Epson Stylus Color 3000 User Guide

User’s Guide

Printed on recycled paper with at least 10% post-consumer content.

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

Neither

EPSON printer. EPSON is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.

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 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
Products by

EPSON, EPSON Stylus, and ESC/P are registered trademarks and ESC/P 2 is a trademark of SEIKO EPSON
CORPORATION

SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION.

.

SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION’s operating and maintenance instructions.

EPSON Products or EPSON Approved

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 © 2003 by Epson America, Inc. CPD-15917

3/03

ii

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 meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le materiel brouilleur du
Canada.

iii

iv

Introduction

PC System Requirements 1-2
Macintosh System Requirements 1-3
How To Use Your Manuals 1-4

Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips 1-5
Where To Get Help 1-5
ENERGY STAR Compliance 1-6

Energy-saving Tips 1-6
Important Safety Instructions 1-7

1 Basic Printing

Printing from Windows 1-1

Setting Printer Options from Windows Applications 1-2

Setting Default Printer Options 1-5

Checking Printer Status 1-7
Printing from a Macintosh 1-9
Using Online Help 1-11

Accessing Help from Windows Applications 1-11

Accessing Help from Windows 95 and Later 1-12

Accessing Help from Windows 3.1 1-12

Accessing Help from Windows NT 4.0 1-12

Accessing Help from Macintosh Applications 1-12
Using the Control Panel 1-13

Lights 1-13

Buttons 1-15

Contents

v

Contents

2 Custom Printing

Using Predefined Advanced Settings 2-1
Customizing Print Quality and Special Effects 2-4
Customizing Color Settings 2-8
Using ColorSync on the Macintosh 2-10
Saving Custom Settings 2-12

Deleting Custom Settings 2-13
Redefining Custom Settings 2-13

3 Printing on Special Media

Using Special Media Types 3-2

Media Loading and Software Settings Guidelines 3-4
Additional Media Loading Guidelines 3-5

Printing on Single Sheets 3-6

Loading Paper in the Paper Tray 3-7
Loading Paper in the Manual Feeder 3-12

Printing on Continuous Paper 3-15

Removing Continuous Paper 3-19

Using the Micro Adjust Buttons 3-20

Adjusting the Loading Position 3-21

Adjusting the Tear-off Position 3-22
Switching Between Continuous and Single Sheet Paper 3-22
Printing a Banner or Other Roll Paper Project 3-23

Loading Roll Paper 3-24

Printing a Banner from Windows 3-26

Printing a Banner from a Macintosh 3-30

Removing a Printed Banner 3-32

vi

4 Managing Print Jobs and

Network Printing

Managing Print Jobs With Windows 4-1

Using the Spool Manager 4-2

Using the Status Monitor 4-4
Managing Print Jobs With Windows NT 4-6
Managing Print Jobs on a Macintosh 4-6

Using EPSON Monitor3 4-7

Using the Macintosh Status Monitor 4-8
Network Printing on a PC 4-9

Setting Up a Network Port on Windows XP

or 2000 4-9
Connecting to the Printer on Windows NT 4.0 4-11
Using the Printer Software’s Built-in

Network Support for Windows Me/98/95 4-12

Network Printing on a Macintosh 4-15

Assigning a Name to the Printer 4-15
Setting Up the Printer for AppleTalk 4-16

Contents

5 Maintenance and

Transportation

Cleaning the Print Heads 5-1

Using the Head Cleaning Utility 5-2
Using the Control Panel 5-3
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern 5-4

Replacing an Ink Cartridge 5-4

Removing and Installing an Ink Cartridge 5-5
Printing in Black Ink With an Empty Color Cartridge 5-6

Aligning the Print Heads 5-7

Using the Print Head Alignment Utility 5-7
Using the Control Panel 5-8

Cleaning the Printer 5-9
Transporting the Printer 5-9

vii

Contents

6 Troubleshooting

Diagnosing Problems 6-1

Running a Self Test 6-2
Improving Print Quality 6-3
Solving Printing Problems 6-7
Fixing Paper Problems 6-13
Solving Miscellaneous Printout Problems 6-17

A Using EPSON Plot!

