Dell 962 All In One Photo Printer User manual

Dell™ Photo Printer 540 User's Guide
Click the links to the left for information on the features and operation of your printer. For information on
other documentation included with your printer, see Finding Information.
To order supplies from Dell, double-click the icon on your desktop, visit Dell's website
(www.dell.com/supplies), or order by phone.
For the best service, make sure you have the Dell printer Service Tag available. See Express Service Code.
Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your printer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to
avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2004 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or
their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Model 540
March 2004 P/N 4J1412 Rev. A00

CAUTION: SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Use the following safety guidelines to help ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your Dell™
Photo Printer 540 and working environment from potential damage.
CAUTION: Do not set up this product or make any electrical or cabling connections, such as
the power supply cord, during a lightning storm.
CAUTION: Do not expose this product to liquid, moisture, or extreme temperatures. Power
supplies and battery chargers are intended for indoor use only. The use of controls,
adjustments, or procedures other than those specified herein may result in exposure to
shock and/or electrical or mechanical hazards.
NOTICE: Do not disassemble this product; there are no user-serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing
to qualified service personnel.
Use only the power supply provided with this product or the manufacturer's authorized replacement
power supply.
Connect the power cable to an electrical outlet that is near the product and easily accessible.
Refer service or repairs, other than those described in the user documentation, to a professional
service person.
Read and follow these instructions before using Dell products. Always follow basic safety procedures.
The use of an accessory attachment that is not recommended by Dell, such as an AC adapter, may
cause fire, electric shock, or injury.
Do not allow chemicals, such as suntan lotion, to come into contact with the painted surface of the
printer.
If the printer has been subjected to inclement weather or you suspect water has gotten inside the
printer, turn off the printer and remove the paper tray and photo cartridge. Allow all components to
air-dry for at least 24 hours before using the printer again.
The printer and the power supply contain a small amount of lead in the circuit board. Disposal of this
material may be regulated due to environmental considerations.
Disposal of the photo cartridge is not regulated and should not be subject to state or local landfill,
incineration, or recycling requirements.
For more disposal or recycling information, contact your local authorities. In the US, visit the
Electronics Industry Alliance website at www.eaie.org.

Finding Information
What Are You Looking For?
Find It Here
Drivers for my printer
My printer documentation
Drivers and Utilities CD
Documentation and drivers are already installed on your computer. You
can use the CD to reinstall drivers or access your documentation.
Readme files may be included on your CD to provide last-minute
updates about technical changes to your printer or advanced technical-
reference material for technicians or experienced users.
NOTE: The latest drivers and documentation updates can be found at
support.dell.com.
Safety information
How to set up and use my
printer
How to care for my printer
Troubleshooting
information
How to contact Dell
Warranty Information
Owner's Manual
NOTE: This document is available as a PDF at support.dell.com.
How to set up my printer
Setup Diagram
Service Tag and Express
Service Code
Service Tag and Express Service Code

This label is located on the bottom of the printer near the serial
number. Use the Service Tag to identify your printer when you use
support.dell.com or contact technical support.
Latest drivers for my
printer
Answers to technical
service and support
questions
Online discussions with
other users and technical
support
Documentation for my
printer
Dell Support Website - support.dell.com
NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support site.
The Dell Support website provides several online tools, including:
Solutions - Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from
technicians, and online courses
Community - Online discussion with other Dell customers
Upgrades - Upgrade information for components
Customer Care - Contact information, order status, warranty,
and repair information
Downloads - Drivers
Reference - Printer documentation and product specifications

Getting Started
Understanding the Printer Parts
Setting Up Your Printer
Loading the Photo Cartridge
Loading the Photo Paper
Changing Settings-Press Menu
Understanding the Printer Parts
Lights and Buttons
Description
1
Error indicator light
Glows amber when an error condition exists.
2
Power button
Turn your printer on or off; button is lit when power is on.
3
Save to PC
Establishes a connection with your computer that allows you to save photos
from your memory card, USB storage device, or camera directly to the
computer.
4
Rotate
Rotates a photo 90 degrees each time button is pressed. (For display
purposes only. Does not change orientation of a printed photo.)
5
Menu
Change settings and customize printing options. (See Changing
Settings-Press Menu.)
6
Memory card light
Light blinks while checking card, then glows steady green.
7
Navigation (Arrow)
buttons
Navigate through photos and menus.
8
Select
Choose the photo or option that appears on the Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD).
9
Cancel
Cancel the current print job or back out of the menus.
10
Print Color
Print color copy of the selected photo(s).

