Epson Stylus® Pro 7880/9880
PRINTER GUIDE
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduce d, 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
these Epson printers. Epson is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.
Trademarks
, Epson Stylus, and MicroWeave are registered trademarks and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a trademark of
Epson
Epson Corporation.
Seiko
UltraSmooth is a registered trademark; PhotoEnhance and Epson UltraChrome K3 are trademarks; and Epson
Preferred 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.
The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.
NERGY STAR emblem does not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service.
The E
Legal Notices
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.
© 2007 Epson America, Inc. 9/07 CPD-24356
FCC Compliance Statement
For United States Users
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. 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.
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 A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
WARNING
This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference, in which case the
user may be required to take adequate measures.
5
Contents
Introduction
Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Options and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Where To Get Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Macintosh System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Windows System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Printer Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1 Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking and Assembling the Epson Stylus Pro 7880 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Unpacking and Assembling the Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Mounting the Printer on the Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Attaching the Paper Basket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Unpacking and Assembling the Epson Stylus Pro 9880 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Unpacking and Assembling the Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Unpacking the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Mounting the Printer on the Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Attaching the Paper Basket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Connecting the Power Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Installing Ink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Connecting to Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Installing the Software for Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Installing the Software for Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Updating Your Printer Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Checking the Current Firmware Version. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Downloading the Firmware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Updating the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Configuring the Printer for Your Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5
6 | Contents
2 Handling Paper and Other Media
Selecting Media for Your Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Guidelines for Using Epson Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Using Roll Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Roll Paper Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Loading the Paper onto the Spindle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Placing the Paper in the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Removing Paper from the Spindle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Switching Between 2-Inch and 3-Inch Roll Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Cutting Paper Manually with the Built-in Cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Printing Trim Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Using Cut Sheet Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Loading Cut Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Loading Small Cut Sheets or Fine Art Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Printing on Posterboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Adjusting the Platen Gap for Thick or Thin Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Using the Paper Basket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Catching Printouts From the Epson Stylus Pro 7880 . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Catching Printouts in Front of the Epson Stylus Pro 9880 . . . . . . . . 64
Catching Printouts Under the Epson Stylus Pro 9880. . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Optimizing the Settings for Your Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Creating Paper Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Printing Your Paper Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Selecting Paper Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
3 Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
Sizing Images for Borderless Printing on Roll Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Choosing Page Setup Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Choosing Basic Print Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Selecting the Correct Media Type Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Choosing Color Management Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Choosing Paper Configuration Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Choosing Roll Paper Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Controlling Borderless Image Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Choosing Advanced Black and White Photo Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Creating a Custom Preset and Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Managing Print Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6
Contents | 7
4 Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows
Sizing Images for Borderless Printing on Roll Paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Choosing Basic Print Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Selecting the Correct Media Type Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Choosing Color Management Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Choosing Roll Paper Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Choosing Cut Sheet Paper Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Choosing Page Layout Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Choosing Advanced Black and White Photo Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Choosing Paper Configuration Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Saving, Exporting, and Importing Custom Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Saving and Exporting a Custom Settings Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Importing a Custom Settings Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Loading a Pre-Defined Settings Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Editing Printer Driver Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Managing Print Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Using the Progress Meter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Optimizing Print Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Setting Monitoring Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
5 Maintaining and Transporting the Printer
Checking Printer Status and Part Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Printing Status Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Viewing Status Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Checking Printer Status From the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Checking and Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Running the Nozzle Check and Head Cleaning Utilities. . . . . . . . . 121
Checking and Cleaning the Print Head Using the Control Panel . . 122
Manually Checking and Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Running a Power Cleaning Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Aligning the Print Head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Replacing Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Switching Black Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Draining the Old Ink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Installing the New Black Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Updating the Printer Driver Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Changing the Date and Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
7
8 | Contents
Using Maintenance Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Replacing the Paper Cutter Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Removing the Old Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Installing the New Cutter Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Replacing the Maintenance Tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Cleaning the Printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Transporting or Storing the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Preparing the Printer for Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Moving the Printer on the Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Setting Up the Printer After Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
6 Solving Problems
Diagnosing Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Checking Error Messages and Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Improving Print Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Solving Operational Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Solving Miscellaneous Printing Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Solving Paper Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Fixing Paper Eject Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Clearing Paper Jams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Printer Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
A Specifications
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Dimensions and Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Printer Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Safety Approvals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Roll Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Cut Sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Printable Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
8
11
Introduction
This Printer Guide provides important information on setting up and using
your printer, loading paper, using the Epson
®
printer drivers, and replacing
ink cartridges. It also tells you how to maintain your printer to keep it
working at its best, and provides troubleshooting tips in case you have a
problem.
For additional information, see the following:
• The Quick Reference Guide provides a handy summary of procedures for
daily use and printer maintenance—loading paper, replacing ink
cartridges and other components, cleaning and aligning the print head,
and using the printer’s menu system. Attach it to your printer for easy
reference.
• The on-screen User’s Guide on the CD-ROM provides additional
information about the printer, drivers, and utility software. You can read
the guide using Adobe
®
Reader® (also supplied on your CD-ROM, if
you do not already have it).
• The on-screen Network Guide on the CD-ROM provides instructions
for setting up and using your printer on a network.
Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips
Please follow these guidelines as you use this book:
WARNINGS 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 on how to get the most out of your printer.
11
12 | Introduction
Tip: Check the Epson Pro
Imaging website at
www.proimaging.epson.
com for accessories and
options that are currently
available.
Options and Accessories
Your Epson Stylus® Pro 7880/9880 offers these optional upgrades and
accessories:
Optional equipment
Option Part number
Automatic Take-Up Reel System (Pro 9880 only) C12C815251
Replacement 44-inch Take-Up Reel Core (Pro 9880 only) C815121
Paper Roller Spindle (Normal Tension) — 2- or 3-inch
Epson Stylus Pro 7880:
Epson Stylus Pro 9880:
Paper Roller Spindle (High Tension) — 2- or 3-inch
Epson Stylus Pro 7880:
Epson Stylus Pro 9880:
Manual Media Cutting System*
Epson Stylus Pro 7880:
Epson Stylus Pro 9880:
Replacement Manual Cutting Blade (for Manual Media
Cutting System)
One-year extended warranty EPP7898B1
Two-year extended warranty EPP7898B2
C12C811161
C12C811151
C12C811155
C12C811152
C12C815231
C815182
C815192
* Designed for use with heavy media, which can damage the printer’s built-in
cutter.
In addition, you can order these user-replaceable items:
Consumables and user-replaceable parts
Part Part number
Replacement Ink Maintenance Tank (see page 157) C12C890191
Replacement Printer Cutter Blade (see page 154) C12C815291
Ink Cartridges See page 145 for
a complete list.
12
Tip: If you experience
difficulty with the
toll-free line or your
Unit ID number, call
(562) 276-1305.
Introduction | 13
You can purchase optional equipment and genuine Epson ink and paper
from an Epson Professional Imaging Authorized Reseller. To find the
nearest reseller, visit www.proimaging.epson.com (U.S. sales), www.epson.ca
(Canadian sales), or call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). Or you can
purchase online at www.proimaging.epson.com (U.S. sales) or
www.epson.ca (Canadian sales).
Where To Get Help
Epson provides technical support and information on the installation,
configuration, and operation of professional printing products through the
Epson Preferred Limited Warranty Plan. Dial (888) 377-6611, 6
6
PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Days and hours of support are
subject to change without notice.
Before you call, make sure you have your Unit ID number, which is
included with the Epson Preferred Limited Warranty Plan information that
came with your printer. You’ll also need your printer serial number and
proof of purchase.
SM
AM to
Visit Epson’s support website at epson.com/support and select your product
for solutions to common problems. You can download drivers, firmware,
and documentation, get FAQs and troubleshooting advice, or e-mail Epson
with your questions.
Macintosh System Requirements
To use your printer in either a stand-alone or per-to-peer network
environment, your Macintosh
• Mac OS
• PowerPC
• At least 1GB of RAM (2GB or more recommended)
• At least 30GB of free hard disk space for software and processing files
• Quad-speed (4×) or faster CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the
®
X 10.4.9 or higher, or 10.5 or higher
®
G5, Intel,® or higher processor
printer software
13
®
system should meet these requirements:
14 | Introduction
Caution: Using an
improperly shielded
cable—especially a cable
more than 10 feet (6 m)
long—may cause the
printer to malfunction.
Note: USB 2.0 is
required to run the
printer at full speed.
For USB connection: a compliant USB Hi-Speed 2.0 port and a
•
shielded USB “AB” cable from Series A (computer) to Series B (printer),
up to 10 feet (6 m) long
• For network connection: Ethernet-equipped Macintosh and a
Category 6 compatible cable
Windows System Requirements
To use your printer in either a stand-alone or peer-to-peer network
environment, your system should meet these requirements:
• IBM
• Microsoft
• At least 1GB of RAM (2GB or more recommended)
• At least 30GB of free hard disk space for software and processing files
®
-compatible PC with a Pentium® 4, 3 GHz or higher processor
recommended
®
Windows® Vista,™ Windows Vista x64, Windows XP
Professional x64 Edition, or Windows XP
• Quad-speed (4×) CD-ROM or DVD drive for installing the printer
software
• For USB connection: a Windows-compliant USB Hi-Speed 2.0 port
and a shielded USB “AB” cable from Series A (computer) to Series B
(printer), up to 10 feet (6 m) long
• For Ethernet connection: Ethernet equipped PC and a Category 6
compatible cable
14
Introduction | 15
Important Safety Instructions
Before using your printer, read the following safety instructions to make sure
you use the equipment safely and effectively.
• The printer weighs about 108 lb (49 kg) [Epson Stylus Pro 7880] or
198 lb (90 kg) [Epson Stylus Pro 9880] without ink or paper. Make sure
you have sufficient assistance when lifting it. (See page 19 for the
Pro 7880 or page 29 for the Pro 9880.)
• When setting up the printer, make sure you have enough space around
it. You may need more space behind the printer if you print on large
sheets of heavy stock or posterboard. (See page 19 for the Pro 7880 or
page 29 for the Pro 9880.)
• Place the printer on a flat, stable surface. The printer will not operate
properly if it is tilted or at an angle.
• Avoid places subject to rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Also
keep the printer away from direct sunlight, strong light, or heat sources.
• Avoid places subject to shocks and vibrations.
