert to pt1230 format with:

bmtoa -char 01 filename.xbm

• pipe it to pt1230 for printing:

bmtoa -char 01 filename.xbm | pt1230 -d /dev/usb/lp1 -b -c