Epson Stylus C88PLUS Quick Guide

Epson Stylus C88+

®

Quick Guide

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Loading Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Basic Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Printing in Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Printing with Macintosh OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Using Special Papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Printing Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Printing Photos in Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Printing Photos with Macintosh OS X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Purchasing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Ink Cartridge Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Solving Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Checking the Printer’s Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Where To Get Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Requirements and Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Windows System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Macintosh System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

FCC Compliance Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Epson America, Inc. Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

2

Introduction

The Epson Stylus® C88+ printer is the ideal desktop printer for business and
home use. With its exceptional speed and print resolutions, it is practical for
everyday tasks, yet capable of delivering superior photo printing.

Your printer features Epson’s exclusive DURABrite
quick-drying inks are resistant to water, fading, and smudging on plain and photo
paper—so your prints stand the test of time. Because the ink particles remain near
the surface and don’t bleed through, they’re ideal for double-sided prints.

Note:

The light resistance of prints is rated up to 100 years on specialty papers, and 70 years
on plain paper. The light resistance rating is based on accelerated testing of prints on

®

special media, displayed indoors, under glass. Actual print stability will vary

Epson
according to media, printed image, display conditions, light intensity, humidity, and
other atmospheric conditions. Epson does not guarantee the longevity of prints. For
maximum print life, display all prints under glass or lamination or properly store them.

After you have set up your Epson Stylus C88+ as described on the Start Here sheet,
use these instructions to:

■ Load paper

■ Print from Windows

®

or on a Macintosh

®

Ultra pigment inks. These

®

■ Replace ink cartridges

■ Solve simple problems

For more information about your printer, see the on-screen User’s Guide. An icon
for the manual was automatically placed on your desktop when you installed the
software.

Please follow these guidelines as you read the instructions:

Warning:

Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

Caution:

Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.

Note:

Notes contain important information about your printer.

Tip:

Tips contain hints for better copying, scanning, and printing.

Introduction 3

Loading Paper

The type of paper you choose affects the way your printout looks, so be sure to
select the correct paper for your job. If you are just printing a rough draft, plain
paper is fine. For best results, however, you’ll want to use one of Epson’s special ink
jet papers designed for your printer. For example, your photos will look great
printed on Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper. See page 13 for more
information.

Follow these steps to load paper in your printer:

1. Open the output tray and pull out its extension.

2. Squeeze the left edge guide and slide it to the left.

4 Loading Paper

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

Note:

You can load up to 100 sheets of plain paper and up to 20 sheets of most types of
photo paper. (See the on-screen User’s Guide for specific paper capacity
guidelines.)

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.

Loading Paper 5

Basic Printing

Follow the instructions in this section for basic printing of your documents. For
Windows, see below. For Macintosh OS X, see page 9.

If you are printing photographs, also see page 15 for more information about
printing photos.

Printing in Windows

1. Open the File menu and select Print. You see a Print window like this one:

Select EPSON Stylus C88 Series

Click here to
open your printer
software

2. Make sure EPSON Stylus C88 Series is selected.

3. Click the

Options button, click it. Then click Properties or Preferences on the

next screen.)

6 Basic Printing

Properties or Preferences button. (If you see a Setup, Printer, or

You see the basic print settings window:

Select the type
of document
you’re printing

Select your
paper Type

Select your
paper Size

4. Select from these

■ Draft: For rough drafts with reduced print quality

■ Text: For text-only documents with higher text quality

■ Text & Image: For documents with text and images with higher quality

■ Photo: For photos and graphics with good quality and speed

■ Best Photo: For photos or graphics with high print quality

5. Select the correct paper

Quality Option settings:

Type and Size settings for the paper you loaded in

Select your
document or
image orientation

Click here for
more options

the printer. See “Selecting the Correct Paper Type” on page 14.

6. Select

Portrait or Landscape for the Orientation setting.

Printing in Windows 7

7. For more printing options, click the Advanced button. Then select the
following settings as necessary.

Select a color management method
(To choose No Color Adjustment, click ICM first)

Select Paper & Quality
Options as necessary

Click here to select

Photo RPM

best print quality on
certain paper types

Select Print Options
as necessary

Note:

For more information about advanced settings, or instructions on saving them as a
group so you can reuse them later, click ? or Help.

for the

Click here if you want to see this Advanced
screen each time you access your print settings

8. If you want to change the layout settings, click the Page Layout tab and
select settings as necessary.

9. Click

OK to save your settings, then click OK or Print to start printing.

8 Basic Printing

During printing, this window appears to show the progress of your print job. You
can use the buttons to cancel, pause, or resume printing. You can also see the ink
cartridge status.

Cancel printing

Pause or resume
printing

Check ink cartridge
status

Tip:

You can also cancel printing by pressing the paper button on your printer.

Printing with Macintosh OS X

Follow the steps below for basic printing of your Macintosh OS X documents.
Before you begin, make sure you added your printer to the Print Center as
described on the Start Here sheet.

1. Open the File menu and select

Page Setup. You see the Page Setup window:

Select Stylus C88

Select your Paper Size

Select your document
or image orientation

Printing with Macintosh OS X 9

2. Select Stylus C88 in the Format for pop-up menu.

3. Select your Paper Size. For borderless printing, choose a paper size with the

Sheet Feeder-Borderless option.

4. Select portrait or landscape for the orientation.

5. Click

6. Open the File menu and select

7. Select

8. Select

OK.

Print. You see a window like this one:

Stylus C88 in the Printer pop-up menu.

Print Settings from the pop-up menu.

9. Select the following Print Settings as necessary:

Select Stylus C88

Select Print Settings

Select your Media Type
(see page 14)

10 Basic Printing

Select Color or
Black ink

Select higher
quality or faster
printing (if available)

Select
Automatic mode

Depending on your settings, you can choose these other options from the
pop-up menu:

■ Copies & Pages: Select the number of copies you want, or a page range.

■ Layout: Select page layout options.

■ Output Options: Save your print job as a PDF file.

■ Scheduler: Schedule your print job to print at a later time.

■ Paper Handling: Select page printing options, such as Reverse print

order

.

■ ColorSync or Color Management: Select ColorSync

®

or adjust the
color controls, change the gamma setting, or turn off color adjustments in
the printer software.

■ Expansion: Reduce or enlarge the image size for borderless printing.

■ Summary: View a list of all your selections.

10. Click the

Note:

For more information on advanced settings, or instructions on saving them as a
group so you can reuse them later, click

Advanced button to change these settings:

Select Photo RPM
for the best print
quality on certain
paper types

?.

11. Click Print.

Printing with Macintosh OS X 11

12. To monitor the progress of your print job, click the printer icon when it
appears in the dock on the bottom of your desktop.

If you’re using OS X, click the Print Center icon instead, then double-click

Stylus C88 in the Printer List window.

You see a screen like this:

Resume printingPause printing

Cancel printing

Select the
print job

Tip:

You can also cancel printing by pressing the paper button on your printer.

13. When you’re finished, close the printer window or Print Center.

12 Basic Printing

Using Special Papers

You can use the following special Epson papers in your Epson Stylus C88+.

Paper name Size Part number

Epson Ultra Premium Glossy Photo
Paper

Epson Premium Bright White Paper Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041586

Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041808

Epson Premium Semigloss Photo
Paper

Epson Glossy Photo Paper Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041809

Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight Borderless 8 × 10

Epson Double-Sided Matte Paper Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041568

Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper Letter (8.5 x 11 inches) S041062

Borderless 4 × 6 inches S041934

Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041935

S041727

Borderless 5 × 7 inches S041464

Borderless 8 × 10
inches

Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041286

Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041331

Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041141

inches

Letter (8.5 × 11 inches) S041257

Legal (8.5 x 14 inches) S041067

A4 (8.3 x 11.7 inches) S041061

S041465

S041667

S041649
S041272
S041271

S041467

You can purchase genuine Epson ink and paper from an Epson authorized reseller.
To find the nearest reseller, call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). Or you can
purchase online at www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales) or www.epson.ca (Canadian
sales).

Using Special Papers 13

Selecting the Correct Paper Type

Be sure to select the correct Type or Media Type setting in your printer software:

For this paper Select this setting

Plain paper
Epson Premium Bright White Paper

Epson Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper

Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper Premium Glossy Photo Paper

Epson Premium Semigloss Photo Paper 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

Plain Paper/Bright White Paper

Matte Paper - Heavyweight

14 Basic Printing

Printing Photos

You can print beautiful snapshots and enlargements with or without white
borders. With proper care, photographs from your Epson Stylus C88+ will last for
many years. For best results, always use Epson papers. (See “Using Special Papers”
on page 13 for more information.)

As with traditional photos, Epson recommends proper care that 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.

For instructions on loading photo paper, see page 4. Then see below for printing
in Windows, or page 19 for printing in Mac OS X.

Printing Photos in Windows

1. Open the File menu and click Print.

2. Make sure your printer is selected, then click
you see a
or

Setup, Printer, or Options button, click it. Then click Properties

Preferences on the next screen.)

Properties or Preferences. (If

Printing Photos 15

You see a window like this one:

Click here
for photos
without
white
borders

Select Photo or

Best Photo

Click here for
more settings;
then see page 17

3. Select

4. Select the paper

5. For pictures without white borders, click the

Photo or Best Photo as the Quality Option setting.

Type for the paper you’re using. (See page 14.)

message and click

OK.

Borderless checkbox. Read the

6. Select your paper Size setting.

7. Select

Portrait or Landscape as the orientation setting.

8. Do one of the following:

■ Click OK, then click OK or Print.

■ If you want to print at the highest resolution possible, or use special

settings, continue with the steps in the next section.

16 Printing Photos

Customizing Your Photo Settings

1. On the Main tab, click the Advanced button in the bottom right corner of
the window. If you see a warning note, click

2. Select the following advanced settings as necessary:

Select a color management method
(To choose No Color Adjustment, click ICM first)

Click here to select
Photo RPM (5760 × 1440)
for the best print quality
on certain paper types

Continue.

Adjust
colors here

Note:

For the highest print quality, select Photo RPM. Please note that printing will take
longer in this mode and it is not available if you choose the Borderless checkbox.

For more information about the print settings, click ? or Help.

3. Once you’ve finished selecting advanced settings, you can:

■ Click OK to save your settings, return to the Print window, and print.

■ Click the Basic button to return to the basic settings.

■ Click the Page Layout tab and continue with step 4 to select layout

options.

Printing Photos in Windows 17

4. Select the following page layout settings as necessary:

Select image
position
options here

Select image
resizing
options here

Adjust
borderless
setting here (see
step 6, below)

Note:

Some layout settings may not be available, depending on other settings you chose.

5. Select image position or resizing options as necessary. These affect only your
printed image, and are not available for borderless printing.

6. If you’re printing borderless photos, you can
adjust the Expansion slider to choose

Max, or the in-between setting.

Min is the least amount of image expansion;

there may be a small white edge on the borders
of the print.

Max expands the image to ensure

that there are no unprinted edges, but the edges
of the image may not appear in the print.

7. Click

OK to save your settings, then click OK or Print.

18 Printing Photos

Min,

Printing Photos with Macintosh OS X

1. Start your photo program and open your photo file.

2. Open the File menu and select

3. Select

Stylus C88 in the Format for pop-up menu.

Page Setup. You see a window like this one:

Select Stylus C88

Select your Paper Size

4. Select your Paper Size. For borderless photos, choose one of the following:

■ 4 x 6 (Sheet Feeder-Borderless)

■ 5 x 7 (Sheet Feeder-Borderless)

■ 8 x 10 (Sheet Feeder-Borderless)

■ Letter (Sheet Feeder-Borderless)

5. Select portrait or landscape as the orientation setting.

6. Click

OK.

7. Open the File menu and click

Print.

Printing Photos with Macintosh OS X 19

8. Select Stylus C88 in the Printer menu and select Print Settings from the
pop-up menu. You see a window like this one:

Select Print Settings
from the list

Select Stylus C88

Click Advanced
for more options

9. Select the correct
(See “Selecting the Correct Paper Type” on page 14 for more information.)

10. Select

Quality (for higher quality) or Speed (for faster printing) using the

slider.

11. Do one of the following:

■ Click Print.

■ If you want to print at a higher resolution or use special settings, continue

with the steps in the next section.

20 Printing Photos

Media Type option to match the paper you’re using.

Customizing Your Photo Settings

1. Click the Advanced button.

2. Select these advanced settings as necessary:

For color
management
settings, select
Color Management
from the list

Click here to select
Photo RPM (5760 ×

1440) for the best
print quality on
certain paper types

Note:

For the highest print quality, select Photo RPM. Note that printing will take longer
in this mode.

For more information on advanced settings, or instructions on saving them as a
group so you can reuse them later, click the ? button.

3. If you’re printing photos without white borders, select Expansion from the
pop-up menu. You see a window like this one:

Printing Photos with Macintosh OS X 21

4. Adjust the Expansion slider to choose Min, Max, or the in-between setting.

Min is the least amount of image expansion; there may be a small white edge

on the borders of the print.

Max expands the image to ensure that there are no

unprinted edges, but the edges of the image may not appear in the print.

5. Click

Print.

22 Printing Photos

Replacing Ink Cartridges

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 needs to be replaced.

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.

Note:

You cannot continue printing with one ink cartridge expended, even if the other
cartridges still contain ink. Before printing, replace the indicated cartridge.

Purchasing Ink Cartridges

Use these Epson ink cartridges within six months of installing them and before the
expiration date on the package.

Ink cartridge Part number

Black T060120

Cyan T060220

Magenta T060320

Yellow T060420

To ensure good results, use genuine Epson ink cartridges and do not refill them.
Other products may cause damage to your printer not covered by Epson’s
warranties. You can purchase genuine Epson ink and paper from an Epson
authorized reseller. To find the nearest reseller, call 800-GO-EPSON
(800-463-7766). Or you can purchase online at www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales)
or www.epson.ca (Canadian sales).

Replacing Ink Cartridges 23

Ink Cartridge Precautions

Warning:

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 top).

24 Replacing Ink Cartridges

Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges

Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once you start replacing a
cartridge, you must complete all the steps in one session.

Caution:

Leave all ink cartridges installed until you have obtained a replacement, or the ink
remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out.

1. Make sure the printer is turned on (the green 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 replacement mark. The power light flashes.

Caution:

To avoid damaging the printer, never move the print head by hand.

Note:

Don’t hold down the
to clean the print head.

ink button for more than 3 seconds, or the printer will start

If no cartridge needs to be replaced, the holder moves to the ink cartridge
replacement position, shown on the next page. Go to step 5.

Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges 25

4. Press the ink button again.

■ If more than one cartridge needs to be replaced, the next cartridge moves

under the ink replacement mark.

■ If all the cartridges to be replaced have been identified, the print head

moves right to the ink cartridge replacement position, shown below.

5. Open the cartridge cover.

26 Replacing Ink Cartridges

6. Squeeze the back tab of the used cartridge and lift it out of the printer. Don’t
take the cartridge apart or try to refill it.

Warning:

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.

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

Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges 27

8. Lower the cartridge into the holder and push it down until it clicks into place

9. If you need to replace other ink cartridges, repeat steps 6 through 8 before
continuing.

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 half a 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
ink.

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.

power light is flashing, or you’ll waste

28 Replacing Ink Cartridges

Solving Problems

If you have a problem with your Epson Stylus C88+, check the printer’s lights (as
described below) to diagnose what may be causing it.

You can also see “Problems and Solutions” on page 30 for basic troubleshooting
suggestions, or read your on-screen User’s Guide for more detailed help.

If you cannot solve the problem, see “Where To Get Help” on page 32.

Checking the Printer’s Lights

Lights Explanation

Green power
light flashes

Red paper light
is on

Red paper light
flashes

Red ink light
flashes

Red ink light
is on

Green

power

light and red ink
light are on

The printer is receiving a print job, replacing an ink cartridge,
charging ink, or cleaning the print head.

Your paper ran out. Load more paper, then press the

paper button to resume printing.

Paper is jammed in the printer. Press the paper button to
eject the paper. If that doesn’t work, turn off the printer, open
the cover, and pull the paper out from the front, including any
torn pieces. Then turn on the printer, reload paper, and press
the paper button.

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.

One of the cartridges is expended or not installed. Make sure
you have a replacement cartridge, then follow the steps on
page 25 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.

An ink cartridge is not installed correctly. Reinstall it as
described on page 25.

Solving Problems 29

Lights Explanation

Red paper and

ink lights flash

alternately

Green power
light is off; red

paper and

ink lights flash

Paper may be blocking movement of the print head. Turn off
the printer, then open the cover and remove any jammed
paper or other foreign objects. Turn the printer back on. If the
lights are still on, contact Epson as described on page 32.

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 as described on page 32.

Problems and Solutions

You see banding (light lines).

■ Make sure the paper Type or Media Type setting matches the paper you’re

using.

■ The print head nozzles may need cleaning; follow the instructions below to

clean the print head:

1. Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the red ink

light is off.

2. Windows: Right-click the printer icon on your taskbar (in the lower

right corner of your screen). Select

Note:

If you don’t see the icon, go to your printer properties window as described on
page 6, click the Maintenance tab, then select Head Cleaning.

Head Cleaning.

30 Solving Problems

Macintosh OS X: Open the Applications folder and select

Utility

. Select Stylus C88 in the printer list, click OK, and select Head

Cleaning

Click Start or Next.

3.

.

Epson Printer

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.

4. When the green power light stops flashing, make sure paper is loaded

in the printer, then do the following:

Windows: Click

Macintosh: Click

Print Nozzle Check Pattern. Then click Print.

Confirmation, then click Next.

The nozzle check pattern prints.

5. If the nozzle check pattern has no gaps or white

lines as shown, click

If the pattern has gaps or is faint, click

Finish.

Clean to

clean the print head again.

You can also turn the printer off and wait overnight. This allows any dried
ink to soften. Then try cleaning the print head again.

■ The ink cartridges may need replacing; see page 25 for instructions.

Your printout is blurry or smeared.

■ Make sure the printable (whiter) side of the paper is face-up.

■ Use Epson papers to ensure proper saturation and absorption of genuine

Epson ink.

■ You may need to align the print head. See the on-screen User’s Guide for

instructions.

Problems and Solutions 31

Your paper doesn’t feed correctly or jams in the printer.

■ If multiple pages feed at once, remove the paper from the sheet feeder, fan the

edges to separate the sheets, then reload it.

■ If paper jams, press the paper button for several seconds to clear the jam.

If that doesn’t work, open the cover and pull the paper out from the front,
including small pieces that may have torn off. Reload the paper and press the

paper button.

■ Heavily saturated prints may curl, causing a paper jam when printing on both

sides of the paper.

■ Make sure you use new, smooth, high-quality paper, loaded printable side up.

■ Don’t load paper above the arrow mark inside the left edge guide.

■ Place the paper against the right edge, behind the tab. Slide the left edge guide

against it, but not too tightly.

Where To Get Help

Epson Technical Support

Epson provides these technical support services:

Internet Support

Visit Epson’s support website at http://support.epson.com and select your
product for solutions to common problems. You can download drivers and
documentation, get FAQs and troubleshooting advice, or e-mail Epson with your
questions.

32 Solving Problems

Speak to a Support Representative

Before you call for support, please have the following information ready:

■ Product name (Epson Stylus C88+)

■ Product serial number (located on the back of the printer)

■ Proof of purchase (such as a store receipt) and date of purchase

■ Computer configuration and operating system version

■ Description of the problem

Then call:

■ U.S.: [phone], 6 AM to 8 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday

and 7

AM to 4 PM, Saturday.

■ Canada: [phone], 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through

Friday.

Toll or long distance charges may apply.

Purchase Supplies and Accessories

You can purchase genuine Epson ink and paper from an Epson authorized reseller.
To find the nearest reseller, call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). Or you can
purchase online at www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales) or www.epson.ca (Canadian
sales).

Other Software Technical Support

Software Telephone/Fax Online and E-mail

ArcSoft
PhotoImpression

™

[phone]

AM—5:30 PM, Pacific

8:30
Time, Monday—Friday

Fax: [phone]

www.arcsoft.com

[e-mail]

Where To Get Help 33

Requirements and Notices

Windows System Requirements

■ A Microsoft

®

Windows compatible PC with a Pentium®-equivalent processor

(233 MHz or faster recommended)

■ Microsoft Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP

■ At least 256MB RAM (512MB recommended)

■ 200MB free hard disk space (300MB or more recommended)

■ SVGA with at least 256 color display

■ CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the printer software

■ Parallel connection: a high-speed, bidirectional IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable,

up to 10 feet long (3 meters); the cable must have a D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector
for your computer, and a 36-pin, Centronics

■ USB connection: a computer with preinstalled Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, or XP,

®

compatible connector for the printer.

and a Windows-compliant USB port and shielded USB “AB” cable. Using an
improperly shielded USB cable may cause the printer to malfunction.

Macintosh System Requirements

■ An Apple

USB port

■ Macintosh OS X 10.2.x or later

■ 256MB RAM (512MB recommended)

■ At least 200MB free hard disk space (300MB recommended)

■ SVGA with at least 256 color display

■ CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the printer software.

■ A shielded USB “AB” cable. Using an improperly shielded USB cable may cause the

printer to malfunction.

®

iMac™ series or Power Macintosh G3, G4, or G5 with a built-in

34 Requirements and Notices

Important Safety Instructions

Before using your printer, read these safety instructions to make sure you use it safely and
effectively:

■ Be sure to follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer.

■ Use only the type of power source indicated on the printer’s label.

■ Connect all equipment to properly grounded power outlets. Avoid using outlets on

the same circuit as photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch on and
off.

■ Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be easily unplugged.

Placez l’imprimante près d’une prise de courant où la fiche peut être débranchée
facilement.

■ 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 ampere rating of all devices plugged into the wall outlet does
not exceed the outlet’s ampere rating.

■ Keep your printer and computer system away from potential sources of

electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or cordless telephone base units.

■ Avoid locations that are subject to rapid changes in heat or humidity, shocks or

vibrations, or dust.

■ Leave enough room around the printer for sufficient ventilation, leaving at least

4 inches between the back of the printer and the wall.

■ Do not place the printer near a radiator or heating vent or in direct sunlight.

■ 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.

■ When transporting or storing the printer, don’t tilt it, stand it on its side, or turn it

upside-down. This may allow ink to leak from the ink cartridges.

■ Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with a damp cloth only. Do

not spill liquid on the printer.

Caution: Always turn the printer off using the power button. Don’t switch off the
power strip or unplug the printer until the green power light is off.

■ Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s case or insert objects through the

slots.

■ Except as specifically explained in this manual, do not attempt to service the printer

yourself.

Important Safety Instructions 35

■ 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 case damaged; if the printer does not operate normally or
exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those controls that are covered
by the operating instructions.

Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions

■ Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children.

■ Be careful when you handle used ink cartridges; there may be ink remaining around

the ink supply port. If ink gets on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. If it gets
in your eyes, flush them immediately with water.

■ Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch a cartridge during printing.

■ Do not move the print head by hand. You may damage the printer.

■ Install the ink cartridge immediately after you remove it from its package. Leaving the

cartridge unpacked for a long time before use can result in reduced print quality.

■ Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the cartridge carton. For best

results, use up the ink cartridges within six months of first installing them.

■ Store ink cartridges in a cool, dark place.

■ Store ink cartridges with the bottom of the packaging facing down.

■ 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 shake an ink cartridge after removing it from its package; this can cause

leakage.

■ Do not remove or tear the label on an ink cartridge; this can cause leakage.

■ Do not dismantle the ink cartridges or try to refill them. This could damage the print

head.

■ Do not touch the green IC chip on the front of the cartridge. This may affect normal

operation and printing.

■ 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 the printer. 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 cartridge
ink supply port or surrounding area.

■ Before transporting the printer, make sure the print head is capped in the far right

position and the ink cartridges are in place. Secure the ink cartridge holder with the
included insert to make sure it remains in the proper position.

36 Requirements and Notices

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 Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

FCC Compliance Statement 37

Declaration of Conformity

According to 47CFR, Part 2 and 15 for Class B Personal Computers and Peripherals; and/
or CPU Boards and Power Supplies used with Class B Personal Computers:

We: Epson America, Inc.

Located at: MS: 3-13

3840 Kilroy Airport Way
Long Beach, CA 90806
Telephone: [phone]

Declare under sole responsibility that the product identified herein, complies with 47CFR
Part 2 and 15 of the FCC rules as a Class B digital device. Each product marketed is
identical to the representative unit tested and found to be compliant with the standards.
Records maintained continue to reflect the equipment being produced can be expected to
be within the variation accepted, due to quantity production and testing on a statistical
basis as required by 47CFR §2.909. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Trade Name: Epson

Type of Product: Ink Jet Printer

Model: B251A

38 Requirements and Notices

Epson America, Inc. Limited Warranty

What Is Covered: Epson America, Inc. ("Epson") warrants to the original retail purchaser
that the Epson printer covered by this limited warranty statement, if purchased and
operated only in the United States or Canada, will be free from defects in workmanship
and materials for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. For warranty
service, you must provide proof of the date of original purchase.

