Epson 1270 Service Manual

Color Ink Jet Printer

Daily Use

4011290

XXX-00

Where to Find Information

Setup Guide

This guide will help you set up and begin using your printer.

❏

It includes information on setting up your printer and
installing the printer software.

Daily Use Guide

This guide provides information on daily printer operation.

❏

It also contains troubleshooting tips and customer support
information.

Online Guides included on the CD-ROM

The guides on the CD-ROM included with your printer will help
you learn more about your printer and color printing. To view
these guides, you must have a Web browser installed on your
computer. For more information on using this CD-ROM, see the
included

CD-ROM Booklet

.

❏ Reference Guide

❏ Color Guide

Provides detailed information about
printer software settings, printing on
special paper, maintenance, and problem
solving.

Includes sample images, explanations and
troubleshooting information that will help
answer your questions about color imaging
and printing.

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 the 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 CO RPORATION shall not be liable for any damages or problems arisin g 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.

SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from
electromagnetic interference that occurs from the use of any interface cables other than those
designated as EPSON Approved Products by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION.

EPSON is a registered trademark and EPSON Stylus is a trademark of SEIKO EPSON
CORPORATION.

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

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.

Copyright © 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.

ii

Contents

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

A Few Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

For United Kingdom Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Printer Parts and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Loading Special Paper, Envelopes, and Other Media 9

Loading Special Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Loading Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Printing with Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Making Changes to Printer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Previewing your printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Getting Information Through Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Printing with Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Making Changes to Printer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Previewing your printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Checking the Print Head Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Aligning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

iii

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Correcting USB Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Typical Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Cancelling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

iv

Safety Instructions

Important Safety Instructions

Read all of these instructions before using your printer. Also be
sure to follow all warnings and instructions marked on the
printer.

Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet.

❏

Do not insert objects through the slots.

Take care not to spill liquid 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.

Avoid electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or

❏

automatic timers.

Keep the entire computer system away from potential sources

❏

of electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the
base units of cordless telephones.

Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord.

❏

If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the

❏

total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the extension
cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make
sure the total ampere rating of all devices plugged into the
wall outlet does not exceed the wall outlet’s ampere rating.

Do not attempt to service the printer yourself.

❏

1

Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service

❏

personnel under the following conditions:

The power cord or plug is damaged; liquid has entered the
printer; the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged;
the printer does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct
change in performance.

If you use the printer in Germany, observe the following:

❏

To provide adequate short-circuit protection and over­current protection for this printer, the building installation
must be protected by a 16 Amp circuit breaker.

Bei Anschluß des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muß
sichergestellt werden, daß die Gebäudeinstallation mit einem
16 A-Überstromschalter abgesichert ist.

A Few Precautions

When using the printer

2

Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch the ink

❏

cartridges during printing.

Do not move the print head by hand; otherwise, you may

❏

damage the printer.

Always turn the printer off using the

❏

this button is pressed, the
goes off. Do not unplug the printer or turn off the power to
the outlet until the

Before transporting the printer, make sure the print head is in

❏

the home (far right) position and the ink cartridges are in
place.

power light stops flashing.

P

power light flashes briefly then

P

power button. When

P

When handling the ink cartridges

Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. Do not allow

❏

children to drink from or otherwise handle the cartridges.

Be careful when you handle the used ink cartridges, as there

❏

may be some ink around the ink supply port. If ink gets on
your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If
ink gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If
discomfort or vision problems remain after a thorough
flushing, see a doctor immediately.

Do not shake an ink cartridge; this can cause leakage.

❏

Install the ink cartridge immediately after you remove it from

❏

its package. If you leave a cartridge unpacked for a long time
before using it, normal printing may not be possible.

Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the

❏

cartridge carton: otherwise, it may result in reduced print
quality. For best results, use up the ink cartridges within six
months of first installing them.

Do not touch the green chip on the side of the cartridge. This

❏

may inhibit normal operation and printing.

Do not dismantle the ink cartridges. This could damage the

❏

print head.

After bringing an ink cartridge inside from a cold storage site,

❏

allow it to warm up at room temperature for at least three
hours before using it.

Store ink cartridges in a cool, dark place.

❏

In this ink cartridge, the IC chip retains a variety of cartridge-

❏

related information, such as the amount of ink remaining, so
that a cartridge may be removed and reinserted freely.
However, each time the cartridge is inserted, some ink is
consumed because the printer automatically performs a
reliability check.

3

If you remove an ink cartridge for later use, be sure to protect

❏

the ink supply area from dirt and dust; store it in the same
environment as the printer. Note that there is a valve in the
ink supply port, making covers or plugs unnecessary, but care
is needed to prevent the ink from staining items that the
cartridge touches. Do not touch the ink cartridge ink supply
port or surrounding area.

When choosing a place for the printer

Place the printer on a flat, stable surface that is larger than the

❏

printer. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or
at an angle.

Avoid places subject to rapid changes in temperature and

❏

humidity. Also, keep the printer away from direct sunlight,
strong light, or heat sources.

Avoid places subject to shocks and vibrations.

❏

Leave enough room around the printer to allow for sufficient

❏

ventilation.

Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be

❏

easily unplugged.

4

Note for French-speaking users:

Placez l’imprimante près d’une prise de contacte où la fiche peut être
débranchée facilement.

NERGY STAR Compliance

E

As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has
determined that this product meets the

TAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

S

NERGY

E

The International
a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment
industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal
computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, and copiers in an
effort to reduce air pollution caused by power generation.

NERGY STAR Office Equipment Program is

E

For United Kingdom Users

Use of options

EPSON (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or
problems arising from the use of any options or consumable
products other than those designated as Original EPSON
Products or EPSON Approved Products by EPSON (UK) Limited.

Safety information

Warning:

w

This appliance must be earthed. Refer to the rating plate for
voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the
supply voltage.

Important:

The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance are coloured in
accordance with the following code:

Green and yellow — Earth
Blue — Neutral
Brown — Live

5

If you have to fit a plug:

As the colours of the mains lead of this appliance may not match
coloured markings used to identify the terminals in a plug, please
proceed as follows:

The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal in
the plug which is marked with the letter E or the earth symbol (

The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter N.

The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter L.

If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a
qualified electrician.

Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

Warnings

w

must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

G

).

Cautions

c

Notes

contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your
printer.

6

must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.

Printer Parts and Functions

Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions

paper support

paper support extension

edge guides

sheet feeder

printer cover

output tray

output tray extension

ink cartridge clamps

Pint head

adjust lever

ink cartridge
replacement button

control panel

7

Buttons

Button Function

Lights

P

power

E

load/eject

R

cleaning

Ink cartridge
replacement

Light Description

P

power

S

paper out

Turns the printer on and off.

Clears the printer's memory if pressed twice while the
power is on.

Loads or ejects paper if pressed and released within
2seconds.

Resumes printing if pressed and released after a paper
out error.

Perfor ms pri nt hea d clea ni ng if h el d for 3 sec onds w he n

B

the

black or

Charges ink to the printer when you replace the ink
cartridges (this orange button is located under the
printer cover, not in the control panel).

On when the printer is on.

Flashes when printer is receiving data, printing,
replacing an ink cartridge, charging ink, or cleaning
the print head.

On whe n th e pr int er is ou t of pap er. Load pap er in th e
sheet feeder, then press the
resume printing.

Flashes when the paper is jammed. Take all of the
paper out of the feeder, then reload the paper. If the
light continues to flash, turn off the printer and gently
pull all the paper out of the printer.

A

color ink out light is off.

E

load/eject button to

8

B

black ink
out

A

color ink
out

Flashes when the black ink cartridge is nearly empty.

On when the black ink cartridge is empty. Replace the
black ink cartridge (T007 or T010).

Flashes when the color ink cartridge is nearly empty.

On when the color ink cartridge is empty. Replace the
color ink cartridge (T009).

Loading Special Paper, Envelopes, and Other Media

Loading Special Paper and Other Media

You can print on a wide variety of special media, including ink
jet paper, photo quality glossy film, photo paper, transparencies,
index cards, and adhesive sheets.

When loading special media distributed by EPSON, read the
instruction sheets packed with the media first and keep the
following points in mind. For more details on using such media,
see “Paper Handling” in the online

Make sure the printable side of the paper is facing up when

❏

loading media into the sheet feeder. See the instruction sheets
packed with the media to determine which side is the
printable surface. Some media have cut corners to help
identify the correct loading direction, as shown in the
illustration.

Reference Guide

.

cut corner

printable
side up

Make sure the paper stack fits under the arrow mark located

❏

on the inside surface of the left edge guide.

9

The loading capacity for EPSON special media is explained

❏

below.

360 dpi Ink Jet Paper and
Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper

Photo Quality Ink Jet Card, Ink
Jet Note Card, and Ink Jet
Greeting Card

Photo Quality Glossy Film One sheet at a time.

Ink Jet Transparencies Up to 30 transparencies.

Photo Quality Self Adhesive
Sheet

Photo Paper Up to 20 sheets.

Photo Stickers 16 and Photo
Stickers 4

Up to the arrow mark on the left edge guide.

Up to 30 index cards.
Always place the included support sheet*
under the cards.

Always put a support sheet* or a sheet of
plain paper under the glossy film.
If you wish to load multiple sheets, set the
minimum top margin of the page to 30 mm
and load a maximum of 20 sheets for A4.
For A3 and Super A3 size, you can load up to
5 sheets at a time.

Always put a sheet of plain paper under the
stack of transparencies.

One sheet at a time.

For 200×300 mm Photo Paper, you can only
load one sheet at a time. Always put a
support sheet* under the stack of Photo
Paper.

One sheet at a time.
Always put the included support sheets* A
and B under the stack of Photo Stickers.

10

Panoramic Photo Paper and
Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer
Paper

Premium Glossy Photo Paper One sheet at a time.

Matte Paper-Heavyweight Up to 20 sheets.

One sheet at a time.

For A3 and Super A3 size, you can only load
one sheet at a time. Always put a support
sheet* under the stack of Matte Paper­Heavyweight.

Ink Jet Back Light Film One sheet at a time.

* Take care not to print on support sheets loaded under special media.

Always put a sheet of plain pa per under back
light film.

About special media cleaning sheets

Cleaning sheets packaged with EPSON special media should not
be used with this printer. The cleaning function performed by
these sheets is not necessary with this type of printer, and the
sheets could jam in the printer.

Loading Envelopes

When printing on envelopes, please note the following:

You can load up to 10 envelopes into the sheet feeder.

❏

Note:

The folding quality and thickness of envelopes varies widely. If the
total thickness of the stack of envelopes exceeds 10 mm, press each
envelope in the stack flat before loading.

Set the adjust lever to the “+” position. To do this, open the

❏

printer cover and reposition the lever.

Note:

❏

Return the adjust lever to the “0” position, which is the normal
position, after you finish printing on envelopes. Leaving the
lever in the “+” position may cause gaps to appear in images
printed on other media.

❏

When the adjust lever is in the “+” position, make sure the High
Speed setting in the printer driver’s Advanced dialog box is off.
To turn this option off, you may also need to change the Print
Quality setting.

11

Load envelopes flap edge first with the flap side down, as

❏

shown in the illustration.

Available envelopes sizes are:
No.10, DL, C6, 132 mm × 220 mm

Do not use envelopes that are curled or folded. Make sure to

❏

flatten the envelope flaps before loading. Also avoid using
envelopes that are too thin; they may curl during printing.

❏

Select
driver.

Plain Paper

as the Media Type setting in the printer

12

Printing with Windows

Printer Software Introduction

The printer software which comes with your printer includes a
printer driver and printer utilities. The printer driver lets you
choose from a wide variety of settings to get the best results from
your printer. The printer utilities help you check the printer and
keep it in top condition.

Getting more information

For information on using the printer driver, see “Making Changes
to Printer Settings” on page 15.

For information on using the printer utilities, see “Using the
Printer Utilities” in the online

Note:

The specific features available in the printer software vary depending on
the version of Windows you are using.

Reference Guide

.

Online help provides more information about the printer
software. See “Getting Information Through Online Help” on
page 27 for instructions on accessing help.

Accessing the printer software

You can access the printer software from most Windows
applications, or from the Windows Start menu (Windows 95, 98
and NT 4.0).

When you access the printer software from a Windows
application, the settings you make apply only to the application
you are using.

13

When you access the printer software from the Start menu, the
settings you make apply to all of your Windows applications.

From Windows applications

1. From the File menu, click

2. In the dialog box that appears, click
or

Properties

to click a combination of these buttons.) The printer driver
opens.

. (Depending on your application, you may need

Print

or

Print Setup

Printer, Setup, Options

From the Windows Start menu

1. Click

2. For Windows 95 and 98, select your printer, then click

Properties

printer, then click
printer driver opens.

, point to

Start

on the File menu. For Windows NT 4.0, select your

Settings

Document Defaults

, then click

Printers

on the File menu. The

.

,

.

14

Making Changes to Printer Settings

The printer driver features the following menus and settings.

Main: Media Type, Ink, Mode

Paper: Paper Size, Copies, Orientation,

Layout: Reduce/Enlarge, Multi-Page, Watermark

Paper Source Printable Area

The Mode settings on the Main menu are arranged to give you
four levels of control over the printer driver, as explained below.

Automatic

PhotoEnhance

Custom

Advanced

This mode provides the quickest and
easiest way to start printing. See “Using
the Automatic mode” on page 20.

This mode lets you choose from a variety
of image-correction settings specially
designed for photos. See “Using the
PhotoEnhance mode” on page 21.

This mode lets you choose from a list of
ready-made or personalized settings
suited to the kind of document you want
to print. When Custom is selected, the
Advanced button is enabled, allowing
you to access the Advanced dialog box.
See “Using the Custom mode” on page

23.

This button opens the Advanced dialog
box, where you can make detailed
settings to fit your individual needs. From
the Advanced dialog box, you can add
your personalized settings to the Custom
Settings list.

In addition to making comprehensive Mode settings that affect
overall print quality, you can also modify individual aspects of
your printout using the Paper and Layout menus. For more
information about the Paper and Layout menus, see your online

Reference Guide

.

15

Making the Media Type setting

The Media Type setting determines what other settings are
available, so you should always make this setting first.

On the Main menu, select the Media Type setting that matches
the media which is loaded in the printer. To find out what Media
Type you are using, find your media in the list below, and refer
to the corresponding Media Type under which it is grouped
(shown in larger type). For some media, there are several Media
Type settings to choose from.

