Date: 2002/10/03
FAQ Version 1.5
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General Printer Questions and Answers
Ink Cartridge Questions
Printer Driver Questions
Windows Questions
Diagnosing Printer Problems
Printing Questions
Media Questions
Product Controls: Stylus Color 880
Power Button - Turns power on and off. It is important to use the printer's Power button rather than a power strip to control power to the printer.
Cleaning Button - Make sure the printer is turned on but not printing, and the black and color ink out lights are off. Press and hold the cleaning button for three seconds. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds, during which the printer makes some noise and the power light flashes. When the cleaning cycle is complete, the power light will stop flashing.
Load/Eject Button - Loads or ejects paper in the printer.
Printer Test - You can run a printer check to determine whether a problem comes from the printer itself or some other source. Follow
these steps to run the printer check:
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.
2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
4. Hold down the load/eject button, then press and release the power button. Continue holding down the load/eject button until the
power light starts to flash, then release it. The printer prints one page showing its ROM version number, ink counter, and a
nozzle check pattern. If the pattern has gaps in its dots, you need to clean the print head.
5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on your printer
and computer. If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, the interface cable, or your
computer. If the check page doesn't print, you may have a problem with your printer.
General Printer Questions and Answers
Q: How does Micro Piezo technology compare to thermal technology?A: Epson's Micro Piezo (M.P.) technology outperforms thermal technologies in all areas: pressure method - electromechanical (M.P.) vs. boiling (thermal), print head life - permanent (M.P.) vs. disposable (thermal), ink flexibility range - wide (M.P.) vs. limited (thermal), potential for improvement - significant (M.P.) vs. limited (thermal). Micro Piezo technology provides the highest resolution, smallest dot size, precise dot volume, precise dot shape, precise dot placement, and fastest head firing times. Thermal technology creates satellites and misting which Micro Piezo technology eliminates.
Q: Where can I find the printer manual?
A: Your printer software CD-ROM includes an Electronic Reference Guide for your printer. The manual is in HTML format, so you need a browser such as Internet Explorer 3.0 or later or Netscape Navigator 3.0 or later to view it. If you are using a different browser, the pages may not display correctly. (A browser is not included on the printer software CD-ROM.)
Q: Where can I find the User's Manuals for the all the software that comes with the printer?
A: Several of the applications that came with your printer include electronic user's manuals in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You'll find these in the Manuals folder on the EPSON CD-ROM, as well as in the product folders. If you already have Adobe Acrobat Reader v3.0 on your system, remove v3.0 and install Adobe Acrobat Reader v4.0 from the EPSON CD-ROM.
Q: What are the system requirements for using this printer with a Macintosh computer?
A: Macintosh Requirements
If your iMac is running OS 8.1, you need to upgrade your operating system before installing your printer software. To find out which operating system your iMac is running, select 'About This Computer' from the Apple menu.
If you're running OS 8.5 or 8.5.1 on your iMac, Apple recommends that you install iMac Update 1.1. Download the update for your system by clicking on the "Apple - Support" link from our Third Party Contacts Page. Contact Apple if you have problems installing an update.
Using an improperly shielded USB cable-especially a cable more than 6.5 feet (2 meters) long-may cause the printer to malfunction.
Q: What steps need to be taken when transporting the Printer?
A: If you move your printer some distance, you need to prepare it for transportation in its original box or one of a similar size. To avoid damage, always leave the ink cartridges installed when transporting the printer. Be sure to remove the tape used in step 4 after installing the printer in its new location.
Follow these steps:
1. Turn on the printer, wait until the print head locks in the far right position, then turn off the printer.
2. Unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet. Then disconnect the printer cable from the printer.
3. Remove any paper from the printer and remove the paper support.
4. Open the printer cover. Secure the ink cartridge holder to the printer with tape, then close the printer cover.
5. Push in the output tray extension and close the tray.
6. If possible, repack the printer and attachments in the original box using the protective materials that came with it. See the Start Here sheet. Be sure to keep the printer level as you transport it. After transporting the printer, carefully remove the tape securing the print head and then print a document to test the output.
Q: Can the Epson Status Monitor print spooler be disabled?
A: There is no option to remove the Status Monitor. The Status Monitor (spooler) is an integral part of that printers driver and if it is somehow deleted or removed, it will affect the printers functionality.
Q: How can I obtain the latest printer drivers?
