Page 1
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
sheet feeder
left edge
guide
thickness lever
paper support
right edge guide
output tray
extensions
ink cartridge
clamps
printer
cover
output
tray
control panel
Printer Specifications
Printing
Printing method On-demand ink jet
Nozzle configuration
black 192 nozzles
color 288 nozzles (96 each cyan, magenta,
yellow)
Resolution Maximum 2880 × 720 dpi
Input buffer 256KB
Print direction Bidirectional with logic seeking
Control code ESC/P2
EPSON Remote, and IBM
emulation code
Character tables 1 italic and 12 graphics character tables
Character sets 14 international character sets and 1 legal
character set
Mechanical
Paper feed
method Friction with auto sheet feeder, rear entry
™
and raster graphics code,
®
X24E
Accessories
User Replaceable Parts
Part name Part number
Paper support assembly 1040662
Printer cover assembly 1056463
Logo plate 1058403
Ink Cartridges
Cartridge Part number
Black T003011
Color T005011
Sheet feeder
capacity Maximum 100 sheets of 17 lb (64 g/m
2
)
paper
Dimensions
Storage Width: 18.4 inches (467 mm)
Depth: 11.7 inches (297 mm)
Height: 7.8 inches (199 mm)
Printing Width: 18.4 inches (467 mm)
Depth: 23.4 inches (594 mm)
Height: 12.8 inches (325 mm)
Weight 18.5 lb (8.4 kg) without the ink cartridges
Electrical
Specification 120 V Model 240 V Model*
Input voltage range 99 to 132 V 198 to 264 V
Rated frequency range 50 to 60 Hz
Input frequency range 49.5 to 60.5 Hz
Rated current 0.7 A 0.4 A
Power consumption Approx. 30 W (ISO/IEC 10561 Letter
Pattern)
* Also designed for IT power systems with Phase to Phase voltage
220–240 V
8/00 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
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Page 2
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Ink Cartridges
Specification
Color(s) Black Cyan, magenta, and
Print capacity* 1200 pages (A4, ISO/IEC
Cartridge life 2 years from production date and up to within
Storage
temperature
Transit
temperature
Freezing
temperature**
Dimensions 1.1 (W) × 2.6 (D) × 1.6 (H)
* The print capacity may vary depending on how often you clean the
print head and use the printer.
** The ink thaws and is usable after approximately 3 hours at 77 °F
(25 °C).
Black ink cartridge
(T003011)
10561 letter pattern);
840 pages at 5%
coverage at 360 dpi)
6 months after opening package at 77 °F (25 °C)
–4 to 104 °F (–20 to 40 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
–22 to 140 °F (–30 to 60 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
120 hours at 140 °F (60 °C)
3.2 °F (–16 °C) –0.4 °F (–18 °C)
inches
28.9 (W) × 67.4 (D) ×
41.8 (H) mm
To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON cartridges
and do not refill them. Other products may cause
damage to your printer not covered by EPSON’s
warranty.
Do not use an ink cartridge after the expiration date on
the package.