Installing EPSON Plot! A-1
Printing With EPSON Plot! A-2

B Specifications

Printing B-1
Paper B-3
Ink Cartridges B-5
Mechanical B-6
Electrical B-6
Environmental B-6
Safety Approvals B-7
Interfaces B-7
Changing Printer Settings With Default-Setting Mode B-8

Entering Default-Setting Mode B-8

List of Default-Setting Options B-10

Glossary

Index

viii

/

Introduction

Note:
Also included are the
EPSON Plot! program and
the Autodesk Device
Interface (ADI) plotter
driver. EPSON Plot!
allows you to print
HPGL or HPGL/2 plot
files on your printer. See
Appendix A for details.
The ADI driver allows you
to print from AutoCAD 386
releases 10 and higher.
See the README file on
the driver CD-ROM for
more information.

Your EPSON Stylus

®

COLOR 3000 printer is the ideal output

device for high-quality, large format graphic and business
communication pieces—such as color comps, checkplots, maps,
presentations, banners, iron-on transfers, and backlit displays—
or any project you create. With resolutions up to 1440 × 720
dpi (dots per inch), you get amazingly realistic photographic
images, vivid color graphics, superb grayscale images, and
razor-sharp black printing for detailed line art and crisp text.

Its large format capabilities (up to 17″ ×22″ size paper) and fast
print speeds allow you to print full bleed, 13″ ×19,″ photo
quality color comps with ease. And its versatile, built-in paper
feeding options let you print on virtually any media, of almost
any size, including single sheets, continuous fold paper, and roll
paper. You can even load continuous paper and single sheets
simultaneously, printing on each in turn by flipping a lever.

The printer software for Microsoft

®

Macintosh

computers provides advanced color management,

®

Windows® and Apple®

with adjustable levels of brightness, contrast, saturation, and ink
colors. Support for ColorSync

™

and Windows ICM ensures
printouts that closely match the colors on your monitor. You
can also perform many printer maintenance procedures right
from your computer, such as cleaning and aligning the print
heads. And

EPSON’s extensive online help can guide you

through printer operations in real time.

1

Introduction

With standard parallel and high-speed serial ports and optional
network connectivity, setting up your printer is fast and easy.

EPSON’s specially formulated, quick-drying ink and wide

variety of ink jet media give you the best quality output and the
most flexibility for getting the results you want.

PC System Requirements

To use your printer in either a standalone or peer-to-peer
network environment, your system should include these
requirements:

®

◗ IBM

◗ For parallel connection: Windows

-compatible PC with a Pentium® 4 1 GHz or higher

processor recommended

®

95, 98, Me, NT 4.0,

2000, or XP

For USB connection: PC with USB port running Windows
98 Second Edition (factory installed), Me, 2000, or XP

For IEEE 1394 connection: PC with FireWire port
running Windows 2000 or XP

For 10/100 BaseT Ethernet connection: Ethernet-equipped
PC running Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP

◗ 512MB of RAM
◗ At least 25MB of free hard disk space to install the software,

and at least 2GB of free hard disk space for processing files
(8GB or more available hard disk space recommended)

◗ Quad-speed (4×) CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing

the printer software

2

Introduction

◗ For parallel connection: a high-speed bidirectional,

IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable, 6 to 10 ft. (1.8 to 3 m)
long, with a D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector for your
computer and a 36-pin, Centronics
for the printer

For IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connection: the optional IEEE
1394 port (C823722) and a shielded IEEE 1394 cable

For network connection: the optional Ethernet card
(C12C823912) and a compatible cable

®

compatible connector

Macintosh System Requirements

To use your printer in either a standalone or peer-to-peer
network environment, your Macintosh system should include
these requirements:

◗ OS 8.5.1 through 9.X (OS 9.2.2 recommended)
◗ 500 MHz or higher processor recommended
◗ 512MB of RAM
◗ At least 25MB of free hard disk space to install the software,

and at least 2GB of free hard disk space for processing files
(8GB or more available hard disk space recommended)

◗ Quad-speed (4×) or faster CD-ROM or DVD drive for

installing the printer software

◗ For IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connection: the optional IEEE

1394 card (C823722) and a shielded IEEE 1394 cable

For network connection: the optional Ethernet card
(C12C823912) and a compatible cable

3

Introduction

How To Use Your Manuals

To set up your printer and install your printer software, see the

Quick Setup

information:

Chapter 1, “Basic Printing,” gives step-by-step instructions for
everyday printing with Windows or Macintosh.

Chapter 2, “Custom Printing,” tells you how to print special
projects with custom settings for print quality, special effects,
and color management.

Chapter 3, “Printing on Special Media,” gives guidelines for
selecting the right paper or other media for your print job and
instructions for loading it in your printer.

Chapter 4, “Managing Print Jobs and Network Printing,”
explains how to manage print jobs, check printer status, and set
up your system for network printing.

booklet. This User’s Guide contains the following

Chapter 5, “Maintenance and Transportation,” gives
instructions for replacing ink cartridges, cleaning and aligning
the print heads, and cleaning and transporting the printer.

Chapter 6, “Troubleshooting,” provides solutions for any
printing problems you may have.

Appendix A, “Using EPSON Plot!,” gives instructions on how
to install and use the
HPGL/2 plotter files.

Appendix B, “Specifications,” provides the technical details on
your printer, ink cartridges, and EPSON media.

A Glossary and an Index

EPSON Plot! program to print HPGL or

are included at the end of the book.

4

Introduction

Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips

You’ll find this information throughout your manual:

War ni ng s must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your

equipment.

Notes contain important information about your printer.

Tips contain additional hints for great printing.

If you experience
difficulty with the
toll-free line or your
Unit ID number, call
[phone].

Where To Get Help

EPSON provides technical support and information on the
installation, configuration, and operation of professional
printing products through the EPSON Preferred Protection
Plan. Dial [phone], 6

AM to 8 PM, Pacific Time,

Monday through Friday. Support hours and days are subject to
change without notice.

Before you call, make sure you have your Unit ID number,
which is included with the EPSON Preferred Protection Plan
information that came with your printer. You’ll also need your
printer serial number and proof of purchase.

5

SM

Introduction

EPSON also provides technical assistance 24 hours a day
through the World Wide Web. You can reach EPSON Support
at http://support.epson.com. At this site, you can download
drivers and other files, look at product documentation, access
troubleshooting information, and receive technical advice
through e-mail.

You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, and accessories from
EPSON at [phone], or by visiting the EPSON Store at
www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call
[phone] for dealer referral.

ENERGY STAR Compliance

As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has determined that this
product meets the E
efficiency.

NERGY STAR guidelines for energy

The EPA E
voluntary partnership with the computer and office equipment
industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient
personal computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, and
copiers in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by power
generation.

NERGY STAR Office Equipment program is a

Energy-saving Tips

Here are a few tips you can use to be even more energy-wise:

◗ If your monitor isn’t E

when you’re not using it.

◗ Turn off your computer, printer, and monitor each day

when you are done using them.

◗ Use the print preview option in your software so you can

catch errors before you print something.

NERGY STAR compliant, turn it off

6

Introduction

Important Safety Instructions

Before using your printer, read the following safety instructions
to make sure you use the printer 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 heating vent.

◗ 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. 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 contacte 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 of all devices plugged into the wall
outlet does not exceed 15 amperes.

◗ Except as specifically explained in this User’s Guide, do not

attempt to service the printer yourself.

7

Introduction

◗ 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
exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the operating instructions.