A: The easiest and fastest way to get the latest printer driver software, is to download it from the downloads section of this web site. You may also contact EPSON's driver fulfillment group at (562) 276-4367 (6 AM-6 PM Monday-Friday Pacific Time) to request a printer driver. A shipping and handling charge may be applied to drivers sent by mail. Note: This number is not for technical support.
Q: Where can I find the Printer description or PPD file so that I can print Post script Images from Quark?
A: There is no software available from Epson that will allow the printer to print postscript. However, there may be third software that you can try. Adobe has software called Pressready that allows postscript files to print to a non-postscript printer. Epson does not support this software and you should contact Adobe for questions. If printing postscript files is going to be a major portion of your printing, then you may want to consider purchasing one of our Epson printer’s capable of printing postscript files when used with our optional Stylus RIP software. Please contact our pre-sales department at 1-800-463-7766 for more information.
Q: If I want to clear the printer's memory, what should I do? A: Make sure that you cancel the print job from the computer before you try to clear the printer's memory. Also, make sure the printer is no longer printing. After canceling the print job from the computer, unplug the printer, wait 10 seconds, and then plug in the printer again.
Q: What are the system requirements for using this printer on a PC?
A: PC Requirements
Q: What do I do if I see a "New Hardware Found" window before I install my printer software with a parallel connection?
A: Cancel the window by clicking on "Do not install a driver" and then "OK". You cannot install the printer driver software by using the "New Hardware Found" window.
Q: How do I install the driver from the EPSON Stylus Color 880 CD-ROM in Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 with a parallel connection?
A:
1. Insert the EPSON printer software CD in your CD-ROM Drive
2. Click "Start", Select "Run", and type "D:\EPSON.exe"
(Where D is your CD-ROM drive letter)
3. Then click "OK"
4. You will see the License Agreement window. Read the agreement and click "Agree"
5. Select Install Printer Driver from the Main Menu screen.
6. Click "OK" on the EPSON Printer Utility Setup screen.
7. Click "OK" when setup is complete.
8. Return to the main menu screen to install your Creative Software. Turn off your printer. Then turn on your computer and wait until you see your desktop icons and the cursor is no longer an hourglass style.
Q: How do I remove the printer driver from Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 or 2000?
A:
Q: What should I do if my computer locked up during installation in Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me and the "Installing Printer Driver" dialog box does not close as normal?
A: If a previous Epson Printer Driver was installed in the system it could cause the installation of the new printer to hang. If you find that the "EPSON Printer Utility Setup" remains on your screen for more than a few minutes, your installation program may have stopped responding. Use the following procedure to complete the driver installation:
1. To determine if you do have a lock up, Press the Ctrl+Alt+Del buttons on your keyboard and examine the EPSON Printer Utility Setup task. If it shows that the task is Not Responding, then your installation has locked up. If this is the case, proceed to step 2, otherwise your installation has not locked up and should complete normally.
2. Click the E_srcv03 or E_srcv02 program to highlight it.
3. Click the "End Task" button to close the program.
4. If you see a screen confirming the end of the task, click End Task again. Your software will finish installing now.
Q: How do I install a printer driver from the EPSON Stylus COLOR 880i CD-ROM on a Macintosh with USB connection?
A: A USB "AB" cable is required.
1. Turn off your printer.
2. Turn on your computer and wait until you see the Macintosh desktop icons.
3. Turn on your printer.
4. Insert your printer software CD into your CD-ROM drive
5. Double-click on the EPSON Icon
6. Click "Agree" to the license agreement.
7. Click 'Continue' at the first screen.
8. At the installer screen, click 'Install' and follow the on-screen instructions to install your printer software, select your default paper size, click "OK" and restart your system.
9. You need to select your printer in the Chooser Setup.
10. Open the Apple menu and click 'Chooser'.
11. Click the Stylus Color 880/880i icon, "USB Port1 or 2" should appear as your printer port.
12. Turn on background printing, if you want to use it. Then close the chooser.
Q: How do I uninstall the printer driver from my Macintosh?
A: 1. Insert your printer software CD-ROM. When the CD-ROM window opens, double-click the EPSON icon.
2. Click Install Printer Driver.
3. On the installer screen, click the arrow in the Easy Install list at the top and select Uninstall. Then click the Uninstall button at the bottom and follow the instructions. When you're finished, click Quit.