Plain Paper

Plain paper

Envelopes

EPSON Premium Ink Jet Plain Paper (A4) S041214

360 dpi Ink Jet Paper

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041059

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041060

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A3) S041065

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Super A3/B) S041066

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (A4) S041154

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (Letter) S041153

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (A3) S041238

16

S041025

S041028

S041046

S041047

S041155

Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041061

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041062

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Legal) S041067

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A3) S041068

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Super A3/B) S041069

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (B) S041070

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (A6) S041054

×

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (5

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (8 × 10”) S041122

EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheet (A4) S041106

EPSON Ink Jet Note Cards A6 (with envelopes) S041147

EPSON Ink Jet Greeting Cards 5 x 8” (with envelopes) S041148

EPSON Ink Jet Greeting Cards 8 x 10” (with envelopes) S041149

8”) S041121

S041026

S041029

S041048

S041045

S041043

S041044

Matte Paper-Heavyweight

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (A4) S041256

S041258
S041259

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (Letter) S041257

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (A3) S041260

S041261
S041262

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (Super A3/ Super B) S041263

S041264
S041265

17

Photo Paper

EPSON Photo Paper (A4) S041140

EPSON Photo Paper (Letter) S041141

EPSON Photo Paper (A3) S041142

EPSON Photo Paper (Super A3/Super B) S041143

EPSON Photo Paper (B) S041156

EPSON Photo Paper (4×6”) S041134

EPSON Photo Paper (100×150 mm) S041255

EPSON Photo Paper (200×300 mm) S041254

EPSON Photo Paper (89mm×7M) S041281

EPSON Photo Paper (100mm×8M) S041279

EPSON Photo Paper (210mm×10M) S041280

EPSON Photo Paper (329mm×10M) S041233

EPSON Panoramic Photo Paper (210×594 mm) S041145

EPSON Photo Paper Cards (A4) S041177

Photo Quality Glossy Film

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A4) S041071

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Letter) S041072

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A3) S041073

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Super A3/B) S041074

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (B) S041075

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A6) S041107

EPSON Photo Stickers 16 (A6) S041144

EPSON Photo Stickers 4 (A6) S041176

Ink Jet Transparencies

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (A4) S041063

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (Letter) S041064

18

Premium Glossy Photo Paper

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (A4) S041287

S041297

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (Letter) S041286

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (A3) S041288

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (B) S041289

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (Super A3/ Super B) S041290

Ink Jet Back Light Film

EPSON Ink Jet Back Light Film (A3) S041131

Note:

The availability of special media varies by location.

19

Using the Automatic mode

When Automatic is selected as the Mode setting on the Main
menu, the printer driver takes care of all detailed settings based
on the current Media Type and Ink settings. To make the Ink
setting, click
and-white or grayscale. To make the Media Type setting, see
“Making the Media Type setting” on page 16.

to print in color, or

Color

to print in black-

Black

20

Note:

❏

Depending on the media selected in the Media Type list (while

Automatic

button that lets you choose from

Quality

❏

Most Windows applications feature paper size and page layout
settings that override similar settings on the printer driver.
However, if your application does not have these settings, verify the
settings on the printer driver’s Paper menu.

is selected), a slider appears under the Custom radio

Quality

when print quality is more important than speed.

or

Speed

settings. Select

Using the PhotoEnhance mode

The PhotoEnhance mode provides a variety of image-correction
settings that you can apply to your photo images before printing.
PhotoEnhance does not affect your original data.

Note:

❏

This mode is only available when printing 32-bit color data.

❏

Printing with
required for printing, depending on your computer system and the
amount of data contained in your image.

❏

Do not print using PhotoEnhance mode if
as the Paper Source on the Paper menu.

PhotoEnhance

selected may increase the time

Roll Paper

is selected

21

You can select from the following settings.

Standard

People

Nature

Soft Focus

Sepia

Selecting

PhotoEnhance

Correction

This setting provides standard image correction for
most photos. Try this first.

This setting is best for photos of people.

This setting is best for outdoor scenery such as
mountains, sky, and oceans.

This setting makes your photos look as if they were
taken with a soft-focus lens.

This setting applies a sepia tone to your photos.

also enables the

Digital Camera

check box. Select this check box when you are
printing photos taken with a digital camera to give your printed
images the smooth, natural appearance of photographs taken
with a film camera.

22

Using the Custom mode

The Custom mode offers ready-made settings designed for
printing text and graphs and for applying a color-matching
method. You can also create and save your own custom settings.

You can select from the following ready-made settings.

Text/Graph

Economy

ICM

(For Windows 95 and

98)

sRGB

This setting is good for printing
presentation documents such as graphs
and charts.

This setting is best for printing drafts of text

This setting automatically adjusts printout
colors to match colors on your screen.
ICM stands for Image Color Matching.

This setting is best for color matching with
other sRGB devices.

23

Follow the steps below to select a Custom setting.

1. Select

2. Click anywhere in the list box to open it, then select the most

3. When you select a Custom setting, other settings such as Print

4. Before printing, be sure to verify the Media Type and Ink

Custom

appropriate setting for the type of document or image you
wish to print.

Quality, Halftoning, and Color Adjustment are made
automatically. Changes to these settings are reflected in the
display on the left side of the Main menu.

settings, as they may be affected by the Custom setting you
select. See “Making the Media Type setting” on page 16.

as the Mode setting on the Main menu.

Previewing your printout

Select the
preview of your document before printing.

Print Preview

check box on the Main menu to see a

24

When you print your document, the Print Preview window
opens.

The Preview dialog box contains several icon buttons which you
can use to perform the following functions:

Drag ’n’drop This feature lets you select and move

Zoom This feature enlarges or reduces the size

Fit-to-screen This feature scales the previewed page

Maximum
zoom

Printable
area on/off

watermarks.

of the previewed page.

so that it fits the size of the window.
Select this option if you want to see the
entire page at one time.

This feature displays the previewed
page at the maximum possible zoom
ratio.

This feature displays a rectangle on the
page being previewed. This rectangle is
the printable area for the page. The
printer cannot print anything which is
outside this rectangle. Press the icon
button again to turn this feature off.

25

Watermark This feature opens the watermark

settings dialog box. This dialog box
allows you to change any of the current
watermark settings.

Reset
watermark
settings

Previous
page

Next page This feature di splays the next page in the

This feature returns all watermark
settings to what they were when the
Preview was first opened. If nothing has
been changed, this feature is not
available.

This feature displays the page previous
to the one currently being previewed. If
there is no previous page then this
feature is not available.

document. If there is no next page then
this feature is not available.

You can also manipulate the previewed document in the
following ways:

Select and preview individual pages.

❏

Reduce or enlarge the size of the preview.

❏

Select and print any or all pages.

❏

Apply watermarks. The watermark you select will appear in

❏

the previewed image. For detailed information on
customizing watermarks, see “Printing a watermark on your
document” in your

Reference Guide

.

26

The Add and Remove features allow you to specify which

❏

pages in the document you wish to be printed. To add or
remove a page, you must first click the page icon in the list
appearing on the left side of the preview window. Then add
or remove it using the commands in the Print Options menu.

Add page The highlighted pages will be added to

Remove
page

the list of pages to be printed.

The highlighted pages will be removed
from the list of pages to be printed.

After you have previewed the document, click
document, or click

Cancel

to cancel printing.

to print the

Print

Getting Information Through Online Help

Your printer software has an extensive online help feature, which
provides you with instructions on printing, making printer driver
settings, and using printer utilities.

Accessing help from your application

Open the File menu and choose

Printer, Setup, Options

application, you may need to click a combination of these
buttons.)
Utility menus for help related to the items on that menu.

For Windows 95, 98, and NT 4.0, you can get specific help related
to any item on a menu by right-clicking the item, then clicking the

What's This?