What Epson Will Do To Correct Problems: Should your Epson printer prove defective
during the warranty period, please call the Epson Connection
or [phone] (Canada) for warranty repair instructions and return authorization. An
Epson service technician will provide telephone diagnostic service to determine whether
the printer requires service. If service is needed, Epson will, at its option, exchange or
repair the printer without charge for parts or labor. If Epson authorizes an exchange for the
defective unit, Epson will ship a replacement printer to you, freight prepaid, so long as you
use an address in Canada or the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions).
Shipments to other locations will be made freight collect. You are responsible for securely
packaging the defective unit and returning it to Epson within five (5) working days of
receipt of the replacement. Epson requires a debit or a credit card number to secure the
cost of the replacement printer in the event that you fail to return the defective one. If your
printer is being repaired, Epson will direct you to send your printer to Epson or its
authorized service center, where the printer will be fixed and sent back to you. You are
responsible for packing the printer and for all costs to and from the Epson authorized
service center. When warranty service involves the exchange of the printer or a part, the
item replaced becomes Epson property. The replacement printer or part may be new or
refurbished to the Epson standard of quality, and, at Epson’s option, may be another
model of like kind and quality. Epson’s liability for replacement of the covered printer will
not exceed the original retail selling price of the covered printer. Exchange products and
parts assume the remaining warranty period of your original product covered by this
limited warranty.

What This Warranty Does Not Cover: This warranty does not apply to refurbished or
reconditioned products. This warranty covers only normal use in the United States and
Canada. Using this product for continuous production or similar high duty purposes is
not considered normal use; damage, maintenance or service from such use will not be
covered under this warranty. This warranty is not transferable. This warranty does not
cover any color change or fading of prints or reimbursement of materials or services
required for reprinting. This warranty does not cover damage to the Epson product caused
by parts or supplies not manufactured, distributed or certified by Epson. This warranty
does not cover ribbons, ink cartridges or third party parts, components, or peripheral
devices added to the Epson product after its shipment from Epson, e.g., dealer or
user-added boards or components. Epson is not responsible for warranty service should the
Epson label or logo or the rating label or serial number be removed or should the product

SM

at [phone] (U.S.)

Epson America, Inc. Limited Warranty 39

fail to be properly maintained or fail to function properly as a result of misuse, abuse,
improper installation, neglect, improper shipping, damage caused by disasters such as fire,
flood, and lightning, improper electrical current, software problems, interaction with
non-Epson products, or service other than by an Epson Authorized Servicer. If a claimed
defect cannot be identified or reproduced, you will be held responsible for the costs
incurred.

THE WARRANTY AND REMEDY PROVIDED ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN
LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME
LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES. IF
THESE LAWS APPLY, THEN ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE
LIMITED TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD IDENTIFIED ABOVE. UNLESS
STATED HEREIN, ANY STATEMENT OR REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY ANY
OTHER PERSON OR FIRM ARE VOID. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS
WRITTEN WARRANTY, NEITHER EPSON AMERICA, INC. NOR ITS
AFFILIATES SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS, INCONVENIENCE, OR
DAMAGE, INCLUDING DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY
TO USE THE EPSON PRODUCT, WHETHER RESULTING FROM BREACH OF
WARRANTY OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.

In Canada, warranties include both warranties and conditions.

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, and
some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty
gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from jurisdiction
to jurisdiction.

To find the Epson Authorized Reseller nearest you, visit our website at:
http://www.epson.com.

To find the Epson Customer Care Center nearest you, visit http://support.epson.com.

You can also write to:
Epson America, Inc., P.O. Box 93012, Long Beach, CA 90809-3012

40 Requirements and Notices

Copyright Notice

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 product. Epson is not responsible for any
use of this information as applied to other equipment.

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 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.

Responsible Use of Copyrighted Materials

Epson encourages each user to be responsible and respectful of the copyright laws when using any
Epson product. While some countries’ laws permit limited copying or reuse of copyrighted material
in certain circumstances, those circumstances may not be as broad as some people assume. Contact
your legal advisor for any questions regarding copyright law.

Trademarks

Epson and Epson Stylus are registered trademarks and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered
logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

DURABrite and RPM are registered trademarks and Epson Connection is a service mark of Epson
America, Inc.

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.

© 2009 Epson America, Inc. 4/09

Copyright Notice 41

42 Requirements and Notices

CPD-21495R1

Printed in XXXXXX