Color ink cartridge
(T005011)
yellow
570 pages (A4, 5%
coverage at 360 dpi)
2.1 (W) × 2.7 (D) × 1.6 (H)
inches
54.0 (W) × 67.4 (D) ×
41.8 (H) mm
Environmental
Interfaces
Parallel interface
Forward channel
Specification Description
Data format 8-bit parallel, IEEE-1284 compatibility mode
Synchronization STROBE
Handshake timing BUSY and ACKNLG
Signal level TTL compatible
Connector 57-30360 Amphenol connector or equivalent
Reverse channel
Specification Description
Transmission mode IEEE-1284 Nibble mode
Adaptable connector 57-30360 Amphenol connector or equivalent
Synchronization Refer to the IEEE-1284 specification
Handshaking Refer to the IEEE-1284 specification
Signal level IEEE-1284 Level 1 device
Data transmission timing Refer to the IEEE-1284 specification
USB interface
Specification Description
Standard Based on Universal Serial Bus Specifications
Bit rate 12 Mbps (full speed device)
Data encoding NRZI
Adaptable connector USB Series B
Recommended cable
length
pulse
signals
Revision 1.0, Universal Serial Bus Device Class
Definition for Printing Devices Version 1.0
6.5 feet (2.0 meters)
Temperature
Operation 50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)
Storage
−4 to 140 °F (−20 to 60 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
Transit* –4 to 140 °F (–20 to 60 °C)
120 hours at 140 °F (60 °C)
Humidity (without condensation)
Operation 20 to 80% RH
Storage* 5 to 85% RH
*Stored in shipping container
Safety Approvals
Safety standards UL 1950 with D3, CSA C22.2 No. 950
EMC FCC part 15 subpart B class B
2 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
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Page 3
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Paper
Paper type Size Paper types Thickness Weight
Single sheets Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
Transparencies and
glossy film
Photo Paper 4 × 6 inches (102 × 152 mm)
Glossy Photo Paper* Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
Matte Paper Heavyweight
Photo stickers A6 (105 × 148 mm) with 4 or 16 frames Photo stickers distributed
Self adhesive sheets
and iron-on cool peel
transfer paper
Envelopes #10 9.5 × 4.1 inches (240 × 104 mm)
Cards A6 (105 × 148 mm)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
A5 (148 × 210 mm)
B5 (182 × 257 mm)
Legal (8.5 × 14 inches)
Half letter (5.5 × 8.5 inches)
Executive (7.5 × 10 inches)
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
A6 (105 × 148 mm, glossy film only)
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
Panoramic (8.27 × 23.4 inches, 210 × 594 mm)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
A4 (210 × 297 mm)
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches; Iron-on Cool Peel
Transfer Paper only)
DL 8.7 × 4.3 inches (220
C6 4.4 × 6.4 inches (114 × 162 mm)
Note card envelope 5.2 × 8.7 inches (132 × 220 mm)
5 × 8 inches (127 × 203 mm)
×
110 mm)
Plain paper, bond paper,
and special ink jet papers
distributed by EPSON
Transparencies and glossy
film distributed by EPSON
Photo Paper distributed by
EPSON
Premium Glossy Photo
Paper distributed by EPSON
Matte Paper distributed by
EPSON
by EPSON
Self adhesive sheets and
Iron-on Cool Peel Transfer
Paper distributed by EPSON
Plain, bond, or
air mail paper
Ink jet cards and note cards
distributed by EPSON
0.003 to 0.004 inch
(0.08 to 0.11 mm)
——
——
——
——
——
——
0.006 to 0.02 inch
(0.16 to 0.52 mm)
——
17 to 24 lb
(64 to 90 g/m
12 to 20 lb
(45 to 75 g/m
2
)
2
)
* Premium Glossy Photo Paper is not designed for this printer, and
will not retain its lightfastness when used with this printer.
Notes:
Print only under these conditions:
Temperature: 59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C)
Humidity: 40 to 60% RH
Store glossy film and self adhesive sheets under these conditions:
Temperature: 59 to 86 °F (15 to 30 °C)
Humidity: 20 to 60% RH
Since the quality of any particular brand or type of paper may be
changed by the manufacturer at any time, EPSON cannot guarantee
the use of any particular brand or type of paper. Always test samples
of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing
large jobs.
Poor quality paper may reduce print quality and cause paper jams and
other problems. If you encounter problems, switch to a higher grade
of paper. Do not load curled or folded paper, envelopes, or
transparencies.
8/00 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
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EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Printable Area
Single sheets
and cards
Envelopes
BL
A The minimum top margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm).
When printing multiple sheets of EPSON Photo Quality Glossy
Film, the minimum top margin is 1.2 inches (30 mm).
BL The minimum left margin is 0.12 inch (3.0 mm).
BR The minimum right margin is:
0.35 inch (9.0 mm) for letter and legal
1.10 inches (28 mm) for #10 envelopes
0.28 inch (7 mm) for DL envelopes
0.12 inch (3.0 mm) for all other paper sizes and C6 envelopes.
