Epson L121 User manual

L121 User's Guide

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Contents
L121 User's Guide ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Product Basics .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Printer Parts Locations ....................................................................................................................... 10
Control Panel Buttons and Lights .................................................................................................. 10
Printer Parts - Top ......................................................................................................................... 11
Printer Parts - Inside...................................................................................................................... 12
Printer Parts - Back........................................................................................................................ 13
The Power Off and Sleep Timers ....................................................................................................... 13
Changing the Power Off and Sleep Timer Settings - Windows...................................................... 13
Changing the Power Off and Sleep Timer Settings - Mac.............................................................. 15
Loading Paper ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Loading Paper ................................................................................................................................... 17
Paper Loading Capacity..................................................................................................................... 20
Printing from a Computer ......................................................................................................................... 21
Printing with Windows ........................................................................................................................ 21
Selecting Basic Print Settings - Windows ...................................................................................... 22
Print Quality Options - Windows ............................................................................................... 23
Multi-Page Printing Options - Windows..................................................................................... 24
Selecting Double-sided Printing Settings - Windows ..................................................................... 24
Double-sided Printing Options - Windows................................................................................. 26
Selecting Additional Layout and Print Options - Windows ............................................................. 26
Custom Color Correction Options - Windows............................................................................ 28
Image Options and Additional Settings - Windows.................................................................... 29
Header/Footer Settings - Windows ........................................................................................... 29
Selecting a Printing Preset - Windows........................................................................................... 30
Selecting Extended Settings - Windows ........................................................................................ 32
Extended Settings - Windows ................................................................................................... 33
Printing Your Document or Photo - Windows................................................................................. 34
Checking Print Status - Windows.............................................................................................. 36
Selecting Default Print Settings - Windows.................................................................................... 36

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Changing the Language of the Printer Software Screens ......................................................... 37
Changing Automatic Update Options ............................................................................................ 38
Printing with the Built-in Epson Driver - Windows 10 S....................................................................... 39
Selecting Print Settings - Windows 10 S........................................................................................ 40
Printing on a Mac ............................................................................................................................... 43
Selecting Basic Print Settings - Mac ............................................................................................. 44
Print Quality Options - Mac ....................................................................................................... 48
Print Options - Mac ................................................................................................................... 48
Selecting Page Setup Settings - Mac ............................................................................................ 48
Selecting Print Layout Options - Mac............................................................................................. 49
Sizing Printed Images - Mac.......................................................................................................... 50
Managing Color - Mac ................................................................................................................... 50
Color Matching and Color Options - Mac .................................................................................. 51
Printing Your Document - Mac....................................................................................................... 52
Checking Print Status - Mac...................................................................................................... 53
Selecting Printing Preferences - Mac ............................................................................................ 54
Printing Preferences - Mac........................................................................................................ 54
Cancelling Printing Using a Product Button........................................................................................ 55
Refilling Ink ................................................................................................................................................ 56
Ink Safety Precautions ....................................................................................................................... 56
Check Ink Levels ................................................................................................................................ 57
Disabling Special Offers with Windows ......................................................................................... 58
Purchase Epson Ink ........................................................................................................................... 59
Ink Bottle Part Numbers................................................................................................................. 60
Refilling the Ink Tanks ........................................................................................................................ 60
Adjusting Print Quality.............................................................................................................................. 65
Print Head Maintenance..................................................................................................................... 65
Print Head Nozzle Check............................................................................................................... 65
Checking the Nozzles Using the Product Buttons..................................................................... 66
Checking the Nozzles Using a Computer Utility........................................................................ 68
Print Head Cleaning ...................................................................................................................... 71
Cleaning the Print Head Using the Product Buttons.................................................................. 71
Cleaning the Print Head Using a Computer Utility..................................................................... 73

