User manual EPSON STYLUS C62

Copyright Notice All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. The information contained herein is designed only for use with this EPSON printer. EPSON is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers. Neither SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to this product, or (excluding the U.S.) failure to strictly comply with SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION's operating and maintenance instructions. SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or any consumable products other than those designated as Original EPSON Products or EPSON Approved Products by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. A Note Concerning Responsible Use of Copyrighted Materials Digital cameras and scanners, like photocopiers, conventional cameras, and ink jet printers, can be misused by improper copying and reprinting of copyrighted material. While some countries' laws permit limited copying of copyrighted material in certain circumstances, those circumstances may not be as broad as some people assume. EPSON encourages each user to be responsible and respectful of the copyright laws when using digital cameras, scanners, and ink jet printers. Trademarks EPSON, EPSON Stylus, EPSON Photo Stickers, and MicroWeave are registered trademarks of SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. EPSON Print Lab, EPSON PhotoCenter, EPSON Store, and SoundAdvice are service marks, and Resolution Performance Management, RPM, EPSON Software, and PhotoEnhance are trademarks of Epson America, Inc. General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. EPSON disclaims any and all rights in those marks. The ENERGY STAR emblem does not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service. Printed on recycled paper Copyright © 2002 by Epson America, Inc. 7/02 CPD-14477 ii Contents Welcome! About Your Software About Your Documentation Using the EPSON Printer Information Center Launching the Movies Launching the Manual 1 2 3 4 4 5 7 8 9 10 12 12 12 14 17 17 19 21 22 22 Printing From Start to Finish Loading Paper Loading Envelopes Basic Printing in Windows Selecting the Settings You Use Most Often Basic Printing on a Macintosh Printing with OS 8.5.1 to 9.x Printing with OS X Customizing Your Print Settings Customizing Windows Print Settings Customizing Macintosh Print Settings Selecting the Correct Media Type Using Film Factory Using Exif Print iii Maintaining Your Printer Cleaning the Print Head Running the Head Cleaning Utility Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern Replacing an Ink Cartridge Checking the Ink Supply Purchasing Ink Cartridges Ink Cartridge Precautions Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges Aligning the Print Head Cleaning the Printer Transporting the Printer 27 27 28 29 29 29 30 30 31 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 43 45 45 47 48 49 49 52 53 55 Solving Problems Printer Parts Diagnosing Printer Problems Running a Printer Check Problems and Solutions Setup and Software Installation Problems Printer Problems Print Quality Problems Paper Feeding Problems Miscellaneous Printout Problems Uninstalling and Reinstalling Printer Software Where To Get Help Installing Your Printer Software Installing Printer Software on Mac OS X Installing Printer Software for Mac OS 9.x Installing Printer Software on Windows 2000 Installing Printer Software on Windows 95 iv Contents Requirements and Notices Windows System Requirements Macintosh System Requirements ENERGY STAR Compliance Important Safety Instructions Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions FCC Compliance Statement Declaration of Conformity Epson America, Inc. Limited Warranty 57 57 58 58 59 60 61 62 62 65 Index Contents v Welcome! Your EPSON Stylus® C62 printer is ideal for personal or home office use. It provides you with these great features: I I Exceptionally high print quality for printing anything from reports and resumes to family photos and greeting cards. Resolution Performance ManagementTM (RPM) technology, which optimizes the number and placement of ink droplets on a variety of paper types, and delivers superior photo quality and performance with manageable print file sizes. Versatile paper handling lets you print on a wide variety of media, from EPSON® Premium Bright White Paper to EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight. Genuine EPSON ink and papers deliver the highest quality prints. I I 1 About Your Software The CD-ROM that came with your printer includes all the software you need for printing. (You must have a CD-ROM or DVD drive installed in your computer.) See the Start Here sheet for installation instructions. I Your printer driver runs your printer and lets you control how your documents look. You can't print without it. Tip: It's a good idea to check EPSON's support web site periodically for free updates to your printer driver. Visit http://support.epson.com. Download instructions are posted for your convenience. I Your EPSON Printer Information Center gives you quick, on-screen access to information about your printer. It includes EPSON Print Show, animated tutorials on loading paper, improving print speed, and other tasks. It also includes your on-screen Reference Guide for complete information about your printer. (The desktop icon may be different on some Mac® OS X systems.) EPSON SoftwareTM Film FactoryTM is a photo management program that lets you organize, beautify, and print your photos in a flash. Supports Exif Print. See page 22 for more information. EPSON PhotoCenterSM is EPSON's free photo-sharing web site where you can store, organize, and share your photos; print high-resolution photos straight from the web; and create