MODEL REFERENCE

Brother PT-90

7 errors · 9 troubleshooting topics · 27 guides

Brother PT-90

The checks and guides below come from the official manuals for this model.

Errors and messages

Messages and indicator states from the manual
Low Battery!batteries are weak
Replace the weak batteries with new ones.
Full!maximum character count reached
Regular text allows 80 characters; DECO MODE allows 50. Keep text within the applicable limit.
No Text!no text is available
5 checks
Stored file contains no data
Check that the selected file contains data.
Print pressed without text
Enter text before pressing Print.
Preview pressed without text
Enter text before pressing Preview.
Copies selected without text
Enter text before selecting Copies.
Enter pressed in empty DECO MODE text screen
Enter text before pressing Enter in DECO MODE.
Line Limit!a third line was requested
  1. Use no more than two lines.
  2. Enter the first line and press Enter; enter the second line and press Print.
  3. Do not press Enter after the second line.
  4. Use 9 mm or 12 mm tape for two-line text.
Invalid!invalid label length selected
Check the number selected for Label Length.
Text Limit!text exceeds the selected label length
3 checks
Text exceeds selected length
Check the selected label length.
DECO MODE Auto text exceeds 200 mm
Keep text within 200 mm.
Minimum 30 mm length with a restrictive frame
Leaf and Star may not allow additional text at the minimum length.
Cooling XXXprint head is cooling
Wait for the displayed cooling time. Printing continues automatically once the print head cools. Do not touch the label maker while cooling.

Troubleshooting

Find the problem you are experiencing
Display stays blank2 checks
Incorrect battery orientation
Check that the batteries are correctly inserted.
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Labels do not print or characters are malformed3 checks
Cassette incorrectly installed
Check cassette installation.
Cassette empty
Replace the cassette.
Cassette cover not closed
Close the cassette cover properly.
Settings clear on their ownView
Replace weak batteries. When power is disconnected for more than three minutes, displayed text and formats, Language and Unit settings are lost.
Blank horizontal line on printed labelView
Remove the tape cassette and gently wipe the print head up and down with a dry cotton swab. Never touch the print head.
Label maker does not respondView
Follow Resetting the P-touch. Turn off power; hold Shift and R while pressing Power to switch on; release Power, then Shift and R. This clears all text, settings and stored files.
Power turns off when printing2 checks
Weak batteries
Replace weak batteries.
Incorrect battery orientation
Check that the batteries are correctly inserted.
Tape does not feed or gets stuck2 checks
Tape end not under guides
Check that the tape end feeds under the guides.
Cutter lever used during printing
Do not touch the cutter lever during printing.
Clear text and format for a new labelView
Hold Shift and press Backspace, select Txt&Format with the cursor keys and press Enter. Alternatively use Function mode and select the Y shortcut to clear.
Change the display languageView
Use Function, select Language with the cursor keys and press Enter; choose the language and press Enter. Function plus Space also displays Language.

Guides

Power supply and tape cassette

Instructions from the manual
Install batteries and tape11 steps
  1. Turn off power.
  2. Press the indicated area to remove the cassette cover.
  3. Pull an existing cassette straight up and remove existing batteries.
  4. Insert four new AAA LR03 alkaline batteries with the marked polarity.
  5. Replace all four together with new batteries.
  6. Insert a Brother M tape cassette so it snaps into place.
  7. Check that the tape end feeds under the guides.
  8. Insert both bottom cassette-cover hooks into their slots, then close the cover until it snaps into place.
  9. Keep fingers clear of the covers.
  10. Hold Shift and press Print to feed tape once, then press the cutter lever to cut.
  11. Do not touch the cutter edge or swallow the cutter stopper.
PT-90: opening the cassette cover.
PT-90: opening the cassette cover.

Diagram key

  • 1: Turn off power. Press the indicated area to remove the cover; lift an existing cassette straight up and remove existing batteries.
  • Cassette cover: Cassette cover.
  • Print head: Print head. Do not touch it.
  • Tape cutter lever: Tape cutter lever.
  • Opening arrow: Press the indicated area to remove the cover.
  • Cassette lifting arrow: Pull an existing cassette straight up.
PT-90: four AAA battery positions and polarity.
PT-90: four AAA battery positions and polarity.

Diagram key

  • 2: Insert four new AAA LR03 alkaline batteries with correct polarity. Replace all four together with new batteries.
  • Four battery compartments and +/− marks: Match all positive and negative ends to the marks.
  • Battery insertion arrows: Insert the four batteries into their compartments.
PT-90: cassette installation and tape path.
PT-90: cassette installation and tape path.

Diagram key

  • 3: Insert a Brother M cassette until it snaps into place.
  • Tape guide: Check that the tape end feeds under the guides.
  • End of tape: End of tape.
  • Cutter’s edge: Cutter edge: do not touch it.
  • Tape exit slot: Tape exit slot.
  • Cassette insertion arrow: Insert the cassette until it snaps into place.
  • Tape-path arrow: Check that the tape end feeds under the guides.
PT-90: closing the cassette cover in order.
PT-90: closing the cassette cover in order.

Diagram key

  • 4: After closing the cover, feed tape once and press the cutter lever to cut.
  • ① and hook arrows: Insert both bottom hooks into the machine slots.
  • ② and closing arrow: Close the cover securely until it snaps into place.

Changeable faceplates

Instructions from the manual
Change the faceplate8 steps
  1. Turn off power.
  2. Remove the cassette cover by pressing the indicated area.
  3. Slide the front cover back and lift it from the machine.
  4. Remove the old faceplate and replace it with another.
  5. Remove its front protective film first.
  6. Insert only one faceplate: forcing the cover over multiple faceplates can wrinkle them or prevent firm closure.
  7. Insert the front-cover hooks into the slots and slide the cover into place.
  8. Insert both bottom cassette-cover hooks into their slots, then close the cover until it snaps into place.

Lcd display & keyboard

Instructions from the manual
Understand the display and controls2 steps
  1. The display shows one row of 12 characters, while text may contain up to 80 characters.
  2. The manual identifies Width, Size, Bold, Outline, Shadow, Vertical, Italic, Frame, Underline, Label Length, Cursor, Num Lock and Caps indicators, and all keyboard controls.

Initial settings

Instructions from the manual
Set language and units8 steps
  1. Supply four AAA batteries and press Power.
  2. Use Function, cursor keys and Enter to select Language, then choose English, Español, Français, Italiano, Nederlands, Norsk, Português, Svenska, Dansk or Deutsch and confirm with Enter.
  3. English is the default.
  4. Function plus Space also displays Language.
  5. For units, select Unit with Function, cursor keys and Enter, choose inch or mm and press Enter.
  6. Function plus I also displays Unit; inch is the default.
  7. The machine shuts off after five minutes without a key press.
  8. Backspace cancels operations.

Entering text and symbols

Instructions from the manual
Switch upper and lower caseView
Press Caps to switch upper/lower case on or off.
Enter numbersView
Press Num Lock to switch number entry on or off. Use the numbered character keys to enter digits.
Print two-line text4 steps
  1. Enter the first line and press Enter.
  2. Enter the second line and press Print.
  3. Do not press Enter after the second line, which causes Line Limit!
  4. Use 9 mm or 12 mm tape for two-line text.
Enter symbols4 steps
  1. Press Symbol, choose Pictograph with the cursor keys and press Enter, then choose the symbol reference and press Enter.
  2. For the manual example, choose A7 to print the telephone pictograph.
  3. Pictographs appear on the display as their table letter and number.
  4. See Symbols for both full tables.
Enter accented characters3 steps
  1. Type the base letter, press Accent, choose the accented character using Accent or the cursor keys and press Enter.
  2. Backspace cancels.
  3. Character order varies with the chosen display language.
Clear text with or without formatting4 steps
  1. Backspace deletes letters individually.
  2. Hold Shift and press Backspace; choose Txt&Format with the cursor keys and press Enter to clear text and settings.
  3. Choose Text Only instead to retain formatting.
  4. Function plus Y is the clear shortcut.

Designing labels

Instructions from the manual
Set text size3 steps
  1. Choose Size with Function, cursor keys and Enter, or use Function plus Q.
  2. Select Large or Small with the cursor keys and confirm with Enter; Large is the default.
  3. Space restores the default.
Set text widthView
Choose Width with Function, cursor keys and Enter, or use Function plus W. Select Normal, ×2 or ×1/2 and confirm with Enter; Normal is the default. Space restores the default.
Set text style4 steps
  1. Choose Style with Function, cursor keys and Enter, or use Function plus E.
  2. Select Normal, Bold, Outline, Shadow, Italic, Italic Bold, Italic Outline, Italic Shadow or Vertical and confirm with Enter.
  3. Normal is the default.
  4. Space restores the default.
Set underline or frame4 steps
  1. Choose Undl/Frame with Function, cursor keys and Enter, or use Function plus R.
  2. Select Off, Underline, Round, Leaf, Tile, Star, Heart, Square or Bubble and confirm with Enter.
  3. Off is the default.
  4. Space restores the default.
Set regular-label length4 steps
  1. Choose Length with Function, cursor keys and Enter, or use Function plus T.
  2. Select Auto or 30–300 mm (1.2–12.0 inches) and confirm with Enter.
  3. The label prints at the specified length.
  4. Number keys can enter a length directly; Space restores Auto, the default.

Printing labels

Instructions from the manual
Preview text3 steps
  1. Press Preview.
  2. The display shows all text and the label length in the selected units, then returns to the original text.
  3. Only text is previewed, not style, size, underline/frame or other features.
Feed tapeView
Hold Shift and press Print to feed 1.0 inch of tape, which may be needed when installing a new cassette. Do not touch the cutter lever while Feeding… is displayed.
Print and cut labels4 steps
  1. Press Print.
  2. Do not touch the cutter lever while Printing… or Feeding… is displayed.
  3. Press the cutter lever at the upper-left corner to cut the label.
  4. Peel the printed label from its backing and apply it.
Print up to nine copiesView
Use Function, select Copies with the cursor keys and press Enter. Select 1–9 copies using cursor or number keys, then press Enter. Function plus Print is the copies shortcut.
Remove label backing3 steps
  1. Insert the label as far as possible into the built-in peeler with its printed surface facing down.
  2. Fold the label back to the right and quickly pull it out.
  3. The backing end separates from the label.
PT-90 built-in peeler: insert printed side down, fold right and pull.
PT-90 built-in peeler: insert printed side down, fold right and pull.

Resetting the p-touch

Instructions from the manual
Reset the label maker4 steps
  1. Press Power to turn off.
  2. Hold Shift and R, then press Power to turn on.
  3. Release Power, then release Shift and R.
  4. The internal memory resets and all text, settings and stored files are cleared.

Deco mode

Instructions from the manual
Create DECO MODE labels13 steps
  1. Press DECO MODE, choose one of eight designs with the cursor keys and press Enter.
  2. Choose Auto or 30–200 mm (1.2–7.8 inches), press Enter, enter one line of text and press Enter, then choose Print and press Enter.
  3. The guide recommends 12 mm tape.
  4. Auto adjusts the length to print the text once.
  5. Space restores Auto.
  6. Formats cannot be changed, and some may not print all entered text.
  7. Only boxed symbols in the Basic table are available.
  8. Designs 6, 7 and 8 are marked for cooling; if cooling begins, wait for printing to continue automatically and do not touch the machine.
  9. To clear text, press Shift and Backspace.
  10. At Clear?, Enter clears and Backspace cancels.
  11. Reopening DECO MODE recalls the most recently printed text and length.
  12. Backspace returns to the previous step.
  13. To exit, press it until the text-entry screen appears, or use the cursor keys at Print to select Quit.

Saving label files

Instructions from the manual
Save, open and print stored labels4 steps
  1. Up to three labels can be saved, recalled, edited and overwritten.
  2. Use Function, select File with the cursor keys and press Enter; choose Save, Print or Open and press Enter, choose a file number and press Enter.
  3. Function plus U is the memory shortcut.
  4. When saving to an occupied number, Overwrite? appears: Enter saves the new label and Backspace cancels.