Note the following precautions when using a printer stand with
this printer:

◗ Use a stand that can support at least 66.0 lb (30.0 kg).
◗ Never use a stand that tilts the printer. The printer should

always be kept level.

◗ Position your cables so they do not interfere with paper

feeding; where possible, secure them to a leg of the printer
stand.

Even if you are familiar with other types of printers, be sure to
read through the following list of precautions before operating
your ink jet printer:

◗ Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch the print

heads during printing.

◗ Under normal circumstances, ink will not come out of the

cartridges. If it does get on your skin, wash it off with soap
and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them immediately
with water.

◗ Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children.
◗ Do not dismantle the ink cartridges or try to refill them.

This could result in damage to the print head.

◗ Once you install an ink cartridge, do not remove the

cartridge except to replace it with a new one. The cartridge
may become unusable otherwise.

◗ Install the 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.

8

Introduction

◗ 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 installing them.

◗ Do not shake an ink cartridge; this can cause leakage.
◗ Always turn the printer off using the P

When this button is pressed, the

Operate button.

Operate light flashes

briefly then goes out. Do not unplug the printer or turn off
the power to the outlet until the

Operate light is off.

◗ Before transporting the printer, make sure the print heads

are capped in the home (far right) position and the ink
cartridges have been removed. For more information, see
page 5-9.

9

Introduction

10

Note:
For instructions on
printing HPGL or
HPGL/2 plot files,
see Appendix A.

Basic Printing

1

It’s easy to print all your color and black-and-white documents
with your
your printer and install the software following the instructions
in the Quick Setup booklet. Then read this chapter to find out
about the following:

◗ Printing from Windows
◗ Printing from a Macintosh
◗ Using online help
◗ Using the control panel

Printing from Windows

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000. First you have to set up

When you want to print from your Windows application, you
choose
pages to print, the number of copies, and other options from
your application’s Print dialog box. When you click a button in
the Print dialog box, you can select additional settings using
your printer software, such as whether you want to use color or
black ink.

The following sections tell you how to do the following:

◗ Set printer software options from Windows applications
◗ Change the default printer software settings
◗ Check your printer’s status while you print.

Print from the File menu. You can then choose which

1-1

Basic Printing

Note:
The settings you select
through your Windows
application usually apply
only until you exit that
application. Then the
driver settings may return
to the driver’s default
values or the Windows
default values selected as
described on page 1-5.

Setting Printer Options from Windows Applications

This section describes the options you’ll need to set for all your
everyday printouts. See Chapter 2 for information about
advanced settings for special print jobs.

Follow these steps to check printer settings from your word
processor or other Windows software:

1. Choose

If you choose
dialog box containing the settings you change most often,
including the number of copies and the pages you want
printed.

Print or Print Setup from the File menu.

Print, you first see your application’s Print

For more information
about printer settings,
click the Help button.
With Windows 95 and
later versions, you can
right-click any item on
the screen and then click
What’s This?

If you choose

Print Setup, you first see a list of printers to

choose from.

2. Make sure your
selected, and then click the

Options button.(You may have to click a series of these

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000 printer is

Printer, Setup, Properties, or

buttons, depending on the program you’re printing with.)
You see the printer software’s dialog box:

Main tab

1-2

Basic Printing

3. If you don’t see the dialog box shown in step 2, click the

Main tab.

For printing at the highest
resolution (SuperFine
quality at 1440 dpi), you
need to use one of the
photo quality media, the
back light film, or the
canvas cloth. For the best
printing at any resolution,
always use EPSON media.

Note:
The media selection on
the control panel can be
overridden by the Media
Type setting you make in
your printer driver or
application.

The control panel
selection notifies you in
case the media loaded in
the printer does not match
the media you selected in
the software. You can
turn off the notification
function by selecting
Other/Media Selection
Off.

4. Make sure the Mode option is set to

Automatic so the

printer software can determine the best settings according
to the

Media Type and Ink settings you make. This is the

easiest way to get good printing results for all kinds of
documents, on all types of paper.

