Page 1
Printer Parts Accessories
O
Ink Cartridges
Sheet feeder
Left edge guide
Printer cover
Paper support
Right edge guide
Cartridge Part number
Black T060120
Cyan T060220
Magenta T060320
Yellow T060420
Epson Stylus C88
Ink button
Paper button
Power button
Output tray
Output tray
extension
Ink cartridges
Media
Paper name Size Part number
Epson Ultra Premium
Glossy Photo Paper
Epson Premium Bright
White Paper
Epson Premium Glossy
Photo Paper
Epson Premium
Semigloss Photo Paper
Epson Glossy Photo
Paper
Epson Matte Paper
Heavyweight
Epson Double-Sided
Matte Paper
Epson Photo Quality Ink
Jet Paper
Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041934
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041935
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041586
Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041808
S041727
Borderless 5 × 7 inches S041464
Borderless 8 × 10 inches S041465
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041286
S041667
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041331
Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041809
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041141
S041649
S041272
S041271
Borderless 8 × 10 inches S041467
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041257
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041568
Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) S041062
Legal (8.5 x 14 inches) S041067
A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches) S041061
AC inlet
USB port
Parallel port
You can purchase genuine Epson® ink and paper from an
authorized Epson reseller. To find the nearest reseller, please
call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). To purchase online,
visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please
call (800) 463-7766 for reseller referral.
6/05 Epson Stylus C88 - 1
Page 2
Epson Stylus C88
Printer Specifications
Printing
Printing method On-demand ink jet
Nozzle configuration
Black 180 nozzles
Color 177 nozzles (59 each: cyan, magenta,
yellow)
Print direction Bidirectional with logic seeking
Mechanical
Paper path Sheet feeder, top entry, front out
Sheet feeder
capacity Up to 150 sheets of 24 lb (90 g/m
Dimensions
Storage Width: 18.1 inches (460 mm)
Depth: 9.5 inches (242 mm)
Height: 7.5 inches (191 mm)
Printing Width: 18.1 inches (460 mm)
Depth: 17.2 inches (437 mm)
Height: 11.8 inches (309 mm)
Weight 9.3 lb (4.2 kg) without the ink cartridges
Electrical
Rated voltage 100 or 240 V
Input voltage 90 to 264 V
Rated frequency 50 to 60 Hz
Input frequency 49.5 to 60.5 Hz
Rated current 0.2 A (Max. 0.4 A)
Power consumption
Approx. 19 W (ISO 10561 Letter Pattern)
Approx. 4.5 W in standby mode
Approx. 0.8 W in power-off mode
Environmental
Temperature
Operation 50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)
Storage* –4 to 140 °F (–20 to 60 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
2
) paper
Humidity (without condensation)
Operation 20 to 80% RH
*
Storage
*Stored in shipping container
5 to 85% RH
Safety Approvals
Safety standards UL 60950, CSA C22.2 No. 60950
EMC FCC part 15 subpart B class B
CSA C108.8 Class B
Ink Cartridges
Colors Cyan, magenta, yellow, black
Cartridge life 6 months at 77 °F (25 °C) after opening
the package
Temperature
Storage –4 to 104 °F (–20 to 40 °C)
1 month at 104 °F (40 °C)
Freezing* 3.2 °F (–16 °C)
* Ink thaws and is usable after approximately 3 hours at
77 °F (25 °C).
Caution: To ensure good results, use genuine Epson cartridges and
do not refill them. Other products may cause damage to the printer
not covered by Epson’s warranty. Don’t use an ink cartridge if the
date on the package has expired.
