Epson COLOR 980 User Manual

Daily Use
4012511-00 XXX

Where to Find Information

The following guides are included with your printer.

Setup Guide

This guide will help you to install the printer software and set up your printer so that you can start printing.

Daily Use guide

This guide provides information about normal printer operations. It also contains troubleshooting tips and customer support information.

Online guides included on CD-ROM

The guides contained on the CD-ROM included with your printer help you to learn more about your printer and color printing. To view these guides, you must have a Web browser installed on your computer. The included guides are as follows:
Reference Guide
Color Guide
Opening the Reference Guide or Color Guide:
Insert the printer software CD in the CD-ROM drive. For Windows, select
click . Then, click
Guide
For Macintosh, double-click the window and then the click guide.
Note:
It is possible to install the Reference Guide on your hard disk. See “Installing in Windows” or “Installing in Macintosh” in your Setup Guide for instructions.
to open the guide.
View Reference 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 answer your questions about color imaging and printing.
Online Guide
View Reference Guide
EPSON STYLUS COLOR 980
in the Installer dialog box and
or
View Color
Online Guide
or
View Color Guide
icon in the EPSON
icon. Then,
to open the
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.

Contents

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
A Few Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Getting Information Through Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Printing with Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Printer Software Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Making Changes to Printer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Previewing your printout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Double-Sided Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Using Double-Sided Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Replacing an Empty Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
iii
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Checking the Print Head Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Aligning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Correcting USB Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Using the Error Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Typical Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Cancelling Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Printer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Printing with DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Installing the Printer Driver for DOS Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Changing the Print Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Changing the default settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
iv

Safety Instructions

Important Safety Instructions

Read all of the instructions in this section before using your printer. Also, be sure to follow all warnings and instructions that are marked on the printer.
Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet.
Do not insert objects through the slots.
Do not to spill liquid on the printer.
Use only the type of power source that is indicated on the
printer’s label.
Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets.
Avoid using outlets that are on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off.
Avoid electrical outlets that are 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 that are plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make sure that the total ampere rating of all devices that are 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 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 this printer.
Note for German-speaking users:
Bei Anschluss des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muss sichergestellt werden, dass die Gebäudeinstallation mit einer 10 A- oder 16 A-Sicherung abgesichert ist.

A Few Precautions

Read the information in this section before using the printer, handling the ink cartridges, or choosing a location for the printer.

Using the printer

Observe the following when using the printer.
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 then goes off. Do not unplug the printer or turn off the power to the outlet until the
Before transporting the printer, make sure that the print head
is in the home (far right) position and that the ink cartridges are in place.
P
power light flashes briefly and
P
power light stops flashing.
2
power button. When
P

Handling the ink cartridges

Observe the following 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 an ink cartridge immediately after you remove it from
its package. Leaving the cartridge unpacked for a long time before use may result in reduced print quality.
Once you install an ink cartridge, do not open the clamp or
remove the cartridge except to replace it with a new one. Otherwise, the cartridge may become unusable.
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.
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.
Do not dismantle the ink cartridges or try to refill them. This
could damage the print head.
3

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 printer base in all directions. The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted or at an angle.
Avoid places that are subject to rapid changes in temperature
and humidity. Also, keep the printer away from direct sunlight, strong light, and heat sources.
Avoid places that are subject to shocks and vibrations.
Leave enough room around the printer to allow for sufficient
ventilation.
Avoid places subject to dust.
Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be
easily unplugged.
Note for French-speaking users:
Placez l’imprimante près d’une prise de contacte où la fiche peut être débranchée facilement.

ENERGY STAR Compliance

As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has determined that this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.
The International ENERGY STAR Office Equipment Program is a voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, copiers, and scanners, in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power generation.
4

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
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
This appliance must be earthed. Refer to the rating plate for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to the supply voltage.
If you have to fit a plug:
As the colours of the mains lead for this appliance may not match the 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 that is marked with the letter E or the earth symbol (
The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug that is marked with the letter N.
The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug that is marked with the letter L.
G
5
).
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 c
Notes
contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your printer.
must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
Cautions
must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
6

Printer Parts and Functions

t

Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions

paper suppor
edge guides
sheet feeder
output tray extension
ink cartridge clamps
printer cover
output tray
Print head
adjust lever
control panel
7

Buttons

Button Function

Lights

P
power
E
load/eject
R
cleaning
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.
Moves the print head to the ink cartridge replacement position if pressed for 3 seconds while the color ink out light is flashing or on.
Returns the print head to its home position after ink cartridge replacement.
Performs print head cleaning if pressed for 3 seconds when the
On when the printer is on.
Flashing 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 out of p ape r. L oad pap er in th e sheet feeder, then press the resume printing.
Flashing 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 of the paper out of the printer.
B
B
black or A color ink out light is off.
E
load/eject button to
black or
A
8
B
black ink out
A
color ink out
On when the black ink cartridge is empty. Replace the black ink cartridge (T003).
Flashing when the black ink cartridge is nearly empty.
On when the color ink cartridge is empty. Replace the color ink cartridge (T005).
Flashing when the color ink cartridge is nearly empty.