free online postcards with your photos. Your printer software installer lets you add a link to the EPSON PhotoCenter on your desktop. I I 2 Welcome! About Your Documentation To set up your printer and install its software, see the Start Here sheet. This book contains system requirements, important safety information, your warranty, and instructions on: I I I I Using the EPSON Printer Information Center Printing with Windows® or on a Macintosh® Maintaining the printer Solving basic problems Please follow these guidelines throughout: Warning: must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury. Caution: must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment. Note: contains important information about your printer. Tip: contains additional hints for better printing. For more information on your printer, use your EPSON Printer Information Center, described on page 4. Welcome! 3 Using the EPSON Printer Information Center Need help loading paper, clearing a paper jam, or cleaning the print head? Use the EPSON Printer Information Center (EPIC) to view printer movies that quickly tell you how. EPIC also includes an on-screen Reference Guide with additional printer details. Follow the instructions on the Start Here sheet to install the EPSON Printer Information Center, if you haven't already. Note: You need a browser--such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 or later or Netscape® Navigator® 3.0 or later--to view the Reference Guide. If you are using a different browser, the pages may not display correctly. Launching the Movies 1. Double-click the EPSON Printer Information Center icon on your desktop. (The desktop icon may be different on some Mac OS X systems.) 2. Click Print Show. Click Print Show 4 Welcome! 3. Click the appropriate topic, then click the title of the movie you want to watch. Use the program tools to pause a movie, replay a step, or skip ahead. Click a topic, to view a movie 4. Click Exit to exit Print Show. Launching the Manual 1. Double-click the EPSON Printer Information Center icon on your desktop. 2. Click Reference Guide. You see this screen: Click here to expand the table of contents 3. Click a topic on the left to expand the table of contents. Welcome! 5 4. Click on the topic you want to view. I I Click right arrows Click down arrows to view subtopics, then click on a topic. to close subtopic lists. Closed list, click to expand Click to go to topic Note: If you see an icon for a graphic when viewing your Reference Guide in Netscape Navigator, click the Reload button to load the graphic. 6 Welcome! Printing From Start to Finish Follow the instructions in these sections to print using all your printer's features: I I I I I I I "Loading Paper" on page 8 "Basic Printing in Windows" on page 10 "Basic Printing on a Macintosh" on page 12 "Customizing Your Print Settings" on page 17 "Selecting the Correct Media Type" on page 21 "Using Film Factory" on page 22 "Using Exif Print" on page 22 Tip: Whenever you print, make sure you: I Use the right paper. For the best-looking photos, most vivid colors, sharpest text, and greatest detail, always use genuine EPSON papers and EPSON ink. Choose the right printer settings for the paper. Your printer automatically adjusts itself for each type of document and paper you've selected, so make sure your printer settings are correct for the document you're printing and the paper you've loaded. I 7 Loading Paper 1. Press in the locking tab on the left edge guide and slide it to the approximate width of your paper. 2. Place paper in your printer on the right side of the sheet feeder, behind the tab. 3. Slide the left edge guide lightly against the paper. 4. Pull out the output tray extension. Load paper behind the tab Press the locking tab and slide the left edge guide against the paper Follow these guidelines when loading paper: I I I I Always load the short edge first, even when you're printing landscape-oriented documents. Load the printable side face up. It's usually whiter or brighter than the other side. Load letterhead or pre-printed paper into the printer top edge first. Don't load paper above the arrow on the left edge guide. See your Print Show movies for additional instructions on loading paper. Double-click the EPSON Printer Information Center icon on your desktop. 8 Printing From Start to Finish Loading Envelopes 1. Load up to 10 envelopes, short edge first and printable side up. Tip: For best results, press each envelope flat before loading it, or load one envelope at a time. 2. Place the envelope's flap edge against the right edge of the sheet feeder, behind the tab. 3. Press the locking tab on the left edge guide and slide it against the envelopes. Load with the printable side up Before you print, make sure you choose the correct envelope size as the paper Size (Windows) or Paper Size (Macintosh) setting and Landscape as the Orientation. See page 11 (Windows), page 12 (Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.x), or page 14 (Macintosh OS X) for instructions. Printing From Start to Finish 9 Basic Printing in Windows After you create a document in a software program, follow these steps to print it: 1. From the File menu, click Print. You see a Print window like this one: Select your printer here Click here to open your printer software 2. Make sure EPSON Stylus C62 Series is selected. 3. Click the Properties or Preferences button. (If you see a Setup, Printer, or Options button, click it. Then click Properties or Preferences on the next screen.) 10 Printing From Start to Finish 4. Select the following settings on the Main tab in your printer settings window. The most important thing to remember is to set the correct paper Type for the paper you're using. 