11
Print Black & White
Print black and white copy of the selected photo(s).
Part
Description
1
LCD
Display photos, printer status, messages, menu options, or settings.
2
Power connector
Supply power to the printer.
3
USB connector to PC
Connect your printer to a computer.
4
Camera or USB storage device
connector
Connect a PictBridge-enabled or other compatible camera or USB
storage device.
5
Memory card slot
Memory card slot for Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick (MS), MMC
(MultiMedia Card), and Smart Media (SM) cards.
6
Memory card slot
Memory card slot for CompactFlash (CF).
7
Paper tray door
Provides access to insert the paper tray

Part
Description
1
Paper stop
Maintains orderly stack of finished prints.
2
Top paper tray cover
Finished prints are stacked here.
3
Bottom paper tray cover
Keeps dust off photo paper.
4
Photo cartridge door
Provides access to load photo cartridge.
Part
Description
1
Slot for photo
paper path
Photo paper exits here during printing passes. Do not block the slot. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
clearance is required.
2
Air vents
Provide ventilation and cooling to the printer. Do not block the vents.
3
Express Service
Code
Located on the bottom of the printer. This is used to identify your printer when you
use support.dell.com or contact technical support.
Setting Up Your Printer
NOTE: The Dell Photo Printer 540 supports Microsoft® Windows® 2000 and Windows XP.
Follow the instructions on your Setting Up Your Printer poster to install the hardware (and software, if using
your printer with a computer). For setup troubleshooting, see Setup Problems.
Loading the Photo Cartridge
NOTE: Use only the photo cartridge from a Dell Photo Print Pack. Do not use any other type of photo
cartridge in your printer. Do not expose your photo cartridge to extreme temperatures. (See
information on photo print pack packaging.)
If there is slack in the print ribbon, remove it by pushing in on the spool, then rotating the spool
clockwise a maximum of one half turn.
1.

NOTE: Be careful not to rotate the spool more than necessary. Doing so could reduce the number of
prints you are able to make.
Open the photo cartridge door.2.
Slide the photo cartridge in, label side up, with the arrow pointing toward the printer. Push the photo
cartridge until it clicks into place.
3.
Close the photo cartridge door.4.
To remove the photo cartridge, push up on the green lever and slide the photo cartridge out.5.
NOTE: The photo cartridge may lock in place if there is a paper jam. Do not attempt to remove the
photo cartridge without first clearing the paper jam.
NOTE: Warning messages and reorder instructions are displayed on the LCD when the photo cartridge
is low. When there are 5 or fewer prints remaining, the error light blinks

Loading the Photo Paper
NOTE: Use only the perforated photo paper from a Dell Photo Print Pack. Do not use inkjet paper or
any other photo paper. Do not remove perforated tabs from the photo paper until a photo is printed.
If the paper tray is in the printer, pull it out.1.
Open the top paper tray cover.2.
Open the bottom paper tray cover by grasping the sides as indicated by the arrows. Do not insert your
fingers under the cover to open it.
3.
Fan the photo paper to keep the sheets from sticking together.4.
Load the photo paper into the paper tray, with the glossy side up and the Dell logo side down.5.
NOTE: Do not load more than 20 sheets of photo paper in the paper tray. Do not load photo paper
that is missing perforated tabs. To avoid fingerprints, hold the photo paper by the edges and do not
touch the glossy side of the paper.
Close the bottom paper tray cover. The top paper tray cover must remain open; it catches finished
prints.
6.
7.

6.
Open the paper tray door.7.
With the top paper tray cover open, insert the paper tray into the printer.8.
Changing Settings-Press Menu
Press the Menu button to customize your photo and printer settings.
Select Menu Items
Press the Menu button.1.
Press until the menu heading you want appears on the display, then press Select ( ).2.
Continue scrolling until the option you want is highlighted.3.
Press Select ( ) and follow the directions on the LCD.4.
NOTE: The option currently selected is noted with a checkmark.
Print Options Menu

From the Print Options sub-
menu:
You can:
PRINT
Specify a print mode:
Color (default)
Black and White
LAYOUT
Specify a print layout for an entire print job:
1 4x6 (10 x 15 cm) photo/sheet (default)
1 3.5x5 (9 x 13 cm) photo/sheet
2 photos/sheet (54 x 85 mm)
4 photos/sheet (wallet setting, 51 x 76 mm)
9 photos/sheet (34 x 50.7 mm)
PRINT INDEX
Prints an index (thumbnail) of all photos on your card (maximum 25
thumbnails per sheet).
PRINT ALL
Print all photos on your memory card.
Photo Quality Menu
From the Photo Quality sub-menu:
You can:
AUTO BRIGHTNESS
Specify automatic brightness control for all your photos:
On (default)
Off
PHOTO BRIGHTNESS
Change the brightness level (for the current photo only).
Press :
Brightest
Brighter
Normal (default)
Darker
Darkest
COLOR MODE
Specify natural or vivid colors:
Natural (default)
Vivid
Photo Display Menu

