Epson B 500DN User Manual
User’s Guide
NPD3349-00
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Contents
Copyright and Trademarks
Operating System Versions
Safety Instructions
Important Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Setting up the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Choosing a place for the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Handling ink cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chapter 1 Using Your Software
Overview of Printer Driver and Status Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Accessing the printer driver for Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Printing Web Pages to Fit to Your Paper Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Accessing EPSON Web-To-Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Uninstalling the Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Uninstalling the printer driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Uninstalling the User’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Chapter 2 Paper Handling
Using Special Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Loading capacities for Epson special media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Storing Epson photo paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Loading Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Into the front paper cassette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Into the rear sheet feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Loading Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Setting Output Tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Setting output support tray for Epson Professional Flyer Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Selecting the Correct Paper Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Contents 2
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Chapter 3 Basic Printing
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Printing Photos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Printing Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Printing Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Printing on Envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Printing Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Preparing the print file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Loading paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Printer settings for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Printing Web Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Loading paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Using EPSON Web-To-Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Printing Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Loading paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Printer settings for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Printing on Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Loading envelopes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Printer settings for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Canceling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Using the printer button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
For Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Chapter 4 Printing with Special Layout Options
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Double-Sided Printing (for Windows only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Fit to Page Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Pages Per Sheet Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Poster Printing (for Windows only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Watermark Printing (for Windows only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Double-Sided Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Standard double-sided printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Folded booklet double-sided printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Fit to Page Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Printer settings for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Pages Per Sheet Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Printer settings for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Poster Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Printer settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
How to make a poster from your printouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Watermark Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Contents 3
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Printing the watermark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Creating your own watermark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Chapter 5 Using the Control Panel
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
For B-500DN users. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
For B-300 users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
For B-500DN users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Buttons and lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Icons on the LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
How to access the control panel menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Control panel menu list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Status and error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Printing the status sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
For B-300 users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Buttons and lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Status and error lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Printing the status sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Chapter 6 Installing Option
Duplex Unit (B-300 only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Installing the duplex unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Uninstalling the duplex unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Chapter 7 Replacing Consumables
Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Checking the ink cartridge status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Handling precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Replacing an ink cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Maintenance Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Checking the maintenance box status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Handling precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Replacing a maintenance box. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Chapter 8 Maintaining Your Printer
Checking the Print Head Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Using the Nozzle Check utility for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Contents 4
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Using the control panel (B-500DN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Using the printer buttons (B-300) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Using the Head Cleaning utility for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Using the control panel (B-500DN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Using the printer buttons (B-300) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Aligning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Using the Print Head Alignment utility for Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Using the control panel (B-500DN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Cleaning Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Cleaning Inside of Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Using the control panel (B-500DN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Using the printer buttons (B-300) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Transporting Your Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Chapter 9 Using the Printer on a Network
Setting Up the Printer on a Network (for B-500DN Users only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Setting Up the Printer as the Shared Printer for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Setting up the print server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Setting up each client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Chapter 10 Troubleshooting
Diagnosing the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Error indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
EPSON Status Monitor (for Windows only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Running a printer operation check (for B-500DN users) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Running a printer operation check (for B-300 users) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Checking Printer Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
For Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
The Paper Jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Print Quality Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Horizontal banding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Vertical misalignment or banding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Incorrect or missing colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Blurry or smeared printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Miscellaneous Printout Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Incorrect or garbled characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Incorrect margins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Printout has a slight slant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Inverted image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Contents 5
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Blank pages print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Printed side is smeared or scuffed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Printing is too slow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Paper Does Not Feed Correctly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Paper does not feed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Multiple pages feed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Paper is improperly loaded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Paper is not ejected fully or is wrinkled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
The Printer Does Not Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
All lights are off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Lights came on and then went out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
The Power light is on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Increasing the Print Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Other Problem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Print head cleaning does not start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
The color ink is consumed even when printing in black ink only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Feel a slight electric shock when you touch the printer (short-circuit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Appendix A Where To Get Help
Technical Support Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Contacting Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Before Contacting Epson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Help for Users in Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Help for Users in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Help for Users in Singapore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Help for Users in Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Help for Users in Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Help for Users in Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Help for Users in Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Help for Users in Malaysia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Help for Users in India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Help for Users in the Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Appendix B Product Information
Printer Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
B-500DN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
B-300. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Paper, Consumables, and Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Ink cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Contents 6
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Maintenance box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Duplex unit (B-300 users only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
For using the printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Ink cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Standards and approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Index
Contents 7
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Copyright and Trademarks
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 Corporation shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or any consumable
products other than those designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
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
Microsoft
is a registered trademark and Exceed Your Vision is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
®
, Windows®, and Windows Vista® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
DPOF™ is a trademark of CANON INC., Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
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 © 2008 Seiko Epson Corporation. All rights reserved.
