Brother GT-541: Direct to Garment Inkjet Printer

What type of printer is this?
The printer is a computer-controlled large format ink jet printer that prints directly on to your garments.

What is the print quality?
The printer produces graphics with up to 600 DPI. Process screen-printing is approximately 72 DPI.

How many colors will the printer produce?
By using the 4-color printing process (CMYK) it can produce over 16 million colors.

How is the ink supplied to the printer?
By 4 ink cartridges (CMYK).

How long does it take to print a shirt?
It really depends on the design, but a standard sized 10" X 12" design can be produced in about a minute.

Is there any post treating of the garment after printing?
Yes. To cure the ink, use a regular heat-press set at 356 degree F and press for 35 seconds. We sell a wide range of heat presses by Geo Knight, Insta, and Hotronix.

What color of garments can it print on?
We can print on white and many light or pastel color shirts, additionally some darker shirts as well.

Can it print on dark color shirts?
It depends on the color of the garment. But it cannot print on black due to the printer not having white ink.

Will the ink withstand washing?
Yes, Brother International has done extensive wash testing and has found that the ink is very durable. In most cases it is equal to or better than screen printing.

What is the maximum printing size?
It is 14" wide X 16" long.

How much does it cost to print a shirt?
It depends on the amount of ink used. A standard design uses about a $.42 worth of ink.

What is the machine's size and weight?
The printer is 46.6" long x 37.0" wide x 24.0" tall. It weighs about 220 lbs.

Is any special software or a RIP required?
No, graphics can be produced by using most major Windows-based design software programs.

How do you connect the PC to the printer?
The printer connects via a USB cable (not included) or data can be transferred with a CF card.

Is any special power supply required?
No. This printer works with regular AC power 115V (+/- 10%).

What kind of ink is used?
It is a water-based ink developed especially for printing on garments.

What types of fabric can it print on?
You can print on a variety of fabric types. However, best quality results are achieved using 100% cotton, 50% cotton 50% poly blends.

When the garment is being printed how do you keep ink from bleeding from the front to the back?
There is no need as the ink does not bleed through the shirt.

How is a garment loaded into the printer?
The garment is slipped on to the printer's platen much like a garment is loaded on to a screen-printing machine.

Do we need to use any spray tack (adhesive spray) to hold the garment?
No. The surface of the platen is covered with a special fabric that helps hold the garment in place.

Is financing available?
Yes, through third party leasing companies. Contact us for information.

Can you print on sleeves?
Sure. You can purchase platens to fit sleeves.

Can you use this printer to print on a transfer paper and then transfer it?
No. Our ink is not transferable.

What operating system(s) is required?
Windows XP Home or Professional, or Windows 2000.

Can the printer be used on a network of PCs?
Yes. You can share one GT-541 printer with multiple networked PCs using Windows printer-sharing function.