From the Photo
Display sub-menu:
You can:
SLIDE SHOW
Sequentially display all photos on the installed card. Specify how long each photo is
displayed. The slide show begins with the photo most recently displayed
3 seconds (default)
5 seconds
10 seconds
Press Cancel to stop the slide show.
NOTE: To print any photo while it is displayed, press Print Color or Print Black and
White. Follow the directions on the display to cancel or resume the slide show.
ROTATE
Press to rotate the current photo counterclockwise.
Press to rotate the current photo clockwise.
NOTE: The Rotate feature changes the orientation of the photo on the screen, not
in print.
Photo Management Menu
From the Photo
Management sub-
menu:
You can:
PHOTO NAVIGATION
Specify what is displayed on the LCD when you install a card or camera: the main
photo view or your card/camera folder structure.
Photo View (default)-display individual photos on the installed card or
camera, starting with the current or most recent photo.
Folder View-displays the folder structure on the installed card, if present.
Navigate as you would on a computer. If there are no folders, navigation
defaults to Photo View.
ERASE ALL PHOTOS
NOTE: This function permanently erases all photos from your card.
Erase All Photos from Memory
Cancel
SAVE TO PC
Establishes a connection with your computer that allows you to save photos from
your memory card, USB storage device, or camera directly to the computer. Same
functionality as pressing the Save to PC button. For details, see Saving and
Copying Photos to Your Computer.
Printer Settings Menu

From the Printer Settings sub-
menu:
You can:
RESTORE DEFAULTS
Reset all photo and printer settings to the defaults.
Yes
No
LANGUAGE
Select a language for the display.
COUNTRY
Select your country; this provides a number to order Dell photo print
packs.
POWER SAVE
Specify how long the printer remains inactive before entering auto
sleep mode.
1 Minute
5 Minutes
10 Minutes (default)
15 Minutes
Maintenance Menu
From the sub-menu:
You can:
PRINTS REMAINING
Check if the photo cartridge is low; if so, directions are displayed.
6-15 prints remaining
1-5 prints remaining
0 prints remaining
CHANGE CARTRIDGE
Display directions for changing the photo cartridge.
ADD PHOTO PAPER
Display directions for adding photo paper.
PRINTER DIAGNOSTICS
Help diagnose print quality problems and provide printer identification information.
Test Print
Service Tag-display your printer's service tag identification information.

Using Your Printer
Printing Without a Computer
Printing With a Computer
Printing Without a Computer
This section describes how to print directly from a memory card, USB storage device, or PictBridge-enabled
or other compatible camera.
Printing Tips
Before you print, make sure the power is connected, and the photo cartridge and photo paper are
loaded. For help, see your Setting Up Your Printer poster.
Printing starts when you press Print. The photo paper cycles 4 times during the printing process. The
first 3 passes apply layers of yellow, magenta, and cyan color. The fourth pass applies the Dell Clear
Life Coating that protects and preserves the photo.
NOTE: If you remove the card or disconnect the camera during printing, then printing will stop when
the current photo is printed.
For advanced print options (color and auto brightness, layouts, index prints, etc.), press the Menu
button. For help, see Changing Settings-Press Menu.
NOTICE: Wait until a print is finished before removing it from the paper tray. Failure to do so can
cause paper misfeeds or jams and can damage the printer.
NOTICE: Do not load more than 20 sheets into the paper tray.
Printing From a Memory Card
You can print directly from a CF (CompactFlash), SD (Secure Digital), MS (Memory Stick), MMC (MultiMedia
Card), or SM (Smart Media), or a USB memory key.
NOTE: Your printer reads only one memory source at a time. Printing is disabled if multiple sources
(cards or camera) are loaded or connected.
Inserting Memory Cards
NOTICE: Insert memory cards with the memory card label facing up.

NOTE: When you insert a memory card, a drive will appear on your computer. The photos on the
memory card will not appear in this drive until you press Save to PC.
NOTE: Only photos within the first five levels of folders are displayed in Photo View mode. Use Folder
View mode to navigate photos at deeper levels.
Selecting Photos to Print
Press to scroll through photos. Press to select a photo for printing. (Press a second time
to deselect that photo.)
1.
For more than one copy of any photo, press to increase or decrease the number of copies.
Selecting zero (0) deselects the photo for printing.
2.
To select more photos to print, repeat Steps 1 and 2.
To deselect all photos, press Cancel for 2 seconds.
3.
Press Print Color or Print Black and White to begin printing all selected photos.
After the print job is complete, all photos are deselected.
4.
Choosing a Layout Option
Press the Menu button, then select Print Options Layout.1.
Press to scroll through photo layouts. Press to select a layout.2.
3.