Copyright and Trademarks 8
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Operating System Versions
In this manual, the following abbreviations are used.
Windows refers to Windows Vista, XP, XP x64 and 2000.
❏ Windows Vista refers to Windows Vista Home Basic Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, Windows
Vista Business Edition, Windows Vista Enterprise Edition, and Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
❏ Windows XP refers to Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Windows XP
Professional.
❏ Windows 2000 refers to Windows 2000 Professional.
Operating System Versions 9
Safety Instructions
Important Safety Instructions
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Read all of the instructions in this section before using the printer. Also, be sure to follow all
warnings and instructions marked on the printer.
Setting up the printer
Observe the following when setting up the printer:
❏ Do not block or cover the vents and openings in the printer.
❏ Use only the type of power source indicated on the printer’s label.
❏ Use only the power cord that comes with the printer. Use of another cord may result in fire or
electric shock.
❏ The printer’s power cord is for use with the printer only. Use with other equipment may result
in fire or electric shock.
❏ Be sure your AC power cord meets the relevant local safety standard.
❏ Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly
switch on and off.
2007/07/26 09:45:03We unlocked this section for modification request.
New :Depends on model
❏ 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 that the total ampere rating of the
devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make
sure that 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.
Safety Instructions 10
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
❏ 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 casing damaged; the printer does not operate normally or exhibits a distinct
change in performance.
❏ If you plan to use the printer in Germany, the building installation must be protected by a 10 or
16 amp circuit breaker to provide adequate short-circuit protection and over-current protection
for the printer.
❏ When connecting the printer to a computer or other device with a cable, ensure the correct
orientation of the connectors. Each connector has only one correct orientation. Inserting a
connector in the wrong orientation may damage both devices connected by the cable.
❏ If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a qualified electrician. If there are
fuses in the plug, make sure you replace them with fuses of the correct size and rating.
❏ Do not hold the duplex unit when you lift the printer to prevent the duplex unit from becoming
detached. Also, make sure that the duplex unit is attached correctly after setting up the printer.
Choosing a place for the printer
Observe the following when choosing a place for the printer:
❏ Place the printer on a flat, stable surface that extends beyond the base of the printer in all
directions. If you place the printer by the wall, leave more than 10 cm between the back of the
printer and the wall. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted at an angle.
❏ When storing or transporting the printer, do not tilt it, stand it on its side, or turn it upside
down. Otherwise, ink may leak from the ink packs.
❏ Leave enough space in front of the printer for the paper to be fully ejected.
❏ 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 dust, shocks, or 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.
Using the printer
2007/07/26 09:45:03We unlocked this section for modification request.
Observe the following when using the printer:
Safety Instructions 11
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
❏ Avoid touching the components inside the printer unless instructed to do so in this guide.
❏ Do not insert objects through the slots in the printer.
❏ Take care not to spill liquid on the printer.
❏ Do not touch the white flat cable inside the printer.
❏ Do not put your hand inside the printer during printing.
❏ Do not use aerosol products that contain flammable gases inside or around this product. Doing
so may cause fire.
❏ Do not move the print head by hand; otherwise, you may damage the printer.
❏ Always turn off the printer using the P Power button. When this button is pressed, the
P Power light flashes. Do not unplug the printer or turn off the power to the outlet until the
P Power light stops flashing.
❏ Before transporting the printer, make sure that the print head is in the home (far right) position.
❏ Be careful not to trap your fingers when closing the printer cover.
Handling ink cartridges
Observe the following when handling ink cartridges:
❏ Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children and do not drink the ink.
❏ If ink gets on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
❏ Shake the ink cartridge well before installing it for best results.
Safety Instructions 12
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Caution:
c
Do not shake cartridges (that have been installed previously) with too much force.
❏ Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the cartridge carton.
❏ Use up the ink cartridge within six months of installation for best results.
❏ Do not dismantle the ink cartridges. This could damage the print head.
❏ Store ink cartridges in a cool, dark place.
❏ 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.
