Epson 400 Series User manual

Where to Find Information
This User’s Guide
Provides you with all the information you need to use your
EPSON Stylus COLOR 400 and consumable products, from
setting up to troubleshooting.
Online Help (CD-ROM)
Provides you with detailed information and instructions on the
Windows printer software that controls your printer. Online
help will be automatically installed when you install the printer
software. See Chapter 3 for information on accessing online
help.
EPSON Answers (CD-ROM)
Provides you with additional information on using your
printer and printing with colors. Here’s what you’ll find in
EPSON Answers:
❑How To displays a step-by-step guide for using your
printer, information about printer maintenance, and
instructions on replacing consumable products.
❑Problem Solver helps you fix common printing problems
when you encounter them.
❑Test Print lets you print a test page to check the results of
settings you have made and provides links to other sections
of EPSON Answers based on the results.
❑Color Guide explains the ABC’s of color printing and
shows you how to get impressive results from your printer.
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size cover-2
05-20-97 DR, pass 0

Color Ink Jet Printer
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SEIKO EPSON CORP.
The information contained herein is designed only for use with this EPSON printer.
EPSON is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.
Neither SEIKO EPSON CORP. 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 CORP.’s operating and maintenance instructions.
SEIKO EPSON CORP. 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 CORP.
EPSON and EPSON ESC/P are registered trademarks and EPSON ESC/P Raster and
EPSON Stylus are trademarks of SEIKO EPSON CORP.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
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.
Copyright © 1996 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.
User’s Guide
Proof Sign-off:
Ohtera _______
Nomoto _______
Keith _______
Grady _______ title page
F-R01
recylogo
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0

Declaration of Conformity
According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014
Manufacturer: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Address: 3-5, Owa 3-chome, Suwa-shi,
Nagano-ken 392 Japan
Representative: EPSON EUROPE B.V.
Address: Prof. J. H. Bavincklaan 5 1183
AT Amstelveen
The Netherlands
Declares that the Product:
Product Name: Ink Jet Printer
Type Name: EPSON Stylus COLOR 400
Model: P950A
Conforms to the following Directive(s) and Norm(s):
Directive 89/336/EEC:EN 55022 class B
EN 61000-3-2
EN 61000-3-3
EN 50082-1
IEC 801-2
IEC 801-3
IEC 801-4
Directive 73/23/EEC: EN 60950
October 1996
M. Hamamoto
President of EPSON EUROPE B.V.
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0
ii

Contents
Safety Information
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-1
A few precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2
ENERGY STAR Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-3
For United Kingdom Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-4
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-5
Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Printer
Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Chapter 2 Getting Started
Unpacking the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Choosing a Place for the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Using a printer stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Attaching the Paper Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Plugging in the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Installing the Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Connecting the Printer to Your PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Installing the Printer Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Installing in Windows 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Installing in Windows 95 (using plug-and-play) . . . . . . 2-14
Installing in Windows 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Loading Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Starting to Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0
iii

Chapter 3 Using the Printer Software
Checking Your Printer Driver Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
How to access the printer driver settings . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
How to check the settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Making Changes to Printer Driver Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Using the Automatic setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Using the predefined settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Customizing the print settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Making the Media Type setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Using the Printer Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Status Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Nozzle Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Head Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Print Head Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Checking Printer Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Understanding the EPSON Spool Manager . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Understanding the Despooler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Getting Information Through Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
From Windows applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
From Windows 95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
From Windows 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Chapter 4 Printing on Special Paper
Loading Special Paper and Other Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
About special media cleaning sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Loading Envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Loading Transparencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Using EPSON Photo Paper (S041134) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Removing the perforated margins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Storing EPSON Photo Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0
iv

Chapter 5 Maintenance and Transportation
Replacing an Ink Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Cleaning the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Transporting the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
Diagnosing the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Error indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Status Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Printer operation check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Paper handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
Printing quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
Increasing the Print Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Cleaning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25
Aligning the Print Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-28
Ink Cartridge Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-28
Contacting Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
For United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland users . . 6-30
For Australian users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-33
For Hong Kong and Singapore users . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-35
For Philippines users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-36
Appendix A Tips for Color Printing
Basics of Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Image Resolution and Image Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-5
Guidelines for Using Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0
v

Appendix B Printer Specifications
Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Printable area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5
Ink Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Environmental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Safety Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-9
Glossary
Index
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0
vi

R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Front
05-29-97 DR, pass 0
vii

