®
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.
Contents WELCOME! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About Your Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About Your Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the EPSON Printer Information Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Launching the Animations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printing Borderless Photos on Cut Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Macintosh OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 44 45 PRINTING ON CDS AND SPECIAL MEDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 47 48 49 53 56 57 59 61 61 63 64 67 69 Printing on CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INSTALLING YOUR PRINTER SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing Printer Software on Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing Your Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installing Optional Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOLVING PROBLEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Printer Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents
Welcome! Your EPSON Stylus® Photo 900 is a full-featured photo and CD/DVD printer.
About Your Software Your printer CD-ROM includes all the software you need for printing. See the Start Here sheet for installation instructions. ■ 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 website periodically for free updates to your printer driver. Visit http://support.epson.com. Download instructions are posted for your convenience.
About Your Documentation To set up your printer and install its software, see the Start Here sheet.
Using the EPSON Printer Information Center Need help loading paper, loading CDs or DVDs, or changing an ink cartridge? Use the EPSON Printer Information Center (EPIC) to view printer animations that quickly show you how. EPIC also includes an on-screen User’s 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.
3. Click a title. 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 EPSON Print Show. Launching the Manual 1. Double-click the EPSON Printer Information Center icon on your desktop. 2. Click User’s Guide. You see this screen: Click a topic 3. Click on the topic you want to view.
Welcome!
Loading Paper You can load a variety of paper types in your printer, as described in these sections: ■ “Loading Single Sheets” below ■ “Loading Roll Paper” on page 14 ■ “Loading Envelopes” on page 17 ■ “Loading Special Papers” on page 19 For information about loading paper in the manual feed slot see “Printing on CDs and Special Media” on page 47. Loading Single Sheets 1. Insert your paper against the right edge of the sheet feeder. 2.
Also be sure to: ■ Load the printable side face-up. It’s often whiter or brighter than the other side. ■ Load letterhead or preprinted paper into the printer top edge first. ■ Don’t load paper above the arrow on the left edge guide. ■ Load up to approximately 100 sheets of plain paper at time. Loading Roll Paper You can load the following types and sizes of roll paper: Paper name Roll sizes EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper 4 inches × 26 feet 8.3 inches (A4) × 32.
3. If the paper curls at the end, fold a sheet of paper over the end and roll it backward to uncurl it. Avoid touching the printable surface of the roll paper. 4. Remove any paper that’s in the sheet feeder at the top of the printer. Then remove the paper support, lower the output tray, and turn on the printer. 5. Make sure the paper thickness lever is set to the position.
6. Install the roll paper holders on the printer. Insert the left holder into the far left slot, then insert the other holder into the appropriate slot on the right (either the 4-inch slot as shown, or the 8.3-inch slot further on the right). 7. Pull out approximately six inches of paper and insert it into the sheet feeder. Then slide the left edge guide against the paper (but not too tightly). 8. Hold the paper in place by the edges and press the printer feeds the paper automatically.
If the paper is crooked, press the roll paper button and hold it for three seconds to back the paper all the way out. Then turn the roll paper holder knobs to roll up the paper. Press the roll paper button to clear the paper out error. Repeat steps 7 through 9 to reload the paper. Loading Envelopes 1. Open the output tray and its extension. 2. Load up to 10 envelopes at a time, flap edge left, printable side up, against the right edge of the sheet feeder. 3.
4. Set the paper thickness lever to the position when you’re done). position (remember to set it back to the Note: For best results, press each envelope flat before loading, or load one envelope at a time.
Loading Special Papers To load EPSON ink jet papers, follow these guidelines: Paper type Loading capacity Premium Bright White Paper 100 sheets Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper 65 sheets Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards 30 cards with a support sheet beneath the stack Glossy Photo Paper or Photo Paper 20 sheets Panoramic Photo Paper 1 sheet with a support sheet beneath the sheet Matte Paper Heavyweight 20 sheets with a support sheet beneath the stack Double-Sided Matte Paper ColorLife Photo Paper 1 shee
Storing Your Photos With proper care, photographs from your EPSON Stylus Photo printer will last for many years. The special EPSON inks designed for your printer are formulated to achieve improved lightfastness when used with EPSON papers for prints that are properly displayed or stored. Tip: For best results, always use EPSON papers.
Printing in Windows Before you start, make sure your printer is set up and its software is installed as described on the Start Here sheet. Whenever you print, make sure you do the following: ■ Use the right paper. For the best-looking photos, most vivid colors, and greatest detail, always use genuine EPSON papers and EPSON inks. ■ Choose the right printer settings. Your printer automatically adjusts itself for each type of paper. That’s why printer settings are important.