❏ Do not touch the green IC chip on the side of the cartridge. This may affect normal operation
and printing.The IC chip on this ink cartridge retains a variety of cartridge related-information,
such as the ink cartridge status, so that the 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. If you remove an ink cartridge for later use, protect
the ink supply area from dirt and dust, and store it in the same environment as this product.
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
supply port or surrounding area.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes in this User's Guide are indicated as below and have the following
meaning.
Warnings
w
must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
Cautions
c
must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
Notes
contain important information and useful tips on the operation of the printer.
Safety Instructions 13
Chapter 1
Using Your Software
Overview of Printer Driver and Status Monitor
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
The printer driver lets you choose from a wide variety of settings to get the best printing results.
Status Monitor and the printer utilities help you check the printer and keep it in top operating
condition.
2007/07/26 09:45:03We unlocked this section for modification request.
Accessing the printer driver for Windows
You can access the printer driver from most Windows applications, the Windows Start menu, or
the taskbar.
To make settings that apply only to the application you are using, access the printer driver from
that application.
To make settings that apply to all of your Windows applications, access the printer driver from the
Start menu or the taskbar.
Refer to the following sections to access the printer driver.
Note:
Screen shots of the printer driver windows in this User's Guide are from Windows XP.
From Windows applications
1. Click Print or Print Setup on the File menu.
2. In the window that appears, click Printer, Setup, Options, Preferences, or Properties.
(Depending on your application, you may need to click one or a combination of these buttons.)
Using Your Software 14
From the Start menu
1. Windows Vista:
Click the start button, select Control Panel, and then select Printer from the Hardware and
Sound category. (If the Control Panel is in Classic View, click Printers.)
Windows XP:
Click Start, Control Panel, then click Printers and Faxes. (If the Control Panel is in Category
View, click Printers and Other Hardware, then click Printers and Faxes.)
Windows 2000:
Click Start, point to Settings, then click Printers.
2. Windows Vista:
Select the printer and then click Select printing preferences.
Windows XP and 2000:
Select the printer, then click Printing Preferences on the File menu.
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
From the shortcut icon on the taskbar
Right-click the printer icon on the taskbar, then select Printer Settings.
To add a short cut icon to the Windows taskbar, first access the printer driver from the Start menu
as described above. Next, click the Maintenance tab, the Speed & Progress button, and then the
Monitoring Preferences button. In the Monitoring Preferences window, select the Select
Shortcut Icon check box.
Getting information through online help
You can access online help for items in the printer driver from your application or the Windows
Start menu.
& See “Accessing the printer driver for Windows” on page 14.
In the printer driver window, try one of the following procedures.
❏ Right-click the item, then click Help.
❏ Click the button at the top right of the window, then click the item (for Windows XP and
2000 only).
Using Your Software 15
Printing Web Pages to Fit to Your Paper Size
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
EPSON Web-To-Page lets you make Web pages fit to your paper size when printing. You can also
see a preview before printing.
Note:
This software is not available for Windows Vista and XP x64.
Note for Windows Internet Explorer 7 users:
Printing web pages to fit to your paper size is a standard feature in Windows Internet Explorer 7.
Using Your Software 16
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Accessing EPSON Web-To-Page
After you install EPSON Web-To-Page, the menu bar is displayed on the Windows Internet
Explorer Toolbar. If it does not appear, select Toolbars from the View menu of Internet Explorer,
and then select EPSON Web-To-Page.
Uninstalling the Printer Software
Uninstalling the printer driver
You may need to uninstall your printer driver if you:
❏ Upgrade your computer’s operating system.
❏ Update your printer driver with a newer version.
❏ Have a problem with the printer driver.
If you are upgrading your operating system or updating the printer driver version, be sure to
uninstall the current printer driver before upgrading or installing the new driver. Otherwise, the
driver update will not work.
For Windows
Note:
❏ To uninstall programs in Windows Vista, you need an administrator account and the password if you
log on as a standard user.
2007/07/26 09:45:03We unlocked this section for modification request.
New :Depends on model
❏ To uninstall programs in Windows XP, you must log on to a Computer Administrator account.
❏ To uninstall programs in Windows 2000, you must log on as a user with administrative privileges
(belonging to the Administrators group).
Using Your Software 17
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
1. Turn off the printer and disconnect its interface cable.
2. Windows Vista:
Click the start button and select Control Panel.