• Keep the printer away from dusty areas.
• Keep your entire computer system away from potential sources of
electromagnetic interference, such as loudspeakers or the base units of
cordless telephones.
• Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be easily
unplugged.
• Use only the type of power source indicated on the label.
• Connect the printer to a properly grounded outlet. Avoid using an
outlet on the same circuit as a photocopier or air control system that
regularly switches on and off.
• Avoid using electrical outlets controlled by wall switches or timers.
• Use only the power cord that comes with the printer. Use of another
cord may result in fire or electric shock.
• The printer’s power cord is designed for use with the printer only. Using
it with other equipment may result in fire or electric shock.
• Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord.
15
16 | Introduction
Caution: Always turn
the printer off using the
P Power button. When
you press this button,
POWER OFF appears on
the LCD panel and the
P Power light flashes.
Do not unplug the printer
or turn off the power to
the printer until the panel
shuts off and the
P Power light stops
flashing. This ensures
that the print head is
safely capped.
If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure the total ampere
•
rating of 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 wall outlet’s
ampere rating.
• Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s case.
• Do not put your hand inside the printer during printing.
• Do not move the print head by hand unless instructed to do so by an
Epson service technician; otherwise you may damage the printer.
• Do not insert objects through the slots. Take care not to spill liquid on
the printer.
• Do not attempt to service the printer yourself.
• Power down the printer from the control panel, unplug the printer, and
refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following
conditions:
The power cord or plug is damaged; liquid has entered the printer; the
printer has been dropped or the cabinet damaged; the printer does not
operate normally or exhibits a distinct change in performance.
• Before transporting the printer, make sure the print head is in the far
right (home) position.
For California customers only:
The lithium batteries in this product contain
Perchlorate Material - special handling may apply,
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
16
Introduction | 17
Ink Cartridge Safety Instructions
• Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children and do not drink the
ink.
• Store ink cartridges in a cool, dark place.
• If ink gets on your skin, wash it off with soap and water. If ink gets in
your eyes, flush them immediately with water.
Caution: Do not use too
much force when you
shake cartridges that
have been previously
installed.
• Shake ink cartridges well before installing them for best results.
• Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the cartridge
carton.
• Use up the ink cartridge within six months of installation for best
results.
• Do not dismantle ink cartridges or try to refill them. This could damage
the print head.
• 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.
• The IC chip on the ink cartridge retains a variety of cartridge
information, which allows you to remove and reinsert it freely.
However, each time the cartridge is inserted, some ink is consumed
because the printer automatically performs a reliability check.
• 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 this product.
Note that there is a valve in the ink supply port, making covers or plugs
unnecessary, but care is needed to prevent ink from staining items that
the cartridge touches.
• Do not touch the ink supply port, its surrounding area, or the green IC
chip on the side of the ink cartridge. Doing so may affect normal
operation and printing.
17
18 | Introduction
Printer Parts
These illustrations show the Epson Stylus Pro 9880, but the parts are the
same for the Pro 7880 unless otherwise noted.
Roll paper on spindle Roll paper cover
Roll paper
mounting bracket
Paper lever
Front cover
Ink cartridge
compartment
Paper basket Casters
Network interface USB interface
Control panel
Ink cartridge
compartment
AC inlet
Maintenance tank
(Pro 9880 includes
two tanks, one on
each side of printer)
Paper straps
(Pro 9880 only)
18
19
Chapter 1:
Setting Up
the Printer
WARNING: Two people are
required to unpack and set
up the printer.
This chapter includes the following information:
• Unpacking and assembling the Pro 7880 and Pro 9880
• Connecting the power cord
• Installing ink
• Connecting to your computer and a network
• Installing the printer software for Macintosh or Windows
• Updating the printer firmware
• Configuring the printer for a network
Unpacking and Assembling the Epson Stylus Pro 7880
Follow these steps to assemble your printer and its stand. (If you have the
Epson Stylus Pro 9880, see page 29 instead.)
Before you begin, make sure you have sufficient space to set up and use the
printer. The following illustration shows the minimum space required for
using the Epson Stylus Pro 7880:
Note: When choosing a
place for the printer, leave
adequate room for easy
access and ventilation.
Avoid locations subject to
direct sunlight, excessive
heat, moisture, or dust.
Also avoid locations near
potential sources of
electromagnetic
interference, such as
loudspeakers, cordless
phones, TVs, or air
conditioners.
8in.
(20.3 cm)
12 in.
(30 cm)
6in.
(15.2 cm)
24 in.
(61 cm)
You will also need floor space of approximately 8 × 8 feet (2.4 × 2.4 m) to
assemble the printer and stand.
19
20 | Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking and Assembling the Stand
1. Unpack the stand and make sure you have all these items.
Parts:
Bottom horizontal strut
2 Bases
2 Legs
Top horizontal strut
Tools and Accessories:
2 Hex wrenches
4 Base bolts
4 Basket hooks
10 Hex screws
with washers
Paper basket
2 Strut bolts
2 Wing screws with
2 lock washers
20
Setting Up the Printer | 21
Note: Make sure you
tighten all bolts before
moving to the next
section.
2. Insert the right leg into the right base as shown. (The bases and legs are
labeled
L and R.) Use the large hex wrench included with the stand to
fasten the leg with the two base bolts.
Bolt holes
Underside view of base
showing location of bolt holes
3. Assemble the left leg and base in the same way.
4. Attach the bottom horizontal strut as shown, then fasten it with one
strut bolt at each end. Make sure the bolts are tight.
21
22 | Setting Up the Printer
5. Attach the top horizontal strut as shown. Use the small hex wrench to
fasten the 10 hex screws with washers.
6. Make sure each part of the stand is tightened securely.
Unpacking the Printer
1. Open the box and remove the roll paper, spindle, polystyrene foam, and
cardboard cushions.
22
Setting Up the Printer | 23
2. Remove the handles from the sides of the box as shown.
3. Lift the box up and away from the printer. Remove the ink cartridges
and other accessories from the side as shown below.
Note: The printer
includes a Photo Black
cartridge. If you prefer to
use Matte Black, the
Matte Black cartridge can
be purchased separately.
See page 144.
Remove ink
cartridges and
accessories
B
A
4. Make sure you have all the items shown below, in addition to the
printer:
Power cord
8 Ink cartridges
Spindle adapters
Photo/Matte Black
Ink Conversion Kit
Roll paper and spindle
2 Paper guides
23
24 | Setting Up the Printer
5. Remove the cardboard panels and other packing materials from around
Mounting the Printer on the Stand
1. Lock the casters to keep the stand from rolling.
the printer.
24
Setting Up the Printer | 25
WARNING: Two or more
people are required to lift the
printer.
2. Have two people lift the printer.
3. Mount the printer on the stand as shown.
25
26 | Setting Up the Printer
4. Fasten the printer to the stand with the wing screws and washers.
5. Remove any packing tape. Check these areas:
• the front cover
• the ink compartment covers
Note: To prevent paper
jams, don’t place the bolt
back in the printer.
• the maintenance tank (on the right side near the bottom)
6. Open the front cover. Follow the red wire to locate the bolt and bracket
securing the print head. Then unscrew the bolt and remove the bracket
as shown.
Save the bolt and bracket in case you need to ship the printer.
Bolt
26
Setting Up the Printer | 27
Caution: Do not touch the area shown below or you may damage the
printer.
Attaching the Paper Basket
The paper basket is a cloth sheet that attaches to the printer stand and
catches your prints as they come out.
1. Attach the basket hooks as shown. The free ends of the hooks should
point outward.
27
28 | Setting Up the Printer
2. Snap the basket’s plastic connectors onto the hooks at the rear of the
3. Rotate the front bar once as shown, so the fabric folds around the bar.
stand. Make sure the connectors are positioned as shown.
4. Snap the connectors onto the front hooks as shown.
28
Setting Up the Printer | 29
5. If you find that your roll paper is curled too tightly to eject properly,
attach the two paper guides to the bottom of the printer. See page 179
for more information.
6. Unlock the casters. Then move the printer to the place of use. (The
casters are meant for moving the printer for only a short distance.) Lock
the casters after moving.
7. Make sure you save the box and packaging in case you need to ship the
printer.
Now go to “Connecting the Power Cord” on page 39.
Unpacking and Assembling the Epson Stylus Pro 9880
WARNING: Two people are
required to unpack the
printer, and four are needed
to set it on the stand.
Note: When choosing a
place for the printer, leave
adequate room for easy
access and ventilation.
Avoid locations subject to
direct sunlight, excessive
heat, moisture, or dust.
Also avoid locations near
potential sources of
electromagnetic
interference, such as
loudspeakers, cordless
phones, TVs, or air
conditioners.
Follow these steps to assemble your printer and its stand. (If you have the
Epson Stylus Pro 7880, see page 19 instead.)
Before you begin, make sure you have sufficient space to set up and use the
printer. The following illustration shows the minimum space required for
using the Epson Stylus Pro 9880:
12 in.
(30 cm)
24 in.
(61 cm)
12 in.
(30 cm)
12 in.
(30 cm)
You will also need floor space of approximately 13 × 13 feet (4 × 4 m) to
assemble the printer and stand.
29
30 | Setting Up the Printer
Unpacking and Assembling the Stand
1. Open the box and remove the handles from the sides of the box.
2. Lift the box up, then set it aside.
3. Unpack the stand and make sure you have all these items:
Parts:
Support bar
Base sections
Basket hooks
Tools and Accessories:
Hex wrench
4 Bolts
2 Wing nuts with spring
washers and plain washers
30
Paper basket
5 Paper supports
Setting Up the Printer | 31
4. Insert the support bar into one of the base sections as shown. Then
attach it with two bolts using the included wrench.
Leave the bolts a little loose, so that you can adjust the position when
you insert the bolts at the other end.
5. Attach the base section to the other end.
6. Tighten all four bolts securely.
Unpacking the Printer
1. Open the box and remove the roll paper, spindle, polystyrene foam, and
cardboard cushions.
31
32 | Setting Up the Printer
2. Lift the box up and away from the printer. Remove the ink cartridges
and other accessories from the side as shown below.