1 Select the type of document you're printing: Draft: for rough drafts with reduced print quality Text: For text-only documents with higher text quality 2 Select your paper type (see page 21) 3 Select your paper size 4 Select your document or image orientation Text & Image: For documents with text and images with higher quality Photo: For photos and graphics with good quality and speed Best Photo: For photos or graphics with high print quality 5 Click OK Tip: For more information about printer settings, click the or Help button. 5. You return to the Print window. Click OK or Print to start printing. After a moment, this window appears and shows the progress of your print job. You can use the buttons to cancel, pause, or resume printing. You can also see how much ink you have left. Click to cancel printing Click to pause or resume printing Printing From Start to Finish 11 Selecting the Settings You Use Most Often Your printer settings apply only to the program you're currently using. If you want, you can change the default Windows printer settings for all your programs. 1. Right-click the printer icon in the lower right corner of your screen (taskbar). 2. Select Printer Settings. You see the window shown on page 11. 3. Select the default settings you want for all your applications, then click OK. You can always change the settings in your program, if necessary. Basic Printing on a Macintosh After you create a document in a software program, follow the steps in one of these sections to print it: I I For Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.x applications, see the next section. For Macintosh OS X applications, see page 14. Printing with OS 8.5.1 to 9.x 1. From the File menu, select Page Setup. Select the following settings: 1 Make sure you see C62 Series 2 Select your paper size 3 Select the orientation of your document 2. Click OK to close the Page Setup window. 12 Printing From Start to Finish 3. From the File menu, select Print. Select the following settings: 1 Select your paper type (see page 21) 2 Select Color (for color documents and black and white photographs) or Black (for black text documents) 3 Select Automatic mode 4 Select Quality or Speed (for faster printing) Tip: For more information about printer settings, click the button. 4. You can also do the following: I I I I Click Click Click Click to reduce/enlarge, print multi-page layouts, or add a watermark. to turn on background printing. , then click Preview to preview your printout. to check your ink levels. 5. Click Print. 6. If you turned on background printing, you can select EPSON Monitor3 from the Application menu in the right corner of the screen. You see the EPSON Monitor3 window: Select your print job, then click here to cancel printing Click to check ink levels Note: If you're not using background printing and you need to cancel printing, hold down the J key and press the . (period) key. Printing From Start to Finish 13 Printing with OS X If you're using an OS X compatible printing application, follow the steps below to print a document. (If you're using an application that's compatible only with Macintosh Classic mode, follow the steps on page 12 instead.) Before you begin, make sure you added your printer to Print Center as described in "Installing Printer Software on Mac OS X" on page 49. 1. From the File menu, select Page Setup. 2. Select the following Page Setup settings as necessary: Select C62 Series (USB) from the Format for pop-up menu Select the Paper Size, Orientation, and any other settings you want to use 3. When you're finished, click OK. 4. Select Print from the File menu. You see a screen like this: Click here and select Print Settings 5. Select Print Settings from the pull-down menu. 14 Printing From Start to Finish 6. Select the following Print Settings as necessary: 1 Select your paper type (see page 21) 2 Select Color (for color documents and black and white photographs) or Black (for black text documents) 3 Select Automatic mode 4 Select Quality or Speed Tip: For more information about printer settings, click Help. The OS X printer driver contains a subset of the settings available with the OS 8.5.1 to 9.x Macintosh printer driver described in this book. 7. You can also choose other print settings by selecting these options in the pull-down menu: I I I I I I Copies & Pages, to select the number of copies or a page range Layout, to select page layout options Output Options, to save your print job as a PDF file ® Color Management, to select ColorSync, adjust the color controls, change the gamma setting, or turn off color adjustments by the printer software Summary, to view a list of all your selections Save Custom Setting, to save your selections for future use. 8. Click Print. Printing From Start to Finish 15 9. To monitor the progress of your print job, click the Print Center icon when it appears in the dock on the bottom of your desktop. You see a screen like this: 10. Monitor the progress of your print job or do one of the following: I I I I Click the print job, then click Delete to delete the job. Click the print job then click Hold to pause printing. Click a print job marked "Hold" and click Resume to resume printing. If multiple print jobs are listed, click a print job, then click the Priority arrow as necessary to reorder the jobs. 11. When you're finished, close Print Center. 16 Printing From Start to Finish Customizing Your Print Settings You can use advanced settings for color matching, printing at higher resolutions, or selecting a variety of special effects and layouts. Customizing Windows Print Settings 1. On the Main tab, click the Advanced button in the bottom right corner of the window. The Basic settings change to the Advanced settings. 