Printing From an Application After you create a document in a software program, follow these steps to print it using the basic printer settings: 1. From the file menu, click Print. You see a Print window like this one: Select your printer name here Click here to open your printer software 2. Make sure EPSON Stylus Photo 900 is selected. 3. Click the Preferences or Properties button. (If you see a Setup, Printer, or Options button, click it. Then click Preferences or Properties on the next screen.
4. Select the following in the properties window: Select the type of document you’re printing Select your paper Type Select your paper Size Select your document or image orientation 5.
8. Click OK. 9. At the Print window, click OK or Print to start printing. During printing, 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 Selecting Default Settings Your printer settings only apply to the program you’re currently using. If you want, you can change the Windows default printer settings for all your programs. 1.
Customizing Windows Print Settings You can use advanced settings for color matching, printing at a higher resolution, or selecting a variety of special effects and layouts. 1. On the Main tab, click the Advanced button in the bottom right corner of the window. 2. If you see a warning note, click Continue. 3.
4. Once you’ve finished selecting advanced settings, you can: ■ 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 5 to select layout options. 5.
Selecting the Correct Paper Type Select the correct paper Type setting so your printer knows what kind of paper you’re using and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly.
Printing Borderless Photos on Cut Sheets You can print your photos with no margins, extending the image all the way to the edges of the page. Note: For instructions on printing borderless photos on roll paper, see “Loading Roll Paper” on page 14. Although borderless printing is a bit slower, you get beautiful snapshots and enlargements, without trimming, on these papers and sizes: Paper type or Media Type setting Paper name Sizes EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight 8 × 10 Letter (8.
You see the following screen: Select the type of document you’re printing Select your paper Type Select your paper Size Select your document or image orientation 3. Select Photo or Best Photo as the Quality Type setting. 4. Choose Sheet as the paper Source setting. 5. Select one of the following paper types: ■ Matte Paper Heavyweight ■ Photo Paper ■ Glossy Photo Paper ■ Premium Glossy Photo Paper ■ Premium Luster Photo Paper ■ Premium Semigloss Photo Paper 6. Click the Borderless checkbox.
Printing in Windows
Printing on a Macintosh Before you start, make sure your printer is set up and its software is installed as described on the Start Here sheet. Whenever you print, make sure you do the following: ■ Use the right paper. For the best-looking photos, most vivid colors, and greatest detail, always use genuine EPSON papers and EPSON inks. ■ Choose the right printer settings. Your printer automatically adjusts itself for each type of paper. That’s why printer settings are important.
Printing with Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x Before you begin make sure you selected your printer in the Chooser as described in “Installing Your Printer Driver” on page 87. 1. From the File menu, select Page Setup. Select the following settings: Make sure you see SP 900 Select your paper size Select your paper source Select your document or image orientation 2. Click OK to close the Page Setup window. 3. From the File menu, select Print.
4. Select the following settings: ■ Choose your paper from the Media Type list. See “Selecting the Correct Media Type” on page 42 for details. ■ Select Color to print a color document or black and white photograph. To print a black text document, click Black. ■ Choose Automatic to get good printing results for most projects. ■ Set the slider to Quality to select high-quality printing, or Speed for faster printing. (The slider is not available for all paper types.
7. If you turned on background printing, you can select EPSON Monitor IV from the Application menu in the upper right corner of your screen. You see the EPSON Monitor window: Select your print job, then click here to cancel printing Click to check ink levels Click here to show or hide the print settings Note: If you’re not using background printing and you need to cancel printing, hold down the key and press the . (period) key.
Printing with Macintosh 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 in “Printing with Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x” on page 32 instead.) Before you begin, make sure you added your printer to the Print Center as described on the Start Here sheet. 1. From the File menu, select Page Setup.
4. From the File menu select Print. You see a window like this one: Select the same printer name you chose in step 2. Select Print Settings from the list 5. Select your printer name from the Printer drop-down list. Note: Make sure you chose the same printer that you selected in step 2. 6. Select Print Settings from the list. 7.
8. You can also choose other print settings by selecting these options in the pull-down menu: ■ 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 in the printer software ■ Summary, to view a list of all your selections ■ Save Custom Setting (OS X 10.1.
Customizing Macintosh Print Settings Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x You can use advanced settings for color matching, printing at a higher resolution, or selecting a variety of special effects and layouts. 1. On the printer settings window, click Custom, then click the Custom Settings list to open it.
