Epson Stylus 1500 Setup Guide

INK JET PRINTER
Setup and Software Guide for Windows
®
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. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
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 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 against 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.
EPSON, EPSON Stylus, and EPSON ESC/P are registered trademarks and EPSON ESC/P 2 is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Windows printer driver copyright Software 2000 Ltd Oxford, England. Portions copyright Seiko Epson 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.
The Energy Star emblem does not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service.
Copyright © 1995 by Epson America, Inc. 9/95
Printed on recycled paper with at least 10% post-consumer content
FCC Compliance Statement
For United States Users
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio and television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures.
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING
The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for this equipment. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
For Canadian Users
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le Ministère des Communications du Canada.
ii

Contents

Introduction
Getting the Most Out of Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Three Resolutions to Choose From . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Special Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Specially Formulated Ink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Automatic Printer Driver Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Where to Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Electronic Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 1 Setting Up the Printer
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Attaching the Paper Support and Output Tray . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Plugging In and Turning On the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Installing the Black Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Installing the Optional Color Upgrade Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Installing the Color Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Installing the Color Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
If You Are New to Color Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Loading Paper in the Sheet Feeder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Testing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Connecting the Printer to Your PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
iii
Chapter 2 Installing and Using the Printer Driver
Installing the Windows Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Installing the Driver for Windows 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Installing the Driver for Windows 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Installing a Driver for DOS Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Using the Windows Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Accessing the Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Using the Driver Dialog Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Changing Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Paper Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Document Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Halftoning Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Printing Mode/Options Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Image Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Chapter 3 Using the Printer Driver Utilities
Managing Print Jobs With Spool Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Calibrating the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Index
iv

Introduction

The EPSON® Stylus® 1500 is an affordable, high-quality ink jet printer that produces realistic grayscale images, sharp text, and
line art at a resolution of 720 × 720 dpi. The Stylus 1500 comes
equipped for printing in black ink; however, you can easily upgrade it to print in color with the optional Color Upgrade Kit. With the Color Upgrade Kit, the Stylus 1500 can print up to 16 million colors to produce full-color, photo-quality images.
The Stylus 1500 is easy to install and use. You simply set it up and install the Microsoft described in this book. The printer has a built-in parallel interface so you can connect it to an IBM computer. If you wish to supplement the capabilities of your printer’s built-in hardware interface, you can install an optional
®
Windows® printer driver software as
®
PC compatible
interface board. See “Using Optional Interfaces” in the Reference Guide.
Note:
®
For instructions on using the printer with an Apple
Macintosh,® see
the Setup and Software Guide for Macintosh.
This manual explains how to do the following:
Set up your printer, load plain paper, connect it to your
computer, and test it. See Chapter 1 to begin.
Install and use the printer driver to print your documents.
See Chapter 2 for step-by-step instructions.
Manage your print jobs and calibrate the printer using the
utilities that came with the printer driver; see Chapter 3.
After you’ve installed the driver, select the ReadMe icon in the EPSON program group in Windows for the latest information.
Introduction
1
Refer to the Reference Guide for instructions on operating and maintaining your printer, as well as for troubleshooting tips and technical specifications.

Getting the Most Out of Your Printer

The printer supports a wide variety of settings that let you improve print quality or speed up printing. You can customize these settings using the printer driver to produce a variety of image types with EPSON’s specially formulated inks and papers.

Three Resolutions to Choose From

Resolution is a measure of the amount of detail that can be represented. The higher the resolution, the more detailed and realistic the image, and the longer it takes to print. For printed images, resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi).
The printer has three resolutions, or printing modes: 720 dpi, 360 dpi, and 180 dpi. Use 720 dpi for the best possible images. For high-quality images in less time, use 360 dpi. When speed is important and draft quality is good enough, use 180 dpi. For guidelines on selecting the best resolution for your print job, see Chapter 2.
2
Introduction

Special Papers

The type of paper you use is very important. Although you get good results with plain bond paper, you will get better results by using coated papers because they do not absorb as much ink.
To ensure the best possible quality, EPSON offers special coated papers, glossy papers, and transparencies that are formulated specifically for the inks used by the printer. You can order these products directly from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). For more information about special papers and other media, see Chapter 1 of the Reference Guide.