Note: The printer
includes a Photo Black
cartridge. If you prefer to
use Matte Black, the
Matte Black cartridge can
be purchased separately.
See page 144.
Remove ink
cartridges and
accessories
B
A
3. Remove the cardboard panels from around the printer.
4. Make sure you have all the items shown below, in addition to the
printer:
Power cord
8 Ink cartridges
Spindle adapters
Photo/Matte Black
Ink Conversion Kit
Roll paper and spindle
5 Paper guides
32
Setting Up the Printer | 33
Mounting the Printer on the Stand
1. Lock the two casters to keep the stand from rolling.
Caster lock
2. Orient the printer in relation to the stand as shown:
33
34 | Setting Up the Printer
3. Using four people, grasp the printer in the four locations as shown, and
WARNING: Do not attempt
to lift the printer with fewer
than four people.
set the printer on the stand:
Top view
4. Fasten the printer to the stand with the wing nuts, spring washers, and
plain washers.
34
Setting Up the Printer | 35
5. Remove any packing tape from the front cover, ink compartment
covers, and maintenance tank. Check underneath and on the sides of the
printer to make sure you remove all the tape.
6. Open the front cover. Follow the red wire to locate the screw and
bracket securing the print head. Then unscrew the bolt and remove the
bracket, as shown.
Save the bolt and bracket in case you need to ship the printer.
Bolt
35
36 | Setting Up the Printer
Caution: Do not touch the area shown below or you may damage the
printer.
7. Close the front cover.
8. Unlock the casters, move the printer to the place of use, and lock the
casters. (The casters are meant for moving the printer for only a short
distance.)
Attaching the Paper Basket
The paper basket is a cloth sheet that attaches to the printer stand and
catches your prints as they come out.
1. Attach the basket hooks to the upper guides on the left and right sides:
36
Setting Up the Printer | 37
2. Turn the basket so its seams face downward, and spread it on the floor.
3. Pass the basket’s rear bar to the back of the printer. Rotate the bar once
so that the fabric folds around the bar. Then insert the plastic pins into
the stand as shown.
4. Slide out the upper basket hooks to their full length. Then hook the
middle bar of the basket as shown.
37
38 | Setting Up the Printer
5. Insert the lower bars into the holes on the bottom of the base as shown.
6. Hook the paper supports so they hang along the inside of the basket.
Install them in the order indicated below.
38
Setting Up the Printer | 39
7. If you find that your roll paper is curled too tightly to eject properly,
attach the 5 paper guides to the bottom of the printer. See page 179 for
more information.
Connecting the Power Cord
Note: The illustrations in
the following sections
show the Epson Stylus
Pro 9880, but the
instructions are the same
for the Pro 7880.
1. Connect the power cord to the AC inlet on the back of the printer.
2. Route the power cord through one of the hooks on the left or right side
as shown.
Caution: Do not use an
outlet that is controlled
by an automatic timer or
wall switch. Otherwise,
you may accidentally shut
off the printer and cause
damage.
3. Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.
39
40 | Setting Up the Printer
Installing Ink
Use the ink cartridges that came with your printer for initial ink charging.
During the initial installation process, it is normal for up to one-third of the
Note: The default black
ink cartridge is Photo
Black. If you prefer to use
Matte Black (sold
separately; see
page 144), you can install
the Matte Black cartridge
immediately instead of
installing the supplied
Photo Black cartridge.
Note: You need to be
present during the ink
installation process. Do
not leave the printer
unattended.
ink in each cartridge to be used.
The cartridges shipped with your printer are provided mainly to charge the
ink system. Make sure you order a set of cartridges as soon as possible.
1. Press the P Power button to turn on the printer. In a moment,
2. Press both ink compartment covers to open them. Make sure the ink
INSTALL INK CARTRIDGE appears on the LCD display.
levers are in the unlocked (raised) position.
Ink lever
3. Remove the ink cartridges from their packages, then gently shake each
cartridge.
40
Setting Up the Printer | 41
4. Install the ink cartridges in the printer.
Hold each cartridge with the arrow pointing toward the printer, then
insert it into its slot. Make sure you insert each cartridge all the way into
the correct slot and that you see the corresponding ink cartridge icon on
the LCD display.
Caution: Charging takes
about 12 minutes. Never
turn off the printer,
release the paper lever, or
open the front cover while
P Power light is
the
flashing, or you may
damage the printer.
5. After installing all 8 cartridges, lower the ink levers. The printer begins
charging the ink delivery system and the P Power
light flashes.
6. When messages appear on the LCD display, follow the instructions to
raise or lower the ink levers, and to close the ink compartment covers.
Charging is finished when the P Power
PAPER OUT message appears.
After ink charging is completed, you need to load paper before
light stays lit green and the
READY will
appear on the display. See page 49 for instructions.
41
42 | Setting Up the Printer
Connecting to Your System
You can use USB and/or Ethernet network connections.
For USB connection, make sure your system has the appropriate port and
you have a standard, shielded cable 10 feet (6 m) long or less.
To connect to a network hub, you need a standard RJ-45 CAT-6 network
cable. To connect directly to your computer’s network interface, you need
an RJ-45 CAT-6 crossover cable.
1. Make sure that both the printer and the computer are turned off.
2. Plug the interface cable into the appropriate port on the printer.
Network connectionUSB connection
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the appropriate connector on your
computer, or network switch or hub.
42
Setting Up the Printer | 43
Installing the Software for Macintosh
Note: You can check for a
newer version of your
printer driver on the
Epson support site at
epson.com/support.
Follow the steps below to install the software on a Macintosh. For Windows,
see page 45.
1. Turn on your Macintosh and your printer.
2. Insert the printer software CD-ROM.
3. Double-click the
4. Read the license agreement and click
Epson installer icon.
Agree. You see this screen:
5. Click your printer model. You see this screen:
43
44 | Setting Up the Printer
Note: If you see a
message that the installer
has detected an older
version of EpsonNet
Config on your system,
you must uninstall the
older version before you
can install the new one.
Open the Applications
folder and drag the
EpsonNet folder into the
trash. Then reinstall your
printer software.
6. Click the Install button.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software and manuals,
register your printer, and place a link to the Epson Professional Imaging
Website on your desktop.
8. When you see the prompt, click
9. After your Macintosh restarts, open the
Utilities folder, and start the Printer Setup Utility.
10. Click
Add. You see your printer in the Printer Browser:
Restart.
Applications folder, open the
Tip: If you want to
rename the printer for
easier identification, enter
a new name for it in the
Name field on this screen.
11. For USB connection, select your printer and wait while your Macintosh
finds the driver and the Add button becomes available. Then click
For network connection, click
such as
EPSON TCP/IP. Select your printer from the list and click Add.
More Printers and select a connection,
Add.
44
Setting Up the Printer | 45
You see your printer in the Printer List:
12. Close the Printer Setup Utility. Go to page 46 to update your printer
firmware, if necessary.
Installing the Software for Windows
Follow these steps to install the software for Windows:
1. Make sure your printer is turned off.
Note: If you see
messages asking if you
want to install or run
various installation
programs, select
Continue, Continue
Anyway, or Install this
driver software anyway
as necessary.
2. Turn on your computer.
3. Insert the printer software CD-ROM in your computer. The installer
starts automatically.
4. Read the license agreement and click
Agree. You see this screen:
45
46 | Setting Up the Printer
5. Click your printer model. You see this screen:
Note: With Windows XP,
if you see a Found New
Hardware Wizard screen,
select No, not this time,
click Next, and click Next
again.
Tip: For best results, use
a USB connection when
you update the firmware
on your printer.
6. Click the
Install button.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software and manuals,
and place a link to the Epson Professional Imaging Website on your
desktop.
8. When you see a screen asking you to turn on the printer, press the
printer’s P Power button. (Make sure the printer is connected; see
page 42.)
For network connection, click the
created for the printer, and click
9. When you see the final installation screen, click
Manual button, select the port you
OK.
Exit.
10. Register your printer with Epson, then remove the printer software
CD-ROM.
Go to the next section to update the printer firmware, if necessary.
Updating Your Printer Firmware
To keep your printer features and functionality up to date, you should check
for a newer version of firmware on the Epson support site and update your
printer, if necessary.
46
Setting Up the Printer | 47
Checking the Current Firmware Version
1. Press the Menu button.
Caution: Don’t turn off
the printer while the
firmware is updating.
2. Press the d button until
Menu.
3. Press
Menu again and note the firmware version displayed. When done,
PRINTER STATUS is highlighted, then press
press the l button.
Downloading the Firmware
1. Visit Epson’s support website at epson.com/support and select your
product.
2. Click
Drivers and Downloads.
3. Choose the firmware update version for Macintosh or Windows and
follow the instructions on the screen.
You may also need to download the latest version of the EPSON LFP
Remote Panel utility.
Updating the Firmware
1. Double-click the firmware file to extract it.
2. Click the
the LFP Remote Panel. Make sure your printer is selected.
EPSON LFP Remote Panel icon on your desktop. You see
Note: For more
information on using the
LFP Remote Panel, click
Help to see the on-screen
guide.
3. Click the
4. Click one of the
Firmware Updater button.
Update buttons. You see the Firmware Updater
window.
5. Make sure your printer is turned on, its LCD displays
Ready, and it is
connected to your computer or network, then choose your printer.
6. Click
7. If the firmware version of the file is newer, click
Browse and find the firmware file that you just downloaded and
extracted. Select the file and click
Choose.
Update to start the
firmware updating process. (If it is the same, you don’t need to update.)
47
48 | Setting Up the Printer
Note: After you install
the software, you need to
load paper and print a
test image. If the print
quality is satisfactory,
your setup is done. If not,
you may need to align the
print head, as described
on page 143.
8. When the update is complete, close the Firmware Updater window and
Epson LFP Remote window.
If you connected your printer to a network, follow the instructions in the
next section to configure the printer for your network.
Configuring the Printer for Your Network
Once the printer is connected to your network, follow these steps to
configure it:
1. Turn on the printer.
2. Start EpsonNet Config.
The EpsonNet Config program searches for all Epson printers on the
network and displays the MAC address for each printer that it finds.
3. Highlight the printer that you want to configure and click
Configuration to access the TCP/IP selection screen.