5. Choose the

Media Type you want to print on from the

following list (you may need to scroll through the list). If
you are not sure which setting to select for your media, refer
to the table on page 3-4.

◗ Plain paper
◗ 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
◗ Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
◗ Photo Quality Glossy Paper
◗ Photo Quality Glossy Film
◗ Ink Jet Transparencies

The type of media you choose determines the Print Quality
setting (resolution) you can use.

6. Press the

Media Type button on the printer’s control panel

to select the media you loaded in the printer. This should
match the media you selected in step 5. If your media type
is not listed on the control panel, select

Selection Off.

7. Choose

Color or Black ink. If you’re printing black text or

Other/Media

a draft, or if you want colors to print as varying shades of
gray, select

8. Set the slider to

Black for faster printing.

Quality or Speed. This lets you choose

between high resolution printing or faster printing on the
media you’re using. (The slider is not available for certain
media types and may not set the highest available
resolution.)

1-3

Basic Printing

Note:
Whenever you change the
Paper Source, Paper Size,
or Orientation settings,
check the printer
illustration in the dialog
box to see how your
document will print.

If you load your paper
long edge first, select a
landscape paper size, such
as Letter (Landscape), and
then select your print
orientation so the printer
knows which way you
loaded the paper.

Keep in mind that some
software may have paper
size and orientation
settings that override your
printer software settings.

To cancel your changes
and exit the driver, click
the Cancel button at the
bottom of the menu at
any time.

9. Click the

Paper tab and choose your paper size and feeding

source.

The default Paper Source is

Auto Sheet Feeder, for the

paper tray at the front of your printer. (For instructions on
printing with the other feeders, see Chapter 3.)

Click to select
your paper size

Click to select
your paper source

10. Now choose the paper size, number of copies, collation
options, orientation, and printable area. (Your software
application may let you control some of these settings.
With Windows NT, there are no collation options.)

11. Click the

Main tab and check the Current Settings box on

the bottom of the menu to see if the other settings are
correct for your document. If you need to adjust them, use
Advanced mode as described in Chapter 2.

12. Click

OK when you’re finished checking your settings. The

dialog box closes.

13. In your application’s printing dialog box, click
or

Print. (You may need to click a series of these buttons,

Close, OK,

depending on the program you’re printing with.)

1-4

Basic Printing

Note:
Some application settings
override printer software
settings (such as Paper
Size or Orientation), so
it is a good idea to check
the settings in your
application before you
print.

While you’re printing, the

EPSON Despooler dialog box

appears, showing the printing progress and the status of your
printer. (With Windows NT, you don’t see the Despooler.) See
“Checking Printer Status” on page 1-7 for more information.

Setting Default Printer Options

When you change printer settings through your Windows
application (as described above), the settings apply only to the
application you’re using. If you want to adjust the default
settings for all your Windows applications, you can access the
printer software through the Printer Properties or the Control
Panel.

Make sure all your software applications are closed before you
start. If not, you’ll have to close and then reopen them to have
the new default settings take effect.

Setting Default Options in Windows 95 and
Later

1. Do one of the following:

Windows XP: Click Start, Control Panel, Printers

◗

and Other Hardware, Printers and Faxes

Windows 2000, Me, 98, and 95: Click Start,

◗

Settings, Printers.

2. Right-click the

3. Select

Properties (Windows Me, 98, or 95) or Printing

Preferences

(Windows XP or 2000). Then click the Main

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000 icon.

.

tab. You see the Main printer settings dialog box.

4. Change the settings as described on page 1-2 and click
Any changes you make become the default settings for all
your applications and documents.

1-5

OK.

Basic Printing

Setting Default Options in Windows 3.1

1. Double-click the Control Panel icon in the Main group.

Note:
You can access the
default Windows NT
printer software settings
only if you have the
appropriate network
access privileges, such
as Administrator or
Power User.

2. Double-click the

3. Select

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000 from the list of printers

and click

Setup. You see the Main printer settings dialog

Printers icon.

box.