4. Select these advanced settings as necessary: Click here to select Photo RPM (5760 × 720) for the best print quality on certain paper types Select various print options here Select color management settings here Note: For the highest print quality, select Photo RPM. Please note that printing will take longer in this mode. For more information on advanced settings, or instructions on saving them as a group so you can reuse them later, click the ? button. 5.
Macintosh OS X You can use advanced settings for color matching, printing at a higher resolution, or selecting a variety of special effects and layouts. 1. On the printer settings window, click Custom, then click the Custom Settings list to open it. Click Custom, then choose: Economy (to save ink on plain paper) or ColorSync (to match printed colors with compatible device colors) 2. If you’re finished selecting custom settings, click Print to print your document.
4. Select these advanced settings as necessary: Click here to select Photo RPM (5760 × 720) for the best print quality on certain paper types Select various print options here To select color management settings, select Color Management from the Print Settings pull-down menu Note: For the highest print quality, select Photo RPM. Please note that printing will take longer in this mode.
Selecting the Correct Media Type Select the correct Media Type setting so your printer knows what kind of paper you’re using and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly.
Printing Borderless Photos on Cut Sheets You can print your photos with no margins, extending the image all the way to the edges of the page. Note: For instructions on printing borderless photos on roll paper, see “Loading Roll Paper” on page 14. Although borderless printing is a bit slower, you get beautiful snapshots and enlargements, without trimming, on these papers and sizes: Paper type or Media Type setting Paper name Sizes EPSON Matte Paper Heavyweight 8 × 10 Letter (8.
Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x 1. Start your photo program and open your photo file. 2. Open the File menu and click Page Setup. You see the following: 3. Select your Paper Size. 4. Choose Auto Sheet Feeder as the Paper Source. 5. Click the Borderless checkbox. Read the message and click OK. 6. Select Portrait or Landscape as the orientation setting. 7. When you have finished making page setup settings, click OK. 8. Open the File menu and click Print. 9.
Macintosh OS X 1. Start your photo program and open your photo file. 2. Open the File menu and click Page Setup. You see the following: Select Stylus Photo 900(Sheet Feeder - Borderless) 3. Select Stylus Photo 900(Sheet Feeder - Borderless) in the Format for drop-down list. Caution: When printing borderless photos, select one of the supported paper sizes listed in the table on page 43; never select a custom or unsupported paper size or ink may spray inside your printer. 4. Select your Paper Size. 5.
7. Open the File menu and click Print. You see the following: Select Stylus Photo 900(Sheet Feeder - Borderless) 8. Select Stylus Photo 900(Sheet Feeder - Borderless) in the Printer drop-down list. Note: Make sure you chose the same printer that you selected in step 3. 9. Select Print Settings from the list. 10.
Printing on CDs and Special Media Your EPSON Stylus Photo 900 gives you several options for specialized printing: ■ You can print directly on ink-jet printable CDs and DVDs using your own photos, text, and artwork. ■ You can print a series of photos on roll paper. ■ You can use the manual feed slot to print on heavy materials such as card stock and matte board up to 1.3 mm thick.
Follow the steps in these sections: ■ “Cleaning the Roller” on page 48 ■ “Designing CDs and DVDs” on page 49 ■ “Inserting a CD or DVD” on page 53 ■ “Printing Your Design” on page 56 ■ “Adjusting the Print Position” on page 57 ■ “Adjusting the Print Density” on page 59 Cleaning the Roller Before you print on CDs or DVDs, it’s a good idea to clean the roller inside the printer. You can do this by feeding and ejecting several sheets of plain paper. 1.
Designing CDs and DVDs You can use EPSON Print CD to create and print a design with images, graphics, and text. You can use your own photos or choose from a selection of photographic and abstract images included with the program. Note: EPSON Print CD software is not available for Mac OS X. The easiest way to create your own design is to start with an existing file and then personalize it for your own use. 1. Start EPSON Print CD. 2. Click the Open icon or select Open from the File menu. 3.
4. To change the background image, click the Background icon (Windows) or choose Background from the Insert menu (Macintosh). You see a window like the following: Click here to select a new background image Windows Macintosh 5. Click Select Image (Windows) or Select Background (Macintosh). You see the following: Macintosh Windows 6. Select one of the images included with the program, and click OK (Windows) or Open (Macintosh).
If you want to choose one of your own images, do one of the following: ■ Windows: Click the File tab, then click Browse to locate the folder where your images are stored and click OK. You see thumbnail images of all the files in the folder. Select your image and click OK. ■ Macintosh: Locate the folder where your images are stored, then select the one you want and click Open. 7.
