Printed on recycled paper.
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! 1 About Your Software About Your Documentation Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips Windows System Requirements Important Safety Instructions Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions 1 3 3 4 5 6 VIEWING YOUR ELECTRONIC PRINTER MANUAL 7 Accessing Your Electronic Printer Manual Navigating Your Electronic Printer Manual 7 8 PRINTING FROM START TO FINISH 9 Basic Printing Loading Paper Opening the Printer Software Selecting Printer Software Settings Controlling Printing Using PhotoEnhance, Cu
MAINTAINING YOUR PRINTER 21 Cleaning the Print Head Printing a Nozzle Check Using the Head Cleaning Utility Aligning the Print Head Replacing an Ink Cartridge Ink Cartridge Precautions Replacing a Low or Empty Ink Cartridge Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge Cleaning the Printer Transporting the Printer 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 PROBLEM SOLVING 31 Identifying Printer Parts Problems and Solutions Problems Setting Up the Printer or Installing Software Problems with Printing Problems Getting Good Pr
Welcome! Your EPSON Stylus® COLOR 480SX is a user-friendly, photo quality printer that’s perfect for printing all your home projects—from homework assignments and envelopes to full-color greeting cards and banners.
■ Your bonus software: ArcSoft™ PhotoPrinter™ 2000 A photo layout program that lets you print your images in creative formats, such as multiple photo montages, framed or bordered pictures, and calendars. Using a variety of templates, you can print your photos almost any way you can think of. ArcSoft PhotoFantasy™ 2000 Lets you create “photo fantasies” by combining your personal photos with a wide selection of hilarious fantasy backgrounds.
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, and instructions on: ■ Viewing your electronic printer manual ■ Printing with Windows® ■ Using special papers ■ Maintaining the printer ■ Solving basic problems You’ll find your product warranty on page 48. For more details about printing with, maintaining, or troubleshooting your printer, see your electronic Reference Guide.
Windows System Requirements To use your printer and its software, your system should have: ■ An IBM® compatible PC with at least a 486/66 MHz (for Windows 98), Pentium® 133 MHz (for Windows 2000), or 486/25 MHz (for Windows 95 or Windows NT® 4.0) processor (Pentium or higher processor recommended) ■ Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 ■ At least 16MB (for Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0) or 32MB (for Windows 2000) of RAM (32MB for Windows 95 or 98, or 64MB for Windows NT 4.
Important Safety Instructions Before using your printer, read the following safety instructions to make sure you use the printer 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.
■ Unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer. ■ Except as specifically explained in this manual, do not attempt to service the printer yourself. ■ Unplug the printer and refer to your warranty on page 48 for service instructions. Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions ■ Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children and do not drink the ink. ■ Under normal circumstances, ink will not come out of the cartridge.
Viewing Your Electronic Printer Manual Your printer software CD-ROM includes an electronic Reference Guide for your printer. The manual is in HTML format, so you need a browser—such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, version 3.0 or later—to view it. If you are using a different browser, the pages may not display correctly. (A browser is not included on the printer software CD-ROM.
Navigating Your Electronic Printer Manual When you first open the Reference Guide, you see this screen: Click here to expand the table of contents Click a topic on the left to expand the table of contents. After expanding the table of contents, you can click on the topic you want to view. If there’s a right arrow , click it to view subtopics, then click on a topic to go to it. Click the down arrow to close a subtopic list.
Printing from Start to Finish Here’s what to do to print a basic document—such as a memo, newsletter, or photograph—from loading the paper to selecting print settings to controlling the print job. Follow the instructions in “Basic Printing” below. If you’re already familiar with EPSON ink jet printing, you can skip ahead to “Using PhotoEnhance, Custom, and Advanced Settings” on page 14. For instructions on using special papers—such as EPSON Photo Paper or envelopes—see page 16.
Keep the following in mind when loading paper: ■ Load the printable side face up. It’s usually 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. If you’re printing on envelopes or other special paper sizes or types, see page 16 for loading instructions.
Make the following selections on the Print dialog box: ■ Make sure EPSON Stylus COLOR 480 is selected. ■ Click the Properties button. (If you see a Setup, Printer, or Options button, click it. Then click Properties on the next screen.) If you click the print icon on your application’s tool bar instead of selecting Print from the File menu, you may not get the option to change the printer software settings before printing.