Safety Information
Important Safety Instructions
Read all of these instructions and save them for later reference.
Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the printer.
❑Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a
radiator or heat source.
❑Place the printer on a flat surface. The printer will not
operate properly if it is tilted or at an angle.
❑Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet.
Do not insert objects through the slots.
❑Use only the type of power source indicated on the
printer’s label.
❑Connect all equipment to properly grounded power
outlets. Avoid using outlets on the same circuit as
photocopiers or air control systems that regularly switch
on and off.
❑Do not use a damaged or frayed power cord.
❑If you use an extension cord with the printer, make sure
the total ampere rating of the devices plugged into the
extension cord does not exceed the cord’s ampere rating.
Also, make sure the total ampere rating of all devices
plagged into the wall outlet does not exceed the wall
outlet’s ampere rating.
❑Unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean with a damp
cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer.
❑Except as specifically explained in this guide, do not
attempt to service the printer yourself.
Proof Sign-off:
Ohtera _______
Nomoto _______
Keith _______
Grady _______
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Introduction
06-02-97 DR, pass 0
Safety Information 1

❑Unplug the printer and refer servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following conditions:
If the power cord or plug is damaged; if liquid has entered
the printer; if the printer has been dropped or the cabinet
damaged; if the printer does not operate normally or
exhibits a distinct change in performance. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the operating instructions.
❑If you plan to use the printer in Germany, observe the
following:
To provide adequate short-circuit protection and over-current
protection for this printer, the building installation must be
protected by a 16 Amp circuit breaker.
Bei Anschluß des Druckers an die Stromversorgung muß
sichergestellt werden, daß die Gebäudeinstallation mit
einem 16 A-Überstromschalter abgesichert ist.
A few precautions
Even if you are familiar with other types of printers, be sure to
read through the following list of precautions before operating
your ink jet printer.
❑Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch the ink
cartridges during printing.
❑Under normal circumstances, ink will not come out of the
cartridges. If ink gets on your skin, wash it off with soap
and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them immediately
with water.
❑Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children.
❑Do not dismantle the ink cartridges or try to refill them.
This could result in damage to the print head.
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Introduction
06-02-97 DR, pass 0
2 Safety Information

❑Once you install an ink cartridge, do not open the clamp or
remove the cartridge except to replace it with a new one.
The cartridge may become unusable otherwise.
❑Install the ink cartridge immediately after you remove it
from its package. Leaving the cartridge unpacked for a long
time before use may result in reduced print quality.
❑Do not use an ink cartridge beyond the date printed on the
cartridge carton. For best results, use up the ink cartridges
within six months of installing them.
❑Do not shake an ink cartridge; this can cause leakage.
❑Always turn the printer off using the
P
power button. The
P
power light flashes until the print head is capped, which
means it is at rest in the far right position. Do not unplug
the printer or turn off the power to the outlet until the
P
power light stops flashing. The printer caps the print head
when no data is received for several seconds.
❑Before transporting the printer, make sure the print head is
capped (in the far right position) and the ink cartridges are
in place.
ENERGY STAR Compliance
As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has
determined that this product meets the ENERGY
STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.
The International ENERGY STAR Office Equipment Program
is a voluntary partnership with the computer and office
equipment industry to promote the introduction of
energy-efficient personal computers, monitors, printers, fax
machines, and copiers in an effort to reduce air pollution
caused by power generation.
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Introduction
06-02-97 DR, pass 0
Safety Information 3

For United Kingdom Users
Use of options
EPSON (UK) Limited shall not be liable against any damages or
problems arising from the use of any options or consumable
products other than those designated as Original EPSON
Products or EPSON Approved Products by EPSON (UK)
Limited.
Safety information
wWarning: This appliance must be earthed. Refer to rating plate
for voltage and check that the appliance voltage corresponds to
the supply voltage.
Important: The wires in the mains lead fitted to this appliance
are coloured in accordance with the following code:
Green and yellow — Earth
Blue — Neutral
Brown — Live
If you have to fit a plug:
As the colours of the mains lead of this appliance may not
match coloured markings used to identify the terminals in a
plug, please proceed as follows:
The green and yellow wire must be connected to the terminal
in the plug which is marked with the letter E or the Earth
symbol (
G
).
The blue wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter N.
The brown wire must be connected to the terminal in the plug
marked with the letter L.
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Introduction
06-02-97 DR, pass 0
4 Safety Information

If damage occurs to the plug, replace the cord set or consult a
qualified electrician.
Replace fuses only with a fuse of the correct size and rating.
Warnings, Cautions, and Notes
wWarnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
cCautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.
Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation
of your printer.
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Introduction
06-02-97 DR, pass 0
Safety Information 5

LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Introduction
06-02-97 DR, pass 0
6 Safety Information

Chapter 1
Getting to Know Your Printer
Proof Sign-off:
Ohtera _______
Nomoto _______
Keith _______
Grady _______
Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Options and Consumable Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
1
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Chapter 1
05-20-97 DR, pass 0
Getting to Know Your Printer 1-1

Printer Parts and Control Panel Functions
paper support
edge guides
printer cover
sheet feeder
paper support extension
output tray
output tray
extension
4
ink cartridge clamps
adjust lever
black ink out
light
color ink out
light cleaning button
paper out
light load/eject
button
power light and
button
5a
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Chapter 1
05-20-97 DR, pass 0
1-2 Getting to Know Your Printer

Buttons
Button Function
P
Power
Turns the printer on and off.
Resets the printer if pressed twice while the power is
on, which means it clears the printer’s memory.
E
Load/Eject
Loads or ejects paper if pressed and released within 2
seconds.
Resumes printing if pressed and released after a paper
out error.
R
Cleaning
Moves the print head to the ink cartridge replacement
position if pressed for 3 seconds while the
B
or
A
ink
out light is flashing or on.
Returns the print head to its home position after ink
cartridge replacement.
Performs print head cleaning if pressed for 3 seconds
when the
B
or
A
ink out light is off.
Lights
The lights on the front of the printer indicate the printer status,
such as receiving data, paper jam, or low on ink. The following
table describes what the lights mean.
P
S
BA
Printer Status
N
---
Printer is on.
F
---
Receiving data, replacing an ink cartridge,
charging ink, or cleaning the print head.
-
N
--
Paper out. Load paper in the sheet feeder; then
press the
E
load/eject button to resume printing.
-
FOO
Paper jam. Take all the paper out of the feeder,
and reload the paper. If the light continues to
flash, turn off the printer and gently pull all the
paper out of the printer.
--
F
-
Ink low. The black ink cartridge is nearly empty.
Obtain a black ink cartridge (S020093).
-- N -
Ink out. The black ink cartridge is empty. Replace
the black ink cartridge (S020093).
---
F
Ink low. The color ink cartridge is nearly empty.
Obtain a color ink cartridge (S020089).
---
N
Ink out. The color ink cartridge is empty. Replace
the color ink cartridge (S020089).
N = on, O = off, F = flashing, - = irrelevant
1
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Chapter 1
05-20-97 DR, pass 0
Getting to Know Your Printer 1-3

System Requirements
When using your printer with a PC, you need Microsoft®
Windows 3.1 or Windows 95; a shielded, twisted-pair parallel
cable; and the following:
Minimum system Recommended system
80386/16 MHz processor Pentium processor
16MB RAM 32MB RAM
20MB hard disk space More than 50MB free hard disk space
VGA monitor VGA or better monitor
Note:
See the minimum system requirements on the inside of the CD-ROM
cover before using or installing the EPSON Answers software.
Your computer dealer can help you update your system if it
does not meet these requirements.
Options and Consumable Products
Interface cables
EPSON supplies several types of interface cables. You can use
any interface cable that meets the specifications listed below.
See your computer manual for any additional requirements.
Parallel Interface Cable (shielded) C83602 from D-SUB
25-pin (computer) to 36-pin Amphenol 57 Series (printer)
Ink cartridges
Black ink cartridge S020093
Color ink cartridge S020089
LHawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Chapter 1
05-20-97 DR, pass 0
1-4 Getting to Know Your Printer

EPSON special media
Most plain paper works well in your printer. In addition, paper
specifically designed for ink jet printers such as EPSON’s 360
dpi Ink Jet Paper will meet most high-quality printing needs.
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041025
S041059
EPSON 360 dpi Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041060
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (A4) S041026
S041061
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Letter) S041062
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (Legal) S041067
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A4) S041071
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (Letter) S041072
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Film (A6) S041107
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper (A4) S041126
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper (Letter) S041124
EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (A4) S041063
EPSON Ink Jet Transparencies (Letter) S041064
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (A6) S041054
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (5 ×8”) S041121
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Card (8 ×10”) S041122
EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheet (A4) S041106
EPSON Photo Paper (4 ×6”) S041134
Note:
❑The availability of special media varies by country.
❑Ink jet printers are particularly sensitive to the condition of your
paper. Keep unused paper in its original packaging and store it in
a cool, dry place.
1
R
Hawaii2 Ref. Guide
Rev.b
A5 size Chapter 1
05-20-97 DR, pass 0
Getting to Know Your Printer 1-5