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 that is distributed by EPSON, read the instruction sheets packed with the media first and keep the points listed below in mind. For more details on using special media, see “Paper Handling” in the online
Make sure that 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 types of 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 that the paper stack fits under the arrow mark that
is located on the inside surface of the left edge guide.
9

Loading capacities for EPSON special media

See below to find the loading capacities for EPSON special media.
Media Type Loading Capacity
360 dpi Ink Jet Paper and Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards, Ink Jet Note Cards, and Ink Jet Greeting Cards
Photo Quality Glossy Film One sheet at a time or a maximum of 20
Ink Jet Transparencies Up to 30 transparencies.
Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets
Photo Paper Up to 20 sheets.
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Up to the arrow mark on the left edge guide.
Up to 30 cards. Always place the included support sheet* under the cards.
sheets. When loading multiple sheets, set the minimum top margin of the page to 30 mm. Always put a support sheet* or a sheet of plain paper under the glossy film.
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.
Photo Stickers 16 and Photo Stickers 4
Panoramic Photo Paper and Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper
Matte Paper­Heavyweight
* Do not print on support sheets that are loaded under special media.
One sheet at a time.
One sheet at a time.
Up to 20 sheets. Always put a support sheet* under the stack of Matte Paper-Heavyweight.
10

About special media cleaning sheets

Cleaning sheets that are 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 may jam in the printer.

Loading Envelopes

When printing on envelopes, please note the following:
You can load up to 10 envelopes in 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 that are printed on other media.
When the adjust lever is in the “+” position, make sure that the
High Speed
box is cleared. To clear this check box, you may also need to change the Print Quality setting.
check box in the printer driver’s Advanced dialog
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
Do not use envelopes that are curled or folded. Flatten the
envelope flaps before loading. Avoid using envelopes that are too thin as they may curl during printing.
Select
Plain Paper
as the Media Type setting in the printer
driver.
×
220 mm
12

Printing with Windows

Printer Software Introduction

The printer software CD-ROM 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 achieve the best results with your printer. The printer utilities help you to 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 that you are using.
Reference Guide
.
Online help provides more information about the printer software. See “Getting Information Through Online Help” on page 20 for instructions on accessing help.

Accessing the printer software

You can access the printer software from most Windows applications, from the Windows Start menu (Windows 98, 95, 2000, and NT 4.0), or from the Control Panel (Windows 3.1).
When you access the printer software from a Windows application, the settings that you make apply only to the application that you are using.
13
When you access the printer software from the Start menu, the settings that you make apply to all of your Windows applications.
Refer to the appropriate section below.
From Windows applications
Follow the steps below to access the printer software 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 (Windows 98, 95, 2000, and NT 4.0)
Follow the steps below to access the printer software from the Start menu.
1. Click
2. For Windows 98 and 95, select your printer, then click
Properties
printer, then click Windows NT 4.0, select your printer, then click
Defaults
, point to
Start
on the File menu. For Windows 2000, select your
on the File menu. The printer driver opens.
Settings
Printing Preferences
, then click
Printers
on the File menu. For
.
Document
From the Control Panel (Windows 3.1)
Follow the steps below to access the printer software from the Control Panel in Windows 3.1.
,
1. Double-click the group.
2. Double-click the
14
Control Panel
Printers
icon.
icon in the Main program
3. Select your printer in the
Installed Printers
list.
4. Click
. The printer driver opens.
Setup

Making Changes to Printer Settings

The printer driver features the following menus and settings.
Main: Media Type, Ink, Mode, Print Preview
Paper: Paper Size, Copies, Orientation, Printable Area
Layout: Reduce/Enlarge, Double-Sided Printing, Multi-Page,
Watermark
Note:
The Layout menu is available only for Windows 98, 95, 2000, and NT 4.0 users.
The Mode settings on the Main menu are arranged to give you three levels of control over the printer driver, as explained below.
15
Automatic
When this mode is selected, the printer driver takes care of all detailed settings based on the current Media Type and Ink settings. To make the Ink setting, click Color to print in color, or Black to print in black-and-white or grayscale. Depending on the media selected in the Media Type list (while Automatic is selected), a slider appears under the Custom radio button that lets you choose either Quality or Speed. Select Quality when print quality is more important than speed.
PhotoEnhance
Custom
This mode provides a variety of image­correction settings that you can apply to your photos before printing. PhotoEnhance does not affect your original data. This mode is only available when printing 16-, 24-, or 32-bit color data.
This 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 using the settings in the Advanced dialog box.
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
.

Making the Media Type setting

The Media Type setting determines what other settings are available, so you should always make this setting first.
16
On the Main menu, select the Media Type setting that matches the media that is loaded in the printer. To determine what Media Type you are using, locate your media in the list found under “Media types” on page 56, and refer to the corresponding Media Type under which it is grouped (shown in larger type). For some types of media, there are several Media Type settings to choose from.
Note:
For Windows 3.1 users, if the Media Type that you wish to select does not appear in the list, make the Settings dialog box first. To access this dialog box, click the button on the Main menu, then click
Print Quality
More Settings
setting in the More
Advanced
.

Previewing your printout

Select the preview of your document before printing.
Note:
This feature is not available for Windows 3.1.
Print Preview
check box on the Main menu to see a
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