4. If necessary, contact your network administrator for instructions on
assigning an appropriate IP address.
For more information, see the on-screen Network Guide.
48
49
Chapter 2:
Handling Paper
and Other
Media
The Epson Stylus Pro 7880 and Pro 9880 print on a variety of media,
including roll paper and cut sheets in widths up to 24 inches (610 mm)
[Pro 7880] or 44 inches (1118 mm) [Pro 9880]. You can also use heavy
stock, such as posterboard up to 59 mil (1.5 mm) thick.
This chapter includes the following information:
• Selecting media for your printer
• Using roll paper
• Using cut sheet paper
• Using the paper basket
• Optimizing the settings for your paper
Selecting Media for Your Printer
Epson offers a variety of coated, glossy, matte, and fine art paper, as well as
other media, for your printer. For a list of available media, see the on-screen
User’s Guide.
The following table shows the paper sizes you can use:
Supported paper sizes
Roll paper Cut sheets
8 to 44.0 in. (203 to 1118 mm)
Pro 9880
Pro 7880
Maximum
external roll
diameter
Thickness 3.15 to 19.7 mil (0.8 to 0.5 mm) 3.15 to 59 mil (0.8 to 1.5 mm)
wide
8 to 24.0 in. (203 to 610 mm)
wide
2 in. core: 4 in. (103 mm)
3 in. core: 6 in. (150 mm)
Letter size up to 44 in.
(112 cm) wide
Letter size up to 24 in.
(61 cm) wide
—
Always test samples of paper stock in the printer before purchasing large
quantities or printing large jobs. If you use non-Epson paper or other media,
you may need to adjust various settings and create special paper
configurations. See page 69 for instructions.
49
50 | Handling Paper and Other Media
Guidelines for Using Epson Media
Follow these guidelines, as well as those included in your paper package,
when printing on Epson paper and other media:
• Avoid touching the printable surface with your bare hands. Fingerprints
may affect print quality. Handle media by the edges or use cotton
gloves.
• Be careful not to bend or scratch the paper.
• Always choose the correct Media Type setting in your printer driver
software before you send your job. See page 87 (Mac OS X) or page 102
(Windows) for instructions.
• Always select the correct paper source (roll or sheet) in both the printer
driver software and on the printer’s control panel. See page 83
(Mac OS X), or page 107 or page 110 (Windows) for instructions on
selecting the paper source in your printer software.
• Keep unused media in its original packaging and store it in a cool, dry
place to maintain quality. Avoid storing your printouts where they will
be exposed to high temperature, humidity, or direct sunlight.
• Store sheet media on a flat surface.
Using Roll Paper
You can use roll paper with a 2- or 3-inch core and a width of up to
24 inches (61 cm) [Pro 7880], or 44 inches (112 cm) [Pro 9880
switching rolls is a simple process.
Roll Paper Guidelines
When printing on roll paper, be sure to follow the media handling
guidelines on page 50, as well as these special guidelines for roll paper:
• When storing roll paper, keep it in its original packaging—including the
bag, end caps, and box.
• To avoid feeding excess paper, make sure the Sheet icon does not
appear on the LCD display. Press the l Paper Source button until the
or roll icon appears.
50
]. Manually
Handling Paper and Other Media | 51
Choose if you want the paper to be cut automatically after each
•
page is printed.
• Do not leave roll paper loaded in the printer when it is not in use.
• Choose if you want to print a series of pages and keep them together
for cutting later on.
• Choose if you’re printing on canvas or other heavy media. Media
that is too thick may damage the cutter. Use of Epson’s optional Manual
Media Cutting System is recommended. See page 12 for more
information.
The following media (and other similar materials) may not work with
the built-in cutter:
• Fine art paper (including Epson Textured and UltraSmooth
®
Art Paper)
• PremierArt
• Vinyl
• Matte board
• Backlight film
• Heavyweight polyester banner media
• DuPont
• If you’re loading heavy paper, you may need to increase the paper
TM
Water Resistant Canvas for Epson
TM
Semigloss Proofing Paper
suction by pressing the u Paper Feed button. For lightweight paper,
decrease the suction by pressing the d Paper Feed button. (Release the
paper lever to adjust the suction, then secure it again.)
Fine
51
52 | Handling Paper and Other Media
Note: The spindle
accommodates both
2-inch and 3-inch roll
paper cores. To switch
between different size
cores, see page 56.
Avoid touching the
printable surface of
the paper as much as
possible. Oils from
your skin can affect
print quality.
Loading the Paper onto the Spindle
1. Slide the black paper stop off the left end of the spindle.
2. Position the roll so the paper unwinds as shown, then slide the spindle
into the roll. Make sure the gray paper stop at the right end of the
spindle is firmly locked into the core and there is no gap between the
paper and the paper stop.
3. Slide the black paper stop back onto the spindle and insert it into the
end of the roll.
roll core.
Make sure it is firmly fixed into the left end of the paper
52
Handling Paper and Other Media | 53
Placing the Paper in the Printer
1. Open the roll paper cover.
2. Place the roll paper in the roll holder as shown. (The black end of the
spindle goes on the left.)
Caution: To avoid
feeding excess paper,
make sure you don’t
when you’re
select
using roll paper.
Caution: Do not release
the paper lever while the
P Power light is flashing,
or you may damage the
printer.
3. Make sure the printer is turned on, then press the l Paper Source
button until the (Auto Cut Off) or (Auto Cut On) icon
appears on the LCD display.
4. Make sure the P Power light is not flashing, then release the paper lever.
53
54 | Handling Paper and Other Media
5. Feed the paper into the slot and pull it all the way through.
If the paper doesn’t come out, you may need to adjust the suction. If
you are loading heavy paper, press the u Paper Feed button to increase
the suction. If you are loading lightweight paper, press the d Paper Feed
button to decrease it. If the paper still doesn’t come out, open the front
cover and pull it out manually.
6. Holding the bottom edge of the paper, turn the roll back to remove any
slack. Then align the bottom edge with the horizontal and vertical lines.
54
Note: Opening the front
cover causes printing to
stop. Do not open the
front cover while printing
is in progress, or your
print quality might be
affected.
Handling Paper and Other Media | 55
7. Move the paper lever to the Secured position, then close the roll paper
cover.
8. Press the Pause button (or wait for 5 seconds). The paper feeds into
printing position automatically, and
READY appears on the control
panel.
To avoid indenting or creasing the paper, remove it from the paper path and
roll it up when you are not printing.
Removing Paper from the Spindle
1. Open the roll paper cover.
2. If the paper is loaded for printing, push the paper lever back to the
Released position, then roll up the paper before removing it.
3. Remove the roll paper and spindle from the printer.
4. Place the spindle on a flat surface.
5. Slide the black paper stop off the end of the spindle.
6. Remove the roll paper from the spindle.
55
56 | Handling Paper and Other Media
Switching Between 2-Inch and 3-Inch Roll Paper
You can convert the spindle to accept roll paper with a 3-inch core by using
the spindle adapters. Follow these steps:
1. Remove the black paper stop from the end of the spindle.
2. Slide one of the adapters onto the gray paper stop, then align the arrow
marks as shown below. Press the adapter until it locks in place. Press the
other adapter onto the black paper stop in the same way.
To remove the adapters, pull outward on the two tabs.
Note: A Manual Media
Cutting System is
available for heavy media.
See page 12 for details on
ordering it.
Pull outward on
tabs to release
Cutting Paper Manually with the Built-in Cutter
When you’re not using the Auto Cut On setting, you may need to cut roll
paper manually by pressing a button after your print job is finished. You can
use the button to cut most types of paper.
However, if you’re printing on fine art paper, canvas, or other heavy media,
you should use the optional Epson Manual Media Cutting System or scissors
rather than the built-in cutter. See page 51 for a list of media that should not
be used with the built-in cutter.
1. Before you print, press the l Paper Source button until you see the
roll (Auto Cut Off) icon on the LCD display.
2. Run your print job.
3. Press the button. The printer automatically feeds the paper to the
cutter guide.
56
Handling Paper and Other Media | 57
4. If necessary, adjust the cutting position by pressing the u or d Paper
Feed buttons.
5. Press the l Paper Source button until you see the roll (Auto Cut
On) icon on the LCD.
6. Press and hold the button for 3 seconds. The paper is cut.
Printing Trim Lines
You can print trim lines on the right edge of your pages (Auto Cut On) or
on the right and bottom edge (Auto Cut Off).
1. Press the
2. Press the
highlight
3. Press the d button to highlight
4. Press the
5. Press the d or u button to highlight
Menu button.
Menu button again to select the Printer Setup menu and
PLATEN GAP.
PAGE LINE.
Menu button.
ON.
6. Press the button to save the setting. An asterisk appears next to
7. Press the Pause button to exit the menu.
You can also specify trim lines from your printer driver software. For
instructions, see page 93 (Mac OS X) or page 110 (Windows).
Using Cut Sheet Paper
You can print on many types of cut sheet paper and other media. The
printer accepts sheets in widths from letter size to 24 inches (61 cm)
[Pro 7880] or 44 inches (112 cm) [Pro 9880].
ON.
You can leave your roll paper on the spindle when you print on cut sheets;
make sure it is removed from the paper path and rolled up.
57
58 | Handling Paper and Other Media
How you load the paper depends on its size and thickness:
• For stock thicker than 19 mil (0.5 mm), load it as described on page 60.
• For small sheets or fine art paper, see page 59.
• For medium to large sheets of average thickness, see the next section.
Loading Cut Sheets
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the roll paper cover is closed.
2. Press the l Paper Source button until the Sheet icon appears on the
LCD display.
Tip: You can also load cut
sheet paper without
releasing the paper lever.
This method is
recommended for small
sheets or fine art paper.
See page 59 for details.
3. Push the paper lever back to the
Released position.
58
Handling Paper and Other Media | 59
C
Note: For heavy paper,
you may need to increase
the suction by pressing
u button. This helps
the
hold the paper in place
during loading and
printing.
For lightweight paper,
decrease the suction by
pressing the
aution: To avoid
damaging the printer,
never move the paper
lever during printing, or
while the P Power or
Pause light is flashing.
d button.