4. Restart your Macintosh.
Q: How can I print using Windows 3.x, DOS applications or from the DOS prompt with this printer?
A: D4 Mode of the parallel interface must be disabled (OFF) in order to print from Windows 3.x or DOS. Take the following steps to set the D4 Mode.
1. Turn on the printer while holding down the Cleaning button.
2. The paper out light will start blinking.
3. Release the Cleaning button and immediately press the Load/Eject button and hold it for about 20 seconds.
4. The Paper Out, Color Ink Out and Black Ink Out LED's will light.
5. Release the Load/Eject Button.
6. Press the Cleaning Button and observe the LED conditions as follows to select the desired D4 Mode:
Paper Out LED - ON = D4 Mode ON
Black Ink Out LED - ON = D4 Mode OFF
Color Ink Out LED - ON = D4 Mode AUTO
NOTE: Be sure to set the D4 Mode to AUTO for normal operation.
Q: I installed new ink cartridges and the printer is now doing continuous cleaning cycles. Is there something wrong with my printer?
A: When an ink cartridge is installed into the printer, it will take approximately 2 minutes to charge the ink system and initialize the printer. Never turn off the printer until the printer has not moved or made noise for over 5 minutes. This initialization is a normal and necessary process. If it does not stop, the printer may need service and you should contact Epson technical support for assistance.
Q: Which ink cartridge should I use with this printer?
A: This printer can use only the following Epson ink cartridge part numbers:
Black - T019201 in the U.S. and Latin America
Color - T020201 in the U.S. and Latin America
Black - T019311 for Canada
Color - T020311 for Canada
Other cartridges are not compatible.
Order ink cartridge supplies on-line now!
In Canada, please call (800) 873-7766 for dealer referral.
Q: Can the Epson ink cartridges be refilled or can 3rd party ink cartridges be used without voiding the warranty?
A: EPSON does not recommend refilling or using 3rd party ink cartridges. Using these products will not void the product's original warranty, however, if these 3rd party products cause a failure, the repair of that failure will not be covered under warranty.
Q: How do I install my ink cartridge for the first time?
A: After installing your printer driver software, you will see the Setup Utility that walks you through installing your ink cartridges.
1. Follow the on-screen instructions to open the printer cover, then click "Next".
Remove the yellow tape seal from the top of the ink cartridges. Don't remove the clear seals on the bottom or the ink will leak out. Never remove an ink cartridge except to replace it with a new one. Once you remove it, you can't reuse it, even if it contains ink.
2. The printer moves the black ink cartridge holder into the loading position. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the black cartridge in your printer.
3. Once you've installed the black ink cartridge, the Setup Utility asks you to install the the color ink cartridge. Click OK and follow the on-screen instructions. You must install both ink cartridges or the printer will not work.
4. After you've installed both cartridges, the printer begins charging the ink for several minutes. Close the printer cover. Do not shut the power off while the printer is charging the ink supply.
Q: How do I replace an ink cartridge when an ink low or out condition occurs?
A: To install a replacement ink cartridge, power off and on the printer. Raise the printer cover, then press down the Cleaning button for 3 seconds until the print heads move to the left. Unclamp and remove the old ink cartridge. Open the new cartridge packaging and remove only the yellow tape seal from the new ink cartridge. Do not remove the blue label from the top of the ink cartridge. Install the new ink cartridge and press the paper feed button to begin charging the ink delivery system. Charging takes about two minutes and is complete when the power light stops flashing.
Q: How long should an ink cartridge remain in the printer if it's not used often.
A: When an installed ink cartridge is more than six (6) months old, you may need to replace it if you notice that your printouts don't look as good as they used to. If print quality doesn't improve after cleaning and aligning the print head, you should replace one or both cartridges.
Order ink cartridge supplies on-line now!
Q: How do I replace an ink cartridge before the Status Monitor 3 window message says it's out, such as with an outdated Ink Cartridge?
A: Be sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. Once you start replacing a cartridge, you must complete all the steps in one session.
1. Make sure the printer is turned on and not printing (the Power light should be on, but not flashing), then open the printer cover.
2. Press the Load/Eject button and hold it for about 3 seconds, until print head moves to the center and the Power light flashes.
3. The color cartridge is on the right and the black is on the left. Pull up the ink cartridge clamp. The cartridge rises up from its holder.