C1 The minimum bottom margin is 0.55 inch (14.0 mm) using the
Standard printable area setting.
C2 The minimum bottom margin can be decreased to
0.12 inch (3.0 mm) using the Maximum printable area setting.
However, the print quality in the expanded printable area may be
reduced.
Note:
Always load paper into the sheet feeder short edge first except
envelopes. Load envelopes long edge first.
A
BL
C2
BR
C1
A
BR
C1
Media
Paper name Size Part number
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet
Paper
EPSON High Quality Ink
Jet Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink
Jet Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink
Jet Cards
EPSON Photo Paper 4 x 6 inches
EPSON Photo Stickers
Kit (CD-ROM/paper)
EPSON Photo Stickers
(refill)
EPSON Photo Quality
Glossy Film
EPSON Ink Jet
Transparencies
EPSON Photo Quality
Self Adhesive Sheets
EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel
Transfer Paper
(10 sheets/50 sheets)
EPSON Photo Quality
Glossy Paper
EPSON Matte Paper –
Heavyweight
EPSON Premium Glossy
Photo Paper*
* EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper is not designed to be used
with this printer, and will not retain its lightfastness when used with
this printer.
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
Legal
A6 (4.1 x 5.8 inches) S041054
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
Panoramic (8.3 x 23 inches)
A6 (4.1 x 5.8 inches)
A6 (4.1 x 5.8 inches)
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
A6 (4.1 x 5.8 inches)
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches) S041106
Letter S041153/
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
Letter S041257
Letter
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
S041060
S041059
S041111
S041117
S041062
S041061
S041067
S041134
S041141
S041140
S041145
S041144-KIT
S041144
S041072
S041071
S041107
S041064
S041063
S041155
S041124
S041126
S041286
S041285
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Page 5
black cartridge color cartridge
Remove the yellow tape
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Control Panel
The four lights on your printer’s control panel show the
printer’s status and alert you to problems like paper jams.
paper out light
black ink
out light
color ink
out light
cleaning button
P
is on The
S
flashes When the
S
is on When the
B
A
or
flash
B
A
or
are on
P
S
and
flash,
and
B
A
and
are on
P S B A
flash
P S B A
are off
P
power light is on when the printer is ready to print. It
flashes when the printer is receiving a print job or
performing maintenance (i.e., cleaning the print head).
Press the
doesn’t work, turn off the printer and gently pull the paper
forward (toward the output tray). Make sure none of the
sheets are curled, creased, old, stuck together, or too thin.
Then reload the stack against the right edge guide and slide
the left edge guide over to the paper’s left edge. Then turn
the printer on.
incorrectly loaded. Make sure none of the sheets are curled,
creased, old, stuck together, or too thin. Then reload the
stack against the right edge guide and slide the left edge
guide over to the paper’s left edge. Press the
button to resume printing.
When an ink out light flashes, your ink supply is low. Make
sure you have a replacement cartridge.
When an ink out light comes on, replace the ink cartridge.
See page 8 for instructions. If it comes on after you’ve
replaced a cartridge, you’ve installed the wrong cartridge.
When the
B
may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off the
printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. If no paper
ejects, turn off the printer, remove the jammed paper, and
turn it on again. If the lights still flash or stay on, contact
your dealer or EPSON.
When all the lights flash, your printer may have an internal
error. Make sure you removed all the packing material as
described on the
printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again. If the lights
still flash or stay on, contact your dealer or EPSON.
When all the lights are off, the printer is not receiving
power. Try these solutions:
❏
❏
❏
switch or timer.
E
black and
Make sure the printer is turned on.
Turn off the printer, plug in the power cord securely,
and turn on the printer again.