Windows XP:
Click Start and select Control Panel.
Windows 2000:
Click Start, point to Settings, and select Control Panel.
3. Windows Vista:
Click Uninstall a program from the Programs category, and then select EPSON Printer
Software from the list.
Windows XP and 2000:
Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon and select EPSON Printer Software from the
list.
4. Windows Vista:
Click Uninstall/Change.
Windows XP and 2000:
Click Change/Remove.
5. Select the icon for your printer and click OK.
6. Click OK to uninstall the printer driver.
Using Your Software 18
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Uninstalling the User’s Guide
For Windows
2007/07/26 09:45:03We unlocked this section for modification request.
Note:
❏ To uninstall programs in Windows Vista, you need an administrator account and the password if you
log on as a standard user.
❏ To uninstall programs in Windows XP, you must log on to a Computer Administrator account.
❏ To uninstall programs in Windows 2000, you must log on as a user with administrative privileges
(belonging to the Administrators group).
1. Turn off the printer and disconnect its interface cable.
2. Windows Vista:
Click the start button and select Control Panel.
Windows XP:
Click Start, then select Control Panel.
Windows 2000:
Click Start, point to Settings, and select Control Panel.
3. Windows Vista:
Click Uninstall a program from the Programs category.
Windows XP and 2000:
Double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon.
4. Select this printer's Manual from the list.
5. Windows Vista:
Click Uninstall/Change.
Windows XP and 2000:
Click Change/Remove.
6. Click OK.
Using Your Software 19
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Chapter 2
Paper Handling
Using Special Paper
You can achieve good results with most types of plain bond paper. However, coated papers
provide superior printouts because they absorb less ink.
Epson provides special papers that are formulated for the ink used in Epson ink jet printers, and
recommends these papers to ensure high-quality results.
& See “Paper, Consumables, and Option” on page 156.
When loading special paper distributed by Epson, read the instruction sheets packed with the
paper first and keep the following points in mind.
Note:
❏ Load the paper into the rear sheet feeder printable side up. The printable side is usually whiter or glossier.
See the instruction sheets packed with the paper for more information. Some types of paper have cut
corners to help identify the correct loading direction.
❏ If the paper is curled, flatten it or curl it slightly in the opposite direction before loading. Printing on
curled paper may cause ink to smear on your printout.
Note for Professional Flyer Paper:
❏ If water gets on the printable side, wipe off the water. Be careful not to scuff or scratch the printable side.
❏ Do not touch the printable side. Moisture and oils from your skin can affect print quality.
❏ Professional Flyer Paper supports double-sided printing. When you use the double-sided printing
function, feed the paper manually.
❏ When you use the double-sided printing function, let the printed side dry for about 20 minutes before
printing the back side.
Paper Handling 20
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
❏ When you use the double-sided printing function, printing the low print duty side first is recommended.
Depending on the print pattern, marks made by the rollers may appear on the printed side. Print one test
copy and examine the results before printing many sheets.
❏ Depending on the printing environment, the output paper cannot be stacked. In this case, use the output
support tray.
Output support tray stacks 50 sheets of one-sided printing and 25 sheets of double-sided printing.
& See “Setting output support tray for Epson Professional Flyer Paper” on page 28.
Loading capacities for Epson special media
Refer to the table below for the loading capacities of Epson special paper and other media.
Front paper cassette:
Media Type Loading Capacity
Epson Bright White Ink Jet Paper Up to 400 sheets
Rear sheet feeder:
Media Type Loading Capacity
Single-sided Printing Manual Double-sided Printing
Epson Bright White Ink Jet Paper Up to 100 sheets Up to 70 sheets
Epson Professional Flyer Paper Up to 70 sheets Up to 50 sheets
Epson Photo Paper Up to 60 sheets -
Epson Matte Paper-Heavyweight Up to 20 sheets -
Epson Double-Sided Matte Paper Up to 1 sheet Up to 1 sheet
Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper Up to 100 sheets -
Envelopes Up to 15 sheets -
New :Depends on model (See Spec)
Note:
If the paper is curled, flatten it or curl it slightly in the opposite direction. Make sure the paper stack fits
under the c arrow mark inside the edge guide.
Paper Handling 21
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Storing Epson photo paper
Return unused paper to the original package as soon as you finish printing. Epson recommends
storing your printouts in a resealable plastic bag. Keep them away from high temperature,
humidity, and direct sunlight.