Symbols

Instructions from the manual
Use symbol tables and print the pictograph list4 steps
  1. Press Symbol to display the next group; Backspace cancels.
  2. Boxed Basic-table symbols are available in DECO MODE.
  3. Select Pictograph rows A–L by pressing their corresponding letter.
  4. To print the pictograph list, press Symbol, choose Print List with the cursor keys and press Enter.

General precautions

Instructions from the manual
Clean and store the label maker10 steps
  1. Use the label maker only as described in this guide.
  2. Use only Brother M tape bearing its M mark.
  3. Use a soft dry cloth on the label maker; never use alcohol or organic solvents.
  4. Use a soft wipe on the print head and never touch it.
  5. Keep foreign objects out of the tape exit.
  6. Avoid direct sun, rain, heaters, extreme temperatures, high humidity and dust.
  7. Do not force the cutter lever, print with an empty cassette or pull tape during printing or feeding.
  8. Before applying labels, check the material and environmental conditions: labels may detach, become irremovable, change color or transfer color.
  9. Stored data may be lost through failure, repair or expired batteries.
  10. Remove batteries for extended non-use.

Safety precautions

Instructions from the manual
Use batteries and equipment safely5 steps
  1. Keep the machine dry and away from high humidity; do not handle with wet hands or spill beverages on it.
  2. Do not swallow the cutter stopper, touch the cutter edge near the print head, disassemble or modify the label maker or batteries, change batteries with metallic objects, or expose batteries to fire or heat.
  3. For abnormal odor, heat, discoloration, deformation or anything unusual during use or storage, immediately remove the batteries and stop using the machine.
  4. Do not mix old and new batteries or alkaline with other types, reverse polarity, drop or hit the label maker, press hard on the display or trap fingers when closing the cover.
  5. After more than three minutes without power, all text, formatting and saved text files are cleared.

Fcc notice

Instructions from the manual
Reduce radio or television interference2 steps
  1. If the equipment causes radio or television interference, confirmed by switching it off and on, reorient or relocate the receiving antenna, increase separation between equipment and receiver, or ask the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
  2. Changes not expressly approved by Brother Industries, Ltd. may void operating authority.

Controls and parts

See the manual diagrams 2 diagrams
PT-90 display indicators; the guide identifies each symbol.
PT-90 display indicators; the guide identifies each symbol.

Diagram key

  • Width: Width indicator.
  • Size: Size indicator.
  • Bold: Bold indicator.
  • Outline: Outline indicator.
  • Shadow: Shadow indicator.
  • Vertical: Vertical indicator.
  • Italic: Italic indicator.
  • Frame: Frame indicator.
  • Underline: Underline indicator.
  • Label Length: Label Length indicator.
  • Cursor: Cursor.
  • Num Lock: Num Lock indicator.
  • Caps: Caps indicator.
PT-90 keyboard and all labeled controls.
PT-90 keyboard and all labeled controls.

Diagram key

  • DECO MODE key: DECO MODE key.
  • Preview key: Preview key.
  • Print key: Print key.
  • Character key: Character keys.
  • Num Lock key: Num Lock key.
  • Shift key (left): Left Shift key.
  • Symbol key: Symbol key.
  • Caps key: Caps key.
  • Cursor key (left): Left cursor key.
  • Function key: Function key.
  • Cursor key (right): Right cursor key.
  • Power key: Power key.
  • Backspace key: Backspace key.
  • Enter key: Enter key.
  • Shift key (right): Right Shift key.
  • Accent key: Accent key.
  • Space key: Space key.

Model details

Model and compatibility

Tape
Use Brother M tape in 9 mm or 12 mm widths.
Power
Use four AAA LR03 alkaline batteries.
Display and text
The LCD shows one row of 12 characters; regular text allows up to 80 characters.

Related reviewed instructions

Manuals and sources

  1. Brother operation manual
  2. Brother model support and details
  3. Brother manual download listing
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