Make sure the outlet works and is not controlled by a
power button
load/eject button
S
paper out light flashes, you have a paper jam.
load/eject button to try to clear the jam. If that
S
paper out light comes on, your paper is out or
P
power and
A
color ink out lights come on, jammed paper
S
Start Here
paper out lights flash and the
poster. Then turn off the
power
light
E
load/eject
Installing an Ink Cartridge for the First Time
1. Plug the power cord into a grounded outlet.
Don’t use an outlet controlled by a wall switch or timer,
or one that uses the same circuit as a large appliance.
This may disrupt the power, which can erase the
printer’s memory or damage its power supply.
2. Lower the output tray and open the printer cover.
3. Press the P power button to turn on the printer. The
P power light flashes, the B black and A color ink out
lights come on, and the black ink cartridge holder moves
slightly left to the installation position.
Always use the
off. Never use an external switch, such as on a power
strip.
4. Remove the ink cartridges from their foil packages. Then
pull off only the yellow part of the tape seal on the top of
each cartridge. It is okay if a bit of the yellow tape remains
on the cartridge. Don’t pull off the blue part.
You must remove the yellow tape seal from the top of
the cartridge or you will permanently damage it. Don’t
remove the tape seal from the bottom.
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with
soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
5. Lift up the black ink cartridge clamp.
power button to turn the printer on or
P
8/00 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
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Page 6
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
6. Place the black ink cartridge in its holder with the label
facing up and toward the back of the printer. Then press
down the clamp until it locks into place.
7. Press the R cleaning button to move the color ink cartridge
holder into the installation position.
If the print head doesn’t move to the color ink cartridge
installation position, hold down the cleaning button for
three seconds until the print head moves to the color ink
cartridge installation position.
8. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to install the color ink cartridge.
9. Press the R cleaning button to begin charging the ink
delivery system, and then close the printer cover.
Testing the Printer
You can run a printer check to determine whether the
problem comes from the printer itself or some other source.
Follow these steps to run the printer check:
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.
2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
Load paper that’s at least 8.27 inches (210 mm) wide.
This prevents ink from spraying inside the printer and
smudging your printouts.
4. Hold down the
the Ppower button. Continue holding down the E load/
eject button until the Ppower light starts to flash, then
release it.
The printer prints one page showing its ROM version
number, ink counter, and a nozzle check pattern in black,
magenta, cyan, and yellow. Only the nozzle check pattern is
shown below.
E load/eject button, then press and release
Charging takes about two minutes. The
P power light flashes,
and the printer makes various sounds until it is finished.
Don’t turn off the printer or interrupt the charging process or
it will start over and you’ll use more ink than necessary.
Charging is complete when the P power light stops flashing
and stays on.
Never turn off the printer when the
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made any
noise for more than five minutes.
power light is
P
5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the
check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on
your printer and computer.
❏ If the check page prints, the problem lies in your
software settings, the interface cable, or your computer.
Or your printer or application software may not be
installed correctly.
❏ If the check page does not print correctly, you may have
a problem with your printer. First try cleaning the print
head (see page 10). Then try the suggestions in
“Problems and Solutions” in the Printer Basics book or
“Troubleshooting” in the electronic EPSON Stylus
COLOR 980 Reference Guide.
6 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
8/00
Page 7
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
setting for regular
paper
setting for
envelopes and
thick paper
Printing on Special Media
Whether you print on plain paper or special media, you need
to make sure you select the correct Media Type setting in the
printer software, as shown in the following table.
Then select this Media
For this media name...
Plain paper, letter size Plain paper
Envelopes
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer
Paper*
EPSON High Quality Ink Jet Paper Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards
EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive
Sheets
EPSON Matte Paper – Heavyweight Matte Paper – Heavyweight
EPSON Photo Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper
EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper Premium Glossy Photo
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film** Photo Quality Glossy Film
EPSON Photo Stickers
EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies Ink Jet Transparencies
Type setting in your
printer software...
Photo Paper
Paper
❏ Load paper only up to the arrow mark on the left edge
guide.
❏ Remember to select the correct Media Type and Paper Size
for your paper.
❏ If the special media has protective sheets between the sheets
of media, be sure to remove the protective sheets before
printing. After printing, cover the printed side of your
media with these sheets before storing.