8. To edit the text, do one of the following: ■ Windows: Double-click any text block on the CD image to open the text editing window. Enter your text and use the tabs to apply formatting and special effects, then click OK. ■ Macintosh: Use any of the options on the Text Settings palette. You can also use the options on the Color Settings and Object Settings palettes. Windows Click here to curve a line of text Macintosh 9.
Inserting a CD or DVD Make sure the data, music, or video is burned on your ink-jet printable CDs or DVDs before you print. Otherwise, dirt or scratches on the surface may cause errors when you burn the data. If you plan to print large numbers of CDs or DVDs, it’s a good idea to print a small sample, then wait a day and check the quality to make sure it is satisfactory.
3. Place the CD or DVD on the CD tray with the white or printable side face-up. 4. Slide the edge guide to the right to make room for the tray.
5. Insert the tray against the left side of the feeder. 6. Open the printer cover and push the tray into the printer, aligning the white line on the tray with the edges of the printer rollers. Printer rollers White line 7. Slide the edge guide against the tray.
8. Set the paper thickness lever to the position. The paper light goes out. 9. Close the printer cover. Then follow the instructions in “Printing Your Design” below to print with EPSON Print CD. Printing Your Design After you have created your design and loaded a CD or DVD, you’re ready to print. 1. Open the File menu and select Printer Settings (Windows) or Page Setup (Macintosh). 2. Make sure your EPSON Stylus Photo 900 is selected, and the Paper Source is set to Manual or Manual Feed.
3. Click OK. 4. Open the File menu and select Print, or click the screen: Windows Print button. You see this Macintosh 5. Click OK (Windows) or Print (Macintosh). Note: After you print, handle the CD or DVD carefully. To allow the ink to dry fully, wait at least 24 hours before playing the disc or inserting it in a drive. Keep printed discs away from moisture and direct sunlight. When you’re finished printing on CDs and DVDs, make sure you return the paper thickness lever to the position.
3. Follow the instructions in “Printing Your Design” on page 56 to make sure your EPSON Stylus Photo 900 is selected, and the Paper Source is set to Manual or Manual Feed. 4. Select Print from the File menu, or click the Windows Print button. You see this screen: Macintosh Select this setting 5. Select Print Position Confirmation (or Check) Pattern and click OK (Windows) or Print (Macintosh). The confirmation pattern is printed on the check disk or CD. 6.
7. Open the File menu and select Adjust Print Position. You see this screen: Macintosh Windows Enter measurements here 8. Make sure Enter Values or Value Entry is checked, then input the A distance in the Height (Top) or Top Space box. Enter the B distance in the Width (Right) or Right Space box. 9. Click OK to save the measurements to the EPSON Print CD program. Adjusting the Print Density If ink smears on your printed CDs or DVDs, you may need to adjust the color saturation or ink density.
4. Select Print from the File menu, or click the Print button. You see this screen: Macintosh Windows Select this setting 5. Select Print Density Confirmation (or Check) Pattern and click OK (Windows) or Print (Macintosh). 6. After the pattern is printed, examine the printed CD or DVD and make the Print Color Correction (or Color Correction) setting lighter or darker as necessary. You can print three density patterns on one disc. Each pattern is printed in a different location.
Printing on Roll Paper Before you print on roll paper, make sure the paper is loaded correctly, as described in “Loading Roll Paper” on page 14. Follow the steps in the next sections to select your roll paper settings in Windows or Macintosh. ■ “Windows” below ■ “Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x” on page 63 ■ “Macintosh OS X” on page 64 ■ “Removing Your Photos and Paper” on page 67 Windows 1. Open your photo file and resize it as necessary. 2. Open the File menu and click Print. 3.
5. Choose Roll as the paper Source. The Roll Paper Options window pops up, as shown above. 6. Select one of the following Roll Paper Options: ■ Banner Mode: Makes multi-page documents print as one large page. When the Save roll paper option is checked, the printer stops printing after the last word or image is printed. ■ Cut Sheet Mode: Prints multi-page documents as individual pages. When the Print page frame option is checked, the printer prints a dashed line between each page. 7.
Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x 1. Open your photo file and resize it as necessary. 2. Open the file menu and select Page Setup. You see this screen: 3. Select the photo size as the Paper Size. 4. Choose Roll Paper as the Paper Source. 5. Click Borderless if you want to print borderless photos. 6. Select one of the following Roll Paper Options: ■ Banner Mode: Makes multi-page documents print as one large page.
