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Converting the Black Ink Cartridges

Updating the printer driver information

You can change the black ink cartridge and choose either Matte Black or Photo Black.You will need to use the Black Ink Conversion Kit that came with your printer. The kit includes three conversion cartridges (yellow, magenta, and cyan), which are used to reduce the amount of ink consumed in the conversion.

The amount of ink flushed through the printer in the switching process varies, but approximately 88 to 117 ml of ink (all cartridges combined) is used. All cartridges should be at least 30% full before you begin the conversion process.

Switching from one black mode to another (for example, from Photo Black to Matte Black) consumes a significant quantity of ink. Some of it is used to flush all of the old ink out of the printer's tubing, damper, and print head, and to prime these components with a sufficient amount of the new ink. As part of the switching process, the printer also flushes a smaller amount of each of the other colors through the print head to prepare it for printing again. All of this is performed to ensure high-quality prints in the new ink mode.

If your workflow requires both Photo and Matte Black inks on a regular basis, it is strongly recommended that you consider purchasing two printers: one for Photo Black ink and the other for Matte Black ink.

Caution:
To avoid interrupting a black ink change, observe the following conditions:
  • Do not turn off the printer.
  • Do not open the front cover.
  • Do not move the paper lever to the released position.
  • Do not remove the ink cartridges until you are instructed to do so.
  • Do not remove the maintenance tank.
  • Do not unplug the power cord.

Note:
  • If an electrical power failure occurs during this operation, turn the printer on again. You can continue your procedure at the breakpoint.
  • The Black Ink Conversion Kit is required when changing the black ink. Also, the black ink cartridge (either Matte or Photo that you want to convert) is required. To check the product code, see Consumable Products.
  • If the maintenance tank icon tells that the maintenance tank is full or near full on the LCD, you need to replace the maintenance tank. See Replacing the Maintenance Tank.

To change the black ink, follow the steps below.

Make sure that READY appears on the LCD panel.

Press the Menu button to enter the Menu mode.

Press the Paper Feed button or Paper Feed button to select MAINTENANCE, and then press the Menu button.

Press the Paper Feed button or Paper Feed button to display BK INK CHANGE, and then press the Menu button.

Press the Enter button to execute. If you see a message telling you to replace a cartridge or maintenance tank, you need to do so before proceeding with the ink changing process.

Open the right ink compartment cover when you see a message on the LCD telling you to do so.

Raise the ink lever on the right ink compartment.

Open the left ink compartment cover.

Raise the ink lever on the left ink compartment.

When REMOVE ALL FOUR INK CARTRIDGES ON THE RIGHT SIDE appears on the LCD, remove all four ink cartridges from the right ink compartment.

When INSTALL C/M/Y CONVERSION CARTRIDGES appears on the LCD, insert the three conversion cartridges in the slots on the right ink compartment.

When LOWER THE RIGHT INK LEVER appears on the LCD, lower the ink lever on the right ink compartment. PLEASE WAIT appears on the LCD.

The printer starts draining ink, and DRAINING INK XX% appears on the LCD. Wait until draining is complete.

When draining is complete, RAISE THE RIGHT INK LEVER appears on the LCD. Raise the ink lever on the right ink compartment. PLEASE WAIT appears on the LCD.

When REMOVE C/M/Y CONVERSION CARTRIDGES appears on the LCD, remove the conversion cartridges from the slots in the right ink compartment.

When INSTALL ALL FOUR INK CARTRIDGES ON THE RIGHT SIDE appears on the LCD, insert your normal cartridges in their specified slots, including the new black ink cartridge that you are changing to. PLEASE WAIT appears on the LCD.

When LOWER THE RIGHT INK LEVER appears on the LCD, lower the ink lever on the right ink compartment.

When LOWER THE LEFT INK LEVER appears on the LCD, lower the ink lever on the left ink compartment. PLEASE WAIT appears on the LCD, then CHARGING INK appears.

When RAISE THE RIGHT INK LEVER appears on the LCD, raise the ink lever on the right ink compartment.

When RAISE THE LEFT INK LEVER appears on the LCD, raise the ink lever on the left ink compartment.

The printer resumes charging ink. After a while, ink lever messages appear on the LCD, along with percentages indicating your progress. When a message appears on the LCD, raise or lower the ink levers accordingly.

Note:
Because ink charging after black ink conversion consumes a large quantity of ink, you may need to replace the ink cartridges soon.

When LOWER THE RIGHT INK LEVER AND CLOSE THE DOOR appears on the LCD, lower the right ink lever and close the cover. Then, when LOWER THE LEFT INK LEVER AND CLOSE THE DOOR appears on the LCD, lower the left ink lever and close the cover. Ink charging percentages appear on the LCD as the process is completed. After it is 100% complete, the LCD displays the new black ink type and percentage. Then the LCD returns to its normal display.

The ink charging is completed.

Updating the printer driver information

After the replacement operation, update the driver information using the steps below.

For Windows

Click the Main tab and make sure that the correct ink cartridge is displayed. If not, set the information manually by clicking the Utility tab and then the Printer and Option Information button.

For Mac OS X

Remove the printer from the the Printer Setup Utility and then add it again.


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Version 1.00E, Copyright © 2003, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION