Brother Gt3 Manual

							 
 
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4-3. Setting the Printer Driver Condition 
 
 
RGB-255 (paper color) is transparent with no ink printed. When there are some spots in RGB=255 color in a photo, e.g. those 
spots will never be printed. Set RGB=254 white for white image.  As for the operations for each application, see 4-2. Setting 
the Applications’ Print Condition or application help. 
 
Set the printer driver condition following the procedure below.   
(1)  Select [ File ] > [ Print ] menu of the graphic application.  The Print window appears. 
(2)  Select Brother GT-3  or Brother GT-3 FileOut put for the printer, and then click Properties ... .   
The following window appears: make the necessary settings, and then click “OK”. 
 
 
The following items can be set in this window. 
Rollover help indicates in the bottom of the dialog. Move  the pointer on the menu. The information can be seen with GT 
File Viewer when you use Brother GT-3 FileOutput Printer Dr iver to make AR3 file. See the following pages for details.    
						

							 
  
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(3)  Click Advanced button and open the Advanced Menu. Here you can arrange [ White Ink Settings ] [ Color Processing ] 
[ Transparent Layer Settings ] and [ Uni-Directional Prin ting ]. See the following sections as for the details.   
 
 
4-3-1. Selecting Machine Mode 
GT-3 Printer Driver is common for GT-381 (four White), GT -361 (two White) and GT-341 (no White). Select the Machine 
Mode first for the printer to be used. The default is GT-381. 
 
z   When you sent a print data made for GT-361(Machine Mode: GT-361) to GT-381, then GT-381 prints the print data with 
two White Print Heads are used.   
z   PC Data Error occurs when you send a GT-381 print data with White Ink data to GT-361, or a GT-381/GT-361 print data 
with White Ink data to GT-341. Any GT-3 can print a  Color Only print data.   
 
 
z   If you have GT-341/GT-361 user, preset the Printer Driver settings. Close the application (e.g. Photoshop), open the 
[ Printers and Faxes (Windows XP)]., [ Printers (Windows Vist a)] or [ Devices and Printers (Windows 7)] and select the 
printer and right-click to select [ Property ]. Change the Machi ne Mode to either GT-361 or GT-341 and click [ OK ] button. 
Restart the application. This change is ava ilable after you execute the application.   
 
 
 
  
						

							 
 
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4-3-2. Entering the Job Comment 
You can enter a comment (max 30 characters) to display on your printer’s Control Panel. It is used to advise the operator. 
 
 
4-3-3. Selecting  the Platen Size 
Select the appropriate Platen size from the pull-down menu. The Print Size: standard Platen  （14x16） : 355.6 mm x 406.4 mm 
Baby Platen (7 x 8) : 177.8 mm x 203.2 mm, Youth Platen  (10 x 12): 254 mm x 304.8 mm. Baby and Youth Platens are 
option.  
 
4-3-4. Setting the Ink 
Select the combination of CMYK Color or White inks. 
[ Color + White ] prints CMYK Color Inks on the mask White. White Ink Volume is controllable. [ White Only ] prints with no 
Color inks. A colorful image is printed as monochrome. [ Color  Only ] prints with no White ink but CMYK Color inks only. 
GT-341 is available for [ Color Only ].   
When you print on a black T-shirt, you can check OFF [ Print with  Black ink ] not to use Black ink but express the black with 
the body color. In this case both RGB=255 and RGB=0 black are transparent.   
 
z   When [ Print with Black ink ] is OFF, you can select the way  to print R=G=B grays: with CMY ink composite or only with 
White ink. Select [ CMY Gray ] check box. Refer to the following page.   
z   PC Data Error occurs when you send a GT-381 print data with White Ink data to GT-361, or a GT-381/GT-361 print data 
with White Ink data to GT-341. Any GT-3 can print a  Color Only print data. 
 
 
 
4-3-5. Setting the Resolution 
Select the resolution in printing, either  [ 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi ] or[ 600 dpi x 600 dpi ].   
 
z   The volume of White Ink printed varies by the settings. T he print time of 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi is twice as long as 600 dpi x 
600 dpi.    
						

							 
  
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4-3-6. White Settings 
The following menu appears on when either [ Color + White ] or [ White Only ] is selected. Adjust the volume of White Ink for 
Highlight (White Ink volume for whitish colors) and Mask (underbase White Ink to cover the print media for CMYK Inks). 
 
Highlight 
Adjusts the RGB=254 White and whitish colors. GT-381/GT-361 print more than one layer when the White Ink is used more 
than the volume that is available in one layer. Adjust the Whit e Ink Volume by referring the Print Time and Ink Volume (%), to 
meet the variation of print media. Color Multiple Pass Printi ng is ON automatically when more-than-one-layer White Ink is 
printed.  
  
Mask 
Adjusts the area of underbase White Ink to cover the color of the T-shirts. 
 