10. Select Quality (for higher print quality) or Speed (for faster printing) using the slider. 11. Click Print. After your photos are printed, see “Removing Your Photos and Paper” on page 67. Macintosh OS X 1. Open your photo file and resize it as necessary. 2. Open the File menu and select Page Setup. You see this screen: Select your printer name from the list 3. Select Stylus Photo 900(Roll Paper) in the Format for drop-down list.
6. Open the File menu and select Print. Select the same printer name you chose in step 3 7. Select Stylus Photo 900(Roll Paper) from the Printer drop-down list. If you selected a different Roll Paper option, make sure you select the same one as you chose in step 3. Note: Make sure you chose the same printer that you selected in step 3. 8. Select Roll Paper Options from the drop down list.
9. Choose one of the following, depending on the Roll Paper setting you selected: ■ Banner Mode: Makes multi-page documents print as one large page. When the Save roll paper option is checked, the printer stops printing after the last word or image is printed. ■ Cut Sheet Mode: Prints multi-page documents as individual pages. When the Print page frame option is checked, the printer prints a dashed line between each page. 10. Select Print Settings from the list. 11.
Removing Your Photos and Paper After your photos are printed, you can either send another print job or cut off the photos and remove the paper from the printer. 1. Press the roll paper button to print a cutting line. The printer feeds the paper to the cutting position. 2. Cut the paper along the dotted line, being careful not to pull the paper as you cut it. 3. When you’re finished printing on roll paper, you need to “unload it” from the printer. Press and hold the roll paper button for three seconds.
4. Turn the knobs to roll the rest of the paper onto the holder. Then press the roll paper button to turn off the red paper light. 5. Pull the roll paper holder out of its mounting slots and remove the roll paper from the holder. 6. Return the unused roll to its original package. Store your printouts in resealable plastic bags, photo albums, or glass-covered picture frames. Keep both printed and unused roll paper away from high temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight.
Printing on Card Stock or Matte Board You can use the manual feed slot in the back of the printer to print on white card stock or matte board up to 1.3 mm (0.051 inch or 51 mil) thick, in the following sizes: letter, legal, or A4 size. Before you start, remove the paper support. Then turn the printer on. (The printer must be on to load card stock correctly.) 1. Push in the output tray extension, but leave the tray open. 2. Set the paper thickness lever to the rapidly. position.
4. Open the printer cover and place a sheet of card stock against the left side of the manual feed slot, with the side you want to print on facing up. 5. Slide the card stock into the printer until the leading edge is 1 cm (0.4 inches) from the gray rollers. Printer rollers 1 cm 6. Slide the edge guide against the card stock.
7. Set the paper thickness lever to the position. (If the print quality is not satisfactory, try setting the paper thickness lever to the position for the next print.) If you’re using the manual feed slot to print on paper rather than card stock, set the paper thickness lever to the position. 8. Close the printer cover and press the printer. button to feed the card stock into the Note: If the paper light flashes, make sure the paper thickness lever is set correctly, then press the button again. 9.
Printing on CDs and Special Media
Maintaining Your Printer Follow the instructions in this chapter to keep your printer working at its best and to prepare it for moving, if necessary: ■ “Cleaning the Print Head” below ■ “Replacing an Ink Cartridge” on page 76 ■ “Aligning the Print Head” on page 81 ■ “Cleaning the Printer” on page 84 ■ “Transporting the Printer” on page 85 For more details, see your on-screen User’s Guide.
Running the Head Cleaning Utility 1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the red ink light is off. (If the ink light is flashing or on, you need to replace a cartridge; see page 76 for details.) 2. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar (in the lower right corner of your screen). Select Head Cleaning. Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x: Open the File menu and choose Page Setup or Print. Click the Utility button, then click the Head Cleaning button.
The nozzle check pattern prints (see “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” below for details). 5. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps or white 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, refer to “Problems and Solutions” on page 94. 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.
Replacing an Ink Cartridge ■ When the red ink light flashes, one or more ink cartridges are low on ink. ■ When the red ink light stays on, you need to replace the cartridge(s). When you print, you’ll also see a message on your screen telling you which cartridge is low or empty. When a cartridge is more than six months old, you may need to replace it if printouts don’t look their best.
You see a window like this: 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: Ink cartridge Part number Black T007201 Color T009201 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.