❏ Use ink jet papers within one year of purchase. Use glossy
film and transparencies within six months. Return unused
sheets and envelopes to their original packages as soon as
possible. See “Paper” on page 3 for more media storage
information.
❏ Set the thickness lever to the
position when you print on
+
envelopes or if ink smears when you print on other thick
media. Open the printer cover and position the lever as
shown below. Then close the cover and print. (Make sure
you return the lever to the
position before you print on
0
regular media.)
* Use the Flip Horizontal option to reverse your image before you
print it—especially if it includes text—so the image will appear
correctly when it’s transferred.
** EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper is not designed to be used
with this printer, and will not retain its lightfastness when used
with this printer.
Media Loading and Handling Guidelines
Don’t use any cleaning sheets included with special
media; they may jam inside the printer.
The type of paper or other media you use is one of the most
important factors in determining the quality of your printed
output. The following tips will help you get the best results on
any type of paper or other media:
❏ Always handle sheets by the edges, and don’t touch the
printable surface.
❏ Be sure to load the printable (whiter or glossier) side of the
media face up in the sheet feeder.
Media Guidelines
Envelopes Up to 10 envelopes. Set the paper
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
and Photo Quality Ink Jet
Paper
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet
Cards
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy
Film
EPSON Ink Jet
Transparencies
thickness lever to the + position.
Up to the arrow mark on the left edge
guide.
Up to 30 cards. Always place the
support sheet* included in your Media
Pack under the cards.
One sheet at a time, or a maximum of
20 sheets. When loading multiple
sheets, set the minimum top margin of
the page to 1.2 inches. Always put a
support sheet* or a sheet of plain
paper under the glossy film.
Up to 30 transparencies. Always put a
sheet of plain paper under the stack of
transparencies.
8/00 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
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Page 8
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Media Guidelines
EPSON Photo Quality SelfAdhesive Sheets and Iron-On
Cool Peel Transfer Paper
EPSON Photo Stickers One sheet at a time
EPSON Photo Paper Up to 20 sheets. Always put a support
EPSON Matte Paper –
Heavyweight
EPSON Premium Glossy
Photo Paper**
* Don’t print on support sheets that are loaded under special media.
** EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper is not designed to be used
with this printer, and will not retain its lightfastness when used
with this printer.
One sheet at a time
sheet* under the stack of Photo Paper.
Up to 20 sheets. Always put a
support sheet* under the stack of
Matte Paper – Heavyweight.
One sheet at a time.
Printing on Both Sides of the Paper
This section includes instructions for standard double-sided
printing. For inofrmation about how to create single-fold
booklets, see your electronic Reference Guide.
Follow these steps to print on both sides of the page:
If you’re printing a document that is longer than 60 pages,
you’ll need to print it in sections. For example, if you were
printing a 175-page document, you would print it in three
sections of 30, 30, and 28 sheets of paper.
If you’re printing a document with an odd number of
pages, make sure you print even numbers of pages for the
first sections and an odd number of pages for the last
section. That way, if you have a blank page, it will appear at
the end of your document.
Removing Jammed Paper
When the S paper out light flashes, you have a paper jam.
Press the
E load/eject button to try to clear the jam. If that
doesn’t work, turn off the printer and gently pull the paper
forward (toward the output tray) to pull it out. Don’t pull the
paper backward (toward the paper support). Make sure none
of the sheets are curled, creased, old, stuck together, or too
thin. Then reload the paper against the right edge guide and
slide the left edge guide against it. Turn on the printer and
press the E load/eject button to resume printing.
Replacing an Ink Cartridge
1. Load plain paper or another double-sided media in your
printer. You can print up to 60 pages at a time on 30 sheets
of paper.
2. Windows: Select
File > Print. When the EPSON Stylus
COLOR Properties dialog box appears, click the Layout tab
and choose
Macintosh: Select
Sided Printing
3. Click
Double-Sided Printing.
File > Page Setup. Then click Double-
in the Page Setup dialog box.