[ 3 ] makes the smoothest gradation. When you print on a vivid  and deep color T-shirt, adjust the mask to [ 4 ] or [ 5 ]. When 
you print on a light color T-shirt, select either [ 1 ] or [ 2  ] to make the mask thinner. When [ Print with Black Ink ] is OFF , select 
[ 3 ] for smooth and accurate colorization.  If you make the print image more vivid and  bright rather than accurate, select [ 4 ] or 
[ 5 ]. 
 
 
z   [ Print Time ] and    [ Whiteness ]   
[ Print Time ] and    [ Whiteness ] vary when you select [ Machi ne Mode ], [Highlight ] and/or [ Color Multiple Pass Printing ]. 
x1 of    [ Print Time ] expresses the time when GT-381 prints one pass in 600 dpi x 600 dpi and x Number expresses 
how many times the print time is. For ex ample, x4 is four times longer than the print in one-pass 600 dpi x 600 dpi. The 
100% expresses the whiteness that one White Print Head prints when the resolution is 600 dpi x 600 dpi.     (Continued on the next page)   
						

							 
 
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z  Print WhiteVolume_1200.ar3 or WhiteVolume_600.ar3 to find  out the optimal Highlight / Mask. Those data are in [ All 
Program ] > [ Brother GT-3 Tools ] > [ Test Data ].   
 
How to open the WhiteVolume_600.ar3 and WhiteVolume_1200.ar3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Image of WhiteVolume_1200.ar3 printed on Lav ender T-shirt (R=174, G=111, B=255) 
 
 
 
4-3-7. Print with Blac k Ink on black garment 
You do not have to print for black color on a black T-shirt. When [  Print with Black ink ] is OFF, RGB=0 black is transparent and 
other dark colors are expressed with the background T-shirt body color.   
 
4-3-8. Making Gray with CMY Inks 
This menu is valid when [ Print with Black Ink ] is OFF. The m onochrome grays are printed only with less White Ink when this 
menu is OFF and grays are printed with CMY composite grays when this menu is ON. Select [ ON ] when you need as much 
as the same colors with/without Black ink. Select [ OFF ] w hen you need clear color and White-Ink-Only gradation on the 
black T-shirt.   
  
						

							 
  
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4-3-9. Color Multiple Pass Printing 
Make this menu ON when you see some thin white lines (clearance between the printed lines) with all Print Head Nozzles are 
firing properly. Multiple Pass Printing is to move the Platen F eed by half for more precise printing so that the print time is 
doubled but the regular clearance will not be seen easily. Co lor Multiple Pass Printing is ON automatically when 
more-than-one-layer White Ink is printed.     
 
You do not have to select Color Multiple Pass Printing simply because White Ink is automatica lly Multiple Pass Printing when 
the print data has more than one White layer.   
   
4-3-10. Settings for Color Inks 
The [ Ink Volume ] in [ Color Settings ] appears on when [ Co lor Only ] is selected. This function is the same as 
GT-541/GT-782.   
 
Ink Volume 
To get the best print result, you may need to adjust the amount  of ink depending on the fabric of the T-shirt to prevent 
ink-spreading (blurring). Print “InkVolume_1200.ar3 or “InkVolu me_600.ar3 first and select the best ink volume by sliding the 
Ink Volume tab. It is in [ All Program ] > [ Brother GT-3 Tools ] > [ Test Data ]. 
 
Example 1 (50% cotton 50% polyester thin T-shirt)   
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 is the best by the print  result of InkVolume_600.ar3 
 
 
Example 2 (100% polyester synthetic leather fabric) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 is the best by the print result of InkVolume_600.ar3 
 
 
  
The menu Double Printing and Yellow/Black Printing ar e eliminated by the improvement of Print Heads.   
 
 
The following pages indicate the [ Advanced ] menu. See the dialog image in Step 3 (4) in 4-3-13 
Printing the image file on 
Transparent Layer. 
  
						

							 
 
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4-3-11. Settings for White Ink 
This menu is available only for White ink ([ Color + White ] and [ White Only ]). RGB=255 white (paper color) is always 
transparent with no ink printed. RGB=0 bla ck is transparent too when [ Print with Black ink ] is checked OFF, when black color 
is expressed with the background T-shirt body color.   
 
Transparent Color 
You can select one transparent RGB color so that you can use red T-shirt color in the print data by changing R=255 GB=0 red 
as transparent, instead of printing red colors with Magenta and Yellow ink combination.   
(1)  Check [ Transparent Color ] checkbox then the  pull-down menu in the right will be available.   
(2)  Select one color from the pull-down menu (T-shirt simula tion colors) or click [ Custom Color ] button and input RGB 
values.  
 
Only one Custom Color is available at a time. This RGB values will not be added to the list.   
 
Tolerance 
Select the range from the transparent color to the norma lly-masked color. The gradation range becomes wider when the 
value is bigger.   
 
Smooth gradation depends on the original image data. Better to do test print in advance.   
 
Choke Width 
Sometimes the mask White ink can be shown, which depends on the  thickness of the T-shirt, humidity of the room, etc. You 
can choke (cut out) the outline by one dot  (1/600 dpi). Select the value. (The double dots are cut out when the resolution is 
1200 dpi x 1200 dpi.) 
 
If the value is bigger, some thin lines (in the letters, photos, etc) might disappear. Better to do test print in advance.  
 