Ink Cartridge Precautions Warning: Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. 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 an ink cartridge is empty. Even though you have a second black cartridge, you cannot print if one is empty. Leave the empty cartridge installed in the printer until you have obtained a replacement.
The red light also begins to flash or remains on. ■ If it flashes at the same speed as the green ■ If it flashes twice as fast as the green ■ If it remains on, replace both cartridges. light, replace the black cartridge. light, replace the color ink cartridge. Note: You can also use the Status Monitor to find out which cartridge is out of ink. See “Checking the Ink Supply” on page 76 for more information. The color cartridge is on the right and the black is on the left. 3.
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. 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. Close the printer cover and press the the ink delivery system. 80 Maintaining Your Printer ink button.
The green power light flashes and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about half a minute. When it’s finished, the green power light stops flashing and stays on, and the red light goes out. Caution: Never turn off the printer while the green power light is flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes. Aligning the Print Head If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, or you see light or dark horizontal banding, you may need to align the print head. 1.
5. On the test 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 through 3. Enter the number of the best pattern for each row in the corresponding boxes on the screen. Then click Next. If you can’t find an aligned pattern, choose the one that’s closest to being aligned. Then click Realignment to print another test page and repeat this step. 6.
8. After it prints, remove and reload the test page as shown, with pattern row #1 on the right. 9. Click Print again to print the second test pattern. 10. On the test page, select a box for columns 1 and 2 that does not contain any light or dark banding.
11. Enter the number of the best looking box in each column in the corresponding boxes on the screen and click Finish. If you can’t find a box that doesn’t contain banding, choose the one that looks the best. Then click Realignment to print another test page and repeat steps 6 through 11. 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 cable. 2.
4. If ink accidentally gets inside the printer, wipe it off with a damp cloth. Clean here Warning: Don’t touch the gears or any other parts inside the printer. Caution: Never use a hard or abrasive brush, or benzine, 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.
4. Open the printer cover. Secure the ink cartridge holder with the plastic insert that came with your printer (or secure it to the case with tape). Plastic insert Caution: Be sure to remove the insert after installing the printer in its new location. 5. Close the printer cover, push in the output tray extension, then close the output 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.
Installing Your Printer Software Before you install your printer software, follow the steps on the Start Here sheet to set up your printer and connect it to your computer. If you’re using Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Macintosh OS X, follow the software installation instructions on the Start Here sheet. If you’re using Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x, follow the instructions in this chapter to install your printer software. Installing Printer Software on Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.
6. After your Macintosh restarts, register your printer with EPSON as instructed. 7. Open the Chooser from the Apple menu. 8. Select SP 900 and select your USB port. 9. Turn on background printing, then close the Chooser. Follow the instructions in the next section to finish the installation. Installing Optional Software 1. Double-click the EPSON CD-ROM icon then click the EPSON OS 8 and 9 Installer icon in the window that opens. 2.
Solving Problems See “Diagnosing Printer Problems” on page 91 to help determine what the cause of your printer problem may be.
Printer Parts Paper support Sheet feeder Edge guide Roll paper button Ink button Output tray Power button Paper button Output tray extension Printer cover Roll paper holders Paper thickness lever USB interface Parallel interface Manual feed slot Manual feed edge guide 90 Solving Problems
Diagnosing Printer Problems First, check the printer’s lights (see below) or run a printer check (see page 92). Lights Explanation Green flashes power light The printer is receiving a print job, replacing an ink cartridge, charging ink, or cleaning the print head. Red paper light on Your paper ran out. Load more paper and press the button. Red paper light flashes Paper is jammed in the printer. paper Press the paper button to eject the jammed paper.
Lights Explanation Green power light is off; Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off red paper and red ink the printer, then open the cover and remove any jammed paper lights flashing alternately or other foreign objects. Turn the printer back on again. If the lights are still on, contact your dealer or EPSON as described in “Where To Get Help” on page 103. Green power light is off; The printer may have an internal error.
■ If the test page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, interface cable, or computer, or your software may not be installed correctly. ■ If the test page doesn’t print, you may have a problem with your printer. Try the suggestions in “Problems and Solutions” on page 94. If nothing works, contact your dealer or EPSON as described in “Where To Get Help” on page 103. 5. Turn off the printer, reconnect the interface cable, then turn on your printer and computer.
Problems and Solutions Setup and Software Installation Problems The printer makes noise after ink cartridge installation. ■ ■ When you install ink cartridges, the printer must charge its print head for a minute or so. Wait until it’s finished (the green 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 cartridges are inserted completely and no packing material remains in the printer.
