P-Tux Label Designer
P-Tux Label Designer is a free, open-source desktop app for making labels for Brother P-touch printers.
What P-Tux Label Designer is
P-Tux Label Designer is a free, open-source desktop app for making labels for Brother P-touch printers. It runs on Linux and macOS. On its canvas, users can place multiple text items, customize fonts, sizes, and styles, then drag, resize, or rotate them. Imported images can be resized and adjusted for brightness and contrast. Ruler tabs, supplementary margins, and 180 DPI print-pixel accuracy support layout work. Labels are stored in the open `.ptl` format, a gzipped JSON document that keeps label content and layout settings. Designing, editing, saving, and loading work offline without a printer, and labels can be exported as PNG. Direct USB printing uses the `ptouch-print` command-line tool; listed printers include PT-D410, PT-D600, PT-P700, PT-P710BT, and PT-P750W. Installation requires Python 3.10 or newer and PyQt6, while printing also requires `ptouch-print` on the PATH. Packaged executables are planned for a future release, so setup uses `python3 main.py` from the project directory. Linux USB access usually needs a udev rule.
Good
- Free and open-source under the MIT License
- Label design and editing work offline
- Exports labels as PNG
- Supports custom text and image adjustments
Watch out
- Windows is not supported
- Requires Python 3.10 or newer and PyQt6
- Printing requires `ptouch-print` on the PATH
- Packaged executables are not yet available
Who it suits
P-Tux suits Linux and macOS users who want to design Brother P-touch labels offline and are comfortable installing its Python and PyQt6 requirements. It may work for users whose printer is among the listed models and who can configure USB printing.
Verdict
P-Tux offers offline label design and export without requiring a printer during editing. Check its operating system and installation requirements before choosing it for direct USB printing.
Plans and prices
From P-Tux Label Designer's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free and open-source software · MIT License |
The facts
Each one read from P-Tux Label Designer's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- File format
- Labels use the open `.ptl` format, a gzipped JSON document that stores label content and layout settings.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Images
- Users can import images and adjust brightness, contrast, and size in the designer.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Languages
- P-Tux currently supports English and French.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Layout precision
- The designer provides ruler tabs, supplementary margins, and 180 DPI print-pixel accuracy.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Offline use
- Designing, editing, saving, and loading labels work offline without a printer; labels can be exported as PNG.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- P-Tux runs on Linux and macOS; Windows is not currently supported.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Printing integration
- Direct printing to Brother P-touch USB printers uses the `ptouch-print` command-line tool.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy and hosting
- The application is a native desktop app with no browser, cloud, or account required.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- P-Tux is a free, open-source label designer for Brother P-touch printers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Installation requires Python 3.10 or newer and PyQt6, while printing also requires `ptouch-print` on the PATH.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Setup limitation
- Packaged executables are planned for a future release; the FAQ instructs users to run `python3 main.py` from the project directory.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can report bugs or request features through the GitHub issue tracker, and the FAQ asks bug reports to include diagnostic logs when helpful.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Supported printers
- The site lists supported models including PT-D410, PT-D600, PT-P700, PT-P710BT, and PT-P750W.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Text editing
- Users can add multiple text items with custom fonts, sizes, and styles, then drag, resize, and rotate them on a WYSIWYG canvas.checked 4 Oct 2026
- USB permissions
- On Linux, USB printer access usually requires a udev rule, which P-Tux can install through a one-time setup dialog using `pkexec` or `sudo`.checked 4 Oct 2026
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