Make the following settings on the Properties dialog box: ■ Choose the paper you’re printing on (click the arrow to scroll through the Media Type list). If you’re not sure which setting to select, see page 19. ■ Set the Ink option to Color to print a color document. To print a black text document, click Black. ■ Set the Mode option to Automatic. It’s the easiest way to get good printing results on all types of paper.
Controlling Printing At the Print dialog box, click OK (or maybe Print) to start printing. Click to start printing After a moment, the Progress Meter appears and shows the progress of your print job. You can use the buttons to cancel, pause, or restart printing. You can also see how much ink you have left and view printing tips. Click to cancel printing Click to pause or resume printing Does not appear if you are printing over a network For more advanced printer settings, see the next section.
Using PhotoEnhance, Custom, and Advanced Settings When you’re printing special projects, you can customize your printer software settings, as described in these sections: ■ “Using PhotoEnhance” below ■ “Using Custom Settings” on page 15 ■ “Using Advanced Settings” on page 15 For additional information on these settings, see the electronic Reference Guide, as described on page 7.
Using Custom Settings Your printer software includes custom project types with preset printing options. This lets you quickly select a color-matching method for your project. You can select from these project types: (Image Color Matching; Windows 95, 98, and 2000 only): For printing documents created in an ICM compatible application.
Using Special Papers How can you get the best-looking photos, most vivid colors, and sharpest text? Always use EPSON’s special ink jet papers. Instructions for printing on EPSON Photo Paper and on envelopes are given in the following sections. For instructions on loading and using other EPSON special ink jet papers, see your electronic Reference Guide, as described on page 7. For a list of EPSON special ink jet papers and ordering information, see the inside front cover.
4 × 6-inch Photo Paper EPSON 4 × 6-inch Photo Paper is micro-perforated around the edges so you can trim your printouts and “bleed” the photo—extend it to the edge of the paper— on all sides. 1. Load the paper against the right edge of the sheet feeder with the glossy side facing up and the perforated margins positioned as shown. Then slide the left edge guide against the paper. large margin on top Place the included support sheets A and B beneath the paper.
Panoramic Photo Paper 1. Load one sheet of Panoramic paper, glossy side up. Support the paper as it feeds into the printer Support the paper as it ejects from the printer so it doesn’t fall onto the floor 2. Choose Photo Paper as the Media Type setting and Panoramic 210 × 594 mm as the Paper Size setting in your printer software. 3. Send your print job, then hold up the paper’s top edge as it begins feeding into the printer. Also support the paper as it ejects from the printer.
Selecting the Correct Media Type Your printer automatically adjusts itself for the type of paper you select in your printer software. That’s why the 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 Media Type settings you should choose for your paper: For this paper . . . Select this Media Type . . .
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Maintaining Your Printer This section describes maintenance procedures to keep your printer working at its best and preparation steps for moving your printer. Follow the instructions here for: ■ Cleaning the print head (below) ■ Aligning the print head (on page 24) ■ Replacing an ink cartridge (on page 25) ■ Cleaning the printer (on page 29) ■ Transporting the printer (on page 30) For more details, see your electronic Reference Guide, as described on page 7.
Printing a Nozzle Check Follow these steps to run the Nozzle Check utility: 1. Make sure the printer is plugged in but not printing. 2. Right-click the Status Monitor 3 icon on your Windows taskbar, then select Nozzle Check in the menu that appears. You see this window: To right-click, place your cursor on the click the right mouse button. Status Monitor 3 icon and If you have an application running, you can also run the utility by accessing the printer settings dialog box as described on page 10.
Using the Head Cleaning Utility Follow these steps to run the Head Cleaning utility: 1. Make sure the printer is plugged in but not printing. 2. Right-click the Status Monitor 3 icon on your Windows taskbar, then select Head Cleaning in the menu that appears. You see this window: To right-click, place your cursor on the click the right mouse button.
If any dots are missing, click Clean and follow the instructions on the screen to clean the print head again. If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning three or four times, check the solutions in “Problems Getting Good Print Quality” on page 36. 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. Aligning the Print Head If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may need to align the print head.
3. Click Next to print an alignment page. You see this window: 4. On the printed page, select the pattern that shows the two vertical lines most precisely printed on top of each other. 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 and click Finish. If there isn’t a precisely aligned pattern, enter the numbers of the best aligned patterns in each row and click Realignment.