4. Change the settings as described on page 1-2 and click

OK.

Any changes you make become the default settings for all
your applications and documents.

Setting Default Options in Windows NT 4.0

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then point to Printers.

2. Click the

3. Open the File menu and select
see the Main printer settings dialog box.

4. Change the settings as described on page 1-2 and click
Any changes you make become the default settings for all
your applications and documents.

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000 icon.

Document Defaults. You

OK.

1-6

If you don’t want the
Despooler dialog box to
appear each time you
print, you can turn it off.
To do this, start Spool
Manager (from the
EPSON folder), open the
View menu, and select
Show Despool Popup; the
checkmark next to the
option disappears.

Basic Printing

Checking Printer Status

While your document is printing, the EPSON Despooler dialog
box appears on your screen. (With Windows NT, you don’t see
the Despooler. See the following section for more information.)

Status Monitor

The name of
the file you’re

Click to
pause printing

Click to cancel
printing

printing appears
here

Click to
restart printing

This dialog box shows the progress of your print job and the
status of your printer. If you run out of paper, for example, the
Despooler warns you. You can use the buttons to cancel, pause,
or restart your print job, if necessary. When the print job is
finished, the Despooler dialog box disappears.

1-7

Basic Printing

Note:
If you are using Windows
98 or Me and connecting
to the printer through
your USB port or through
a network, you will not
see the status
information.

The following status information also appears:

◗ Media Check

A check in the Perform Media Check before printing box
means this function is selected (the default setting). The
Media Check function automatically compares the media
selected with the printer control panel with the media
selected in the printer driver and alerts you if they don’t
match. To turn off this function, click the box; the
checkmark disappears.

◗ Paper Status

The Paper Status box displays information about the paper
loaded in the printer. You select the paper feed path in the
driver, and the Status Monitor checks the printer for the
size, type, and amount. The paper size and amount is
determined by the printer. The media type is defined
by the Media Type setting you make with the printer’s
control panel.

◗ Ink Status

The Ink Status box displays the amount of remaining ink
for each color.

Checking Printer Status with Windows NT

With Windows NT 4.0 servers and workstations, the messenger
service alerts you to printer errors or lets you know when a print
job is finished. If you have appropriate network access privileges
or if you’re controlling printing from the server, you can also
cancel, pause, or restart print jobs and set the sharing, security,
scheduling, and port options. See your Windows NT 4.0
documentation for details.

1-8

Basic Printing

Printing from a Macintosh

When you print with a Macintosh, you need to check the
printer software settings for each application you use. This
section describes the settings you’ll need to choose for all your
everyday printouts. See Chapter 2 for information about
advanced settings for special print jobs.

1. Start the application you want to print from and create a
document.

Note:
To cancel your changes
and exit the driver, click
the Cancel button at any
time.

2. Choose

Page Setup from the File menu. You see the Page

Setup dialog box:

Click to select
your paper size

Click to select your
paper source

3. First choose your paper feeding source. The default Paper
Source is

Auto Sheet Feeder, for the paper tray at the

front of your printer. (For instructions on printing with the
other feeders, see Chapter 3.)

4. After selecting your paper source, choose the paper size,
orientation, reduction or enlargement, and printable area.
(Your software application may let you control some of
these settings.)

5. Click

OK to close the Page Setup dialog box and continue.

1-9

Basic Printing

Note:
Whenever you change
the Paper Source, Paper
Size, or Orientation
settings, check the
printer illustration in the
dialog box to see how
your document will print.

If you load your paper
long edge first, select
a landscape paper
size, such as Letter
(Landscape), and
then select your print
orientation so the printer
knows which way you
loaded the paper.

Keep in mind that some
software may have paper
size and orientation
settings that override
your printer software
settings.