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Power Ink Flushing ........................................................................................................................ 76
Flushing the Ink Using a Computer Utility ................................................................................. 76
Print Head Alignment ......................................................................................................................... 78
Aligning the Print Head Using a Computer Utility........................................................................... 78
Cleaning the Paper Path .................................................................................................................... 80
Checking the Number of Sheets Fed.................................................................................................. 81
Checking the Sheet Counter - Windows ........................................................................................ 81
Checking the Sheet Counter - Mac................................................................................................ 82
Cleaning and Transporting the Product .................................................................................................. 84
Cleaning the Product.......................................................................................................................... 84
Transporting Your Product ................................................................................................................. 84
Solving Problems ...................................................................................................................................... 89
Checking for Software Updates.......................................................................................................... 89
Product Light Status ........................................................................................................................... 90
Running a Product Check .................................................................................................................. 91
Solving Setup Problems ..................................................................................................................... 92
Noise After Filling the Ink............................................................................................................... 93
Software Installation Problems ...................................................................................................... 93
Product Lights Turn On and then Turn Off..................................................................................... 94
Product Does Not Turn On or Off................................................................................................... 94
Solving Paper Problems..................................................................................................................... 94
Paper Feeding Problems............................................................................................................... 94
Paper Jam Problems ..................................................................................................................... 95
Paper Ejection Problems ............................................................................................................... 96
Solving Problems Printing from a Computer....................................................................................... 97
Nothing Prints................................................................................................................................ 97
Product Icon Does Not Appear in Windows Taskbar ..................................................................... 98
Printing is Slow .............................................................................................................................. 98
Solving Page Layout and Content Problems.................................................................................... 100
Inverted Image............................................................................................................................. 100
Too Many Copies Print ................................................................................................................ 100
Blank Pages Print ........................................................................................................................ 101
Incorrect Margins on Printout....................................................................................................... 101

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Incorrect Characters Print............................................................................................................ 102
Incorrect Image Size or Position.................................................................................................. 102
Slanted Printout........................................................................................................................... 103
Solving Print Quality Problems......................................................................................................... 103
White or Dark Lines in Printout .................................................................................................... 104
Blurry or Smeared Printout .......................................................................................................... 104
Faint Printout or Printout Has Gaps ............................................................................................. 105
Grainy Printout............................................................................................................................. 106
Incorrect Colors ........................................................................................................................... 107
Uninstall Your Product Software....................................................................................................... 108
Uninstalling Printing Software - Windows .................................................................................... 108
Uninstalling Product Software - Mac............................................................................................ 109
Where to Get Help............................................................................................................................ 109
Technical Specifications ........................................................................................................................ 112
Windows System Requirements ...................................................................................................... 112
Mac System Requirements .............................................................................................................. 112
Printing Specifications...................................................................................................................... 113
Paper Specifications ........................................................................................................................ 113
Printable Area Specifications ........................................................................................................... 114
Ink Specifications ............................................................................................................................. 115
Dimension Specifications ................................................................................................................. 115
Electrical Specifications ................................................................................................................... 116
Environmental Specifications ........................................................................................................... 116
Interface Specifications .................................................................................................................... 116
Notices ..................................................................................................................................................... 117
Important Safety Instructions............................................................................................................ 117
General Printer Safety Instructions.............................................................................................. 117
FCC Compliance Statement............................................................................................................. 118
Binding Arbitration and Class Waiver ............................................................................................... 119
Trademarks...................................................................................................................................... 122
Copyright Notice............................................................................................................................... 123
A Note Concerning Responsible Use of Copyrighted Materials................................................... 123
Default Delay Times for Power Management for Epson Products ............................................... 124

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Copyright Attribution.................................................................................................................... 124

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L121 User's Guide
Welcome to the L121 User's Guide.
For a printable PDF copy of this guide, click here.