Click

Help

command

, or

Properties

at the bottom of the Main, Paper, Layout, and

.

or

Print

Print Setup

. (Depending on your

. Then click

Accessing help from the Windows Start menu

Click the
Windows 95 and 98) or
then click
window opens.

button, point to

Start

EPSON Printers

EPSON Stylus Photo 1270 Help

Programs

and

Epson

(for Windows NT 4.0),

. The help contents

(for

27

Printing with Macintosh

Printer Software Introduction

The printer software which comes with your printer includes a
printer driver and printer utilities. The printer driver lets you
choose from a wide variety of settings to get the best results from
your printer. The printer utilities help you check the printer and
keep it in top condition.

For information on using the printer driver, see “Making Changes
to Printer Settings” on page 28.

For information on using the printer utilities, see “Using the
Printer Utilities” in the online

You can also get more information about the printer software by
clicking the help icon in any of the dialog boxes in the printer
driver.

Reference Guide

.

Making Changes to Printer Settings

You will find the printer driver settings in the following dialog
boxes.

28

Print dialog box (click

❏

application or click

Page Setup dialog box (click

❏

your application)

Layout dialog box (click the Layout icon button in the Print

❏

dialog box)

Background Printing dialog box (click the Background

❏

Printing icon button located in the Print dialog box)

Options

on the File menu of your

Print

in the Page Setup dialog box)

Page Setup

on the File menu of

Preview dialog box (click the Preview icon button and then

❏

click

Preview

in the Print dialog box)

The Mode settings in the Print dialog box are arranged to give you
four levels of control over the printer driver, as explained below.

Automatic

PhotoEnhance

Custom

Advanced

This mode provides the quickest and
easiest way to start printing. See “Using
the Automatic mode” on page 34.

This mode lets you choose from a variety
of image-correction settings specially
designed for photos. See “Using the
PhotoEnhance mode” on page 34.

This mode lets you choose from a list of
ready-made or personalized settings
suited to the kind of document you want
to print. When Custom is selected, the
Advanced button is enabled, allowing
you to access the Advanced dialog box.
See “Using the Custom mode” on page

36.

This button opens the Advanced dialog
box, where you can make detailed
settings to fit your individual needs. From
the Advanced dialog box, you can add
your personalized settings to the Custom
Settings list.

In addition to making comprehensive Mode settings that affect
overall print quality, you can also modify individual aspects of
your printout using the settings contained in the Page Setup and
the Layout dialog boxes. For information on page setup options.
For information on page layout options.

Making the Media Type setting

The Media Type setting determines what other settings are
available, so you should always make this setting first.

29

In the Print dialog box, select the Media Type setting that matches
the paper you loaded in the printer. To find out what Media Type
you are using, find your media in the list below, and refer to the
corresponding Media Type under which it is grouped (shown in
larger type). For some media, there are several Media Type
settings to choose from.

Plain Paper

Plain paper

Envelopes

EPSON Premium Ink Jet Plain Paper (A4) S041214

360 dpi Ink Jet Paper

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041059

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041060

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A3) S041065

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Super A3/B) S041066

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (A4) S041154

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (Letter) S041153

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (A3) S041238

S041025

S041028

S041046

S041047

S041155

30

Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041061

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041062

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Legal) S041067

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A3) S041068

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Super A3/B) S041069

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (B) S041070

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (A6) S041054

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (5 × 8”) S041121

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (8 × 10”) S041122

EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheet (A4) S041106

EPSON Ink Jet Note Cards A6 (with envelopes) S041147

EPSON Ink Jet Greeting Cards 5 x 8” (with envelopes) S041148

EPSON Ink Jet Greeting Cards 8 x 10” (with envelopes) S041149

S041026

S041029

S041048

S041045

S041043

S041044

Matte Paper-Heavyweight

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (A4) S041256

S041258
S041259

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (Letter) S041257

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (A3) S041260

S041261
S041262

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (Super A3 / Super B) S041263

S041264
S041265

31

Photo Paper

EPSON Photo Paper (A4) S041140

EPSON Photo Paper (Letter) S041141

EPSON Photo Paper (A3) S041142

EPSON Photo Paper (Super A3/Super B) S041143

EPSON Photo Paper (B) S041156

EPSON Photo Paper (4 × 6”) S041134

EPSON Photo Paper (100×150 mm) S041255

EPSON Photo Paper (200×300 mm) S041254

EPSON Photo Paper (89mm×7M) S041281

EPSON Photo Paper (100mm×8M) S041279

EPSON Photo Paper (210mm×10M) S041280

EPSON Photo Paper (329mm×10M) S041233

EPSON Panoramic Photo Paper (210 × 594 mm) S041145

EPSON Photo Paper Cards (A4) S041177

Photo Quality Glossy Film

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A4) S041071

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Letter) S041072

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A3) S041073

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Super A3/B) S041074

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (B) S041075

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A6) S041107

EPSON Photo Stickers 16 (A6) S041144

EPSON Photo Stickers 4 (A6) S041176

Ink Jet Transparencies

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (A4) S041063

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (Letter) S041064

32

Premium Glossy Photo Paper

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (A4) S041287

S041297

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (Letter) S041286

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (A3) S041288

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (B) S041290

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (Super A3/ Super B) S041289

Ink Jet Back Light Film

EPSON Ink Jet Back Light Film (A3) S041131

Note:

The availability of special media varies by location.

33

Using the Automatic mode

When Automatic is selected as the Mode setting in the Print dialog
box, the printer driver takes care of all detailed settings based on
the current Media Type and Ink settings. To make the Ink setting,
click
or grayscale. To make the Media Type setting, see “Making the
Media Type setting” on page 29.

Note:

Depending on the media you choose in the Media Type list (while

Automatic

that lets you choose

Quality

to print in color, or

Color

is selected), a slider appears to the right of the Mode options

Quality, Speed

when print quality is more important than speed.

to print in black-and-white

Black

or an intermediate setting. Select

Using the PhotoEnhance mode

The Photo Enhance mode provides a variety of image-correction
settings that you can apply to your photo images before printing.
PhotoEnhance does not affect your original data.

34

Note:

❏

This mode is only available when printing 32-bit color data.

❏

Printing with PhotoEnhance selected may increase the time required
for printing, depending on your computer system and the amount
of data contained in your image.

❏

If you select Roll Paper as a Paper Source in the Page Setup dialog
box, do not print your document with the PhotoEnhance mode on.

You can select from the following settings.

Standard

People

Nature

Soft Focus

Sepia

This setting provides standard image correction for
most photos. Try this first.

This setting is best for photos of people.

This setting is best for outdoor scenery such as
mountains, sky, and oceans.

This setting makes your photos look as if they were
taken with a soft-focus lens.

This setting applies a sepia tone to your photos.

If you are printing photos taken with a digital camera, you can
also select the

Digital Camera Correction

check box to give your
printed images the smooth, natural appearance of photographs
taken with a film camera.

35

Using the Custom mode

The Custom mode offers ready-made settings designed for
printing text and graphs and for applying a color-matching
method. You can also create and save your own custom settings.

You can select from the following ready-made settings.

Text/Graph

Economy

ColorSync

This setting is good for printing
presentation documents such as graphs
and charts.

This setting is best for printing drafts of text

This setting automatically adjusts printout
colors to match colors on your screen.

Follow the steps below to select a Custom setting.

1. Verify the Media Type and Ink settings in the Print dialog box.
For details, see “Making the Media Type setting” on page 29.

2. Click the

Custom

button in the Print dialog box. This enables
the Custom Settings list, located below and to the right of the
Custom radio button.

