Exploring Brother Labels 02: Pros v. Cons - Betckey Labels
Written by: Beichen Lu
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Time to read 4 min
In the last blog, we discussed Brother direct thermal labels in general. When focusing on a specific segment of direct thermal labels aimed at consumers rather than businesses, B rother Industries, Ltd . (Japanese: ブラザー工業株式会社) emerges as one of the key players. Founded in 1908, this multinational electrical equipment and electronics company offers one of the most well-known direct thermal label brands for consumers and small business owners who use desktop printers at a consumer level.
In this blog, we will delve into why Brother direct thermal labels are popular, examining both their advantages and disadvantages.
The pros of Brother direct thermal labels are simple yet significant: they are incredibly easy to use. Based on our tests comparing all major brands in the market, they offer unparalleled convenience. If you use Brother labels , you won’t have to manually separate a series of labels one by one, you won’t need to manually input the label size repeatedly, and you can easily find a wide range of label materials, including paper, colored, black/red on white, matte clear, glossy clear, and white clear.
Auto-cut Printer - No Need to Manually Separate Labels
Another unique feature of Brother labels is the cartridge. Labels compatible with Brother QL printers must be attached to a cartridge, which allows Brother printers to identify and auto-select the right label size directly. For example, the printer may stop at a label size of 2.4" x 4" when the user has just finished printing 2 2.4" x 4" labels. However, if the user then places another size, such as 4" x 6" ", with a cartridge into the Brother QL printer, the printer will automatically identify and change the printing label size to 4" x 6" .
Imagine you have many different sizes of labels to print, such as 4" x 6" shipping labels, 0.9" x 0.9" QR code labels , 1" diameter round labels , and more. The Brother printer will automatically switch to your desired label size within the print app immediately after you place the new size label into the Brother printer. You won't need to manually click and enter the specific label size every time.
This unique "Auto-select" cartridge feature of Brother thermal printers helps you switch label sizes automatically instead of manually.
Auto-select Cartridge - No Need to Manually Select Label Size
Another unique feature of Brother labels is the cartridge. Labels compatible with Brother QL printers must be attached to a cartridge, which allows Brother printers to identify and auto-select the right label size directly. For example, the printer may stop at a label size of 2.4" x 4" when the user has just finished printing 2 2.4" x 4" labels. However, if the user then places another size, such as 4" x 6" ", with a cartridge into the Brother QL printer, the printer will automatically identify and change the printing label size to 4" x 6" .
Imagine you have many different sizes of labels to print, such as 4" x 6" shipping labels, 0.9" x 0.9" QR code labels , 1" diameter round labels , and more. The Brother printer will automatically switch to your desired label size within the print app immediately after you place the new size label into the Brother printer. You won't need to manually click and enter the specific label size every time.
This unique "Auto-select" cartridge feature of Brother thermal printers helps you switch label sizes automatically instead of manually.
Top-notch Print App - Brother P-Touch
Another great feature for Brother labels is that Brother’s print app Brother P-touch is top- notch print app. Brother P-touch have abundant design resource including printing template, design element like label frame. For user new to direct thermal label, they can easily use those template, pattern and element to design different label content in a very short time.
Versatility - Different Types of Labels
Brother labels line are very versatile. You are able to select and customize labels among different sizes, materials, colors and types.
Size:
Brother labels offer almost all regular types of labels including, but not limited to: small address labels, standard address labels, large shipping labels, round labels, square labels, barcode labels, name badge labels, file folder labels, and large multipurpose labels.
And Brother unique continuous labels like DK-2223 (4” x 100’) labels can help you to customize labels as you wish such as 4” x 8” labels. Once you placed the 4” x 100’ labels into the printer, you are free to design, print, and cut all length labels as long as length shorter or equal to 100 feet. This is the unique feature that we didn’t find on all other major brands in the market.
Material:
Brother labels also offer film labels instead of just paper labels. When you want your labels to be water-resistant, oil-resistant, and scratch-resistant, Brother also offer file labels like DK-2211 , DK-2212 and DK-2113 .
Color:
Brother Labels DK-2251 are labels that can print black or red color on white labels. This print black and red on white feature is unique among all major brands in the market and it is one of the most popular way to print warning labels like No Smoking.
What’s more, printing black and red on white is not the only way to show a highlight or alert message. Printing black on yellow labels is another option, such as DK-4605 (2.4" x 100’).
Trade-off
Nothing is free because you get what you pay for. Brother labels offer convenience at a high level, but they come with trade-offs as well.
Brother labels are more expensive than major brand because of more production cost due to cartridge and more shipping fee due to more volume and weight considering each brother label set need 1 roll + 1 cartridge.
Conclusion
With its auto-cut function printer and auto-select function labels, top-notch print app various slection of labels, Brother is one of the best brands that provide convenience to its users.
However, the trade-offs is the price due to more production cost and shipping fee.
Love your stuff. What I buy from you. Works great with my Brother Q800 label maker. Except when I ordered the wrong size 😂. Thanks again. I do have a question. Would you like to advertise on my autograph Group. I do have a few members that have a label maker like mine. And you might get even more business because right now I have 1,500 members and growing. Think about it. Autograph HoundS. Go by that name only. As someone else has their first name and then autograph Hounds. Or look me up. Beverly Laura Ford Gamble. I am trying to generate a little extra income for the overall group.
At first I thought I had ordered incorrectly, as the two rolls were wrapped so tightly in black plastic, that I thought either incorrectly ordered or was incorrectly shipped.
Well I opened one, as realized this must have been wrapped this way because of the thermal products ordered.
Product looks good, but not used for printing yet.
It was wrapped well and arrived super fast.
I have an outdated Zebra LP2844 printer. My wife had recently started a small Bakery Business and, wanted to be able to put a label on her products. I thought since I already have the Zebra, I could print some labels for her from that. The printer is useless. So when we saw the ilabel printer we decided to try it. I like that can sit right on my desk, not taking up much space. the ease of downloading the software to my computer. I was even able to use the remaining 4x6 labels from the Zebra to do some testing. Now I just need to get the proper labels for my wife's project. Still trying to figure out what size label to get. Over-all, This is a nice replacement printer for my old Zebra.