Printer Problems Only the green power light is on, but nothing prints. ■ ■ ■ Make sure the interface cable is securely connected at both ends and meets the system requirements; see page 105. Run a printer check as described on page 92. If the test page prints, make sure your software is installed correctly. If you’re printing on a network, make sure you set up your printer for network printing, as described in “Setting Up Network Printing” in your on-screen User’s Guide.
Quality Problems ■ Try using Automatic mode (Macintosh only); See “Printing on a Macintosh” on page 31 for instructions. ■ Align the print head as described on page 81. ■ Make sure Maximum (Windows), Minimize Margins (Macintosh 8.6 to 9.x), or Stylus Photo You see banding (light lines). 900(Standard - Minimize Margins) (Macintosh OS X) is 96 ■ Clean the print head nozzles; see page 73 for instructions.
■ Use EPSON papers for proper saturation and ink absorption. ■ Check the paper thickness lever. Set it to for most papers and for envelopes; for CDs or DVDs, see page 53 or for heavy stock, see page 69. ■ Align the print head as described on page 81. ■ Make sure your paper isn’t damaged, old, dirty, or loaded face down. If it is, load new paper, face up. For best results, use genuine EPSON paper. Your printout is grainy.
■ Try using Automatic mode (Macintosh only). See “Printing on a Macintosh” on page 31 for instructions. ■ ■ Try changing the Gamma setting. See “Customizing Windows Print Settings” on page 25 or “Customizing Macintosh Print Settings” on page 38 to access the Advanced settings. Paper sheets don’t feed correctly or jam in the printer. ■ Your printed colors can never exactly match your on-screen colors.
Roll paper doesn’t feed correctly or jams in the printer. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Cut the end of the paper straight across. If it’s cut diagonally, the paper won’t feed smoothly. If the roll paper end is curled, place the end inside a folded sheet of paper and roll it backwards against the curl. As you load the paper, gently hold it in the roll paper feeder with your hand; don’t force the paper into the feeder. Select Roll or Roll Paper as the Source or Paper Source in your print settings.
Miscellaneous Problems ■ Make sure your printer is selected in the Print window (Windows), is the active printer in the Chooser (Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x), or is selected in the Format for drop-down list on the Page Setup window and Printer drop-down list on the Print window (Macintosh OS X). ■ If you’re using a switch box or USB hub with your printer, connect the printer directly to your computer instead. The image is inverted, as if viewed in a mirror.
■ If you’re using the manual feed slot, make sure the card stock is loaded as described on page 69. ■ Make sure the Borderless option is set correctly for your margins; see page 28 or page 43 or “Printing on Roll Paper” on page 61. Too many copies are printing. Make sure that the Copies option in your printer software or program is not set for multiple copies. Image size/position is incorrect. ■ Make sure the paper and layout options are set correctly.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling Printer Software You may need to uninstall then reinstall your printer driver and utilities if, for example, you upgrade your Windows operating system. You don’t need to uninstall your other photo software, CD printing software, or the EPSON Printer Information Center. Windows 1. Click Start, and select Programs or All Programs. 2. Point to Epson or EPSON Printers, then select EPSON Printer Software Uninstall. 3. In the next window, select EPSON Stylus Photo 900 and click OK.
Macintosh OS X 1. Open the Applications folder, then the Utilities folder. 2. Select Print Center, hold down the key and select all items labeled Stylus Photo 900, then click the Delete button. 3. Restart your Macintosh, then see the Start Here sheet to reinstall your software.
■ Computer configuration and operating system version ■ Description of the problem You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from the EPSON Store at (800) 873-7766 or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.
Requirements and Notices Windows System Requirements To use your printer and its software, your system should have: ■ A Microsoft Windows compatible PC with a Pentium® II 266 MHz processor or better ■ Microsoft Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP ■ 128MB or more of RAM recommended ■ 200MB or more free hard disk space recommended ■ VGA or better display adapter and monitor ■ CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the printer software ■ USB connection: a Windows-compliant USB port and a shielded USB “AB” ca
Important Safety Instructions Before using your printer, read these safety instructions to make sure you use it safely and effectively: ■ Be sure to follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer. ■ Use only the type of power source indicated on the printer’s label. ■ Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off.
Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions ■ Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. ■ Be careful when you handle used ink cartridges; there may be ink remaining around the ink supply port. If ink gets on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water. ■ Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch a cartridge during printing. ■ Do not move the print head by hand. You may damage the printer.
FCC Compliance Statement For United States Users This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception.