3. From the Custom Settings list, select the most appropriate
setting for the type of document or image you will print.

36

4. When you choose a Custom setting, other settings such as
Print Quality, Halftoning, and Color are made automatically.
Changes to these settings are reflected in the display on the
left side of the Print dialog box.

Previewing your printout

The Preview feature allows you to see how your document will
look before actually printing it. Follow these steps to preview
your document.

1. Make your printer driver settings.

2. Click the

button changes into a

Print

Note:

Use the Preview icon button to switch between the Print

Preview, and Save File modes. Click the icon to select the
mode you want. For information on the Save File mode, see “Saving
print data in files” on page 39.

Preview icon button in the Print dialog box. The

Preview

button.

,

37

3. Click the

Preview

button. The Preview dialog box appears

and displays a preview of your document.

The Preview dialog box contains six icon buttons you can use to
perform the following functions.

38

Selection This feature lets you select, move, and

Zoom This feature enlarges the or reduces the

Margin
Display/
Non­Display

Watermark
Editing

Add Page

Remove
Page

resize watermarks.

size of the previewed page.

This feature displays or hides borderlines
which indicate the printable area.

This butto n opens the Water mark Edit box.
This dialog box allows you to add
watermarks to the document, and to
change any of the current watermark
settings.

These buttons let you select or deselect
the pages you want to print from the list
on the left side of the preview window.

4. If you are satisfied with the previewed image, click

If you are not satisfied with the appearance of the image, click

Cancel

current print settings preserved. Open the Print dialog box
again to make additional changes to the print settings.

. The Preview and Print dialog boxes close with the

Saving print data in files

You can save print data in a file by using the Save File icon
button in the Print dialog box. This feature lets you print the data
at a later time simply by double-clicking the saved file. Follow
these steps.

Note:

Use the Preview icon button to switch between the Print

Preview, and Save File modes. Click the icon to select the mode

you want.

1. Make your printer driver settings.

Print

,

.

2. Click the
repeatedly until the
button.

3. Click the

4. Select the location where you want to save the file, then type
a file name into the Save As box and click

When you want to print the data, double-click the file to open
EPSON Monitor 3. Click the Resume button to send the data
to the printer.

Preview icon button in the Print dialog box

button changes into the

Print

Save File

button.

Save.

Save File

39

Replacing Ink Cartridges

This printer uses ink cartridges equipped with IC chips. The IC
chip accurately monitors the amount of ink used by each
cartridge, so even if a cartridge is removed and later inserted
again, all of its ink can be used. However, some ink is consumed
each time the cartridge is inserted because the printer
automatically checks reliability.

The printer’s indicator lights will inform you when it is time to
obtain a replacement ink cartridge and when it is time to replace
an empty cartridge. You can also check ink levels and start the ink
cartridge replacement procedure from your computer using the
Status Monitor 3 utility. See the online
information.

This table describes the status of the lights on your printer and
the actions you need to take.

Lights Action

Reference Guide

for more

O

= on, F = flashing

40

B F

B O
A F
A O

Obtain a replacement black ink cartridge (T007 or
T010).

Replace the empty black ink cartridge.

Obtain a replacement color ink cartridge (T009).

Replace the empty color ink cartridge.

w

c

Warning:

❏

Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children. Do not allow
children to drink from or otherwise handle the cartridges.

❏

Be careful when you handle the used ink cartridges, as there
may be some ink around the ink supply port. If ink gets on
your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If
ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
If discomfort or vision problems remain after a thorough
flushing, see a doctor immediately.

Caution:

❏

EPSON recommends the use of genuine EPSON ink
cartridges. Other products not manufactured by EPSON
may cause damage to your printer not covered by EPSON's
warranties.

❏

Leave the old cartridge installed in the printer until you have
obtained a replacement; otherwise, ink remaining in the print
head nozzles may dry out.

❏

Do not refill the ink cartridges. The ink cartridges for this
printer are not for refill. The printer calculates the amount
of ink remaining using an IC chip on the ink cartridge: Even
if the cartridge is refilled, the amount of ink remaining will
not be recalculated by the IC chip and the amount of ink
available for use will not change.

Note:

❏

You cannot continue printing with one ink cartridge empty, even if
the other cartridge still contains ink. Before printing, replace the
empty cartridge.

❏

In addition to the ink used during document printing, ink is
consumed during the print head cleaning operation and during the
self-cleaning cycle which is performed when the printer is turned
on, and during ink charging when the ink cartridge is installed in
the printer.

41

For more information about ink cartridges, see “When handling
the ink cartridges” on page 3.

To replace an ink cartridge using the orange ink cartridge
replacement button, follow the steps below.

Note:

You can also replace an ink cartridge from your computer using EPSON
Status Monitor 3. Click the
Printer Status window, then follow the on-screen instructions.

How to

button in the Status Monitor’s

1. Make sure the printer is on. The
but not flashing. (Determine which cartridge needs to be
replaced as indicated by the
lights.)

2. Lower the output tray at the front of the printer, then open
the printer cover.

3. Press the orange ink cartridge replacement button. The print
head moves left to the ink cartridge replacement position, and

power light begins flashing.

the

P

Caution:

c

Do not move the print head by hand as this may damage the
printer. Always press the orange ink replacement button to
move it.

power light should be on,

P

black and

B

color ink out

A

42

4. Lift up the clamp that holds the cartridge you want to replace
as far as it will go. The cartridge rises partly out of the
cartridge holder.

The illustration shows color ink
cartridge replacement. To
replace the black ink cartridge,
lift up only the smaller clamp on
the left.

5. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it properly.
Do not take the used cartridge apart or try to refill it.

43

6. Remove the new ink cartridge from its protective bag. Next,
remove only the yellow tape seal from the cartridge.

black ink cartridge (T007)

Caution:

❏

c

You must remove the yellow tape seal from the cartridge
before installing it; otherwise, the cartridge will become
unusable and you will be unable to print.

❏

If you have installed an ink cartridge without removing
the yellow tape seal, you must remove the cartridge and
install a new one. Prepare the new cartridge by removing
the yellow tape seal, then install it in the printer.

❏

Do not remove the blue portion of the tape seal from the
top of the cartridge; otherwise, the print head may
become clogged and be unable to print.

❏

Do not remove the tape seal from the bottom of the
cartridge; otherwise, ink will leak.

❏

Do not touch the green chip on the side of the cartridge;
otherwise, normal operation and printing may not be
possible.

color ink cartridge (T009)

44

Do not touch this part.

7. Align the tabs on the ink cartridge so that they are resting on
the tabs protruding from the base of the opened ink cartridge
clamp. Do not apply excessive force to the cartridge.

Caution;

Make sure the ink cartridge tabs are not under the tabs

c

protruding from the base of the opened ink cartridge clamp,
as this could damage the clamp.

45

8. Press the ink cartridge clamp down until it locks into place.

The illustration shows color ink
cartridge replacement. To
replace the black ink
cartridge, replace only the
cartridge held by the smaller
clamp on the left.

Caution:

c

9. Press the orange ink cartridge replacement button. The
printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink
delivery system. This process takes about one minute to
complete. When the ink charging process is finished, the
printer returns the print head to its home position, the

P
A

After you remove an ink cartridge from the printer, please
insert a new one immediately. If no cartridge is present, the
print head may dry out and become unable to print.

power light stops flashing and stays on, and the black and

color lights turn on.

46

Caution:

P

The

c

performs the ink charging operation. Never turn off the
printer while this light is flashing. Doing so can result in
incomplete charging of ink.