1.
2.
Press Print Color or Print Black and White to begin printing all selected photos.
The selected layout applies to this print job only. The layout then reverts to the default
1-up 4x6 photo.
3.
Printing a Print Order (Pre-Selected Photos)
When you pre-select, or tag, photos for printing on your camera, you create a print order (DPOF: Digital
Print Order File). Your printer detects the print order and automatically displays the set of photos, allowing
one-touch printing.
Insert your memory card.1.
If your card contains a print order, this message is displayed:
A print order was found. View camera photo selections?
View Selected (Displays selected photos only.)
View All (Displays all photos on the card.)
Highlight a choice, then press Select ( ).2.
If View Selected was the selected choice, all photos in the print order are displayed as already
selected. Press Print Color or Print Black and White to print the photo selections defined by the
print order or use the button to make changes to the print order. If View All was the selected
choice, select photos to print as described in Selecting Photos to Print.
3.
Printing From Your Pictbridge-enabled or Other Compatible
Camera

You can print photos from any PictBridge-enabled camera or other compatible device. Make sure the card
slots are empty before you plug in the camera cable.
Plug the USB cable from the camera into the camera port connector on the side of the printer.1.
If a photo is printing when you plug the camera cable in, the camera is detected when printing is
completed.
If your camera is PictBridge enabled, then use your camera display to review photos, choose printing
options, and print. (If your camera is not PictBridge enabled, then use your printer LCD.)
2.
Canceling Printing
To stop printing, press Cancel and follow the directions on the LCD.
Printing is canceled upon completion of the current printing pass. The unfinished print is ejected into the
paper tray.
Removing Perforated Tabs From Prints
NOTE: Remove perforated tabs from prints only after printing. Photo paper missing perforated tabs
will not feed properly.
Fold the tabs up, then down.1.
Remove and discard each tab.2.

Printing With a Computer
Printing Tips
See Printing Tips for helpful printing tips.
Windows-Based Operating System Requirements
Minimum
Recommended
Windows 2000 Professional, Service
Pack 2 and 3
Windows XP Home Edition and
Home Edition, Service Pack 1.
Windows XP Professional and
Professional, Service Pack 1
Pentium II processor
Pentium IV processor
200 MHz
2.0 GHz
48 MB RAM
256 MB RAM
100 MB available free space
500 MB available free space
USB port
USB port
CD-ROM
CD-ROM
800 x 600 display [16 bit]
1024 x 768 (32 bit)
Installing Printer Drivers and Software
Make sure the power cable is connected to the printer and the printer is on.1.
Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD into your computer.2.
Plug the USB cable (sold separately) into the USB connector on your computer.3.
Plug the other end of the USB cable into the square USB connector on the printer.4.
5.

3.
4.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the printer drivers and printer documentation. Select
Typical to install all components. Select Custom to install specific components.
5.
Insert the remaining two CDs, one at a time, to install your photo editing software programs. Follow
the on-screen instructions on the printer.
6.
Printing From a Computer
To Print
Turn on your computer and printer, and make sure they are connected with a USB cable.1.
Using your preferred application, open the photos you want to print.2.
Access printer settings by selecting Print or Page Setup from the File menu (depending on your
application and operating system).
3.
Make sure the printer is selected as the current printer and that the paper size is set to
4 x 6 in. (102 x 152 mm).
4.
Change any other settings as needed, then click OK or Print. (Depending on your application and
operating system, you may first need to return to the main menu and select Print from the File
menu.)
5.
NOTE: Print selections made from the printer in standalone mode (use of printer without a computer)
are not used when you send a print job from the computer.
Choosing a Color Mode
Color mode is an automatic color correction feature that helps you easily create high-quality prints in no
time. The Dell Photo Printer 540 features three color mode options:
Natural

high-quality, natural color for everyday photo-making (default).
Vivid
richer, more vivid colors.
None
to disable automatic color correction.
Change the color mode:
From the Start menu, select Settings, then select Printers.1.
Right-click the Photo Printer icon, then select Printing Preferences.2.
Click the Advanced button.3.
Under Document Options, select Printer Features, then select Color Mode.4.
Select a color mode option, then click OK.5.
Click OK when complete.6.
Canceling printing
You can cancel printing from the printer or from the computer.
Canceling Printing From the Printer
Press the Cancel button on the printer.
Canceling Printing From a Computer:
Double-click the Printer icon in the system tray.1.
Click the print job you want to cancel.2.
Select Document, then select Cancel.3.
Saving and Copying Photos to Your Computer
With the printer turned on, insert a memory card in the appropriate slot or connect a camera (not
PictBridge enabled) via the camera port connector .
1.
Press the Save to PC button on the printer.2.