Loading Paper
Follow these steps to load paper:
Into the front paper cassette
1. Pull out the front paper cassette.
New :Depends on model
Paper Handling 22
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
2. Slide the edge guides while pinching their knob to accommodate the paper you are loading.
3. Fan a stack of paper, then tap it on a flat surface to even the edges.
4. Load the paper with the printable side down.
Note:
Avoid adding paper before running out of paper. Doing so may prevent the paper from feeding smoothly.
Paper Handling 23
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
5. Slide the edge guides while pinching their knob to fit the paper you are loading.
6. Reinsert the cassette into the printer.
Note:
❏ Do not insert the front paper cassette with force. Doing so may cause the paper to jam.
❏ Do not move the edge guides after reinserting the front paper cassette. Doing so may cause the paper
to jam.
7. Slide out and extend the extension tray.
Paper Handling 24
Note:
❏ Leave enough space in front of the printer for the paper to be fully ejected.
❏ Make sure the paper stack fits under the c arrow mark inside the left edge guide.
Into the rear sheet feeder
1. Open the paper support.
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
2. Slide out and extend the extension tray.
3. Slide the left edge guide to the left.
Paper Handling 25
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
4. Fan a stack of paper, then tap it on a flat surface to even the edges.
5. Load the paper with the printable side up, against the right side of the rear sheet feeder. Then
slide the left edge guide against the left edge of the paper.
Note:
❏ Leave enough space in front of the printer for the paper to be fully ejected.
❏ Always load paper into the rear sheet feeder short edge first, even when you are printing
landscape-oriented pictures.
❏ Avoid adding paper before running out of paper. Doing so may prevent the paper from feeding smoothly.
❏ Make sure the paper stack fits under the c arrow mark inside the left edge guide.
Loading Envelopes
Follow these steps to load envelopes:
1. Open the paper support.
New :Depends on model (See Spec)Need an Illustration in step 5
Paper Handling 26
2. Slide out and extend the extension tray.
3. Slide the left edge guide to the left.
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
4. Load envelopes short edge first with the flap facing down and to the left. Then slide the left
edge guide against the left edge of the envelopes.
Paper Handling 27
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Note:
❏ The thickness of envelopes and their ability to fold vary widely. If the total thickness of the stack of
envelopes exceeds 15 mm, press down on the envelopes to flatten them before loading. If print quality
declines when a stack of envelopes is loaded, load one envelope at a time.
❏ You can load up to 15 envelopes at a time in the rear sheet feeder.
❏ Do not use envelopes that are curled or folded.
❏ Flatten the envelope flaps before loading.
❏ Flatten the leading edge of the envelope before loading.
❏ Avoid using envelopes that are too thin, as they may curl during printing.
For printing instructions, see the following instructions.
& See “Printing on Envelopes” on page 38.
Setting Output Tray
The output tray is located on the front paper cassette. Slide out the extension tray and then open
the flap on the extension tray to prevent your prints from slipping off the printer.
Setting output support tray for Epson Professional Flyer Paper
When you print on the Epson Professional Flyer Paper, set the output support tray. The use of the
output support tray is recommended especially when the output paper is curled and cannot be
stacked. Follow these steps to set the output support tray.
Paper Handling 28
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
1. Pull out the output tray.
2. Slide the output support tray until it clicks. The output support tray is lifted slightly.
3. Reinsert the output tray into the printer.
Paper Handling 29
B-300/B-500DN User’s Guide
Note:
After printing on the Epson Professional Flyer Paper, push the output support tray to move it to its original
position.
Selecting the Correct Paper Type
The printer automatically adjusts itself for the type of paper you select in your print settings. That
is why the paper type setting is so important. It tells your printer what kind of paper you are using
and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly. The table below lists the settings you should choose for
your paper.
For this paper Select this paper type setting
Plain paper plain papers
Epson Bright White Ink Jet Plain Paper
Epson Professional Flyer Paper Epson Professional Flyer
Epson Photo Paper Epson Photo
Epson Matte Paper - Heavyweight Epson Matte
Epson Double-Sided Matte Paper
Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet
Envelopes Envelope
Note:
The availability of special media varies by location. For the latest information on media available in your area,
contact Epson customer support.
& See “Technical Support Web Site” on page 144.
Paper Handling 30
Loading...