10. Close the printer cover.

power light continues to flash while the printer

47

Maintenance

Checking the Print Head Nozzles

If you find that the printed image is unexpectedly faint or dots in
the printed image are missing, you may be able to identify the
problem by checking the print head nozzles.

You can check the print head nozzles from your computer using
the Nozzle Check utility in the printer software, or from the
printer itself by using the printer’s control panel buttons.

Using the Nozzle Check utility

Follow the steps below to use the Nozzle Check utility.

Note:

Do not use the Nozzle Check utility while printing is in progress;
otherwise, your printout may be marred.

For Windows users

1. Make sure A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.

2. Click the

Nozzle Check

3. Follow the instructions on your screen.

tab in the printer software, then click the

Utility

button.

For Macintosh users

1. Make sure A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder.

2. Click the
dialog box, then click the

3. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Utility icon button in the Print or Page Setup

Nozzle Check

button.

48

Using the control panel buttons

Follow the steps below to check the print head nozzles using the
control panel buttons.

1. Turn off your printer.

2. Make sure that A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet
feeder.

3. Hold down the
below) and press the
below) to turn on the printer.

4. Then release both buttons.

load/eject button (➀ in the illustration

E

power button (➁ in the illustration

P

49

The printer prints an operation check page including your
printer’s ROM version information, the ink counter code, and a
nozzle check pattern. Below are sample printouts.

Good sample

Print head needs to be cleaned

segments are missing

The above sample is in black and white, but the actual test prints in color
(CMYK).

If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily (for example,
if any segment of the printed lines is missing) there is a problem
with the printer. This could be a clogged ink nozzle or a
misaligned print head. See the next section for details on cleaning
the print head. For information on aligning the print head, see
“Aligning the Print Head” on page 54.

Cleaning the Print Head

If you find that the printed image is unexpectedly faint or dots in
the printed image are missing, you may be able to solve these
problems by cleaning the print head, which ensures that the
nozzles are delivering ink properly.

You can clean the print head from your computer with the Head
Cleaning utility in the printer software, or from the printer itself
by using the printer’s control panel buttons.

50

Note:

❏

Print head cleaning uses both color and black ink. To avoid wasting
ink, clean the print head only if print quality declines; for example,
if the printout is blurry or the color is incorrect or missing.

❏

Use the Nozzle Check utility first to confirm that the print head
needs to be cleaned. This saves ink.

❏

When the
cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge
first.

❏

Do not start the Head Cleaning or Nozzle Check utility while
printing is in progress; otherwise, your printout may be marred.

B

black or Acolor ink out light is flashing or on, you

Using the Head Cleaning utility

Follow the steps below to use the Head Cleaning utility.

For Windows users

1. Make sure that the printer is on and both
ink out lights are off.

Note:

B

If the
the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

2. Click the

Cleaning

black or Acolor ink out light is flashing, you can not clean

tab in the printer software, then click the

Utility

button.

black and Acolor

B

Head

3. Follow the messages on your screen.

51

For Macintosh users

1. Make sure that the printer is on, and the
ink out lights are off.

2. Click the Utility icon button in the Print or Page Setup
dialog box, then click the

3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Head Cleaning

black and Acolor

B

button.

Using the control panel buttons

Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the control
panel buttons.

1. Make sure that the

black and Acolor ink out lights are off.

B

Note:

B

If the
clean the head.

2. Hold down the

black or Acolor ink out light is flashing or on, you cannot

power light is on and that both the

P

cleaning button for three seconds.

R

52

The printer starts cleaning the print head and the
light begins flashing. Print head cleaning takes about thirty
seconds to complete.

power

P

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the

c

Doing so may damage the printer.

P

power light is flashing.

3. When the
pattern to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the
cleaning cycle.

If print quality hasn’t improved after repeating this procedure
four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight.
Then do the head cleaning again.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink
cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced.
To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see “Replacing Ink
Cartridges” in the online

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink
cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, we recommend turning on the printer for at
least one minute every month.

power light stops flashing, print a nozzle check

P

Reference Guide

.

53

Aligning the Print Head

If you notice a misalignment of vertical lines, you may be able to
solve this problem from your computer using the Print Head
Alignment utility in your printer software. Follow the directions
below.

Note:

Do not start the Print Head Alignment utility while printing is in
progress; otherwise, your printout may be marred.

For Windows users

1. Make sure A4 or Letter size plain paper is loaded in the sheet
feeder.

2. Click the

Head Alignment

3. Follow the messages on your screen to align the print head.

tab in the printer software, then click the

Utility

button.

For Macintosh users

1. Make sure A4 or Letter size plain paper is loaded in the sheet
feeder.

2. Click the Utility icon button in the Print or Page Setup
dialog box, then click the

3. Follow the messages on your screen to align the print head.

Print Head Alignment

Print

button.

54

Troubleshooting

Correcting USB Problems

Make sure your computer is a Windows 98 pre-installed model

Your computer must be a Windows 98 pre-installed model. You
may not be able to install or run the USB Printer Driver on a
computer which is not equipped with a USB port or which is
upgraded from Windows 95 to 98.

For details about your computer, contact your dealer.

Make sure that EPSON USB Printer Devices appears in the Device Manager menu

If you canceled the plug-and-play driver installation before the
procedure was completed, either the USB printer device driver or
the printer driver may be incorrectly installed.

Follow the steps below to check the installation and reinstall the
drivers.

1. Turn the printer on. Plug the USB cable into the printer and
the computer.

2. Right-click the
click

Properties

3. Click the

Device Manager

My Computer

.

icon on your desktop, then

tab.

55

If your drivers are correctly installed,

Devices

should appear in the Device Manager menu.

EPSON USB Printer

56

If

EPSON USB Printer Devices

Manager menu, click the plus (+) sign beside Other Devices
to view the installed devices.

If

USB Printer

device driver is not installed correctly. If

appears, the printer driver is not installed correctly.

1270

If neither
under
from the printer, then plug it into the printer again.

Other Devices

appears under

USB Printer

nor

, click

does not appear in the Device

Other Devices

EPSON Stylus Photo 1270

Refresh

or unplug the USB cable

, the USB printer

EPSON Stylus Photo

appears

4. Under

Photo 1270

5. When the following dialog box appears, click OK. Then click

OK

Other Devices

, then click

to close the Properties window.

, click

USB Printer

Remove

or

EPSON Stylus

. Then click OK.

6. Turn off the printer and restart your PC. Then, reinstall the
driver from the beginning, following the instructions in the

Setup Guide.

57

Printer does not work correctly with a USB cable

If your printer does not work correctly with a USB cable, try one
or more of these solutions:

Use the recommended USB cable as described in “System

❏

Requirements” in the online

If you use a USB hub, connect the printer to the first tier of the

❏

hub, or connect the printer to the computer’s USB port
directly.

For PCs, try reinstalling the USB printer device driver and the

❏

printer software. First, uninstall
using the Add/Remove Programs utility in the Control Panel,
then uninstall
software as described in

Devices

access the CD-ROM and double-click
Win 9X folder. Then follow the on-screen instructions.

EPSON USB Printer Devices

is not registered in the Add/Remove Programs list,

Reference Guide

EPSON Printer Software

Setup Guide

. If

.

. Next, reinstall the

EPSON USB Printer

epusbun.exe

in the

58

Error Indicators

You can identify many common printer problems using the lights
on your printer’s control panel. If your printer stops working and
the lights are on or flashing, use the following table of panel light
patterns to diagnose the problem, then follow the recommended
corrective measures.

Lights Problem and Solution

Paper out

S O

S
B
A

F
N
N

No paper is loaded in
the printer.