2. Select the following advanced settings: 1 Select Paper & Quality Options as necessary Click here to select Photo RPM for the best print quality on certain paper types 2 Select Print Options as necessary Click here to select Black Ink Only printing 3 Select a color management method To choose No Color Adjustment, click ICM first 3. Once you've finished selecting advanced settings, you can: I I I Click OK to save your settings, return to the Print dialog box, and print. Click the Basic button to return to the Basic settings. Click the Page Layout tab and continue with step 4 to select layout options. Note: For more information about advanced settings, or instructions on saving them as a group so you can reuse them later, click the Help or button. If you want to use the Advanced screen each time you access your printer settings, select the Show this screen first checkbox. Printing From Start to Finish 17 4. Select the following page layout settings as necessary: 1 Select image position options here 2 Select image resizing options here; these affect only your printed image 4 Select multi-page document options here and here 3 Add a watermark to your printed page here To print a large image on several sheets to make a poster, select poster settings here Note: For more information on page layout settings, click the Help or button. 5. Click OK to save your settings, return to the Print dialog box, and print. 18 Printing From Start to Finish Customizing Macintosh Print Settings 1. On the printer settings window, click Custom, then click the Custom Settings list to open it. Macintosh OS 8.5.1 through 9.x Click Custom, then choose one of the following: Text/Graph or Economy (to save ink on plain paper) or ColorSync (to match printed colors with compatible device colors) from the Custom Settings list Macintosh OS X Click Custom, then choose one of the following: Text/Graph or Economy (to save ink on plain paper) or ColorSync (to match printed colors with compatible device colors) from the Custom Settings list Note: For more information on custom settings, click Help (OS X) or (OS 8.5.1 to 9.x). 2. If you're finished selecting custom settings, click Print to print your document. To select more custom settings, go to step 3. 3. To access advanced settings, click Custom and then click Advanced Settings (OS X) or Advanced (OS 8.5.1 to 9.x). Printing From Start to Finish 19 4. Select these advanced settings as necessary: Macintosh OS 8.5.1 through 9.x 1 Click here to select Photo RPM for the best print quality on certain paper types 2 Select various print options here 3 Select color management settings here Macintosh OS X 1 Select a higher Print Quality here 2 Select various print options here 3 To select color management settings, select Color Management from the Print Settings pull-down menu Note: For more information on advanced settings, or instructions on saving them as a group so you can reuse them later, click Help (OS X) or (OS 8.5.1 to 9.x). 5. To print, click Print (OS X) or click OK to save your settings, then click Print (OS 8.5.1 to 9.x). 20 Printing From Start to Finish Selecting the Correct Media Type Your printer automatically adjusts itself for the type of paper you select in your print settings. That's why the Type or Media Type setting is so important. It tells your printer what kind of paper you're using and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly. Here are the settings you should choose for your paper: Select this Type or Media Type setting . . . Plain paper For this paper . . . Plain paper sheets or envelopes EPSON Premium Bright White Paper EPSON Iron-On Transfer Paper EPSON High Quality Ink Jet Paper EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight EPSON Double-Sided Matte Paper EPSON Photo Paper EPSON Glossy Photo Paper EPSON Glossy Photo Greeting Cards EPSON Panoramic Photo Paper EPSON All Purpose Glossy Paper EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper EPSON Premium Semigloss Photo Paper EPSON Premium Luster Photo Paper EPSON Photo Stickers® EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies * The availability of paper types varies by location. 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper Matte Paper Heavyweight Glossy Photo Paper Premium Glossy Photo Paper Photo Quality Glossy Film Ink Jet Transparencies Printing From Start to Finish 21 Using Film Factory You can use Film Factory to organize, retouch, and print your digital images. If your digital camera supports Exif (Exchangeable Image File) Print, you can use this technology when you print with Film Factory to ensure the most accurate image reproduction (not available with Macintosh OS X). Using Exif Print With Exif Print, special image settings such as white balance, contrast, color saturation, and exposure time are saved in your digital photo files. If your digital camera supports Exif Print, you can use this technology when you print with Exif Print enabled applications such as EPSON Software Film Factory. 22 Printing From Start to Finish Opening Your Photos in Film Factory 1. Start Film Factory. You see the main Film Factory screen: Click Roll to create a new roll, or . . . click an existing roll Note: If you need help with Film Factory, select it from the Help menu or check the on-screen Getting Started Guide that was installed with Film Factory (you must have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® installed on your system to view the manual). 2. Select a "roll of film" or click the Roll button and select New Roll. 3. If your photos were taken with a digital camera that supports Exif Print, you can use this technology when you print with Film Factory to ensure the most accurate image reproduction. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Macintosh) a photo thumbnail to display information about the Exif Print data in the photo file. 4. Click the photo you want to print or click the All button at the top of the screen to select all the photos in a roll. Printing From Start to Finish 23 5. To import a photo into Film Factory, click the Import button, then: I I I I Click From File to import a photo from your computer's hard drive. Click From Removable Media to import a photo from a disk or CD-ROM. Click From PC Card to import a photo from a PC card in a card reader. Click From Twain Device to import a photo from a scanner or digital camera. If your device is already selected, the software will open. If not, click Import Settings, and select your scanner or digital camera (not applicable to OS X). 6. Click a button on the left to select a print option. For example, click the Standard Prints button. You see buttons for each step you need to follow, as shown. 7. Click Import & Retouch to retouch or edit your photo, if necessary. Note: You can rotate, trim, and correct for red eyes and still retain Exif Print data with your photograph. However, if you adjust other settings, such as brightness and color, these settings are not retained. 8. When you're ready to print, continue with the steps in the next section. 24 Printing From Start to Finish Printing Your Photos 1. When you're ready to print, click the Print Assignment button. You see this screen: Click to print the date with your photo Select your printer settings here 2. Windows and Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.x: Select these options in the Printer Settings box at the bottom of the screen: 1 Make sure your printer is selected 2 Select your paper size 3 Select a Media Type Macintosh OS X: Click the Properties button. Select your printer in the Format for menu, select the correct Paper Size setting, and click OK. 3. If you want to print the current date with your photo, click the Print Date box. Printing From Start to Finish 25 4. Click the Print button on the left side of the screen. You see additional options: Select the number of copies you want to print Leave this box checked for the best printed output using Exif Print data, if available 5. If your photo doesn't look right in the preview, click the Back button and change your settings. (Click the Detailed Preview button for a closer look.) 6. Select the number of copies you want to print. 7. Leave the Exif Print box checked for the best results when printing photos containing Exif Print data (not applicable to OS X). 8. Click the Print button at the top of the screen. I I I Windows: Your pictures are printed. Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.x: You see the Print window; click Print. Your pictures are printed. Macintosh OS X: You see the Print window. Select Printer Settings from the Copies & Pages pull-down menu. Then select your Media Type and other print settings as necessary, and click Print. Store your prints in resealable plastic bags, photo albums, or glass-covered picture frames. Keep your pictures and unused paper away from high temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. Make sure you return unused paper to its original package. 26 Printing From Start to Finish Maintaining Your Printer This chapter describes maintenance procedures to keep your printer working at its best, and preparation steps for moving your printer. I I I I I "Cleaning the Print Head" below "Replacing an Ink Cartridge" on page 29 "Aligning the Print Head" on page 34 "Cleaning the Printer" on page 35 "Transporting the Printer" on page 36 Cleaning the Print Head If your printouts are unexpectedly light, or dots or lines are missing from the image, you may need to clean the print head. This unclogs the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly. Print head cleaning uses ink, so clean it only if quality declines. This section explains how to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility (available only when your printer is connected directly to your computer, not over a network.) You can also clean the print head by holding down the b maintenance button on the printer for three seconds (when the red b error light is off). For more information about cleaning the print head, see your Print Show movies; select the EPSON Printer Information Center icon on your desktop. Caution: When you don't turn on your printer for a long time, the print quality can decline, so turn it on at least once a month to maintain good print quality. 27 Running the Head Cleaning Utility 1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the red b error light is off. (If the red light is flashing or on, you may need to replace the ink cartridge; see page 29 for details.) 2. Do one of the following: I I Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar (in the lower right corner of your screen). Select Head Cleaning. Macintosh: OS 8.5.1 to 9.x: Open the File menu and choose Page Setup or Print. Click the Utility button, then click the Head Cleaning button. OS X: Open the Applications folder and select EPSON Printer Utility. Select C62 Series in the printer list, click OK, and select Head Cleaning. 3. Follow the instructions on the screen to clean the print head. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the printer makes some noise and the green P power light flashes. Caution: Never turn off the printer while the P power light is flashing, unless the printer hasn't moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes. 4. When the green P power light stops flashing, make sure paper is loaded in the printer and click Print Nozzle Check Pattern. Then click Print. The nozzle check pattern prints (see the next section for details). 5. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps or lines, click Finish. If the pattern has white lines, click Clean to clean the print head again. If you don't see any improvement after cleaning three or four times, check the solutions beginning on page 43. You can also turn the printer off and wait overnight--this allows any dried ink to soften--and then try cleaning the print head again. 28 Maintaining Your Printer Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern Examine the nozzle check pattern you print. Each colored square should be solid, with no gaps or lines, as shown: I I If your printout looks okay, you're done. If you see any white lines or gaps, clean the print head again; see page 28 for instructions. Replacing an Ink Cartridge When the red b light flashes, an ink cartridge is low on ink. (You may also see a message on your screen.) This is a good time to make sure you have a new cartridge. When the red b light stays on, you need to replace one of the cartridges. Note: The red b error light also comes on if your paper runs out or is jammed, so make sure you check your paper before replacing a cartridge. When a cartridge is more than six months old, you may need to replace it if printouts don't look their best. If the quality doesn't improve after cleaning and aligning the print head, you can replace the cartridge even if the red b light is off. Checking the Ink Supply Windows: Double-click the icon in the your taskbar. If a cartridge is low on ink, you see a window like the one on the right: Or right-click the icon and select Ink Monitor to see your ink levels. Click Buy Now to launch your web browser and order ink cartridges online. Maintaining Your Printer 29 Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.x: Open the File menu and choose Print. Click the ink icon. Macintosh OS X: Choose Applications > EPSON Printer Utility > C62 Series > Status Monitor. You see a window like the one on the right: Click a cartridge image to display information about the cartridge. Purchasing Ink Cartridges Use these EPSON ink cartridges within six months of installing them and before the expiration date on the package: I I Black ink cartridge: T040120 Color ink cartridge: T041020 (May be labeled T040 or T041.) Caution: To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage to your printer not covered by EPSON's warranty. When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer or call the EPSON StoreSM at (800) 873-7766 or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral. Ink Cartridge Precautions Warning: Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children and do not drink the ink. If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them thoroughly with water. Caution: To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head by hand. You cannot print if either ink cartridge is empty. Leave the empty cartridge installed in the printer until you have obtained a replacement. Otherwise the ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out. 30 Maintaining Your Printer Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once you start replacing an ink cartridge, you must complete all the steps in one session. 1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing (the green P power light should be on, but not flashing). Then open the printer cover. 2. Press the e ink replacement button. The print head moves towards the center and the green P power light flashes. The red b error light also begins to flash or remains on. I If it flashes at the same speed as the green P power light, replace the black cartridge. If it flashes twice as fast as the green P power light, replace the color cartridge. If it remains on, replace both cartridges. I I Note: You can also use the Status Monitor to find out which cartridge is out of ink. See page 29 for more information. The color cartridge is on the right and the black is on the left. 3. Pull up the ink cartridge clamp. The cartridge rises up from its holder. Maintaining Your Printer 31 4. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it carefully. 5. Unwrap the new ink cartridge. Then remove only the yellow tape seal on top. Caution: You must remove the yellow tape from the top of the cartridge or you will permanently damage it. Don't try to remove the clear seal underneath the cartridge. Don't touch the green circuit board on the back of the cartridge; you may inhibit normal operation and printing. black cartridge color cartridge 6. Lower the new cartridge down into the holder. Make sure the tabs rest on the hooks in back. hooks Caution: Don't place the cartridge tabs under the hooks; you may damage the clamp when you close it. 32 Maintaining Your Printer 7. Press down firmly on the ink cartridge clamp until it snaps in place. 8. If you need to replace the other ink cartridge, repeat steps 3 through 7 before continuing with step 9. 9. Press the e ink replacement button and close the printer cover. The printer begins charging the ink delivery system. The green P power light flashes and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about half a minute. When it's finished, the green P power light stops flashing and stays on, and the red b error light goes out. Caution: Never turn off the printer while the green P power light is flashing, unless the printer hasn't moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes. Maintaining Your Printer 33 Aligning the Print Head If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, or you see white or black horizontal banding, you may need to align the print head. Note: Your printer must be connected directly to your computer (not over a network) to use the Print Head Alignment utility. 1. Turn on the printer. 2. Load plain, letter-size paper. 3. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar (in the lower right corner of your screen) and select Print Head Alignment. Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.x: Open the File menu and choose Page Setup or Print. Then click the Utility button. In the Utility menu, click the Print Head Alignment button. Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and select EPSON Printer Utility. Select C62 Series in the printer list, click OK, and select Print Head Alignment. 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to print a test page. You see this window: 5. On the printed page, select the pattern with the two vertical lines most precisely printed on top of each other. You may need to use a magnifying glass or loupe. Select one pattern each for rows 1, 2, and 3. Then enter the number of the best pattern for each row in the corresponding boxes on the screen. Then click Finish. If you can't find an aligned pattern, click Realignment to print another test page, then repeat this step. 34 Maintaining Your Printer Cleaning the Printer To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it several times a year. 1. Turn off the printer, unplug the power cord, and disconnect the printer cable. 2. Remove all paper, then use a soft brush to clean any dust or dirt from the sheet feeder. 3. Clean the exterior of the printer with a soft, damp cloth. 4. Clean ink out of the printer's interior with a soft, damp cloth. Don't touch the carriage shaft Clean here Warning: Don't touch the gears inside the printer. Caution: Be careful not to wipe the carriage shaft. Never use a hard or abrasive brush, or alcohol or paint thinner for cleaning; they can damage the printer components and case. Don't get water on the printer components and don't spray lubricants or oils inside the printer. Don't use any cleaning sheets included with special paper; they may jam inside the printer. Maintaining Your Printer 35 Transporting the Printer If you move your printer some distance, you need to prepare it for transportation in its original box or one of a similar size. Caution: To avoid damage, always leave the ink cartridges installed when transporting the printer. 1. Turn on the printer, wait until the print head locks in the far right position, then turn off the printer. 2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. Then disconnect the printer cable from the printer. 3. Remove any paper from the printer and remove the paper support. 4. Open the printer cover. Secure the ink cartridge holder to the printer with tape as shown, then close the printer cover. Caution: Be sure to remove the tape after installing the printer in its new location. Tape the ink cartridge holder to the printer case 5. Push in the output tray extension and close the tray. 6. Repack the printer and its attachments in the original box using the protective materials that came with them. Keep the printer level as you transport it. After transporting the printer, remove the tape securing the print head and test your printer. If you notice a decline in print quality, clean the print head (see page 27); if output is misaligned, align the print head (see page 34). 36 Maintaining Your Printer Solving Problems This chapter gives you the basics for diagnosing and solving printer problems. First see "Diagnosing Printer Problems" on page 39 to help determine what the cause of the problem may be. Refer to the pictures on page 38 if you need help identifying parts of the printer. Tip: It's a good idea to check EPSON's support web site periodically for free updates to your printer driver. Visit http://support.epson.com. Download instructions are posted for your convenience. Then see these sections for solutions: I I I I I I I "Setup and Software Installation Problems" on page 41 "Printer Problems" on page 42 "Print Quality Problems" on page 43 "Paper Feeding Problems" on page 45 "Miscellaneous Printout Problems" on page 45 "Uninstalling and Reinstalling Printer Software" on page 47 "Where To Get Help" on page 48 37 Printer Parts Paper support Left edge guide Printer cover Output tray Output tray extension Ink cartridges and print head Maintenance button and error light Power button and light Ink replacement button 38 Solving Problems Diagnosing Printer Problems First, check the printer's lights as described below, or run a printer check as described on page 40. Lights Green P power light flashes Red b light is on Explanation The printer is receiving a print job, charging ink, or cleaning the print head. Your paper ran out, ink ran out, or paper is jammed. You may also see a message on your screen. I I If paper is jammed, first press the b maintenance button to eject the paper. If that doesn't work, turn off the printer, open the cover, and remove all paper, including any torn pieces. Then turn on the printer, reload paper, and press the b maintenance button. If you see an ink out message on your screen, you need to replace one of your ink cartridges. See page 29 for details. If paper is out, load more paper, then press the b maintenance button to resume printing. I Red b light flashes One of the ink cartridges is low. Make sure you have a replacement cartridge. To determine which cartridge is low, check the ink level as described on pages 29 and 30. Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off the printer, open the cover, and remove any jammed paper or other foreign objects. Then turn the printer on again. If the lights are still on, contact your dealer or EPSON; see page 48 for contact information. The printer may have an internal error. Turn off the printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again. If the lights are still flashing, contact your dealer or EPSON; see page 48 for contact information. One of your ink cartridges is installed incorrectly. Follow the instructions on pages 31 to 33 to remove and reinstall the cartridges. Green P power light is off and red b error light is on Green P power light and red b light flash Green P power light and red b light are on after installing an ink cartridge Solving Problems 39 Running a Printer Check You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem comes from the printer or some other source. 