4. Feed the sheet into the paper slot. Make sure the right and bottom edges
of the paper are straight and aligned with the horizontal and vertical
lines on the printer.
5. Pull the paper lever forward to the
Secured position.
6. Press the Pause button or wait a few seconds. The printer feeds the
sheet into printing position automatically and
READY appears on the
LCD display.
7. Print your page. After it is finished, the sheet stays in the printer.
8. To remove your print, press the button or release the paper lever
while holding the printed sheet.
Loading Small Cut Sheets or Fine Art Paper
You can load paper without releasing the paper lever. This prevents
scratching that might damage fine art paper and is also easier, especially
when you are loading small sheets.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and the roll paper cover is closed.
2. Press the l Paper Source button until the Sheet icon appears on the
LCD display.
59
60 | Handling Paper and Other Media
3. Make sure the paper lever is in the Secured position.
4. Feed the sheet into the paper slot until you meet resistance. Make sure
the right edge of the paper is straight and aligned with the vertical line
on the roll paper cover.
5. Press the Pause button. The sheet feeds into printing position
automatically and
READY appears on the LCD display.
6. Print your page. After it is finished, the sheet stays in the printer.
7. To remove your print, press the button or release the paper lever
while holding the printed sheet.
Printing on Posterboard
You can print on Epson Enhanced Matte Posterboard or other heavy stock
up to 24 × 30 inches (61 × 76 cm) [Pro 7880] or 30 × 40 inches
(76 × 102 cm) [Pro 9880].
Follow these steps to print on posterboard or other media more than 19 mil
(0.5 mm) thick:
1. Set the paper basket to catch your printouts in front of the printer. See
page 64 (Pro 7880) or page 66 (Pro 9880) for instructions.
2. Make sure no other paper is loaded for printing. You can leave roll paper
on the spindle, but make sure you wind it up fully and close the roll
paper cover.
60
Handling Paper and Other Media | 61
3. Press the l Paper Source button until the Sheet icon appears on the
LCD display.
4. Push the paper lever back to the
Released position.
5. Open the front cover. (The cover has special tabs that act as paper
supports when the cover is open.)
61
62 | Handling Paper and Other Media
Note: If you’re using
stock more than
39 inches (99 cm) long,
load it long-edge first, in
landscape orientation
(Pro 9880 only).
6. Feed the posterboard into the paper slot until it meets resistance.
Support tab
7. Align the board with the vertical line on the roll paper cover.
8. Pull the paper lever forward to the
Secured position. Then close the
front cover.
9. Press the Pause button or wait a few seconds. The printer feeds the
board into printing position and
READY appears on the LCD display.
10. Print your page. After it is finished, the posterboard stays in the printer.
11. To remove the print, hold it while releasing the paper lever.
62
Handling Paper and Other Media | 63
Note: If you notice head
strikes on your prints,
make sure your paper is
flat. You can also try
changing the PLATEN
GAP setting to WIDE. If
that doesn’t solve the
problem, try changing it
to WIDER.
Caution: To avoid
damaging the printer,
make sure you do not
select the NARROW
setting when you print
on thick media.
Adjusting the Platen Gap for Thick or Thin Paper
When you print on unusually thick or thin paper, you may need to adjust
the platen gap setting.
quality is not satisfactory when using very thin or very thick stock, you may
need to change this setting
1. Press the
2. Press the
highlight
3. Press
Menu button.
Menu button again to select the Printer Setup menu and
PLATEN GAP.
Menu again. STANDARD is highlighted as the current setting.
4. Use the u or d button to choose
WIDEST.
5. Press the button to save the setting. An asterisk appears next to the
selected setting.
6. Press the Pause button to exit the menu.
If you’ve selected a non-standard platen gap, the following symbols appear in
the corner of the display to remind you of the narrow or wide setting:
STANDARD is the default setting. However, if print
.
NARROW, WIDE, WIDER, or
Widest
Wider
Wide
Narrow
When you switch media, don’t forget to change the setting back to
STANDARD.
If you’re printing on non-Epson media and not using the Epson driver, you
may also need to create a paper configuration to optimize your results. See
page 69 for more information.
63
64 | Handling Paper and Other Media
Using the Paper Basket
Note: When you print on
posterboard, set the
basket to catch printouts
in front of the printer.
The paper basket attaches to your printer and catches your printouts as they
come out. The basket keeps your printouts from getting dirty or scratched.
You can set it up either to catch the paper under the printer or in front of the
printer.
Follow the instructions below for the Epson Stylus Pro 7880, or page 66 or
page 67 for the Pro 9880.
Catching Printouts From the Epson Stylus Pro 7880
To catch printouts in front of the printer, pull the paper basket forward as
shown below. Use this method for posterboard or any prints that are
36 inches or more in length.
64
Handling Paper and Other Media | 65
To catch printouts under the printer, lift the basket up as shown:
If the basket is loose, tighten it as shown:
65
66 | Handling Paper and Other Media
Catching Printouts in Front of the Epson Stylus Pro 9880
Follow the steps below to set up the basket in front of the printer. Use this
method for posterboard or any prints that are 62 inches (157 cm) or longer.
1. If you are using the paper guides, make sure they are in front of the
basket, as shown below.
2. Slide the upper metal rods all the way in. Then push the lower rods
down, so that they rest on the floor.
3. Make sure the surface of the basket is taut. If there is any slack, the paper
may not slide properly to the floor.
66
Handling Paper and Other Media | 67
Catching Printouts Under the Epson Stylus Pro 9880
Follow these steps to catch printouts under the printer:
1. Remove the metal rod from the upper basket hooks.
2. Pull the upper hooks out all the way, and place the metal rod back on
the hooks.
67
68 | Handling Paper and Other Media
3. Hook the basket rings on the upper hooks.
4. If you are using the paper guides, squeeze the guides and push them
Note: If printouts on
matte paper have
banding, pull the paper
guides forward.
back as shown.
68
Handling Paper and Other Media | 69
Optimizing the Settings for Your Paper
When you choose a media type in your Epson printer software, the driver
automatically determines the best settings for your paper. However, you may
want to fine-tune how the printer handles various media—especially if you
use non-Epson paper or a paper not supported by the driver. Use the paper
configuration settings described below.
You can create a special configuration, or group of settings, for each paper
type (up to ten types) and select the desired configuration whenever you
print on a particular stock.
Creating Paper Configurations
Note: Paper
configurations are needed
only for non-Epson media.
To create a configuration for a specific paper type, make sure the paper you
want to configure is loaded in the printer. Then follow these steps:
1. Press the
PAPER
2. Press
3. Press
Menu button, then press the d button until CUSTOM
is highlighted.
Menu to display PAPER NUMBER.
Menu, then press the u button to select a paper configuration
number (1 to 10). Press the button to save the number setting.
4. Press the l button, then the d button to highlight
Menu, then press u or d to highlight NARROW, STANDARD, WIDE,
or WIDER
. (The STANDARD setting is recommended for most paper
PLATEN GAP. Press
types.) Press to save the setting.
5. Press the l button, then the d button to highlight
PATTERN
6. Press
.
Menu, then press to print the paper thickness pattern. A
THICKNESS
pattern similar to the following is printed:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Smallest gap
69
70 | Handling Paper and Other Media
7. Examine the printed pattern for the most evenly overlapping lines.
Choose the number with the most even lines. In the example shown
above, the lines under number 4 are the most even.
After printing the pattern, THICKNESS NUMBER is highlighted.
8. Press u or d to select the number that you noted in step 7, then press
.
9. Press the l button, then the d button to select any of the menu options
shown below. Make adjustments as needed, and press to save each
setting.
You can also make similar settings using the printer driver software. For
instructions, see page 90 (Mac OS X) or page 117 (Windows).
• CUT METHOD lets you decrease the cutting blade pressure for
thinner media, or adjust the speed for thick media. You may need to
experiment to determine the cleanest cut for your paper.
• PAPER FEED ADJUST helps eliminate banding. Choose a lower
value if you see white lines on your prints, or a higher value if you
see dark lines.
• DRYING TIME lets you print with non-Epson media and avoid
smearing the ink. You can make the print head wait up to
10 seconds after each pass to allow ink to dry on the page.
• PAPER SUCTION lets you decrease the paper suction level when
printing on thin media (under 12 lb), such as drafting paper or
backlight film.
• M/W ADJUSTMENT adjusts the intensity of the MicroWeave
pattern. This improves print quality, but lowers printing speed.
10. When done, press the Pause button.
After you create paper configurations, you can use the
TEST PRINT menu to
print out a list of paper numbers showing the settings for each one.
70
®
Handling Paper and Other Media | 71
Printing Your Paper Configurations
You can print a list showing the settings for all your paper configurations.
This makes it easy to select the configuration you want for a particular type
of paper.
1. Press the
PRINT.
2. Press d until
Menu button, then press the d button to highlight TEST
Press Menu again.
CUSTOM PAPER is highlighted, then press Menu.
3. Press to print your custom paper configurations.
Selecting Paper Configurations
Once you have created a paper configuration, you can select it whenever you
print on that paper:
1. Press the
PAPER
2. Press
3. Press
you want to use. If you select
settings. If you select a number from 1 to 10, the control panel settings
override the driver settings.
4. Press . The configuration number you selected is displayed on the
LCD with an asterisk.
Menu button, then press the d button to highlight CUSTOM
.
Menu. PAPER NUMBER is highlighted.
Menu, then press u or d to select the configuration number that
STANDARD, the printer uses the driver
5. Press the Pause button to exit the menu. If you selected a
configuration number, it is displayed on the LCD.
71
72 | Handling Paper and Other Media
72
81
Chapter 3:
Printing With
Epson Drivers
for Macintosh
Your Epson Stylus Pro 7880 or Pro 9880 comes with drivers and utilities
that let you print and manage print jobs. For the best black and white
photography output, the Epson driver offers an Advanced Black and White
Photo mode.
ICC profiles for ColorSync
features in Adobe
®
Photoshop® or other applications, or in the driver itself. A
®
are included, so you can use color management
color-managed workflow using Photoshop and a color-calibrated monitor
will give you the most accurate colors and best output from your printer for
color photos. See your on-screen User’s Guide for instructions.