Use these EPSON ink cartridges within six months of installing them and before the expiration date on the package: ■ Black ink cartridge: T013201 (U.S. and Latin America) T013311 (Canada) ■ Color ink cartridge: T014201 (U.S. and Latin America) T014311 (Canada) 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.
Replacing a Low or Empty Ink Cartridge When Status Monitor 3 indicates that ink levels are low or you’re out of ink, you see one of these windows: Ink low Ink out Before you begin, make sure you have a new ink cartridge and have read the ink cartridge precautions above. Once you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must complete all the steps in one session. 1. Click the How to button. 2. Follow the instructions on the screen to replace the ink cartridge. 3.
Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge If you need to replace an ink cartridge before you see a Status Monitor 3 message, follow the steps here to use the Ink Cartridge Replacement utility. Before you begin, make sure you’ve read the ink cartridge precautions on page 26. You can only access the Ink Cartridge Replacement utility from the Windows Printers utility, as described in the steps below. You can’t run the utility from within a Windows application. 1.
Cleaning the Printer To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it several times a year. Follow these steps: 1. Unplug the printer’s power cord and disconnect the printer cable. 2. Remove all the paper 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 gears inside the printer.
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. Follow these steps: To avoid damage, always leave the ink cartridges installed when transporting the printer. Be sure to remove the tape used in step 4 after installing the printer in its new location. 1. Plug in the printer, wait until the print head locks in the far right position, then unplug the printer. 2.
Problem Solving Because your printer constantly monitors its status, it will report to you if it has a problem such as jammed paper or low ink levels. It does this by displaying an EPSON Status Monitor 3 window on your screen telling you what the problem is and guiding you through the solution steps. If you see a status monitor window, follow the on-screen instructions. If that doesn’t solve the problem, check “Problems and Solutions” beginning on page 33 for additional steps.
Identifying Printer Parts If you need help identifying the parts of the printer, refer to these illustrations: paper support sheet feeder left edge guide printer cover output tray ink cartridge holders (do not remove) 32 ink cartridge clamps
Problems and Solutions Here are some basic troubleshooting tips if you have any problems setting up your printer, installing software, getting good print quality, feeding paper, or other miscellaneous problems. For additional tips, see your electronic Reference Guide as described on page 7. Problems Setting Up the Printer or Installing Software The printer started making noise after ink cartridge installation.
Problems with Printing The printer is plugged in and connected, but nothing prints. If your computer can’t send the print job successfully, you may see a communication error window on your screen. Click the Stop button, then try the following: ■ Make sure the printer cable is connected securely and that the cable meets the system requirements on page 4. If the cable doesn’t meet the specifications or is inoperable, try a different cable. ■ The printer may not be receiving power.
Printing is too slow. Make sure your system meets the requirements listed on page 4. If you’re printing a high-resolution image, you need more than the minimum requirements listed. You may also need to: ■ Clear space on your hard disk or run a defragmentation utility. ■ Close open applications that you’re not using. ■ Increase your system’s memory (RAM). For the fastest printing, try the following: ■ Choose Black ink if your document doesn’t include color. ■ Set the Quality/Speed slider to Speed.
Problems Getting Good Print Quality You see banding. ■ Make sure the print head nozzles are not clogged. To clean the print head, see page 21. ■ Make sure the Media Type setting matches the paper you loaded. See page 19 for guidelines. ■ Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up. It is usually whiter or shinier. ■ If you’re low on ink, you’ll see a low ink error window. Click How To and follow the on-screen instructions to install a new cartridge.
Your printout is faint or has gaps in the image. ■ Make sure the print head nozzles are not clogged. To clean the print head, see page 21. ■ If you’re low on ink, you’ll see a low ink error window. Click How To and follow the on-screen instructions to install a new cartridge. If you don’t see an error window, a cartridge may be more than six months old; to replace it, see page 28. ■ Make sure the Media Type setting matches the paper you loaded. See page 19 for guidelines.
You see incorrect characters. ■ Make sure the printer cable is securely connected and that the cable meets the system requirements on page 4. ■ Make sure your printer is selected in your application or as the Windows default printer. ■ If you’re using a switch box with your printer, connect the printer directly to your computer and try printing again. Your printout is grainy. ■ Try using a higher quality paper. ■ Set the Quality/Speed slider to Quality in your printer software; see page 11.