1. Turn off your printer and computer. 2. Disconnect the printer's interface cable. 3. Load letter-size paper in the printer. 4. Hold down the b maintenance button, then press and release the Ppower button. Continue holding down the b maintenance button until the green P power light flashes, then release it. The printer prints one page showing its ROM version number, and a nozzle check pattern. (If the pattern has lines or gaps through it, clean the print head; see page 27.) I If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer. Your software may not be installed correctly. If the check page doesn't print, you may have a problem with your printer. Try the suggestions in "Problems and Solutions" beginning on page 41. If nothing works, contact your dealer or EPSON as described on page 48. I 5. Turn off the printer after it prints the check page. Then reconnect the cable and turn on your printer and computer. 40 Solving Problems Problems and Solutions Setup and Software Installation Problems The printer makes noise after ink cartridge installation. I I When you install ink cartridges, the printer must charge its print head for a few minutes. Wait until it's finished (the green P power light stops flashing) before you turn off the printer, or it may use excess ink the next time you turn it on. Make sure the ink cartridge clamps are locked down completely and no packing material remains in the printer. Turn off the printer, wait a moment, then turn it back on to clear the error. Close your other programs, including screen savers and virus protection software, and install the printer software again. If the C62 Series icon doesn't appear in the Macintosh Chooser, you may have too many items in the Chooser. Delete any unused items. If you see an error message with Windows 2000, you may not have software installation privileges. Contact your System Administrator. If you're using Windows and the USB port, make sure your system was not upgraded from Windows 95; the USB driver may not install correctly. Make sure the USB Controller is working properly in Device Manager. See your Windows help system for details. If you're printing over a network, see your on-screen Reference Guide for instructions on configuring your printer. I I I I You're having problems installing the printer software. I Turn on your printer and make sure its cable is securely connected at both ends. Follow the installation steps on the Start Here sheet, and make sure your system meets the requirements on pages 57 and 58. I I Solving Problems 41 Printer Problems Only the green P power light is on, but nothing prints. I Printing is too slow. Make sure your system meets the requirements listed on pages 57 and 58. If you're printing a high-resolution image, you need more than the minimum requirements. You may also need to: I I I Make sure the interface cable is securely connected at both ends and meets the system requirements on pages 57 and 58. Run a printer check as described on page 40. If the check page prints, make sure your software is installed correctly. If you're printing on a network, you need to set up your printer for network printing, as described in your on-screen Reference Guide. Clear space on your hard drive or run a defragmentation utility. Close programs that you're not using. Increase your system's memory. I I For the fastest printing, try these tips: I The printer sounds as though it is printing, but nothing prints. I Select Draft as the Quality type (Windows) or set the Quality/Speed slider to Speed (Macintosh). In the Advanced window, turn High Speed on (Windows) or MicroWeave® off and High Speed on (Macintosh). If your printer is connected to a hub, disconnect any unused USB devices. If you're using the parallel port, enable ECP/DMA mode on your computer's parallel port. See your computer documentation or the manufacturer for instructions. I Make sure the print head nozzles are not clogged. To clean the print head, see page 27. The printer won't operate properly if it's tilted or at an angle. Place it on a flat, stable surface. I I I Your printer makes noise when you turn it on or after it has been sitting for a while. Your printer is performing routine maintenance. 42 Solving Problems Print Quality Problems You see banding (light lines). I Try using Automatic mode (Macintosh only); see page 13 (OS 8.5.1 to 9.x) or page 15 (OS X). Align the print head as described on page 34. I Your printout is blurry or smeared. I I Clean the print head; see page 27 for instructions. Select a higher print quality and turn off High Speed mode; see page 17 (Windows) or page 20 (Macintosh) for details. Select the correct Type (Windows) or Media Type (Macintosh) for your paper; see page 21. Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up. It's usually whiter or shinier. The ink cartridges may need replacing; see page 29. I I Make sure your paper isn't damp or curled, or loaded face down (the printable side should be face up). Reload new paper face up. Use a support sheet with special paper, or try loading your paper one sheet at a time. Make sure your paper meets the specifications listed in the on-screen Reference Guide. Use EPSON papers for proper saturation and absorption of genuine EPSON inks. Align the print head see page 34 for instructions. I I I I I I Solving Problems 43