You can create your own profiles if you have the required hardware and
software, or you can have them created by a color specialist. Make sure any
profiles you want to use are located in the standard folder for your operating
system. When you install the Epson printer driver, the ready-made profiles
are automatically copied to the right folder.
Before you print, make sure you have installed the Epson printer driver and
utilities from the CD-ROM. You also need to configure your connection
and set up the printer in the Printer Setup Utility. For instructions on
installing and configuring the printer driver, see page 43.
If you plan on printing borderless images on roll paper, check the guidelines
on page 82 to size your image correctly.
Tip: Check the Epson Pro
Imaging website at
www.proimaging.epson.
com for updated drivers
and utilities that may
become available.
This chapter includes the following information for Mac OS X:
• Choosing page setup settings for cut sheets and roll paper
• Choosing basic print options
• Choosing color management options
• Choosing paper configuration settings
• Choosing roll paper options
• Controlling expansion of borderless images
• Choosing advanced black and white photo settings
• Creating a custom preset and printing
• Managing print jobs
81
82 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
N
Sizing Images for Borderless Printing on Roll Paper
For true borderless printing on roll paper, you can select a Paper Size setting
with an
as described on page 83. Your image may be clipped on the left and right
edges, but you can minimize clipping by sizing your image according to the
paper width and by adjusting the length by adding 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) to it.
Auto Expand or Retain Size option, or create a custom paper size,
ote: Make sure you set
the margins to zero when
printing a custom page
size for borderless
printing.
Paper sizes with the
Auto Expand option provide the best solution for
borderless printing with minimal image clipping. Using this setting, you can
create a image width almost equal to the width of the roll media. If you use a
paper size with the
Retain Size option, you should create an image slightly
wider than the actual width of the roll media. Or you can create a custom
paper size and select the
Retain Size option. See the table below for
guidelines:
Roll paper
width
10 inches
(254 mm)
13 inches
(330 mm)
16 inches
(406 mm)
17 inches
(432 mm)
24 inches
(610 mm)
36 inches*
(914 mm)
44 inches*
(1118 mm)
Image width
(with Auto Expand)
9.7075 inches
(246.57 mm)
12.8 inches
(325.1 mm)
15.8 inches
(401.3 mm)
16.8 inches
(426.7 mm)
23.8 inches
(604.5 mm)
35.8 inches
(909.3 mm)
43.8 inches
(1112.5 mm)
Image width
(with Retain Size)
10.34 inches
(262.6 mm)
13.34 inches
(338.8 mm)
16.34 inches
(415.0 mm)
17.34 inches
(440.4 mm)
24.34 inches
(618.2 mm)
36.34 inches
(923.0 mm)
44.34 inches
(1126.2 mm)
Custom paper size
(with Retain Size)
10.23 inches
(259.8 mm)
13.23 inches
(336.0 mm)
16.23 inches
(412.2 mm)
17.23 inches
(437.6 mm)
24.23 inches
(615.4 mm)
36.23 inches
(920.2 mm)
44.23 inches
(1123.4 mm)
* Epson Stylus Pro 9880 only
82
Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 83
N
Choosing Page Setup Options
Note: Many application
settings override the
printer’s page setup
options. Always verify
settings to get the results
you expect.
If your application has
margin settings, make
sure they’re turned off for
borderless printing.
Page Setup options let you choose from several options for printing on cut
sheets or roll paper. You can also select the orientation of your image and the
paper size. For printing on roll media, creating a custom page size is
recommended to make the best use of your paper.
Note the following limitations on borderless printing:
• Borderless printing takes longer than normal printing.
• Margins are required at the top and bottom of the page on cut sheets.
Full borderless printing is available on roll paper only.
1. Open the file you want to print and select
Page Setup in your
application. You see this screen:
Select your printer
ote: If you need more
information about print
options, click the ?
button.
2. Open the
Format for drop-down menu and select your printer.
83
84 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
3. Click the Paper Size drop-down menu.
• If you’re printing on a cut sheet, choose the size of the paper you are
using and one of the options listed below. Then continue with
step 5.
• If you’re using roll paper, Epson recommends that you create a
custom paper size to make the best use of your paper. See step 4 for
instructions. Also be sure to select roll paper options, as described
on page 93.
Select the paper size,
then choose the setting
The following settings are available, depending on the size you choose:
• The Sheet size setting prints on cut sheet paper with a bottom
margin larger than the top and sides.
• Sheet - Borderless (Auto Expand) prints on cut sheets and
enlarges your image (up to 3%) to fit the width of the paper
(without side borders).
• Sheet - Borderless (Retain Size) prints your image at the size you
specify in your application. You need to size it slightly wider than
the paper width to print without side borders.
84
Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 85
• Roll Paper - Borderless (Auto Expand)
prints without borders on
roll paper and enlarges your image (up to 3%) to fit the size of the
paper. This selection is recommended for borderless printing with
minimal clipping of your image. See page 82 for more information.
• Roll Paper - Borderless (Retain Size) prints your image on roll
paper at the size you specify in your application. You need to size it
slightly wider than the paper width to print without borders. See
page 82 for more information.
• Roll Paper - Banner prints a series of continuous images without
any margin space between them, but with normal side borders.
• Roll Paper - Borderless Banner prints a series of continuous
borderless images without space between them.
4. If you are printing on roll paper, choose
the
Paper Size menu.
Manage Custom Sizes from
(If you are printing on a cut sheet, skip to step 5.)
Click to create a
custom page size
Click the
+ (plus sign), double-click Untitled and give your paper size a
name, then define its size and margins and click
Select your new page size from the
5. Choose the appropriate
6. Click
OK. Then continue with the instructions in the next section.
Orientation and Scale for printing.
Paper Size drop-down menu.
85
OK.
86 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
Choosing Basic Print Options
Once you have selected your page setup options, you need to select printing
options. The Epson driver offers automatic settings that optimize print
quality and speed when you’re using Epson media. You can also choose
additional settings for more control over your printer and color output.
1. Select
Print in your application. You see the screen shown below:
2. Choose your printer from the
3. Select
Print Settings from the Copies & Pages drop-down menu. You
see this screen:
Select your
printer
Printer menu.
86
Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 87
4. If you created a custom paper size for your roll paper, select the Auto
Expand
or Retain Size option in the Page Setup drop-down menu.
See page 82 for details.
5. Select the
Media Type that corresponds to the paper you are printing
on. See the table on page 88 for more information.
If you are using a color-managed workflow, make sure you choose media
type and resolution settings that match the ICC profile you are using.
6. For the
• Color for any type of photographic printing.
• Advanced B&W Photo if you are printing black and white photos
Color setting, select one of the following:
using this unique printer technology on select paper types. See
page 95 for more information. (For paper types that don’t support
this option, print black and white photos with the
•Black only if you’re printing line drawings or other
Color setting.)
non-photographic images.
7. Set the
• Click Automatic to have the printer driver analyze the contents of
Mode option as follows:
your image or file and make the appropriate printing adjustments. If
a
Quality/Speed slider appears, set it according to the priorities of
your print job.
You can choose one of the mode settings shown at the left in the
drop-down menu:
Charts and Graphs intensifies colors and lightens the midtones
and highlights of an image. Use this setting for presentation
graphics.
EPSON Standard (sRGB) increases the contrast in images. Use
this setting for color photographs.
Adobe RGB matches image colors to the Adobe RGB color
standard.
• Click Advanced Settings to access additional options, as described
in the remaining steps.
87
88 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
8. Choose one of the following Print Quality settings:
Note: The Print Quality
settings available depend
on the Media Type you
selected. Choose a lower
print quality setting for
faster printing or
SuperPhoto - 2880dpi
for the best quality.
•Draft
• Normal - 360dpi
• Fine - 720dpi
• SuperFine - 1440dpi
• SuperPhoto - 2880dpi
9. Choose any of the following advanced options:
• Super MicroWeave for maximum elimination of banding (may
not be accessible for certain media types).
• High Speed for fast, bidirectional printing. For higher quality,
make sure you deselect this option.
• Flip Horizontal for printing a mirror image of your file.
• Finest Detail for sharper edges on vector-based data including text,
graphics, and line art. (This setting does not affect photographs and
is not recommended for large files.)
Continue with the instructions on page 90 to select color management
settings. If you are using the color management settings in Photoshop or
another application, it is very important to turn off color management in the
printer driver.
Selecting the Correct Media Type Setting
The table on the next page lists the settings designed to product the best
results on Epson media.
If your paper is not listed, check the instructions included with the paper, or
look on the Epson website www.proimaging.epson.com (U.S. sales),
www.epson.ca (Canadian sales). If you are using non-Epson paper, consult
the manufacturer for the best setting. You may have to experiment with
different settings to determine which one is best for the media you’re using.
88
Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 89
For this media Select this Media Type setting*
Premium Luster Photo Paper (260) Premium Luster Photo Paper (260)
Premium Glossy Photo Paper (250) Premium Glossy Photo Paper (250)
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper (250) Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
(250)
Premium Semimatte Photo Paper Premium Semimatte Photo Paper
(260)
Premium Glossy Photo Paper (170) Premium Glossy Photo Paper (170)
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper (170) Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
(170)
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Photo Paper Glossy
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Premium Photo Paper Semigloss
Premium Luster Photo Paper
Premium Luster Photo Paper
Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster
Premium Semimatte Photo Paper (260) EPSON Proofing Paper White
Semimatte
Proofing Paper Commercial
Epson Proofing Paper Commercial
Proofing Paper Commercial Semimatte
Velvet Fine Art Paper Velvet Fine Art Paper
Watercolor Paper - Radiant White
Watercolor Paper - Radiant White
PremierArt Water Resistant Canvas
Piezo Pro Matte Canvas
Textured Fine Art Paper Textured Fine Art Paper
UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper
Canvas Canvas
Doubleweight Matte Paper Doubleweight Matte Paper
Singleweight Matte Paper Singleweight Matte Paper
Presentation Paper Matte Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
Enhanced Matte Paper
Enhanced Matte Paper
Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte
Somerset
®
Velvet (roll paper only)
89
90 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
For this media Select this Media Type setting*
Plain paper Plain Paper
Enhanced Matte Posterboard
Somerset Velvet (cut sheets only)
* Other Media Type settings in the list can be used to experiment with other
paper types.