OK to save your settings.
4. Start printing.
Windows: Click
Macintosh: Select
OK on your application’s Print dialog box.
File > Print, then click Print on the
printer settings dialog box.
The printer prints all the odd-numbered pages, starting
with page 1. When all of the odd-numbered pages have
printed, you see an alert on your screen telling you to reload
the paper.
5. Take the entire stack that you have printed and, without
changing the order of the pages, reload the paper printed
side down, the the top edge first.
6. Click
Resume on the alert window. The printer prints the
even-numbered pages.
When the B black or A color ink out light flashes, the
indicated cartridge is low on ink. This is a good time to make
sure you have a new cartridge. When the light stays on, the
cartridge is empty and you need to replace it. You cannot
print if either ink cartridge is empty.
To check the level of ink you have left, see the graphic in the
printer driver Properties window (Windows); or click the
ink level icon in the main printer settings dialog box for your
application, or in the EPSON Monitor 3 utility (Macintosh).
Use these EPSON ink cartridges within six months of
installing them and before the expiration date on the package:
❏ Black ink cartridge T003011
❏ Color ink cartridge T005011
To ensure good results, use genuine EPSON ink cartridges
and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage
to your printer not covered by EPSON’s warranty.
When you need new ink cartridges, contact your dealer or call
the EPSON Store
™
at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). Or
visit the EPSON Store at www.epson.com (U.S. sales only). In
Canada, please call (800) 873-7766 for dealer referral.
If you need to replace an ink cartridge before the lights flash
(because the ink is too old, for example), see the instructions
in “Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge” on page 9.
8 - EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
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Page 9
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges
You can replace a cartridge when the B black or A color ink
out light is either flashing or on. (If you perform these steps
when both ink out lights are off, the printer cleans the print
heads as described on page 10.)
Follow these steps to replace an ink cartridge when its ink out
light is on:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing, then
open the printer cover.
2. Press the R cleaning button and hold it for about three
seconds until the print head moves left and the P power
light begins flashing. The print head moves to the black or
color cartridge replacement position, depending on which
ink cartridge is empty.
To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head
by hand. Don’t open the clamp or remove a cartridge
except to replace it with a new one. Once you remove a
cartridge, you can’t reuse it, even if it contains ink.
3. Remove the new ink cartridge from its packaging.
4. Remove only the yellow part of the tape seal on top as
shown to the right. Don’t pull off the blue portion or try to
remove the clear seal underneath the cartridge.
Remove the yellow tape
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with
soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
7. Lower the new ink cartridge into its holder with the label
facing up and toward the back of the printer.
8. Press down the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in place.
9. If you need to replace the other ink cartridge, repeat steps 2
through 8 before continuing with step 10.
10. Press the R cleaning button and close the printer cover.
The printer moves the print head and begins charging the
ink delivery system.
The P power light flashes, and the printer makes various
sounds. Charging takes about one minute. When it’s finished,
the Ppower light stops flashing and stays on.
Never turn off the printer while the
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
power light is
P
black cartridge color cartridge
You must remove the yellow tape from the top of the
cartridge or you will permanently damage it. Do not
remove the clear seal from the bottom of the cartridge;
ink will leak.
5. Pull up the ink cartridge clamp. The cartridge rises up from
its holder.
6. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it
carefully.
Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge
If an ink cartridge is more than six months old, you may need
to replace it. You may notice that your printouts don’t look as
good as they used to. If print quality doesn’t improve after
cleaning and aligning the print head, you can replace one or
both cartridges.
Follow these steps to replace an ink cartridge before the B black
or A color ink out light is flashing or on:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing, then
open the printer cover.
2. Press the E load/eject button and hold it down for three
seconds until the print head moves to the left to the black
ink cartridge replacement position and the Ppower light
begins flashing.
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EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
3. If you need to replace only the color ink cartridge, press the
E load/eject button again until the print head moves to the
color ink cartridge replacement position.