Specially Formulated Ink

EPSON’s black and color ink cartridges are specially formulated to work with EPSON papers and the driver to deliver the best looking images. Always use genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage not covered by EPSON’s warranties.
Make sure you use ink cartridges within six months of installing them and before the expiration date on the package.

Automatic Printer Driver Settings

The printer driver includes an automatic Document Type option that sets the Ink, Color Matching, and Halftone printer driver settings for you. When set, the driver analyzes the elements on a page to be printed and automatically adjusts the settings so your printed results are appropriate for the image type.
Introduction
3

Where to Get Help

If you purchased your printer in the United States or Canada, EPSON provides customer support and service through a network of Authorized EPSON Customer Care Centers. In the United States and Canada, EPSON also provides the following services when you dial (800) 922-8911:
Technical information on the installation, configuration,
and operation of EPSON products
Assistance in locating your nearest Authorized EPSON
Reseller or Customer Care Center
Customer relations EPSON technical information library fax service Product literature on current and new products.
You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, parts, printed manuals, and accessories for EPSON products from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON.
If you purchased your printer outside the United States or Canada, contact your EPSON dealer or the marketing location nearest you for customer support and service.
If you need help with any software program you are using, see that program’s documentation for technical support information.
4
Introduction

Electronic Support Services

If you have a modem, the fastest way to access helpful tips, specifications, drivers, application notes, and bulletins for EPSON products is through the online services below.
EPSON Bulletin Board Service
You can call the EPSON Bulletin Board Service (BBS) at (310) 782-4531. No membership is required. Make sure your communications software is set to 8 data bits with 1 stop bit, no parity bit, and a modem speed up to 28.8 Kbps. See the documentation that came with your communications software for more information.
CompuServe Online Support
CompuServe® members can call the Epson America Forum on CompuServe. If you are already a member, simply type
GO EPSON at the menu prompt to reach the Forum.
If you are not currently a member, you are eligible for a free introductory membership as an owner of an EPSON product. This membership entitles you to:
An introductory credit on CompuServe Your own user ID and password A complimentary subscription to CompuServe Magazine,
CompuServe’s monthly publication.
To take advantage of this offer, call (800) 848-8199 in the United States and Canada and ask for representative #529. In other countries, call the following U.S. telephone number: (614) 529-1611, or your local CompuServe access number.
Introduction
5

Important Safety Instructions

Before using your printer, read the following safety instructions to make sure you use it safely and effectively:
Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with
a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer.
Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a
radiator or heat register.
Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet
or insert objects through the slots.
Use only the type of power source indicated on the
printer’s label.
Connect all equipment to properly grounded power
outlets; do not use an adapter plug. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and off.
Do not let the power cord become damaged or frayed. If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the
total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating. Also, make sure the total of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.
Except as specifically explained in the Reference Guide, do
not attempt to service the printer yourself.
Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following conditions: If the power cord or plug is damaged; if liquid has entered
the printer; if the printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged; if the printer does not operate normally or
6
exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions.
Introduction
Chapter 1
Setting Up the Printer
As you follow the instructions in this chapter to set up your printer, refer to the illustrations on the inside front cover to identify the printer’s components.

System Requirements

To use your printer and its driver, we recommend you have the following system configuration:
IBM
Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, or
At least 8MB of available RAM (more for Windows 95) A minimum of 10MB of available hard disk space (for
A shielded, twisted-pair parallel cable to connect your
VGA or higher standard monitor.
®
compatible computer with an 80386/25 MHz or faster
processor
Windows 95
storing images); more is required for color images
computer to the printer’s built-in parallel interface; the cable must have a D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector for the
®
computer and a 36-pin, Centronics for the printer.
compatible connector

Choosing a Location

When choosing a location for the printer, use a surface that is flat, horizontal, and stable. If you are using a printer stand, it must support at least 50.7 pounds (23 kg).
Setting Up the Printer
1-1
Avoid locations subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Also keep the printer away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and sources of electromagnetic interference, such as the base units of cordless telephones.
Always leave adequate space around the printer to accommodate its cables. Make sure nothing is pressing against the knob on the left side of the printer.

