Adjust the default preferences of my printer driver (Windows)

To adjust the default settings of the printer driver, complete the following steps:
 

  1. Open the Printers Folder. Click here to see how to open Printing Preferences.
     
  2. Right-click on the Brother printer driver and left-click on Printing Preferences. You can change the following settings:

     

     

    Basic tab

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    1. Paper Size: From the drop-down box, choose the Paper Size you are using.
       
    2. Orientation: Choose the position of how your document will be printed (Portrait or Landscape).
       
    3. Copies: Sets the number of copies that will be printed.
      If the application that you are printing from has an option to set the number of copies or collate, the application settings will usually override the printer driver setting. Refer to the documentation for your software application.
       
      • If you wish the copies to print collated, check the checkbox for Collate.
        In multiple page jobs that are collated, a complete set of pages in a job are printed followed by another complete set of pages. For example, printing 2 copies of a 3 page document, the printer prints Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, then Page 1, Page 2, and Page 3 in order. In this case, the printer starts printing after processing all the print data so that it takes longer to print collated copies than uncollated copies.
         
    4. Media Type: You can use the following types of media in your machine: Plain Paper, Thin Paper, Thick Paper, Thicker Paper, Bond Paper, Envelopes, Env. Thick, Env. Thin, Recycled Paper, Label. For the best print quality, select the type of media that you wish to use.
       
    5. Resolution: You can choose the resolution as follows:
      • 300 dpi
      • 600 dpi
      • HQ 1200
         
    6. Print Settings: You can change the print settings as follows:
      • Graphics: This is the best mode for printing documents that contain graphics.
      • Text: This is the best mode for printing text documents.
      • Manual: You can change the settings manually by choosing Manual and clicking the Manual Settings… . You can set brightness, contrast, and other settings.
    7. Multiple Page: The Multiple Page selection can reduce the image size of a page allowing multiple pages to be printed on one sheet of paper or enlarge the image size for printing one page on multiple sheets of paper.
      • Page Order: When N in 1 option is selected, the page order can be selected from the drop-down list.
      • Border Line: When printing multiple pages on one sheet with the Multiple Page feature you can choose to have a solid border, dash border, or no border around each page on the sheet.
      • Print cut-out line: When 1 in NxN pages option is selected, the Print cut-out line option can be selected. This option allows you to print a faint cut-out line around the printable area.
    8. Duplex/Booklet: When you want to print a booklet or perform duplex printing, use this function.
       
    9. Paper Source: You can also specify separate trays for printing the first page and for printing from the second page onwards.
      • Auto Select
      • Tray 1
      • Manual
    Advanced tab

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    1. Scaling: You can change the print image scaling.
       
    2. Reverse Print: Check Reverse Print to rotate the print result by 180 degrees.
       
    3. Use Watermark: You can put a logo or text into your document as a watermark. You can choose one of the preset watermarks, or you can use a bitmap file that you have created. Check Use Watermark, and then choose the watermark you want to use. Click the Settings... to adjust the following settings:
      • Transparent: Check Transparent to print the watermarked image in the background of your document. If this feature is not checked then the watermark will be printed on top of your document.
      • In Outline Text: Check In Outline Text if you only want to print an outline of the watermark. This is available when you choose a text watermark.
      • Custom Settings: Determines how you want the watermark printed.  You can choose which watermark to print on the first page or on the other pages. Click the Add to add the watermark settings and then choose Use Text or Use Bitmap File in Watermark Style.
        • Title: Enter a suitable title into the field.
        • Text: Enter your watermark text into the Text box, and then choose Font, Style, Size, and Darkness.
        • Bitmap: Enter the file name and location of your bitmap image in the File box, or click Browse to search for the file. You can also set the scaling size of the image.
        • Position: Use this setting if you want to control the position of the watermark on the page.
    4. Header-Footer Print: When this feature is enabled, it will print the date and time on your document from your computer's system clock and the PC login user name or the text you entered. By clicking Settings, you can customize the information.
      • ID Print: If you select Login User Name, your PC login user name will print. If you select Custom and enter the text in the Custom edit box, the text you entered will print.

       

    5. Toner Save Mode: You can conserve toner use with this feature. When you set Toner Save Mode to On, prints appears lighter. The default setting is Off.
      • We do not recommend Toner Save Mode for printing photo or grayscale images.
      • Toner Save Mode is not available for HQ1200 resolutions.
    6. Administrator: Administrators have the authority to limit access to functions such as scaling and watermark.
      • Password: Enter the password into this box.
      • Set Password: Click here to change the password.
      • Set: Click here current password. Then you can change the settings.
      • Copies Lock: Lock the copy pages selection to prevent multiple copy printing.
      • Multiple Page & Scaling Lock:: Lock the scaling setting and multiple page setting.
      • Watermark Lock: Lock the current settings of the Watermark option to prevent changes being made.
      • Header-Footer Print Lock: Lock the current settings of the Header-Footer Print to prevent changes being made.
    7. Other Print Options
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      • Use Reprint: The machine keeps the print job sent to it in memory. You can reprint the last job without sending the data again from your computer.
        If you want to prevent other people from printing your data using the reprint function, uncheck the Use Reprint check box.
         