If the print head moves to the home position instead of the
color ink cartridge replacement position, try holding down
E
load/eject button for three seconds until the print
the
head moves to the black ink cartridge replacement
position; then press the
second to move the print head to the color ink cartridge
replacement position.
To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head
by hand. Don’t open the clamp or remove a cartridge
except to replace it with a new one. Once you remove a
cartridge, you can’t reuse it, even if it contains ink.
load/eject button for half a
E
4. Remove the new ink cartridge from its packaging.
5. Remove only the yellow part of the tape seal on top, as
shown below. Don’t pull off the blue portion or try to
remove the clear seal underneath the cartridge.
Remove the yellow tape
8. Lower the new ink cartridge into its holder with the label
facing up and toward the back of the printer.
9. Press down the ink cartridge clamp until it locks in place.
10. Press the E load/eject button. The print head moves to the
color ink cartridge replacement position. If you need to
replace the color ink cartridge, repeat steps 6 through 9.
Then continue with step 11.
11. Press the E load/eject button again and close the printer
cover.
The printer moves the print head and begins charging the ink
delivery system. The P power light flashes and the printer
makes various sounds.
Charging takes about one minute. When it’s finished, the P
power light stops flashing and stays on.
Never turn off the printer while the
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
power light is
P
black cartridge color cartridge
You must remove the yellow tape from the top of the
cartridge or you will permanently damage it. Do not
remove the clear seal from the bottom of the cartridge; ink
will leak.
6. Pull up the ink cartridge clamp. The cartridge rises up from
its holder.
7. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it
carefully.
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with
soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
Cleaning the Print Head
If your printed image is unexpectedly light or faint, or dots are
missing from the image, you may need to clean the print head.
This unclogs the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly.
Cleaning the print head uses ink, so clean it only if print
quality declines. You can clean the print head in either of the
following ways:
❏ Using the Head Cleaning utility in your printer software
(when the printer is connected to a local port, not over a
network)
❏ Using the printer’s control panel buttons
Always wait until your document has finished printing before
cleaning the print head.
If you use special paper that comes with a cleaning
sheet, don’t use the cleaning sheet with your printer; it
may jam inside the printer.
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gaps in pattern
gaps in pattern
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Using the Head Cleaning Utility
Follow these steps to run the Head Cleaning utility:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and
both the B black and A color ink out lights are off.
2. Access the printer settings dialog box.
3. Click the
(Macintosh).
4. On the Utility menu, click the
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to clean the print
head. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the
printer makes some noise and the P power light flashes.
6. When the P power light stops flashing, run a nozzle check
to test the results and reset the cleaning cycle.
Make sure paper is loaded in the printer and click
nozzle check pattern
(Macintosh). Then click
prints; see “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on
page 11 for details.
7. If the nozzle check pattern is filled in completely, click
Finish.
Utility tab (Windows) or the Utility icon
Head Cleaning button.
Never turn off the printer while the
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
(Windows) or Confirmation
Next. The nozzle check pattern
P power light is
Print
4. Start an application, open a document, and access the
printer settings dialog box.
5. Click the
Utility tab (Windows) or the Utility button
(Macintosh). You see the Utility menu.
6. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer, click the
Check button, and click Next. The nozzle check pattern
Nozzle
prints on the printer; see “Examining the Nozzle Check
Pattern” on page 11 for details.
7. If the nozzle check pattern is filled in completely, click
Finish.
If the pattern has any gaps, click
Clean to clean the print
head again.
8. If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning two or
three times, try the suggestions in “Problems and Solutions”
in the Printer Basics book or “Troubleshooting” in the
electronic EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Reference Guide.
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern
Examine the nozzle check pattern you print. It should look
something like this:
If the pattern has any gaps, click
Clean to clean the print head
again. If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning two or
three times, try the suggestions in “Problems and Solutions” in
the Printer Basics book or “Troubleshooting” in the electronic
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Reference Guide.
Using the Control Panel
Follow these steps to clean the print head:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and
both the B black and A color ink out lights are off.