 
4-3-12. Selecting the Color Processi ng for increasing the Vividness 
When the image data is well-contrasted, adjust mainly with Sa turation. When the image data is plain and dull, adjust mainly 
with Contrast. 
 
  [ 0 ]  no additional processing 
      around  [10 ]  no change in tone, a little brighter, good for photos   
      around  [20 ]  more vivid, for dull photo or RGB images   
      around  [30 ]  for light CMYK images   
  [40 ]  maximum adjustment, for dull and plain CMYK images 
 
The bigger value, more adjustment. When the image data is  in CMYK mode, change the RGB mode and print with both 
Saturation and Contrast around [ 30 ]. Sometimes the fine design ma y be flat with bigger [ Contrast ]. Better to do test print in 
advance because sometimes the print data is unexpectedly changed.   
 
 
This menu is the same as GT-782, advanced Vivid Processing  of GT-541. You can arrange the saturation (the strength of the 
colors) and the contrast separately. GT-541 Vivid Processing is  equal to GT-3 Contrast and you can adjust more precisely by 
0-40. Vivid Processing 1 is identical to Contrast 10.  
						

							 
  
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4-3-13. Printing the image file on Transparent Layer 
This menu can handle the image on the transparent layer, which was impossible on previous GT models.   
 
The image format TIFF, PNG, PSD (Photoshop) can have a info rmation of transparent info as well as RGB info. GT-782 
cannot identify and deal with this information but GT-3 can  with some additional steps. Use both Photoshop and Microsoft 
Paint applications and follow the steps below:   
 
    Step 1: Save the file with transparent info as PNG format file.   
    Step 2: Open the PNG file with transparent info with Microsoft Paint (Windows XP and Vista) and save only with RGB info. 
Open the PNG file with transparent in fo with Photoshop and extract only the  transparent info and save as another 
PNG file.   
    Step 3: Execute Brother GT-3 FileOutput Printer Driver and r ead the PNG file with transparent info in [ Transparent Layer ] >  
[ Create ARTR File ] to create ARTR file.   
    Step 4: Open the PNG file with RGB info made by Microsoft  Paint and print with Brother GT-3 FileOutput Printer Driver, by 
importing the transparent layer info file (ARTR) with [ Trans parent Layer ] > [ Import ARTR File ]. The ar3 file is 
created with RGB values and transparent info included.   
 
The following process are the details of each Step.   
 
Step 1: Saves the file with transparent info as PNG format file 
(1)    O pen the image with transparent info wi th Photoshop and check the resolution
 of the file.   
   
 
(2)    Save the PNG format file with [ File ] > [ Save As ...  ]. Select [ Interlace : None ] in PNG Option dialog and click [ OK  ].  
 
Original image to print the image with transparent info, white and color 
gradation included. The original file name is Test.PNG. 
Select [ Image ] > [ Image Size ] and make the memo of 
the resolution
. (the left image shows 200 dpi.)  
						

							 
 
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Step 2: Save the RGB info and transparent info to different PNG files.   
(1)    Open the PNG file with Microsoft Paint (Windows XP and Vista) and then the transparent info will be ignored. Save as 
another PNG file with [ File ] > [ Save as ... ].   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
z   Do not use Photoshop to extract RGB info. Open the PNG file with Microsoft Paint (Windows XP and Vista).   
z   Microsoft Paint on Windows 7 can deal with transparent info  like Photoshop so use other application to do this step.  
 
(2)  Open the test.PNG with Photoshop again and execute [ Sele ct ] > [ Load Selection ... ]. The image will be selected as 
follows (marked with dots).   
 
(3)    Next, select [ Select ] > [ Save Selection... ] .   
 
( 4 )    Open the channel window by selecting [ Window ] > [ Channels ] . There the channel named “test” is available in the 
(2) and (3) in the previous page.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transparent info is ignored and the image is 
indicated as shown in the left.   
Save as test_RGB.PNG.   
Input the file name to be saved as “test”.   
Channel Window  
						

							 
  
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(5)    Delete the Red, Green and Blue Channels in the Channels. Right-click the channel to be deleted and select [ Delete 
Channel ] .   
 
(6)    The dialog box “Flatten layers?” appears. Click [ OK ].   
 
(7)    The only “test” channel is left after  you delete the Red, Green and Blue channels.   
 
(8)    Change the image to grayscale by selecting the menu [  Image ] > [ Mode ] > [ Grayscale ] in the Tool Bar.   
(9)    Select [ Image ] > [ Mode ] > [ RGB Color ] in the Tool Ba r and change the transparent info to RGB values. The image 
shows the transparent info as black, opaque info as white.   
 
  The Photoshop action file “TransLayer.atn” including the (2) to  (9) of Step 2 is available in the Useful Tools. (see “3-3-7. 
Opening the Useful Tools ）. See the Photoshop help for the details of action file.   
(10)   Save the file including transparent info as RGB values as  PNG file. Select [ File ] > [ Save As ...] and name it as 
“test_TR.PNG.  
  Click the Red Channel and right-click to select 
[ Delete Channel ].