Unpacking the Printer

In addition to this guide, your printer box should include two EPSON printer driver diskettes, a
Software Guide for Macintosh
printer
, a Notice Sheet, and these items:
black ink cartridge
Reference Guide
output tray
, a
Setup and
paper support
You must remove all protective materials packed around and inside your printer before you set it up and turn on the power. Follow the directions on the Notice Sheet (packed with the printer) to remove these materials.
Save all packaging and protective materials in case you need to transport the printer in the future. It should always be transported in its original packaging or equivalent materials.
1-2
Setting Up the Printer

Attaching the Paper Support and Output Tray

1. Attach the paper support by placing the hole on the right side of the support over the right mounting post on the printer. Then push the notch on the left side onto the left mounting post.
1
2
2. Attach the output tray by fitting the notches on the tray over the mounting posts, as shown below. Make sure the output tray is locked firmly in place.
Setting Up the Printer
1-3

Plugging In and Turning On the Printer

Follow these steps to plug in and turn on the printer:
1. Make sure you have removed all protective packing materials from inside the printer. (See page 1-2 for more information.)
2. Make sure the printer is turned off by checking the position of the of the button is even with the button protectors on each side.
3. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical
Operate
button. The printer is off when the surface
4. Turn on the printer by pressing the
1-4
outlet.
Operate
The
Pause
power-on routine. During the power-on routine, the print head moves back and forth and the paper feed wheels turn.
Setting Up the Printer
light flashes whiles the printer completes its
button.

Installing the Black Ink Cartridge

Follow the steps in this section to install your printer’s black ink cartridge.
Warning:
w
c
1. Make sure the printer is turned on.
2. Remove the ink compartment cover as shown.
The ink cartridge is a self-contained unit. Under ordinary use, ink will not leak from a cartridge. If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
Caution:
Do not open the ink cartridge package until just before you install it or it may become too dry.
3. Remove the ink cartridge from its package.
Setting Up the Printer
1-5
4. Insert the end of the cartridge with the foil plug into the ink compartment following the instructions on the cartridge. Push the cartridge all the way into the compartment. You will feel some resistance.
When the cartridge is correctly installed, the goes off.
Note:
If the installed correctly. Remove it and then reinsert it as described above.
5. Reattach the ink compartment cover as shown.
Ink Out
O light remains on, the ink cartridge may not be
Ink Out
O light
1-6
Setting Up the Printer
1
2
The first time you install the ink cartridge, the printer automatically charges the ink delivery system. This takes about two minutes.
Caution:
c
During the ink charging process, the Never turn off the printer while the flashing. Also, never remove the ink cartridge while ink is being charged in the system.
When you need to replace ink cartridges, see Chapter 3 of
Reference Guide
the genuine EPSON ink cartridges and do not refill them. Other products may cause damage not covered by EPSON’s warranty.
for instructions. Be sure to use only
Pause
Pause

Installing the Optional Color Upgrade Kit

You can upgrade your printer to print in color by installing the optional Color Upgrade Kit (C832161). Contact your dealer or call EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. only).
light flashes.
light is
In Canada, call (800) BUY-EPSON for sales locations.
Install the color print head as described in this section and the color ink cartridge as described in the next section. Then select color printing through the printer driver as described in Chapter 2.
Caution:
c
Once you install the color print head, you must leave it installed. Otherwise, it may become unusable.
Setting Up the Printer
1-7

Installing the Color Print Head

Follow these steps to install the color print head:
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the
2. Open the printer cover using the notch in the middle of the cover.
Data
light is off.
3. Press the
4. Hold down the print head unit moves slightly left, to the print head install position. The
c
Pause
Caution:
Do not move the print head unit by hand. Always use the
Alt
button to move it.
button to turn the
button for about five seconds until the
Alt
Pause
light flashes.
Pause
light on.
1-8
Setting Up the Printer
5. Raise the blue print head unit release lever as far as it will go.
6. Remove the protective cover from the print head compartment.
c
Caution:
Do not touch the carriage inside the printer; this may damage the printer.
Setting Up the Printer
1-9
7. Remove the print head unit from the storage box by pressing on the notch as shown.
2
1
Caution:
c
8. Carefully insert the print head unit into the compartment, with the electrical contacts and print head facing the back of the printer.
Do not touch the print head or the electrical contacts on the back and bottom of the unit; otherwise, you may damage the print head.
1-10
Setting Up the Printer
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