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Product Basics
See these sections to learn about the basic features of your product.
Printer Parts Locations
The Power Off and Sleep Timers
Printer Parts Locations
See these sections to identify the parts on your printer.
Control Panel Buttons and Lights
Printer Parts - Top
Printer Parts - Inside
Printer Parts - Back
Parent topic: Product Basics
Control Panel Buttons and Lights

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1power button
2power light
3 Error light
4cancel button
Parent topic: Printer Parts Locations
Printer Parts - Top
1 Rear paper feed
2 Paper support
3 Ink tanks

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4 Control panel
5 Edge guide
Parent topic: Printer Parts Locations
Printer Parts - Inside
1 Front cover
2 Print head in home position
Parent topic: Printer Parts Locations

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Printer Parts - Back
1 AC inlet
2 USB port
Parent topic: Printer Parts Locations
The Power Off and Sleep Timers
The product enters sleep mode or turns off automatically if it is not used for a period of time. You can
adjust the time period before power management begins, but increasing the time reduces the product's
energy efficiency.
Changing the Power Off and Sleep Timer Settings - Windows
Changing the Power Off and Sleep Timer Settings - Mac
Parent topic: Product Basics
Changing the Power Off and Sleep Timer Settings - Windows
You can use the printer software to change the time period before the printer enters sleep mode or turns
off automatically.

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1. Access the Windows Desktop and right-click the icon for your product in the right side of the
Windows taskbar, or click the up arrow and right-click . Select Printer Settings and click the
Maintenance tab.
2. Click the Printer and Option Information button.
You see this window:
3. Select the time period you want as the Power Off Timer setting.
4. Click Send.
5. Select the time period you want as the Sleep Timer setting.
6. Click Send.
7. Click OK to close the open program windows.
Parent topic: The Power Off and Sleep Timers

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Changing the Power Off and Sleep Timer Settings - Mac
You can use the printer software to change the time period before the printer enters sleep mode or turns
off automatically.
1. In the Apple menu or the Dock, select System Preferences. Select Print & Fax,Print & Scan, or
Printers & Scanners, select your product, and select Options & Supplies. Select Utility and select
Open Printer Utility.
2. Select Printer Settings.
You see this screen:
3. Select the time period you want as the Power Off Timer setting.
4. Select the time period you want as the Sleep Timer setting.
5. Click Apply.
6. If you see the confirmation message, click Yes, and close the Printer Settings window.

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Parent topic: The Power Off and Sleep Timers

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Loading Paper
Before you print, load paper for the type of printing you will do.
Loading Paper
Paper Loading Capacity
Loading Paper
You can print on plain paper in these sizes: Letter (8.5 × 11 inches [216 × 279 mm]), A4 (8.3 × 11.7
inches [210 × 297 mm]), and Legal (8.5 × 14 inches [216 × 356 mm]).
1. Pull up the paper support.

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2. Slide the edge guide left.
3. Insert paper, printable side up and short edge first, against the right side. If you are inserting a stack
of paper, fan the sheets first and tap the stack on a flat surface to even the edges.

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4. Slide the edge guide against the paper, but not too tightly.
Note: Leave enough space in front of the product for the paper to be fully ejected.
Note: Return unused paper to the original package as soon as you finish printing. Keep unused
paper and prints away from high temperature, humidity, and direct sunlight.
Always follow these paper loading guidelines:
• Load only the recommended number of sheets.
• Load paper short edge first, no matter which way your document faces.
• Load letterhead or pre-printed paper top edge first.
• Do not load paper above the arrow mark inside the edge guide.
• Check the paper package for any additional loading instructions.
Parent topic: Loading Paper
Related references
Paper Loading Capacity

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Paper Loading Capacity
Paper type Load up to this many sheets
Plain paper - Letter (8.5 × 11 inches
[216 × 279 mm]) or A4 (8.3 × 11.7 inches
[210 × 297 mm])
Approx. 50 sheets for one-sided printing *
15 sheets for two-sided printing
Plain paper - Legal (8.5 × 14 inches
[216 × 356 mm])
1 sheet
* Based on paper weight of 20 lb (75 g/m2). Do not load paper above the arrow mark inside the edge
guide.
Parent topic: Loading Paper