Paper jam

Paper has jammed in
the printer.

Load paper in the sheet
feeder, then press the
eject button. The printer
resumes printing and the light
goes out.

Press the
The printer ejects the jammed
paper and then resumes
printing. If the error is not
cleared, open the printer
cover and remove the
jammed paper. Then reload
paper in the sheet feeder and
press the E load/eject button.
The printer resumes printing.

E

load/eject button.

E

load/

B F

Ink low (black ink cartridge)

The black ink cartridge
is nearly empty.

Obtain a replacement black
ink cartridge (T007 or T010).

59

B O

Ink out (black ink cartridge)

The black ink cartridge
is empty or not
installed.

Wrong ink (black ink cartridge)

Replace the black ink
cartridge with a new one (T007
or T010). See “Replacing Ink
Cartridges” on page 40.

A F

A O

P

F

S

F

B

O

A

O

The installed black ink
cartridge cannot be
used by this printer.

Ink low (color ink cartridge)

The color ink cartridge
is nearly empty.

Ink out (color ink cartridge)

The color ink cartridge
is empty or not
installed.

Wrong ink (color ink cartridge)

The installed color ink
cartridge cannot be
used by this printer.

Carriage error

The print head
carriage is obstructed
by jammed paper or
other foreign material
and cannot return to
the home position.

Use the appropriate black ink
cartridge (T007 or T010). See
“Replacing Ink Cartridges” on
page 40.

Obtain a replacement color
ink cartridge (T009).

Replace the color ink
cartridge with a new one
(T009). See “Replacing Ink
Cartridges” on page 40.

Use the appropriate color ink
cartridge (T009). See
“Replacing Ink Cartridges” on
page 40.

Turn off the printer. Open the
printer cover and remove any
paper from the paper path by
hand. Then turn the printer
back on.

If the error is not cleared,
contact your dealer.

60

Unknown printer error

P

F

An unknown printer

S
B
A

O

= on, N = off, F = flashing

error has occurred.

F
F
F

Turn off the printer, and
contact your dealer.

Typical Problems and Solutions

Most printer problems have simple solutions. Find the problem
in the list below and apply the recommended solution. For more
information, see “Troubleshooting” in the online

Print quality problems

If you are having print quality problems, try the solutions offered
here.

Horizontal banding

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet

❏

feeder.

Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink

❏

nozzles.

Vertical misalignment

Try one or more of these solutions:

Reference Guide

.

Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet

❏

feeder.

Run the Print Head Alignment utility.

❏

Turn off the

❏

instructions, see the printer driver’s online help for Windows.
For Macintosh, see “Using the Advanced settings” in the
online

High Speed

Reference Guide

setting in your printer driver. For

.

61

Color gaps

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure your paper is not damaged, dirty, or too old.

❏

Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink

❏

nozzles.

Check the

❏

flashing, replace the ink cartridge. See “Replacing Ink
Cartridges” on page 40.

black and

B

color ink out lights. If a light is

A

Blurry or smeared printout

Try one or more of these solutions:

Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet

❏

feeder.

Make sure your paper is not damaged, dirty, or too old.

❏

Set the adjust lever to the “+” position, and make sure the

❏

Media Type setting in your printer driver is correct.

Paper feed or paper jam problems

If the printer doesn’t feed paper, feeds multiple pages, or the
paper is jammed, remove and reload the stack of paper, then press
the

load/eject button. Also make sure of the following:

E

The paper isn’t old or creased.

❏

62

Paper isn’t loaded above the arrow on the left edge guide.

❏

The edge guides are set correctly.

❏

The paper isn’t too thin or rough. Use paper that meets the

❏

paper requirements for this printer. See the online

for paper specifications.

Guide

Reference

Cancelling Printing

If the printouts are not what you expected and display incorrect
or garbled characters or images, you may need to cancel printing.
To cancel printing, follow the instructions below.

For Windows 95, 98 and NT 4.0

When you send a print job to the printer, the Progress Meter
appears on your computer screen.

Click the

button to cancel printing.

Stop

For Macintosh

The procedure for canceling printing for Macintosh varies,
depending upon whether background printing is on or off.

63

When background printing is on

1. Select

2. Press the

3. Click the name of the document which is printing in the

EPSON Monitor3

power button to turn off the printer.

P

Document Name list, then click the Stop icon button to
cancel the print job.

from the application menu.

When background printing is off

1. Press the

2. Hold down the
the period (.) key to cancel the print job.

power button to turn off the printer.

P

command key on your keyboard and press

J

64

Where to Get Help

If your printer is not operating properly and you cannot solve the
problem using the troubleshooting information in your printer
documentation, contact customer support services for assistance.

Customer support will be able to help you much more quickly if
you give them the following information.

Serial number of your printer

❏

(The serial number label is on the back of the printer.)

Printer model

❏

Brand and model of your computer

❏

Printer software version

❏

(Click

About

Windows version you are using

❏

Software application(s) you normally use with your printer

❏

and their version number(s)

in your printer driver.)

For United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Users

If you purchased your product in the UK or the Republic of
Ireland, EPSON (UK) LTD provides a range of customer services
and technical support.

Support Via the World Wide Web

For information on the latest EPSON products, software

❏

drivers, on-line user guides and answers to frequently asked
questions:
http://www.epson.co.uk

To email EPSON Technical Support:

❏

http://www.epson.co.uk/support/email/

65

For a full list of EPSON Customer and Warranty Support

❏

services:
http://www.epson.co.uk/support/

Support Via Telephone

Our Customer and Warranty Support teams can be contacted by
calling 0870 163 7766 in the UK or 0044 0870 163 7766 from the
Republic of Ireland. They can provide the following services:

Technical information on installing, configuring and

❏

operating your EPSON products

Arranging for faulty EPSON products to be repaired within

❏

the warranty period

Pre Sales Enquiry Desk

Our Enquiry Desk team can be contacted by calling 0800 220546
in the UK or 1 800 409132 from the Republic of Ireland, by faxing
01442 227271 in the UK or 0044 1442 227271 from the Republic of
Ireland, and via Email at [e-mail]. They can provide the
following information:

66

Pre sales information and literature on new EPSON products

❏

(also available via our world wide web site at
http://www.epson.co.uk)

Where to purchase genuine EPSON consumables,

❏

accessories, and options

For Australian Users

EPSON Australia wishes to provide you with a high level of
Customer Service. As well as the user’s guide, we provide the
following sources for obtaining information:

EPSON FAXBACK

EPSON FAXBACK will fax you the latest specifications and
pricing for most EPSON products offered in Australia. There is
also technical information including details of the latest software
and drivers available. Phone [phone] and the system will
guide you through a number of choices before faxing the
information to your fax machine.

EPSON Bulletin Board System

This is where you can download the latest software and drivers.
Visit the BBS to check out the latest versions. If you have a modem,
phone [phone].

Internet URL http://www.epson.com.au

Access the EPSON Australia World Wide Web pages. Worth
taking your modem here for the occasional surf! You can get the
same information as offered on the EPSON FAXBACK and the
EPSON Bulletin Board plus more.

Your dealer

Don’t forget that your dealer can often help identify and resolve
problems. The dealer should always be the first call for advice on
problems. They can often solve problems quickly and easily as
well as give you advice on the next step to take.

67

EPSON Helpdesk

EPSON Helpdesk is provided as a final backup to make sure our
clients have access to advice. Operators on the Helpdesk can aid
you in diagnosing hardware and software problems. They can
also advise you on the latest EPSON products and where the
nearest dealer or service agent is located. Many types of queries
are answered here.