2. Press the
seconds. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the
printer makes some noise and the P power light flashes.
3. After the P power light stops flashing, print a page to test
the print quality and reset the cleaning cycle.
If you’re connected directly to the printer, run a nozzle
check. Go to step 4.
If you’re using DOS or printing over a network, open an
application and print a document containing black and
color data. Then go to step 8.
R cleaning button and hold it down for three
Never turn off the printer while the
flashing, unless the printer hasn’t moved or made noise
for more than 5 minutes.
P power light is
Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be
complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If your printout
looks okay, you’re done. If there are gaps in the lines, as shown
below, clean the print head again; see page 10 for instructions.
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EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Aligning the Print Head
If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may
need to align the print head. To use the Print Head Alignment
utility, the printer must be connected to your computer. You
can’t have a network connection to the printer.
If you are using DOS or you have a network connection to the
printer, follow the instructions in “Aligning the Print Head
Using the Control Panel Buttons” instead.
Follow these steps:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and letter-size paper is
loaded.
Load paper that’s at least 8.27 inches (210 mm) wide.
This prevents ink from spraying inside the printer and
smudging your printouts.
For the best results, load EPSON ink jet paper in the
printer whenever you check the print head alignment.
2. Access the printer settings dialog box.
3. Click the
(Macintosh). You see the Utility menu.
4. Click the
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to print a test page
and select the correct alignment.
You may need to repeat steps 4 and 5 more than once to align
your print head correctly.
Utility
tab (Windows) or the Utility button
Print Head Alignment
button.
3. The
S
paper out light flashes for about three seconds. While
it is flashing, press the
E
load/eject button.
The printer prints a sheet of instructions in English, French,
German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese explaining how
to align the print heads. Follow these instructions.
If the
load/eject button isn’t pressed while the
E
out light is flashing, the printer enters default-setting
mode. If this happens, turn off the printer and repeat
steps 2 and 3.
S paper
4. After aligning the print head, turn off the printer to exit
print head alignment mode.
Cleaning the Printer
To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it
several times a year. Follow these steps:
1. Turn off the printer, unplug the 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.
Never use alcohol or thinner for cleaning; they can
damage the printer components and case.
Aligning the Print Head Using the Control Panel Buttons
If you can’t use the print head alignment utility program that
came with your printer, follow these steps to align the print
head.
1. Make sure that letter-size or A4-size paper is loaded in the
sheet feeder.
2. While holding down the
P
power button
to turn on the printer. Then release both
buttons.
R cleaning button
press the
,
Don’t use a hard or abrasive brush.
Don’t get water on the printer components and don’t
spray lubricants or oils inside the printer.
Don’t use any cleaning sheets included with special
media; they may jam inside the printer.
Transporting the Printer
If you move your printer some distance, you need to prepare it
for transportation in its original box. 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. Turn on the printer and wait until the print head locks in
the far right position. Then turn off the printer.
2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. Then
disconnect the printer cable from the printer.
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3. Remove any paper from the printer and remove the paper
support.
4. Open the printer cover. Secure the ink cartridge holder to
the printer with tape as shown, then close the printer cover.
5. Push in the output tray extensions and close the tray.
6. Repack the printer and attachments in the original box
using the protective materials that came with it. See the
Start Here poster for details.
Be sure to keep the printer level as you transport it. If you
notice a decline in print quality after transporting the printer,
clean the print head (see page 10); if output is misaligned,
align the print head (see page 12).
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980
Related Documentation
TM-SC980 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Service
Manual
PL-SC980 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Parts Price
List
CPD-10632 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Printer
Basics
CPD-10633 EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Start Here
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Reference
Guide (HTML format; to view it, you
need a browser, such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer 3.0 or later or Netscape
Navigator
®
3.0 or later)
EPSON Stylus COLOR 980 Fix-it Flix
(Flash movies on the printer software CDROM that show the user how to load
paper and envelopes, change ink
cartridges, clean the print head using both
software and control panel buttons, and
print on both sides of the paper [duplex
printing].)
®
SM
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