Paper doesn’t feed. You may see a paper not loaded correctly error window on your screen. Remove the stack of paper from the sheet feeder. Then check that the paper: ■ Isn’t curled or creased ■ Isn’t too old ■ Isn’t loaded above the arrow on the left edge guide ■ Isn’t jammed inside the printer. Then reload the paper, making sure the left edge guide doesn’t fit it too tightly. If you see an error window on your screen, click Continue to resume printing. Paper jams inside the printer.
Solving Miscellaneous Printout Problems The margins are incorrect. ■ Make sure the paper settings in your printer software are correct for your paper size. See the electronic Reference Guide for instructions. ■ Check your software documentation for instructions on selecting the correct margins for your paper size. The margins must be within the printable area of the page, as described in “Specifications” in your electronic Reference Guide. The image size or position is incorrect.
4. If your printer is connected to your computer’s USB port, click EPSON USB Printer Devices in the program list; then click Add/Remove or Change/ Remove again. 5. Restart your computer, then follow the instructions on the Start Here sheet to reinstall your software. (You won’t need to reinstall your bonus software or electronic manual.) Where To Get Help If you need help with your printer or its software, see the contact information below.
To speak to a technical support representative, dial one of the numbers below from 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Toll or long distance charges may apply. ■ U.S.: (562) 276-7580 ■ Canada: (905) 709-2567 EPSON Accessories You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, manuals, and accessories from EPSON at (800) 873-7766 or visit our web site at www.epson.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 873-7766 for dealer referral.
Index Numerics D 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper, 19 4 x 6-inch Photo Paper, 16 to 17 Default settings, 12 Digital Camera Correction setting, 14 Documentation, 3, 7 to 8 A E Accessories, 26, 42 Advanced settings, 15 Aligning print head, 24 to 25, 36 Automatic mode, 11 to 12 Electronic manual, 1, 7 to 8 Empty ink cartridge, 27 Envelopes, 18 EPSON accessories, 26, 42 help, 41 to 42 papers, 16 to 19 B Banding, 18, 36 Basic printing, 9 to 13 Blank pages, 40 Blurry images, 36 Bonus software, 2 Browser, 7 F Faint
I O ICM (Image Color Matching) setting, 15 Incorrect characters, 38 Incorrect colors, 37 Ink cartridge ordering, 26 replacing low or empty, 27 replacing outdated, 28 safety instructions, 6, 26 Ink Jet Transparencies, 19 Ink level, 13, 25 to 27 Ink setting, 11 to 12, 37 Inverted image, 40 Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper, 19, 40 Outdated ink cartridges, 28 P Panoramic Photo Paper, 16, 18 Paper EPSON, 16 to 19 feeding problems, 38 to 39 loading, 9 to 10, 16 to 18 size, 13 Photo Paper, 16 to 19 Photo Quali
T Problems installing software, 33 miscellaneous, 40 paper feeding, 38 to 39 print quality, 36 to 38 printing, 34 to 35 setting up printer, 33 Progress Meter, 13 Project types, custom, 15 Properties dialog box, 11 to 12 Technical support, 41 to 42 Transfer Paper, Iron-On Cool Peel, 19, 40 Transparencies, 19 Transporting printer, 30 Troubleshooting, 31 to 42 U Reference Guide, 1, 7 to 8 Reinstalling software, 40 to 41 Uninstalling software, 40 USB, 4, 41 Utilities Head Cleaning, 21 to 24 Ink Cartridge R
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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.
EPSON AMERICA, INC. LIMITED WARRANTY What is Covered: Epson America, Inc. (“Epson”) warrants to the first end-user customer 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 ninety (90) days from the date of original purchase.
How To Order EPSON Ink and Paper To order EPSON ink cartridges and paper, contact your dealer or call EPSON at (800) 873-7766 or visit our web site at www.epson.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call (800) 873-7766 for dealer referral. Ink Cartridges: Black T013201 (U.S. and Latin America) or T013311 (Canada) Color T014201 (U.S. and Latin America) or T014311 (Canada) EPSON Papers: Paper name Size Part number EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) A4 (8.3 x 11.