6. Choose

Print from the File menu or click the print icon in

your application. You see a dialog box like the following:

Click for more information
about printer settings

Click to select your media type

7. Choose the number of copies and indicate which pages you
want to print.

8. Make sure the Mode option is set to

Automatic so the

printer software can determine the best settings according
to the

Media Type and Ink settings you make. This is the

easiest way to get good printing results for all kinds of
documents, on all types of paper.

9. Choose the

Media Type you want to print on from the

following list. If you are not sure which setting to select,
refer to the table on page 3-4.

For printing at the highest
resolution (SuperFine
quality at 1440 dpi), you
need to use one of the
photo quality media. For
the best printing at any
resolution, always use
EPSON media.

◗ Plain Paper
◗ 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
◗ Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
◗ Photo Quality Glossy Paper
◗ Photo Quality Glossy Film
◗ Ink Jet TransparenciesI

The type of media you choose determines the Print Quality
setting (resolution) you can use.

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Basic Printing

Note:
The media selection on
the control panel can be
overridden by the Media
Type setting you make in
your printer driver or
application.

The control panel
selection is a reminder
to notify you in case the
media loaded in the
printer does not match
the media you selected in
the software. You can
turn off the notification
function by selecting
Other/Media Selection
Off.

Printer settings are saved
with your document, but
you can’t save them from
one application to another.
You’ll have to check your
settings each time you
print from a new
application. If you want
to reuse settings, you
can create document
templates for your favorite
applications.

10. Press the

Media Type button on the printer’s control panel

to select the media you loaded in the printer and selected in
step 9. If your media type is not listed on the control panel,
select

Other/Media Selection Off.

11. Choose

Color or Black ink. If you are printing black text

or a draft, or if you want colors to print as varying shades of
gray, choose

12. Set the slider to

Black for faster printing.

Quality or Speed. This lets you choose

between high resolution printing or faster printing on the
media you’re using. (The slider is not available for certain
media types and may not set the highest available printer
resolution.)

Once you’ve changed these basic settings, check the
Current Settings box on the right side of the menu to see if
the other settings are correct for your document. If you
need to adjust them, use Advanced mode as described in
Chapter 2.

13. Click

Print when you’re finished checking your settings.

If you chose background printing when you set up your
printer, you can continue working while your document is
printing. See “Using EPSON Monitor3” in Chapter 4.

Using Online Help

For complete information about using the printer software, you
can easily access online help any time. It provides detailed
descriptions of the different settings and options.

Accessing Help from Windows Applications

To access online help from your application, open the File
menu and choose

Setup, Options, or Properties; you may need to click a series

of these buttons, depending on the software you’re using. Click

Print or Print Setup. Then click Printer,

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Basic Printing

With Windows 95 and
later you can get specific
help related to any item in
the menus by
right-clicking the item and
then clicking the What’s
This? prompt.

the

Help button at the bottom of the dialog box for help related

to the items on that dialog box. Then select a help topic. You
can also access online help when you’re not using the software,
as described below.

Accessing Help from Windows 95 and Later

Click the Start button, point to Programs, (or All Programs)

Epson (or Epson Printers), and then click EPSON Stylus

and

COLOR 3000 Help. If you need instructions for how to use

help, read the online “Quick Guide to Using Help.”

Accessing Help from Windows 3.1

To access online help from Program Manager, open the EPSON
program group and click the
icon. If you need instructions for how to use help, read the
online “Quick Guide to Using Help.”

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000 Help

With Windows NT, you
can get specific help
related to any item in the
menus by right-clicking
the item and then clicking
the What’s This? prompt.

Accessing Help from Windows NT 4.0

Click the My Computer icon, then click the Printers icon.
Right-click the

Document Defaults from the menu. In the printer software

dialog box, click the

EPSON Stylus COLOR 3000 icon and select

Help button. If you need instructions for

how to use help, read the online “Quick Guide to Using Help.”

Accessing Help from Macintosh Applications

Choose Print from the File menu or click the print icon in your
application. Click the
on that menu. To exit Help, click the
of the Help screen.

1-12

Help button for help related to the items

OK button at the bottom