Diagnosis
The issue of persistent white borders on the Brother Work Smart 1360 is typically caused by a driver mismatch. When Windows 11 or macOS automatically installs a "Class Driver" or a generic AirPrint driver, the system treats the printer as a basic document device. These generic drivers lack the specific instruction sets required to tell the printer's print head to overprint the edges of the paper, resulting in a mandatory 3mm to 5mm white margin that cannot be removed via standard print settings. Furthermore, borderless printing is hardware-dependent and software-locked. Even with the correct driver, the "Borderless" checkbox will remain greyed out or invisible if the "Paper Size" is set to a standard office size like "Letter" or "A4" without the corresponding "Photo Paper" media type selected. The printer requires a specific combination of paper type (e.g., Brother BP71 Photo Paper) and size (e.g., 4x6 or Letter) to trigger the borderless mode, as the printer physically expands the image slightly beyond the page edge to ensure no white gaps remain.
How to Fix It
To enable true borderless printing, you must bypass the generic Windows/Mac driver and use the full Brother software suite. Follow these exact steps:
- Uninstall any existing "Brother" printer entries from your system. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the 1360, and choose Remove device.
- Download and install the Brother Full Driver & Software Package from the official support site. Do not rely on the Windows "Add a Printer" wizard.
- Open the application or document you wish to print. Click File > Print.
- Select the Brother MFC-1360 from the dropdown and click Printer Properties or Preferences.
- In the Basic tab, locate the Media Type dropdown. Change this from "Plain Paper" to Brother BP71 Photo Paper or Other Photo Paper. The borderless option will not activate for plain paper.
- Once the media type is changed, look for the Borderless checkbox. Check this box.
- A prompt may appear regarding "Expansion." Select Standard to ensure the image covers the entire page without excessive cropping.
- Click OK and send the document to the printer.
If That Didn't Work
- Verify Paper Size Consistency: Ensure the paper size in your software (e.g., Photoshop or Word) exactly matches the paper size selected in the Brother Print Properties. If your document is set to "Custom" but the driver is set to "Letter," the printer will default back to bordered printing to prevent paper jams.
- Disable "Fit to Page": In the print dialog of your application, ensure "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Fit" is unchecked. These settings often add a secondary digital margin that overrides the printer's borderless hardware instruction.
- Check the Ink Level: If the printer is in "Low Ink" mode for any of the CMYK cartridges, it may disable high-density borderless printing to prevent streaks or banding at the edges of the page. Replace any cartridges showing a low warning.
- Update Firmware: Use the Brother Firmware Update Tool. Outdated firmware on the 1360 can occasionally cause a communication error where the "Borderless" command is sent by the PC but ignored by the printer hardware.
Heads Up
- Ink Saturation: Borderless printing uses more ink because it prints slightly beyond the edge of the paper. Ensure your paper tray is clean to avoid ink smudges on the underside of the sheets.
- Paper Weight: Only use photo paper rated for inkjet printers. Using heavy cardstock (over 300gsm) in borderless mode can cause the rollers to slip, leading to misalignment or "white streaks" at the top of the page.
- Avoid Plain Paper: Printing borderless on standard 20lb office paper often leads to "edge bleed," where the ink saturates the paper edge and causes the sheet to curl or warp.
- Cleaning Cycle: Because borderless printing pushes the print head to its maximum horizontal limit, ensure you run a print head cleaning cycle every 2-3 weeks if you print photos infrequently to avoid clogged nozzles at the far edges.