4. Lift the cartridge out of the printer and dispose of it carefully.
5. Unwrap the new ink cartridge. Then remove only the yellow tape seal on top.
6. Tilt the new cartridge toward you slightly as you insert it.
Lower the cartridge so that the tabs rest on the hooks.
Caution: Don't place the cartridge under the hooks; you may damage the clamp when you close it.
7. Press down firmly on the ink cartridge clamp until it snaps in place.
8. If you need to replace the other ink cartridge, repeat steps 3 through 7 before continuing with step 9.
9. Press the cleaning button and close the printer cover. The printer begins charging the ink delivery system. The Power light flashes, and the printer makes noise. Charging takes about one minute. When it's finished, the Power light stops flashing and stays on, and the red error light goes out.
Caution: Never turn off the printer while the Power light is flashing, unless the printer hasn't moved or made noise for more than 5 minutes.
Order ink cartridge supplies on-line now!
Q: Can I print in black, if the color cartridge is empty or visa versa?
A: You cannot print if either ink cartridge is empty. Leave the empty cartridge installed in the printer until you have obtained a replacement, otherwise the ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out. It's best to always have an extra cartridge on hand.
Order ink cartridge supplies on-line now!
Q: I can't tell how much ink is remaining in the cartridges. The status monitor shows the cartridges with the inside grayed out. Why?
A: Please follow the directions below to successfully install your Status Monitor.
1. Restart your computer and close down any background applications by following the following directions:
a) Press "CTRL+ALT+DEL". This will open the "CLOSE PROGRAM" window.
b) One by one select "End Task" for all items EXCEPT the "EXPLORER" and "SYSTRAY"
Note: The 'Close Program' window will close each time you click 'End Task' so you will need to press CTRL+ALT+DEL again after each 'End Task'. If you press CTRL+ALT+DEL twice in a row, your PC will reboot and you will have to start over again.
2. Insert your Epson CD into your CD ROM drive, and double click on the MY COMPUTER icon.
3. Double click on the Epson CD ROM drive, and then double click on the DRIVERS folder.
4. Double click on the STM3 folder.
5. Double click on the STMSETUP icon.
6. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Q: The colors of my image on my monitor do not match the output from my printer. What is wrong?
A: First you must have an understanding of how color is produced. A monitor displays color by transmitting Red, Green and Blue (RGB) light into your eyes. A printer uses existing light to reflect Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and blacK (CYMK) light into your eyes. It is virtually impossible to have these two different color types (transmissive and reflective) to match perfectly. Also, due to its transmissive nature, the monitor is able to display a much wider range of colors than a reflective product, such as a piece of paper with ink on it.
Secondly, most monitors are not calibrated for correct color display out of the box, they have to be calibrated to produce accurate colors. Adobe PhotoShop includes a basic monitor calibrator to do this; it is the Adobe Gamma utility. This utility is contained in the Control Panel in Windows and on the Macintosh. Some of the higher-end monitor calibrators use a suction cup device that sticks on the monitor and reads a range of colors displayed on the monitor. These hardware/software combination devices create much more accurate color profiles than the strictly software solutions.
Also, what type of color matching system (CMS) are you using when printing your image? The color matching system can greatly affect the output color of your image. For information on how to use the various color management system available, please check the CMS user documentation or the web site of the manufacturer.
To ensure that the images your Epson Color printer produces are as close as possible to the images displayed on your monitor you should do the following:
Calibrate your monitorExperiment with various Color Management Systems
Try using the ICM (Windows 95 or 98) or ColorSync (Macintosh) setting
Q: The quality of my printed output is unacceptable. What can I do to improve this?
A: First verify that you are using the correct printer driver for your printer model. Make sure that the printer's paper thickness lever is set to 0 for regular paper and + for envelopes or thicker media. If MicroWeave is off, turn this feature on. If High Speed is on, turn it off. Make sure the Media Type setting matches the paper or media loaded. Also, the Halftoning and Color Adjustment Mode options may be set incorrectly for your document type. Let the printer driver automatically select the settings for the best quality.
Secondly verify that the printable side of the paper is face up, and check the type of paper being used. EPSON brand paper, which is specifically designed for the Stylus ink jet series of printers, delivers the best-printed output. If your output is faint, check the printer driver to make sure you have selected a print resolution other than Economy.
The size or pixel resolution of your original image file may be too low. Try reducing the size of your printed image or using a higher resolution original image. A low resolution picture might look great on your display but will not look good when printed.
Also, try testing the printer to another computer. This will eliminate the possibility of a defective printer cable, parallel port, or software issue. If you're still experiencing a problem, try replacing the ink cartridge and make sure you are using a genuine EPSON ink cartridge. If the blue label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge.
Caution: If the blue label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge. If you have already installed it and the printer is printing correctly, change the cartridge immediately. If you have already installed the cartridge and now the nozzle check will not print completely even after running cleaning cycles, your printer may need service and you should call the EPSON Connection for further assistance.
Q: Vertical lines are not aligned or vertical banding appears. How can I correct this?
A: First make sure you are using the most current version of the printer driver, which is available on the EPSON web site.
To align the print head, make sure a high quality ink jet paper is loaded and the printer has power.
Access the "Utility" tab (if you are using Windows) or click the "Utility" button (if you are using a Macintosh) located in your printer driver settings.
Click the Print Head Alignment icon and follow the instructions on the screen.
Make sure the #8 alignment pattern is aligned perfectly. If not, choose one of the other alignment pattern numbers with the most perfect alignment and reprint the alignment sheet.
Make sure to use the printer's power switch to turn off the printer, otherwise the settings will not be saved.
If you have already tried to align the print head and did not have any success, try turning high speed off in the printer driver settings. Also, the print head nozzles may be clogged. From the head cleaning section found in the Utility section of the EPSON printer driver, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check pattern must be performed as a cycle.
After printing a nozzle check pattern, examine the printed dot pattern. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 6 cycles if necessary. If you continue to experience this situation, please contact the EPSON Connection for assistance.
Q: Why is my printer printing colored pages in black and white?
A:
1. Click on ‘START/SETTINGS/PRINTERS’
2. Right click on the ‘EPSON STYLUS COLOR 880/880i’ icon
3. Click on ‘PROPERTIES’
4. Click on the ‘MAIN’ tab
5. Click on ‘COLOR’ under the ink section
6. Click ‘APPLY’
7. Click ‘OK’
8. Try printing
Q: What should I do if the printed image has horizontal banding?
A: Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up in the sheet feeder. Run the nozzle check utility to see if a head cleaning is needed. Run the Head Cleaning utility, if necessary, to clear any clogged ink nozzles. Select Automatic as the Mode setting on your printer driver's Main menu (Windows) or in the Print dialog box (Macintosh). Check the error light. If the light is flashing, replace the appropriate ink cartridge. Make sure that Maximum is not selected as the Printable Area setting in your printer driver. When this setting is selected, banding may occur in the expanded area. Make sure that the Media Type selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of media loaded in the printer.
Q: When I print on 4"x6" paper, why does the image print outside of the perforated margins?
A: This should be resolved by choosing the 'centered' option within the printer driver properties.
Follow these instructions to change to the 'centered' preference. If this does not correct it, it may be a software issue and you may need to contact your software company for further support.
1. Click on Start/Settings/Printers
2. Right click on the "Epson Stylus Color 880/880i" icon
3. Click on "Properties"
4. Click on the "Paper" tab
5. Ensure that the "Paper Size" is set to "Photo Paper 4 x 6 in"
6. Under the "Printable Area" selection, choose "Standard" and "Centered"
7. Click on "Apply"
8. Click on "OK"
Q: I tried to print before turning the printer on, then clicked Retry after turning on the printer, and now I get an "Out of Paper" message. How can I fix this?
A: Please follow the directions below to resolve the situation.
1) Click on START, go to SETTINGS, and click on PRINTERS.
2) Double click on the STYLUS COLOR 880/880i icon.
3) Click on PRINTERS, and click on PURGE PRINT JOBS.
This will delete the job that got stuck in the queue when you tried to print with the printer off.
Q: When I try to print, the Print box automatically goes to the Fax mode and I don't even have a fax. Why?
A: The issue that you are having can be resolved by following the following directions:
1) Click on START, go to SETTINGS, and click on PRINTERS.
2) Double click on your STYLUS COLOR 880/880i icon.
3) Click on were it says PRINTER, and then click on were it says SET AS DEFAULT.
The Stylus Color 880/880i has now been set as the default printer.
Q: Can this printer be setup to print in Black by default instead of Color?
A: To select 'Black' ink within your printer driver, please follow the steps listed below.
1. Click on 'START', 'SETTINGS', 'PRINTERS'.
2. Right click on the printer model 'EPSON STYLUS COLOR 880/880i', then click on 'PROPERTIES'.
3. Once in the 'Printer Properties', click on the 'MAIN' tab.
4. Select 'BLACK' under the Ink type.
5. Click on 'APPLY', then 'OK' to save the setting.
* If you wish to print in color, repeat the steps listed above replacing 'BLACK' with 'COLOR' for the ink type.
** Keep in mind that the printer will print both black and color when 'COLOR' is selected as the ink type in your 'Printer Properties'.
Q: After printing something in the landscape mode I can't change to portrait mode. What can I do?
A: 1. Click on START, go to SETTINGS, and click on PRINTERS.
2. Right click on your STYLUS COLOR 880/880i icon, and then click on PROPERTIES.
3. Select Paper and change the Orientation to whatever you require.
4. Click on APPLY at the bottom of the window.
Your changes have now been saved, and are now the default. You will have to repeat this process any time you wish to make changes to the settings of your printer.
Q: Why does my printer print out blank pages?
A: Your printer may not be selected in your application or selected as the Windows default printer. Select your printer in your application or select it as the default Windows printer.
Your document may have more pages than you think. Select Print Preview in your software application Print menu before printing. Then either select to print only the current page, or only those pages with text, or delete the extra pages in your document before printing.
Your printer is not selected in the Macintosh Chooser. Select your printer in the Chooser.
Paper settings in the printer software may be incorrect for your paper size. Check the paper size, orientation, printable area, and layout settings to make sure they’re correct for your paper size.
The print head nozzles may be clogged. Perform a nozzle check and clean the print head if necessary.
Q: How can I increase my print speed from my PC?
A: Verify that your system meets the system requirements. The print speed is dependent upon the amount of RAM in your system, the type and speed of your computer's processor, and the amount of free hard drive space and degree of fragmentation of hard drive space in your computer.
Verify that you are using the EPSON Stylus COLOR 880 driver. Increase or maximize physical RAM, or lower the print resolution. If you're using single plain paper to print, check that the printer's blue paper thickness lever is set to the (Ř) position and not to the (+) position for envelopes. Close any background applications that are running. On a PC creating a unique spool directory improves printing performance by eliminating spooling conflicts within Windows. If your computer supports ECP/DMA mode, it should be enabled for maximum print speeds (see your computer documentation for details).
Q: Why can't I print from a particular Windows application in color?
A: Make sure the correct driver is selected and the Color option is enabled in the printer driver. Try printing again. If the image comes out monochrome, print from a resident program within Windows, such as Paintbrush. If the results are successful from Paintbrush, contact the software manufacturer of the application for assistance. If the results are not successful, troubleshoot the pertinent areas within Windows, such as the video driver.
Q: When printing with Windows 95 or 98, the message "The printer is out of paper" or "The printer is off-line" appears. Why?
A: Make sure the printer has paper. Also, the interface cable may not be securely connected. Turn off the printer and computer. Disconnect and reconnect the cable on both the printer and computer. Make sure the printer cable is fully shielded and meets the printer's specifications. Try printing a screen from a DOS prompt. If the DOS print screen does not print or is garbled, try using a different printer cable (a Belkin cable with a length of 6 feet or less is recommended).
Q: Why am I unable to drag and drop photos into a document?
A: If you're using Windows NT 3.51, this method of getting pictures into your documents may not be reliable. Try importing or using copy and paste. If your system has less than 32MB RAM, you may not be able to use drag and drop. Make sure you don't run too many applications at the same time. You may need to add memory to your system or use another method of getting photos into your documents. Your application may not support this method of adding pictures.
Q: How can I stop the Separator Page from printing in Windows ME?
A: To eliminate the separator page, please follow the directions below.
1) Click on START, go to SETTINGS, and click on PRINTERS.
2) Right click on your Stylus Color 880/880i and click on PROPERTIES.
3) Where it says SEPARATOR PAGE, change to NONE.
4) Click on APPLY.
5) The separator page has now been turned off.
Q: The printer won't feed paper. What should I do?