Interfaces
USB Interface
Standard Based on Universal Serial Bus
Specifications Revision 1.1, Universal
Serial Bus Device Class Definition for
Printing Devices Version 1.1
Bit rate 12 Mbps (Full speed device)
Data encoding NRZI
Adaptable
connector USB Series B
Recommended
cable length 6 feet or less (under 2 meters)
Parallel Interface
Bidirectional IEEE 1284-compliant parallel interface
2 - Epson Stylus C88 6/05
Page 3
Epson Stylus C88
Paper
Single sheets
Size A4 (8.3 × 11.7 inches)
A6 (4.1 × 5.8 inches)
Letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
Legal (8.5 × 14 inches)
Half-letter (5.5 × 8.5 inches)
4 × 6inches
5 × 7inches
3.5 × 5inches
8 × 10 inches
User Defined up to 8.5 × 44 inches
Paper type Plain bond paper or special paper
distributed by Epson
Thickness 0.003 to 0.004 inch (0.08 to 0.11 mm)
Weight 17 lb (64 g/m²) to 24 lb (90 g/m²)
(for plain bond paper)
Envelopes
Size No. 10 (4.1 × 9.5 inches)
DL (4.3 × 8.7 inches)
C6 (4.5 × 6.4 inches)
132 × 220 mm
Paper type Plain bond paper
Weight 20 lb (75 g/m²) to 24 lb (90 g/m²)
Printable Area
A
B-L B-R
Normal
C
Envelope
Borderless*
A The minimum top margin is 0.12” (3.0 mm).
B-L The minimum left margin is 0.12” (3.0 mm) for single sheets
and 0.20” (5.0 mm) for envelopes.
B-R The minimum right margin is 0.12” (3.0 mm) for single sheets
and 0.20” (5.0 mm) for envelopes.
C The minimum bottom margin is 0.12” (3.0 mm).
D The minimum bottom margin is 0.78” (20 mm) for envelopes.
* When printing with the borderless feature, print quality may
decline in the expanded area. Before printing large jobs with the
borderless setting, print a single sheet to check print quality.
Note: Poor quality paper may reduce the print quality and cause
paper jams or other problems. If you have print quality problems,
switch to a higher grade paper.
Do not load curled or folded paper.
Use paper only under these conditions:
Temperature: 59 to 77 °F (15 to 25 °C)
Humidity: 40 to 60% RH
Since the quality of any particular brand or type of paper may be
changed by the manufacturer at any time, Epson cannot guarantee
the quality of any non-Epson brand or type of paper. Always test a
sample of paper stock before purchasing large quantities or printing
large jobs.
Always load paper into the sheet feeder with the short edge first.
Load envelopes flap edge left with the printable side up.
6/05 Epson Stylus C88 - 3
Page 4
Epson Stylus C88
Loading Paper
When loading special Epson ink jet papers, follow these
capacity guidelines:
Paper type Loading capacity
Premium Bright White Paper 80 sheets
Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Glossy Photo Paper
Matte Paper Heavyweight
Double-Sided Matte Paper
Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper 100 sheets
Load paper as follows:
1. Open the output tray and pull out its extension.
20 sheets
3. Insert the paper, printable side up, against the right edge
guide. Then slide the left edge guide against the paper (but
not too tightly).
Letter-size paper
4 x 6-inch or
5 x 7-inch paper
2. Squeeze the left edge guide and slide it to the left, if
necessary.
Follow these guidelines when loading paper:
❏ Don’t load paper above the arrow on the left edge guide.
❏ Load the printable side face-up. It’s often brighter or whiter
than the other side.
❏ Always load the short edge first, even when printing in
landscape mode.
❏ Load letterhead or preprinted paper into the printer top
edge first.
❏ If you experience paper feeding problems, try loading fewer
sheets.
❏ If you’re using special paper, check the package for special
loading instructions.
4 - Epson Stylus C88 6/05
Page 5
Epson Stylus C88
Printing on Special Media
Select the correct Type or Media Type setting so your printer
knows what kind of paper you’re using and adjusts the ink
coverage accordingly.
For this paper Select this setting
Plain paper
Epson Premium Bright White
Paper
Epson Ultra Premium Glossy
Photo Paper
Epson Premium Glossy Photo
Paper
Epson Premium Semigloss Photo
Paper
Epson Glossy Photo Paper Glossy Photo Paper
Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight
Epson Double-Sided Matte Paper
Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
Envelopes Envelope
The following proper care will minimize color changes and
lengthen display life:
❏ Frame prints under glass or in a protective plastic sleeve to
protect them from atmospheric contaminants like
humidity, smoke, and high levels of ozone.