      • Sleep Time: Your printer goes into sleep mode automatically when the printer has not received any data for a specified time. In sleep mode, the printer is set into a power saving mode. Upon receiving any data or pressing a button on the printer, the printer will wake up.
        The sleep time is selected as follows:
        • Auto (Intelligent Sleep Mode): The printer determines the sleep time referring to the frequency of printing. If the printer is used frequently, the sleep time is prolonged. If it is used infrequently, it is shortened.
        • Printer Default: Uses the Printer setting.
        • Manual: In the Sleep mode setting box, you can set the time-out value from 1 to 210 minutes in one minute increments.
      • Macro: You can save a page of a document as a macro to device memory. You can also execute the saved macro (you can use the saved macro as an overlay on any documents). This will save time and increase printing speed for often used information such as forms, company logos, letterhead formats or invoices.
         
      • Density Adjustment: Increase or decrease the print density.
         
      • Error Message Printout: The printer will print any error messages.
         
      • Improve Print Output: The feature allows you to improve a print quality problem.
        • Reduce Paper Curl: If you choose this setting paper curl may be reduced. If you are printing only a few pages, you do not need to choose this setting. We recommend that you change the printer driver settings in Media type to a thin setting.
           
        • Improve Toner Fixing: If you choose this setting toner fixing on the paper may be improved. If this selection does not improve the toner fixing, please select thicker paper in Media Type settings.
           
        • Reduce Ghosting: If you are using the machine in a high humidity environment this setting may reduce ghosting on the paper. Do not use this setting if the humidity is below 30% or ghosting may increase.
          This feature may not reduce ghosting for all types of paper.  Before you buy a lot of paper, test a small quantity to make sure that the paper is suitable.
           
        • Skip Blank Page: The printer driver automatically detects blank pages and excludes them from printing.
          This option does not work when you choose the following options:
          • Use Watermark
          • Header-Footer Print
          • N in 1 and 1 in NxN in Multiple Page
          • Duplex(Manual), Booklet, Booklet(Manual), and Duplex with Binding Offset in Duplex/Booket
           
    Printer Profiles tab

    Print Profiles allow you to select from a range of pre-defined and user customizable print settings, helping you to save the time and effort of having to manually change them yourself every time you want to print. To use a profile, all you have to do is select one from the list and then click OK.

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    • General Print (Letter/A4): Suitable for general, everyday printing using standard paper.
       
    • Paper Save Print (Letter/A4): Suitable for printing presentations and rough copies of your documents:
      • Automatic Duplex print supported printers: will combine 8 pages to every piece of paper (4 on each side).
      • Non-Automatic Duplex print supported printers: will combine 4 pages to a single sheet of paper.
    • Toner Save Print (Letter/A4): Ideal for less important documents that do not require a professional finish. Printouts will appear fainter than in any other profile but will use less toner.
       
    • Two Sided (Duplex Print) (Letter/A4):
      • Automatic Duplex supported printers: will automatically print on both sides of the paper.
      • Non-Automatic Duplex supported printers: will require you to manually reverse the paper. On-screen instructions will tell you how and when to do this.
    • Booklet Print (Letter/A4): Print easy-to-read, professional documents as a half size booklet by printing 4 pages to every piece of paper (2 pages per side) and folding it in the middle.
      • Automatic Duplex supported printers: will print to one side of the paper, automatically reverse it, then print to the other side.
      • Non-Automatic Duplex supported printers: will require you to manually reverse the paper. On-screen instructions will tell you how and when to do this.
    • User Defined: Available for you to store your own frequently used print settings to.
       
    • Edit a Profile: Save your current print settings to a profile for easy selection later.
      • No stored settings: Please note that the following settings cannot be saved to a Print Profile.
        Copies
        Orientation
        Administrator
      • Restore Default Profiles: Restores all Print Profiles back to how they were you first installed the driver. It will delete all your custom settings or any changes you made to the pre-defined ones.
      • Always Show Print Profiles Tab First: With this option checked the Print Profiles tab will always appear first when you enter the printer driver.

If your question was not answered, have you checked other FAQs?

Have you checked the manuals?

If you need further assistance, please contact Brother customer service:

Related Models

HL-2220, HL-2230, HL-2240, HL-2240D, HL-2270DW, HL-2275DW

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