Declaration of Conformity According to 47CFR, Part 2 and 15 for Class B Personal Computers and Peripherals; and/or CPU Boards and Power Supplies used with Class B Personal Computers: We: EPSON AMERICA, INC. Located at: MS: 3-13 3840 Kilroy Airport Way Long Beach, CA 90806 Telephone: (562) 290-5254 Declare under sole responsibility that the product identified herein, complies with 47CFR Part 2 and 15 of the FCC rules as a Class B digital device.
Epson America, Inc. Limited Warranty What Is Covered: Epson America, Inc. (“EPSON”) warrants to the first retail purchaser that the EPSON printer covered by this limited warranty statement, if purchased and used in the United States or Canada, conforms to the manufacturer’s specifications and will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase.
THE WARRANTY AND REMEDY PROVIDED ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES. IF THESE LAWS APPLY, THEN ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNLESS STATED HEREIN, ANY STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY ANY OTHER PERSON OR FIRM ARE VOID.
Requirements and Notices
Index A C Accessories, ordering, 104 Adobe Photoshop, P.I.M II plug-in for, 8 Advanced settings Macintosh, 38 to 41 Windows, 25 to 26 Aligning print head, 81 to 84 Animations Print Show, 8 Animations, Print Show, 10 to 11 Automatic mode Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x, 32 to 33 Macintosh OS X, 36 Cable, printer, 105 Cancelling printing Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.
D H Declaration of Conformity, 109 Default settings, Windows, 24 Documentation, 9 to 11 Double-Sided Matte Paper, 19, 27, 42 Head Cleaning utility, 74 to 75 Heavy stock, printing on, 69 to 71 Help EPSON, 103 to 104 High Speed setting, 95, 96 E ECP/DMA mode, 95 Electronic manual, 9 to 11 Energy Star compliance, 109 Envelopes, 17 to 18 EPSON accessories, 104 Film Factory, 8 help, 103 to 104 Monitor IV, 34 papers, 19, 27, 42 PhotoCenter, 8 Print CD, 8, 49 to 52, 56 to 60 Printer Information Center, 8, 10 t
L O Layout problems, 101 Layout settings Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x, 33 Macintosh OS X, 37 Windows, 26 Letterhead, 14 Lights, 91 to 92 Luster Photo Paper, 14, 19, 27, 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 46, 62, 63, 66 Orientation setting envelopes, 18 Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x, 44 Macintosh OS X, 45 Windows, 23, 29 M Macintosh basic printing, OS 8.6 to 9.
Premium Bright White Paper, 19, 27, 42 Premium Glossy Photo Paper, 19, 27, 42 Premium Luster Photo Paper, 19, 27, 42 Premium Semigloss Photo Paper, 19, 27, 42 Preprinted paper, 14 Previewing printout, 33 Print CD software, 8, 49 to 52, 56 to 60 Print Center, Macintosh OS X, 35, 37 Print head aligning, 81 to 84 cleaning, 73 to 75 Print Head Alignment utility, 81 to 84 PRINT Image Matching description, 8 Print Image Matching plug-in for Photoshop, 8 Print position check disk, 57 to 59 Print Quality problems,
Software installation problems, solving, 94 installing, 87 to 88 photo, 8 Print CD, 8, 49 to 52, 56 to 60 reinstalling, 102 to 103 uninstalling, 102 to 103 SoundAdvice, 103 Stickers, 19, 27, 42 Support, 103 to 104 System requirements, 105 W Warranty, 110 to 111 Watermark, 26, 33 Windows basic printing, 22 to 24 default settings, 24 system requirements, 105 uninstalling software, 102 T Technical support, 103 to 104 Testing printer, 92 to 93 Thick paper, 69 to 71, 98 Thickness lever, paper, 18, 53 to 56, 69
Index
EPSON Ink Jet Papers and Ink Cartridges Use EPSON® paper and inks to get the same photo quality results that have earned EPSON’s printers all of their awards! EPSON papers are specially coated to work with EPSON genuine inks. Here are details about just a few of EPSON’s papers, your printer’s ink cartridges, and EPSON project ideas: Premium Glossy Photo Paper Water-resistant, photographic-weight paper with a high gloss finish.
How To Order EPSON Ink and Paper To order EPSON ink cartridges, paper, and other printing media, contact your dealer or call the EPSON Store at (800) 873-7766 or visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral. EPSON Ink Cartridges Ink Cartridge Part number Black T007201 Color T009201 EPSON Papers Paper name* Size EPSON Premium Bright White Paper Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) S041586 EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper Letter (8.