Enhanced Matte Poster Board
Choosing Color Management Options
Follow these instructions to use color management in the printer driver.
1. Select
Printer Color Management from the drop-down menu, then
click
Advanced Settings. You see this screen:
90
Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 91
2. Select one of the following settings:
• Color Controls to choose from four color adjustment modes and
from three
Settings
Gamma settings. Click the arrow next to Advanced
to specify individual values for brightness, contrast,
saturation, and CMY inks. When you use the driver to perform
color management, make sure you turn it off in your application.
• ColorSync for mapping colors to your printer’s profile. In most
cases, you will get better results by applying color management in
your application, rather than in the printer driver. If you choose this
setting, you can choose ColorSync from the drop-down menu and
choose filters or other settings.
• (Off) No Color Adjustment to disable color management in the
printer driver. Choose this mode when you use a color-managed
ICC workflow in Photoshop or another software application. See
your on-screen User’s Guide for instructions.
Choosing Paper Configuration Options
Note: You may need to
change the Color Density
setting if your custom
color profile was created
to optimize D-max and
color gamut.
Follow these instructions if you are using non-Epson media and you need to
fine-tune its performance.
1. Select
Paper Configuration from the drop-down menu. You see this
screen:
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92 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
2. Select the correct settings to match your ICC profile. These settings
override any paper configuration settings you may have made using the
printer’s control panel.
• Color Density lets you control the ink saturation level.
• Drying Time per Print Head Pass lets you print with non-Epson
media and avoid smearing the ink. You can make the print head
wait up to 5 seconds after each pass to allow ink to dry on the page.
• Paper Feed Adjustment helps reduce banding. Choose a lower
value if you see white lines on your prints, or a higher value if you
see dark lines.
• Paper Thickness helps reduce vertical banding and creates a
sharper image when printing on unusually thick or thin paper.
• Paper Suction lets you decrease the paper suction level when
printing on thinner papers (less than 12 lb), such as CAD drafting
paper.
• Cut Method decreases the cutting blade pressure for thinner media,
or adjusts the speed for thick media. You may need to experiment to
determine the best setting for your paper.
•Platen Gap lets you fine-tune the setting for various paper
thicknesses.
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 93
Choosing Roll Paper Options
If you are printing on roll paper, make sure you choose one of the roll paper
options as the
need to check these settings for various cutting and feeding options.
Paper Size setting, as described on page 83. In addition, you
Normal
cut
Double
cut
1. Select
Roll Paper Option from the drop-down menu. You see this
screen:
2. Choose one of the following
•Normal Cut allows margin space at the top and bottom of each
Auto Cut settings:
image.
• Double Cut extends the space between the images and trims each
print individually. This provides the cleanest edge for borderless
printing.
•Single Cut allows images to be printed end-to-end and saves paper.
With borderless printing, you may see a sliver of the previous or
next image if you print multiple images in one print job. You will
see a white margin between print jobs.
Single
cut
Note: These settings
override settings made
through the control panel.
•Off disables automatic cutting. Choose this setting if you want to
operate the cutter manually, use the optional Auto Take-Up Reel,
print multiple print jobs without cutting, or print on heavy media
that must be cut by hand.
See page 56 for instructions on using the button to operate the
cutter. See page 51 for a list of media that are not recommended for
use with the built-in cutter.
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94 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
3. Select either of the following options, if desired (available only when
you’ve selected a Paper Size setting with the
option):
• Print Page Line prints trim lines on the right and bottom edges of
your pages.
• Save Roll Paper saves paper by not feeding the blank portion of
the last page of your document.
Controlling Borderless Image Expansion
To control the amount of expansion when printing using a Paper Size with
the
Auto Expand option, select Expansion from the drop-down menu.
You see this screen:
Roll Paper (Banner)
Adjust the slider to increase or decrease the amount of expansion.
The widths shown in the table on page 82 work with the
Standard
Expansion setting. If you use the slider to adjust the amount of expansion,
you can calculate the image width as follows:
• Using the Min setting, subtract 0.125 inch (3.175 mm) from the media
width to determine the image width.
• Using the Max setting, subtract 0.415 inch (10.54 mm) from the media
width to determine the image width.
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 95
Choosing Advanced Black and White Photo Settings
Note: If you are printing
from Photoshop, make
sure you do not use
Photoshop’s color
management settings
when using Advanced
Black and White Photo
mode. There are no
profiles associated with
this screening and color
management technology.
Note: If Advanced Black
and White Photo is not
available for your media
type, you may need to
change your black ink
cartridge. See page 148
for more information.
Advanced Black and White Photo mode allows you to easily produce neutral
and toned black-and-white prints using your Epson driver. This mode offers
an alternative black and white workflow with settings for more advanced
control.
Whether your photo is color or grayscale, you can use this unique screening
and color management technology to create stunning black-and-white
prints. This mode is only available when printing on certain media types.
1. Select
Print Settings from the drop-down menu.
2. Choose the Media Type setting for the paper you have loaded in the
printer. (See page 88 for instructions.)
3. Choose
Advanced B&W Photo as the Color setting.
4. Uncheck
High Speed for the best quality.
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96 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
5. Select Printer Color Management from the drop-down menu. You see
this screen:
6. Choose the settings that are best for your photo. You can use the photo
on the screen as a guide.
• Color Toning allows you to add tone (hue) to your black and white
output. The default is
Neutral, which will provide you with a
neutral tonal scale print. You can also choose other popular presets
such as
Cool, Warm, and Sepia. Note that the presets affect the
target found in the tone color circle.
• Tone allows you to easily change the entire tonal scale of your black
and white output. While
better results if you choose
• Brightness adjusts the overall lightness and darkness of your image.
• Contrast adjusts the difference between the light and dark areas of
Darker is the default setting, you may see
Dark.
your image.
•Shadow and Highlight Tonality allow you to control tonality only
in the shadow or highlight areas of your image.
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh | 97
Note: If you check the
settings on each screen
in the drop-down menu,
go through them carefully
from top to bottom.
Avoid cycling through
them repeatedly, or you
may lose your settings.
• Max Optical Density
adjusts the overall density or focus of the
print. Create a soft focus print by setting the density lower.
• Highlight Point Shift helps to reduce gloss differential by adding
density to the highlights of your image.
• The tone color circle adjusts the hue of your black and white print.
Click on any portion of the color wheel or enter corresponding
values to customize the tone (hue) added to your print. The closer
you select to the edge of the wheel, the more color you add.
•Preview approximates the image tone based on your settings. Note
that this preview always shows the same image and is not color
managed. It provides a level of feedback as you make changes.
Creating a Custom Preset and Printing
Once you’ve made the correct settings for your print job, create a
custom preset. This will save you time when you use the same
profile/printer/ink/media combination for future print jobs.
1. Select
2. After verifying that your settings are correct, select
Summary from the drop-down menu.
Save As from the
Presets drop-down menu.
Caution: Do not open
and close the Presets
menu without typing a
name, or you will lose
your settings.
3. Type a name for your custom preset and click
4. When you’re ready to print, click the
Print button.
OK.
Whenever you want to print with your custom preset, select it from the
Presets drop-down menu.
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98 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Macintosh
Managing Print Jobs
After you click Print, you can monitor the progress of your print job. Follow
these steps:
1. Click the icon for your printer on the Dock. If necessary, double-click
your printer (and print queue) name. You see a screen like this:
Note: You can also
cancel a print job by
pressing the Pause
button on the printer and
holding it for at least
3 seconds.
2. From here you can monitor the progress of your print job or do one of
the following:
• Click the print job, then click Delete to cancel the job
• Click the print job, then click Hold to pause printing
• Click a print job marked “Hold” and click Resume to resume
printing
3. When you’re finished, close the print job window, then close your
printer window.
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99
Chapter 4:
Printing With
Epson Drivers
for Windows
Your Epson Stylus Pro 7880 or Pro 9880 comes with drivers and utilities
that let you print and manage print jobs. For the best black and white
photography output, the Epson printer driver offers Advanced Black and
White Photo mode.
ICC profiles are included, so you can use the color management features in
Adobe Photoshop or other applications, or in the driver itself. A
color-managed workflow using Photoshop and a color-calibrated monitor
will give you the most accurate colors and best output from your printer for
color photos. See your on-screen User’s Guide for instructions.
You can create your own profiles if you have the required hardware and
software, or you can have them created by a color specialist. Make sure any
profiles you want to use are located in the standard folder for your operating
system. When you install the Epson printer driver, the ready-made profiles
are automatically copied to the right folder.
Before you print, you need to set basic printing properties. Make sure you
have installed the Epson driver and utilities from the CD-ROM. See page 45
for instructions
If you plan on printing borderless images on roll paper, check the guidelines
on page 100 to size your image correctly.
Tip: Check the Epson Pro
Imaging website at
www.proimaging.epson.
com for updated drivers
and utilities that may
become available.
This chapter includes the following information:
• Choosing basic print options
• Choosing color management options
• Choosing roll paper settings
• Choosing cut sheet paper settings
• Choosing page layout options
• Choosing advanced black and white photo settings
• Choosing paper configuration options
• Saving, exporting, and importing groups of settings
• Managing print jobs
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Sizing Images for Borderless Printing on Roll Paper
For true borderless printing on roll paper, you can select either Auto
Expand
page 107. Your image may be clipped on the left and right edges, but you
can minimize clipping by sizing your image according to the roll paper width
and by adjusting the length by adding 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) to it.
Auto Expand provides the best solution for borderless printing with
minimal image clipping because you can create a image width almost equal
to the width of the roll media. If you use
image slightly wider than the paper width. See the table below for guidelines:
or Retain Size or create a custom paper size, as described on
Retain Size, you need to size your
Image width
Roll paper width
8.3 inches
(211 mm)
10 inches
(254 mm)
13 inches
(330 mm)
16 inches (
406 mm)
17 inches
(432 mm)
24 inches
(610 mm)
36 inches*
(914 mm)
44 inches*
(1118 mm)
* Epson Stylus Pro 9880 only
(with Auto Expand)
8.06 inches
(204.7 mm)
9.7075 inches
(246.57 mm)
12.8 inches
(325.1 mm)
15.8 inches
(401.3 mm)
16.8 inches
(426.7 mm)
23.8 inches
(604.5 mm)
35.8 inches
(909.3 mm)
43.8 inches
(1112.5 mm)
Image width
(with Retain Size)
8.35 inches
(212.1 mm)
10.25 inches
(260.35 mm)
13.25 inches
(338.8 mm)
16.25 inches
(412.75 mm)
17.25 inches
(438.15 mm)
24.25 inches
(615.9 mm)
36.25 inches
(920.7 mm)
44.25 inches
(1124.0 mm)
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows | 101
Choosing Basic Print Options
The driver offers automatic settings that optimize print quality and speed
when you’re using Epson media. You can also choose custom settings for
more control over your printer and color management options.
Follow these steps to make basic settings:
Note: If you need more
information about print
options, you can click
the Help button on
any screen.
1. Start an application, open the file you want to print, and select
your application. You see the Print window.
2. Make sure your printer is selected, then click the
Preferences button. (If you see a Setup, Printer, or Options button,
click it instead. Then click
Properties or Preferences.)
Properties or
You see a window like the following:
Print in
101
This box shows you the
current settings, but you
can’t change them from here
102 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows
3. Select a Media Type setting that corresponds to the paper you are
printing on. See the table on page 103 for more information.
• If you are using a color-managed workflow, make sure you choose
media type and resolution settings that match the ICC profile you
are using.
• If your paper is not listed, check the instructions included with the
paper, or check the Epson website (see page 13). If you are using
non-Epson media, choose the closest setting or create a custom
paper configuration (see page 116). You may have to experiment
with different settings to determine which one is best for the media
you’re using.
Note: The Print Quality
settings depend on the
Media Type you selected.
Choose lower print quality
for faster printing, or
SuperPhoto - 2880dpi
for best quality.
4. For the
• Color for any type of photographic printing.
• Advanced B&W Photo for printing black and white photos on
Color setting, select one of the following:
certain paper types. See page 114 for more information. (For paper
types that don’t support this option, print black and white photos
using the
•Black only if you’re printing line drawings or other
Color setting.)
non-photographic images.
5. For the
choose
Print Quality setting, choose Quality or Max Quality. Or
Quality Options to display a window like the following:
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows | 103
Use the Speed/Quality slider to set the desired quality level. Select from
the following additional options and click
• High Speed for fast, bidirectional printing at lower quality.
• Edge Smoothing to improve the quality of low-resolution images.
• Finest Detail for sharper edges on vector-based data including text,
OK:
graphics, and line art. (This setting does not affect photographs and
is not recommended for large files.)
6. Set the
• Click Automatic to have the printer driver analyze the contents of
Mode option as follows:
your image or file and make the appropriate printing adjustments.
You can choose one of these settings in the drop-down menu:
Charts and Graphs intensifies colors and lightens the midtones
and highlights of an image. Use this setting for presentation
graphics.
EPSON Standard (sRGB) increases the contrast in images. Use
this setting for color photographs.
Adobe RGB matches image colors to the Adobe RGB color
standard.
• Click Custom, then follow the instructions in the next section to
select color management options
.
Selecting the Correct Media Type Setting
The table on the next page lists the settings designed to product the best
results on Epson media.
If your paper is not listed, check the instructions included with the paper, or
look on the Epson website www.proimaging.epson.com (U.S. sales),
www.epson.ca (Canadian sales). If you are using non-Epson paper, consult
the manufacturer for the best setting. You may have to experiment with
different settings to determine which one is best for the media you’re using.
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104 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows
For this media Select this Media Type setting*
Photo Paper
Premium Luster Photo Paper (260) Premium Luster Photo Paper (260)
Premium Glossy Photo Paper (250) Premium Glossy Photo Paper (250)
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper (250) Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Premium Semimatte Photo Paper Premium Semimatte Photo Paper
Premium Glossy Photo Paper (170) Premium Glossy Photo Paper (170)
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper (170) Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Photo Paper Glossy
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Premium Photo Paper Semigloss
Premium Luster Photo Paper
Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster
Proofing Paper
(250)
(260)
(170)
Premium Glossy Photo Paper
Premium Semigloss Photo Paper
Premium Luster Photo Paper
Premium Semimatte Photo Paper (260) EPSON Proofing Paper White
Semimatte
Proofing Paper Commercial
Epson Proofing Paper Commercial
Proofing Paper Commercial Semimatte
Fine Art Paper
Velvet Fine Art Paper Velvet Fine Art Paper
Watercolor Paper - Radiant White
Watercolor Paper - Radiant White
PremierArt Water Resistant Canvas
Piezo Pro Matte Canvas
Textured Fine Art Paper Textured Fine Art Paper
UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper
Canvas Canvas
Matte Paper
Doubleweight Matte Paper Doubleweight Matte Paper
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows | 105
For this media Select this Media Type setting*
Singleweight Matte Paper Singleweight Matte Paper
Presentation Paper Matte Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
Enhanced Matte Paper
Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte
Somerset Velvet (roll paper only)
Plain Paper
Plain paper Plain Paper
Others
Enhanced Matte Posterboard
Somerset Velvet (cut sheets only)
* Other Media Type settings in the list can be used to experiment with other
paper types.
Enhanced Matte Paper
Enhanced Matte Poster Board
Choosing Color Management Options
The printer driver offers several methods for managing the color in your
prints, including turning the driver’s color management settings off.
If you are using color management settings in Photoshop or another
application, it is very important to access the advanced settings and turn off
color management in the printer driver, as described here. (For instructions
on using Photoshop to manage color, see your on-screen User’s Guide.)
Tip: If you turn off color
management, you can
still control the ink
density, as described
on page 117.
1. In the Properties or Preferences window, make sure the
Main tab is
selected.
2. For the Mode setting, select
3. Choose one of the following settings and click the
• No Color Adjustment disables color management in the printer
Custom.
Advanced button:
driver. Choose this mode when you use a color managed workflow
in Photoshop or other software. See your on-screen User’s Guide for
instructions.
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106 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows
• Color Controls
lets you specify individual values for adjusting
brightness, contrast, saturation, and CMY inks, or choose from
three Printer Color Adjustment modes. You can also choose from
two
Gamma settings, and use either a color circle or slide bar to
adjust color.
• PhotoEnhance allows you to automatically correct images and
choose from six Scene Correction settings.
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows | 107
•ICM
adjusts colors based on the printer’s ICC profile, using the
Image Color Matching system. You can choose the input profile
and other settings as shown below.
In most cases, you will get better results by applying color management
in your application, rather than in the printer driver. See your on-screen
User’s Guide for instructions.
Note: Many application
settings override settings
in the printer driver.
Always verify settings
to get the results
you expect.
4. Click
OK to save your settings.
Choosing Roll Paper Options
Follow the steps in this section to print on roll paper and select settings for
borderless printing and automatic cutting. (If you’re printing on cut sheets,
see page 110).
1. On the Properties or Preferences window, make sure the
selected.
2. For the Source setting, select
Roll Paper (Banner) setting allows you to print a series of
The
Roll Paper or Roll Paper (Banner).
continuous images without any space between them. This option is not
available with all applications, and is mostly for tiling an image.
107
Main tab is
108 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows
Tip: Creating a
user-defined paper size
generally lets you make
the best use of your roll
paper.
Save Roll Paper
page of your document. Available only if you’ve selected
(Banner)
3. For the
as the Paper Source.
Size setting, select the size of your image or output paper.
saves paper by not feeding the blank portion of the last
Roll Paper
To make the best use of your roll paper, creating a custom paper size is
recommended. Select
User Defined. You see this window:
Type a name for your custom size, then enter the size in hundredths of
an inch (or centimeters) and click
Save. Then click OK.
4. If you want to reduce or enlarge your image, click the
Page Layout tab.
See page 113 for more information.
5. If you want to print without margins, click
Borderless. If you’re not
printing borderless images, go to step 7.
Note that borderless printing takes longer than normal printing. See
page 100 for more information about borderless printing on roll paper.
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Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows | 109
6. Click the Expansion button to select a borderless sizing option. Choose
Auto Expand or Retain Size, then click OK.
Auto Expand enlarges your image (up to 3%) to fit the size of the
paper. You can use the slider to adjust the expansion.
Retain Size prints your image at the size you specify in your
application. You need to size it slightly wider than the paper width if
you want to print without borders. See page 100 for more information.
The widths shown in the table on page 100 work with the
Standard
Expansion setting. If you use the slider to adjust the amount of
expansion, you need to adjust the image width as follows:
• Using the Min setting, subtract 0.125 inch from the media width to
determine the image width.
• Using the Max setting, subtract 0.415 inch from the media width to
determine the image width.
7. Click the
Roll Paper Option button. You see this window:
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110 | Printing With Epson Drivers for Windows
8. Choose one of the following Auto Cut settings:
Normal
cut
Double
cut
Single
cut
Note: These settings
override settings made
through the control panel.
•Off disables automatic cutting. Choose this setting if you want to
operate the cutter manually, use the optional Auto Take-Up Reel,
or print on heavy media that must be cut by hand. See page 56 for
instructions on operating the cutter manually.
•Single Cut allows images to be printed end-to-end and saves paper.
With borderless printing, you may see a sliver of the previous or
next image if you print multiple images in one print job. You will
see a white margin between print jobs.
•Normal Cut allows margin space at the top and bottom of each
image.
• Double Cut extends the space between images and trims each print
individually. This provides the cleanest edge for borderless printing.
9. Select these additional roll paper options, if necessary:
• Auto Rotate saves paper if your document length is shorter than
the printable width of the roll. The document is automatically
rotated 90 degrees and printed crosswise. Be sure to click
and select the width of your roll paper.
Width
• Print Page Line prints trim lines on the right and bottom edges of
Roll
your pages.
10. When your finished, click
OK.
Choosing Cut Sheet Paper Options
Follow the steps in this section to print on cut sheet paper and select settings
for borderless printing, if desired. (If you’re printing on roll paper, see
page 107.)
1. On the Properties or Preferences window, make sure the
selected.
110
Main tab is
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