A: You may see a paper not loaded correctly error window on your screen. Remove the stack of paper from the sheet feeder. Check the paper specifications in the Appendix of your Printer Basics Guide for ranges of paper size and thickness you can print with, as well as environmental requirements for storage. Make sure the paper isn't curled or creased, isn't too old, isn't loaded above the arrow on the left edge guide, and that the paper isn't jammed in the printer. If the printer still will not feed paper, power the printer off, remove the printer cable, and make sure all of the packing materials are removed. If the problem persists, the printer may need to be sent in for service and you should contact the EPSON Connection technical support for assistance.
Q: Nothing prints. What should I do?
A: Make sure the printer cable is securely connected to the printer and computer ports. Turn on the computer and try printing again. If the cable was not the issue try running a nozzle check. If the nozzle check works, try checking for and deleting any stalled print jobs.
Q: The printer sounds like it is printing, but no ink is on the paper. What's wrong?
A: The print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check must be performed as a cycle. After printing a nozzle check, examine the printed dot pattern. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 3 cycles if necessary. If the nozzle check is not printing completely, and if the head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, try replacing the ink cartridge. Any ink cartridge installed into the printer must have a blue label on top of it. If the blue label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge. Using an ink cartridge, which does not have the blue label on it, may damage the printer. Caution: If you have already installed a cartridge which is missing the blue label, or if a previously installed ink cartridge was missing its blue label at the time it was installed, and now head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, your printer may require service and you should contact the EPSON Connection for further assistance.
Q: My printouts are missing color and/or black print. How can I resolve this issue?
A: If the printer is printing blank pages, make sure you are using the correct printer driver and make sure the paper size is correctly selected in the driver. If the printer is printing black only, the "Ink" option in the printer driver may be set to "Black" instead of "Color" or a setting in the software may be set to print black only. Also, the print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check must be performed as a cycle. After printing a nozzle check, examine the printed dot pattern. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to 3 cycles if necessary. If the nozzle check is not printing completely, and if the head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, turn the printer off overnight and try the cleaning cycles again. Try a new EPSON ink cartridge. Also, make sure you are using a genuine EPSON ink cartridge which has a blue label on top of it. If the blue label has been removed from the ink cartridge, do not install the cartridge. Using an ink cartridge which does not have the blue label on it may damage the printer. If you have already installed a cartridge which is missing the blue label, or if a previously installed ink cartridge was missing its blue label at the time it was installed, and now head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, your printer may require service and you should contact the EPSON Connection for technical support and further assistance.
Q: How do I calibrate the print head on my printer if my vertical lines are not aligned?
A: To align the print head, make sure that paper is loaded and the printer has power. Access the "Utility" tab located in your printer driver settings. Click the Print Head Alignment icon and follow the instructions on the screen.
Q: How can I stop the printer from feeding multiple pages at the same time?
A: Make sure the paper you are using is not too thin (see paper specifications in the Appendix of your Printer Basics Guide). Remove the stack of paper and fan the edges to separate the sheets. Reload the paper, making sure the edge guides are snug against both sides of the paper.
Q: Sometimes the paper doesn't eject all the way or is wrinkled. What should I do?
A: Make sure the correct paper size is selected in your application and/or printer software. If the paper doesn't eject fully, it may be too long for the printer. If the paper is wrinkled, the paper may be damp or too thin. Check the paper specifications in the Appendix of your Printer Basics Guide for ranges of paper size and thickness you can print with, as well as environmental requirements for storage.
Q: Why are my margins incorrect?
A: The paper may be loaded incorrectly. Make sure that the left and right edge guides are flush against both sides of the paper. Make sure the margins are set correctly in your software application (margins are not adjustable via the printer driver). Make sure you are not trying to print outside of the printable area of the page for your paper size (printable area of the page specifications are available in the Printer Basics Guide). Make sure the correct paper size is selected in the printer driver settings.
Q: How can I increase my print speed from my PC?
A: Verify that your system meets the system requirements. The print speed is dependent upon the amount of RAM in your system, the type and speed of your computer's processor, and the amount of free hard drive space and degree of fragmentation of hard drive space in your computer. Too many active USB devices may slow the printer. Disconnect USB devices that you're not using.
Verify that you are using the EPSON Stylus COLOR 880/880i driver. Increasing or maximizing physical RAM, lowering the print resolution, and if you are printing multiple copies of the same document, activate the "High Speed" option in the printer driver settings. Close any background applications that are running. On a PC creating a unique spool directory improves printing performance by eliminating spooling conflicts within Windows. If your computer supports ECP/DMA mode, it should be enabled for maximum print speeds (see your computer documentation for details).
Q: Why does the image look inverted, as if viewed in a mirror?
A: You may have accidentally used the "Flip Horizontal" option in the printer driver or a similar feature in your application. Turn off the setting in the printer driver and/or software application and try printing again.
Q: Is there a printer self test to determine if a problem is caused by the printer?
A: You can run a self test on the printer to determine whether a problem comes from the printer or some other source. Follow these steps to run the printer check:
1. Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off.2. Disconnect the interface cable from the printer.
3. Make sure paper is loaded in the printer.
4. Hold down the Load/Eject button, then press and release the power button. Continue holding down the Load/Eject button until the power light starts to flash, then release it. The printer prints one page showing its ROM version number, ink counter, and a nozzle check pattern. If the pattern has gaps in its dots, you need to clean the print head.
5. To end the check, turn off the printer after it prints the check page. Then reconnect the interface cable and turn on your printer and computer. If the check page prints, the problem probably lies in your software settings, the interface cable, or your computer. If the check page doesn't print, you should contact EPSON technical support.
How do you select the correct media type?
A:Your printer automatically adjusts itself for the type of paper you select in your printer software. That's why the Media Type setting is so important. It tells your printer what kind of paper you're using and adjusts the ink coverage accordingly. Before you print, always check your Media Type setting. Here are the settings you should choose for your paper:
| For this paper | Select this Media Type setting |
| Plain paper sheets or envelopes | Plain paper |
| EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper | 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper |
| EPSON Iron-On Cool Peel Transfer Paper | 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper |
| EPSON High Quality Ink Jet Paper | Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper |
| EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper | Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper |
| EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards | Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper |
| EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets | Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper |
| Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper | Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper |
| EPSON Photo Paper | Photo Paper |
| EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper | Photo Paper |
| EPSON Premium Glossy Photo Paper | Premium Glossy Photo Paper |
| EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film | Photo Quality Glossy Film |
| EPSON Photo Stickers | Photo Quality Glossy Film |
| EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies | Ink Jet Transparencies |
| Matte Paper - Heavyweight | Matte Paper - Heavyweight |
Q: How should I preserve my pictures?
A: For optimum image quality and longer print life, print your photos on EPSON's fade-resistant Matte Paper - Heavyweight (S041257) or Premium Glossy Photo Paper (S041286). EPSON Photo Paper has been specially formulated to work with EPSON's ink to create prints that last as long as traditional photographs when protected from light in photo albums or similar archival conditions. When you display your EPSON Photo Paper prints in picture frames or mounted on the wall, the paper provides extra UV (ultraviolet) light protection so your prints will last longer than prints on other ink jet photo papers. Depending on the type and intensity of the light your print is exposed to, a print on EPSON Photo Paper may last two or more years before noticeable fading occurs. Fade resistance could decrease in intense light conditions or increase if your print is protected by glass or special laminates.
Q: Can I use the cleaning sheets that are included with any special media I purchase?
A: No. These sheets can damage the printer.
Q: Can I use sheet labels with this printer?
A: Yes, EPSON makes Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets (S041106). To avoid paper jams, only load one Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheet at a time. Also, set the Media Type in the printer driver to the "Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper" setting.
Q: What is the correct way to load transparency paper?
A: It is recommended to use EPSON Ink Jet Transparency Paper (S041064). Before loading the transparency, place the included support sheet or a sheet of plain paper beneath the transparency (or beneath the stack of transparencies if you are loading more than one). You can load up to 10 transparencies at a time, but if you have more than one transparency loaded, the minimum top margin you can use is 1.2 inches. Also, you may get better results by loading one sheet at a time. Insert the transparency sheet making sure that the notch is at the top right side of the sheet. Remember to choose the correct Media Type setting in the printer driver software. Please refer to your Printer Basics Guide for detailed information.
Q: Does this printer support borderless printing?
A: No, this printer model does not support borderless printing.
Q: Who can I contact for assistance with the creative software that comes with the printer?
A: If you need software assistance, please contact the software manufacturer.
ArcSoft PhotoMontage 2000
ArcSoft PhotoImpression 2000
Phone:
(510) 440-9901, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, PST
Fax: (510) 440-1270
E-mail: support@arcsoft.com