❏ As with all photographs, keep your prints away from direct
sunlight.
❏ For proper storage, keep your prints in a photo album or
plastic photo storage box in acid-free, archival sleeves
commonly available from most camera stores.
❏ Always keep unused paper in the original package.
Plain Paper/Bright White Paper
Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Matte Paper - Heavyweight
Control Panel
To diagnose some problems, check the printer’s control panel
lights.
Light status Explanation
Green power
light flashes
Red paper light
is on
Red paper light
flashes
Red ink light
flashes
Red ink light is on One of the cartridges is out of ink or not
Red paper and
ink lights flash
alternately
Green power
light is off; red
paper and
ink lights flash
Green power
light is off
The printer is receiving a print job, charging ink,
cleaning the print head, or ink is being replaced.
Your paper ran out. Load more and press the
paper button to resume printing.
Paper is jammed in the printer. Press the
paper button to eject the jammed paper. If
the light is still flashing, turn off the printer. Then
open the cover and remove all paper, including
any jammed or torn pieces. Then reload paper
and press the paper button to continue
printing.
One of the cartridges is low on ink. Check the
message that appears on your screen to
determine which cartridge is low. Make sure you
have a replacement cartridge.
installed. Make sure you have a replacement
cartridge, then follow the steps on page 7 to
install it. If you have just installed a new
cartridge, it may be incompatible with the printer
or incorrectly installed. Reinstall it or replace it
with the correct cartridge.
Paper may be blocking movement of the print
head. Turn off the printer, open the cover, and
remove any jammed paper or other foreign
objects. Then turn the printer back on. If the
lights are still flashing, contact Epson.
The printer may have an internal error. Turn off
the printer, wait a few seconds, and turn it on
again. If the lights are still flashing, contact
Epson.
The printer is not receiving power. Make sure
the printer is on. Turn off the printer, plug in the
power cord securely, and turn the printer on
again. Make sure the outlet is working and is not
controlled by a switch or timer. If in doubt, try
another outlet.
6/05 Epson Stylus C88 - 5
Page 6
Epson Stylus C88
Cleaning the Print Head
If your printouts are unexpectedly light, or dots or lines are
missing, you may need to clean the print head. This unclogs
the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly. Print head
cleaning uses ink, so clean it only if quality declines.
This section explains how to clean the print head using the
Head Cleaning utility.
You can also clean the print head by holding down the
button on the printer for three seconds. (This only works
when the red light is off.)
Note: When you don’t turn on your printer for a long time, print
quality can decline, so turn it on and print a few pages at least once a
month to maintain good print quality.
Running the Head Cleaning Utility
1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the
red
ink light is off. (If the ink light is flashing or on,
you need to replace a cartridge.)
2. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar
(in the lower right corner of your screen). Select
Cleaning
Note: If you don’t see the icon, go to your printer properties
window, click the Maintenance tab, then select Head Cleaning.
.
Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and
double-click
the printer list, click
Epson Printer Utility. Select Stylus C88 in
OK, and select Head Cleaning.
You see a screen like the following:
Head
4. When the green power light stops flashing, make sure
paper is loaded in the printer, then do the following:
Windows: Click
Print.
Macintosh: Click
Print Nozzle Check Pattern. Then click
Confirmation, then click Next.
The nozzle check pattern is printed.
5. If the pattern has no gaps or
white lines, click
Finish.
If the pattern has white lines
or gaps, click
Clean to clean
the print head again.
You can also turn the printer off and wait overnight—this
allows any dried ink to soften—and then try cleaning the print
head again.
Replacing an Ink Cartridge
❏ When the red ink light flashes, one or more ink
cartridges are low on ink.
❏ When the red ink light stays on, you need to replace the
cartridge(s).
When you print, you’ll also see a message on your screen
telling you which cartridge is low or empty.
When a cartridge is more than six months old, you may need
to replace it if printouts don’t look their best. If the quality
doesn’t improve after cleaning and aligning the print head,
you can replace the cartridge even if the red ink light is off.
3. Click
Start or Next.
Cleaning takes several seconds. The printer makes noise and
the green power light flashes.
Caution: Never turn off the printer while head cleaning is in
progress; you may damage the printer.
6 - Epson Stylus C88 6/05
Note: You cannot continue printing with one ink cartridge empty,
even if the other cartridges still contain ink. Before printing, replace
the empty cartridge.
Checking the Ink Supply
To check your ink supply, do the following:
❏ Windows: Double-click the icon on the Windows
taskbar.
Note: If you don’t see the icon, go to your printer properties
window, click the Maintenance tab, then select Status Monitor.
Page 7
Epson Stylus C88
You see a window like this:
❏ Macintosh OS X: Double-click the
icon in the Applications folder. Choose
click
OK. Then click Epson Status Monitor. You see a
window like this:
Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges
Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once
you start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, you must
complete all the steps in one session.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing. The
power light should be on, but not flashing.
2. Open the printer cover.
3. Press and release the ink button.
The ink cartridge holder moves to the left, and the cartridge
that needs to be replaced stops under the ink out mark.
The power light flashes.
Epson Printer Utility
C88 Series and
Ink Cartridge Precautions
Warn in g: Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children.
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and
water. If ink gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
Caution: Don’t remove the cartridge label, or ink will leak.
Don’t remove the green IC chip from the cartridge. Installing a
cartridge without an IC chip can damage the printer. Avoid touching
the green IC chip, as this can damage the ink cartridge.
If you remove an ink cartridge temporarily, protect the ink supply port
on the bottom of the cartridge from dirt and dust. Place it in the
original packaging, if you still have it, or in a small box.
Store ink cartridges in the same environment as the printer. Stand the
cartridges upright (the label identifying the color should be on the
top).
Caution: To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print
head by hand.
Note: Don’t hold down the
3 seconds, or the printer will start to clean the print head.
ink button for more than
If no cartridge needs to be replaced, the holder moves to the
ink cartridge replacement position, shown below. Go to
step 5.
4. Press the ink button again.
❏ If more than one cartridge is empty, the next cartridge
moves under the ink out mark.
❏ If all the empty cartridges have been identified, the print
head moves right to the ink cartridge replacement
position, shown below.
6/05 Epson Stylus C88 - 7
Page 8
Epson Stylus C88
5. Open the cartridge cover.
6. Squeeze the back tab of the empty/low cartridge and lift it
out of the printer. Don’t take the used cartridge apart or try
to refill it.
Warn in g: If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with
soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.
7. Before you remove the new cartridge from its package,
shake it four or five times. Then remove it from the
package.
9. If you need to replace other ink cartridges, repeat steps 6
through 8 before continuing with step 10.
10. Close the ink cartridge cover and make sure you hear it click
into place.
11. Close the printer cover.
12. Press the ink button. The printer begins charging the ink
delivery system.
The green power light flashes and the printer makes
noise. Charging takes about 1 minute. When it’s finished,
the green power light stops flashing and stays on, and the
red light goes out.
Caution: Never turn off the printer while the green power
light is flashing, or you’ll waste ink.
Caution: Do not remove
or tear the label on the
cartridge; otherwise ink
will leak.
Don’t touch the green
chip on the front of the
cartridge; you may inhibit
normal operation and
printing.
Don’t touch
the green part
8. Lower the cartridge into the holder and push it down until
it clicks into place.
Note: If the red light stays on (not flashing), the ink cartridge
may not be installed correctly. Press the ink button again and
reinstall the ink cartridge until it clicks into place.
Aligning the Print Head
If your printouts look blurry or grainy, or you see light or dark
vertical banding, you may need to align the print head.
Note: Banding may also occur if your cartridges are low on ink or you
need to clean the print head.
1. Turn on the printer.
2. Load several sheets of paper.
3. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar
(in the lower right corner of your screen). Select
Alignment
Note: If you don’t see the icon, go to your printer properties
window, click the Maintenance tab, then select Print Head
Alignment.
.
Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and
double-click the
Stylus C88 in the printer list, click OK, and select
Print Head Alignment.
Epson Printer Utility icon. Select
Print Head
8 - Epson Stylus C88 6/05
Page 9
Epson Stylus C88
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to print a black
vertical alignment test page. You see a screen like this:
5. Look at the five sets of patterns in your printout. For each
set, if you see a pattern with no visible vertical lines, enter its
number in the corresponding box on the screen and click
Next.
If you can’t find a pattern without any vertical lines, select
the best pattern. Click
Realignment and then Print to
print another alignment sheet and repeat this step.
6. Click
Print to print the color vertical alignment sheet. You
see a screen like this:
8. Click
Print to print a black horizontal alignment sheet.
After it’s printed you see a screen like this:
9. In your printout, select the pattern with no gap or line
between the rectangles. Enter its number in the box on the
screen and click
Next.
If you can’t find an aligned pattern, choose the best pattern.
Then click
Realignment to print another alignment sheet
and repeat this step.
10. Click
Print to print a color horizontal alignment sheet.
After it’s printed, you see a screen like this:
7. Look at the four sets of patterns in your printout. For each
set, if you see a pattern with no visible vertical lines, enter its
number in the corresponding box on the screen and click
Next.
If you can’t find a pattern without any vertical lines, select
the best pattern. Click
Realignment to print another
alignment sheet and repeat this step.
11. In your printout, find the pattern with no gap or line
between the rectangles and enter its number in the box on
the screen.
If you can’t find an aligned pattern, choose the best pattern.
Then click
Realignment to print another alignment sheet
and repeat this step.
12. Click
Finish to close the Print Head Alignment Utility.
6/05 Epson Stylus C88 - 9
Page 10
Epson Stylus C88
Cleaning the Printer
To keep your printer working at its best, you should clean it
several times a year.
1. Turn off the printer, unplug the power cord, and
disconnect the cable.
2. Remove all the paper, then use a soft brush to clean the
sheet feeder.
3. If the outer case or inside of the sheet feeder is dirty, clean it
with a soft cloth dampened with mild detergent. Keep the
printer cover closed to prevent water from getting inside.
4. If ink accidentally gets inside the printer, wipe off the rollers
shown below with a damp cloth.
Clean
here
3. Disconnect the interface cable.
4. Remove all paper from the sheet feeder and remove the
paper support.
5. Secure the ink cartridge holder with tape, as shown below,
then close the printer cover and output tray.
6. Attach the protective materials to both sides of the printer.
7. Repack the printer, paper support, and power cord in the
original box.
Note: Keep the printer level during transport and be sure to remove
the protective materials and tape before using the printer again.
Warn in g: Don’t touch the gears or any other parts inside the printer.
Caution: Never use a hard or abrasive brush, or benzine, alcohol, or
paint thinner for cleaning; they can damage the printer components
and case. Don’t get water on the printer components and don’t spray
lubricants or oils inside the printer.
Transporting the Printer
If you need to transport your printer some distance, carefully
prepare and repack it as described below. Use the original box
and packing materials, or a similar box that holds the printer
securely.
Caution: When storing or transporting the printer, do not tilt it, stand
it vertically, or turn it upside down. Otherwise, ink may leak from the
cartridges. Be sure to leave the ink cartridges installed. Removing the
cartridges can dehydrate the print head and may prevent the printer
from printing.
1. Plug in the printer and turn it on. Wait until the print head
returns to the home position, then close the printer cover.
2. Turn off the printer, then unplug its power cord and
disconnect it from the printer.
Related Documentation
CPD-19910 Epson Stylus C88 Start Here
CPD-19911 Epson Stylus C88 Quick Guide
CPD-19909 Epson Stylus C88 CD-ROM with User’s Guide
10 - Epson Stylus C88 6/05
Loading...