The Helpdesk numbers are:

Phone:

Fax:

[phone]

[phone]

We encourage you to have all the relevant information on hand
when you ring. The more information you prepare, the faster we
can help solve the problem. This information includes the

for your EPSON product, type of computer, operating

Guide

system, application programs, and any other information you feel
is required.

For India Users

Contacts for information, support and services are:

World Wide Web (www.epson.co.in)

Information on product specifications, drivers for download,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Product Enquiry and
Technical Query are available.

Epson India Bangalore Head Office:

Phone:

Fax:

080 5095465

080 5095474

User’s

68

For Malaysia Users

Contacts for information, support and services are:

World Wide Web (www.epson.com.my)

Information on product specifications, drivers for download,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Email Enquiry are
available.

Epson Trading Shah Alam Head Office

Phone:

Fax:

03 5191366

03 5191281

For Singapore Users

Sources of information, support and services available from
Epson Singapore are:

World Wide Web (www.epson.com.sg)

Information on product specifications, drivers for download,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Sales Enquiry, and Technical
Email Support are available.

Epson HelpDesk < Phone: [phone] >

Our HelpDesk team can help you with the following over the
phone:
Sales enquiry and product information
Product usage questions or problem
Enquiries on repair service and warranty

69

For Hong Kong Users

To obtain technical support as well as other after-sales services,
users are welcome to contact EPSON Hong Kong Limited.

Internet home page

EPSON Hong Kong has established a local home page in both
Chinese and English on the Internet to provide users with the
following information:

Product information

❏

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

❏

Latest versions of EPSON printer drivers

❏

Users can access our World Wide Web home page at:

http://www.epson.com.hk

Electronic bulletin board system

An electronic bulletin board system (BBS) is also available to
obtain printer information and the latest versions of printer
drivers. You can log on to the following number for the BBS
service:

BBS:

(852) 2827-4244

Technical Support Hotline

You can also contact our technical staff at the following telephone
and fax numbers:

Phone:

Fax:

(852) 2585-4399

(852) 2827-4383

70

For Philippines Users

To obtain technical support as well as other after sales services,
users are welcome to contact the EPSON Philippines
Representative Office at the telephone and fax numbers below:

Phone:

Fax:

BBS:

[phone]

[phone]

[phone]

71

Options and Consumable Products

Options and Consumable Products

Options

The following options are available for your printer.

Interface cables

EPSON supplies the following interface cables. However, you can
use any interface cable that meets these specifications. See your
computer manual for any additional requirements.

Parallel Interface Cable (shielded) C83602✽ from D-SUB 25-

❏

pin (computer) to 36-pin Amphenol 57 Series (printer)

USB Interface Cable (shielded) C83623

❏

(computer) to Series B 4-pin (printer) Note:

Note:

❏

The asterisk
number, which varies by location.

❏

Depending on your geographic location, one or both of these cables
may not be supplied.

Caution:

Use only interface cables which meet the specifications listed

c

above. Using other cables not covered by EPSON warranties may
cause the printer to malfunction.

Roll Paper Holder

A Roll Paper Holder C81106✽ is available from EPSON for your
printer.

72

(✽)

is a substitute for the last digit of the product

from Series A 4-pin

✽

Consumable products

The following ink cartridges and EPSON special media are
available for your printer.

Ink cartridges

You can use the following cartridges with your printer.

Black ink cartridge Standard Capacity T007

Light Capacity T010

Color ink cartridge T009

Note:

The product numbers of ink cartridges may vary by location.

EPSON special media

EPSON offers specifically designed media for ink jet printers to
meet most high-quality printing needs.

EPSON Premium Ink Jet Plain Paper (A4) S041214

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041059

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041060

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A3) S041065

EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Super A3/B) S041066

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041061

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041062

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Legal) S041067

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A3) S041068

S041025

S041028

S041046

S041047

S041026

S041029

S041048

S041045

73

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Super A3/B) S041069

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (B) S041070

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (A6) S041054

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (5 × 8”) S041121

EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (8 × 10”) S041122

EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheet (A4) S041106

EPSON Ink Jet Note Cards A6
(with envelopes)

EPSON Ink Jet Greeting Cards 5 × 8”
(with envelopes)

EPSON Ink Jet Greeting Cards 8 × 10”
(with envelopes)

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A4) S041071

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Letter) S041072

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A3) S041073

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Super A3/B) S041074

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (B) S041075

EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A6) S041107

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (A4) S041063

EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (Letter) S041064

EPSON Photo Paper (A4) S041140

EPSON Photo Paper (Letter) S041141

EPSON Photo Paper (A3) S041142

EPSON Photo Paper (Super A3/Super B) S041143

EPSON Photo Paper (B) S041156

EPSON Photo Paper (4 × 6”) S041134

EPSON Photo Paper (100×150 mm) S041255

EPSON Photo Paper (200×300 mm) S041254

EPSON Photo Paper (89mm×7M) S041281

EPSON Photo Paper (100mm×8M) S041279

S041043

S041044

S041147

S041148

S041149

74

EPSON Photo Paper (210mm×10M) S041280

EPSON Photo Paper (329mm×10M) S041233

EPSON Photo Paper Cards (A4) S041177

EPSON Photo Stickers 16 (A6) S041144

EPSON Photo Stickers 4 (A6) S041176

EPSON Panoramic Photo Paper (210 × 594 mm) S041145

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (A4) S041154

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (Letter) S041153

EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper (A3) S041238

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (A4) S041256

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (Letter) S041257

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (A3) S041260

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (A4) S041287

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (Letter) S041286

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (A3) S041288

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (B) S041290

EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper (Super A3/ Super B) S041289

EPSON Matte Paper-Heavyweight (Super A3 / Super B) S041263

EPSON Ink Jet Back Light Film (A3) S041131

S041155

S041258
S041259

S041261
S041262

S041297

S041264
S041265

Note:

The availability of special media varies by location.

75

EPSON OVERSEAS MARKETING LOCATIONS

EPSON AMERICA, INC.

20770 Madrona Ave.
P.O. Box 2842
Torrance, CA 90509-2842
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON DEUTSCHLAND GmbH

Zülpicher Straße 6,
40549 Düsseldorf Germany
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.

70 GIBBES STREET, CHATSWOOD 2067 NSW.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON HONG KONG LTD.

Rooms 4706-10, 47/F,
China Resources Bldg.,
26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON ITALIA S.p.A.

V.le F.lli Casiraghi 427
20099 Sesto S.Giovanni
MI, Italy
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON UK LTD.

Campus 100, Maylands Avenue,
Hemel Hempstead, Herts,
HP2 7TJ, U.K.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON FRANCE S.A.

68 bis, rue Marjolin
92300, Levallois-Perret, France
Phone: [phone]
Telex: 610657

EPSON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.

No. 1 Temasek Avenue #36-00
Millenia Tower, Singapore 039192
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON TAIWAN TECHNOLOGY &
TRADING LTD.

10F, No. 287 Nanking E. Road, Sec. 3,
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

EPSON IBERICA S.A.

Av. de Roma, 18-26
08290 Cerdanyola del Valles
Barcelona, Spain
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
(Hirooka Office)

80 Harashinden, Hirooka
Shiojiri-shi, Nagano-ken
399-0785 Japan

EPSON PORTUGAL, S.A.

R. do Progresso, 471, 1° Perafita
4460 Matosinhos, Portugal
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

1999 September

Color Ink Jet Printer

Daily Use

Printed in Japan

99.XX-XX