Epson STYLUS 850Ne User manual

User’s Guide
Printed on recycled paper with at least 10% post-consumer content
bunnyUG.book Page i Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

ink cartridge
clamp
printer cover
edge guides
paper support extension
paper support
control panel
output tray
output tray
extensions
color print head
cleaning button
black print head
cleaning button
power
button
paper thickness lever
load/eject
button
bunnyUG.book Page 1 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

ii
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 CORPORATION. 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 CORPORATION 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 CORPORATION’s operating and maintenance instructions.
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 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 CORPORATION.
EPSON, EPSON ESC/P, and EPSON Stylus are registered trademarks and EPSON ESC/P 2 is a trademark of SEIKO
EPSON CORPORATION. EPSON SoundAdvice is a service mark and EPSON FaxAdvice, and PhotoEnhance are
trademarks of Epson America, Inc.
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.
The ENERGY STAR emblem does not represent EPA endorsement of any product or service.
Copyright © 1998 by Epson America, Inc. CPD-7449
10/98
bunnyUG.book Page ii Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

iii
FCC Compliance Statement
For United States Users
This printer has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause interference to radio and television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures.
◗Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
◗Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
◗Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
◗Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING
The connection of a non-shielded equipment interface cable to this equipment will invalidate the FCC
Certification of this device and may cause interference levels which exceed the limits established by the FCC for
this equipment. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain and use a shielded equipment interface cable with this
device. If this equipment has more than one interface connector, do not leave cables connected to unused
interfaces. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
For Canadian Users
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le materiel brouilleur du
Canada.
bunnyUG.book Page iii Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

iv
bunnyUG.book Page iv Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

v
Contents
Introduction
Windows System Requirements 1
Macintosh System Requirements 2
How To Use Your Manuals 3
Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips 4
Where To Get Help 5
ENERGY STAR Compliance 6
Year 2000 Ready 6
Important Safety Instructions 7
1Basic Printing
Printing from Windows 1-1
Setting Printer Options from Windows Applications 1-2
Setting Default Printer Options 1-4
Checking Printer Status 1-5
Printing from a Macintosh 1-7
What To Do When the Printer Lights Flash 1-10
bunnyUG.book Page v Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Contents
vi
2Printing on Special Paper
Using Special Paper and Media 2-1
Letterhead, Preprinted Forms, and Legal-size Paper 2-3
EPSON 360 dpi, High Quality, and Photo Quality
Ink Jet Paper 2-3
EPSON Photo Quality Glossy Paper, Film, and
Transparencies 2-4
Envelopes 2-5
EPSON Photo Paper 2-6
EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards 2-7
EPSON Photo Quality Self Adhesive Sheets 2-8
EPSON Iron-On Transfer Paper 2-8
3Custom Printing
Using Predefined Advanced Settings 3-2
Customizing Print Quality and Special Effects 3-4
Customizing Color Settings 3-7
Using ColorSync on the Macintosh 3-9
Selecting Paper Size and Orientation Options 3-11
Selecting Paper Options in Windows 3-11
Selecting Paper Options on a Macintosh 3-15
Selecting Print Layout Options 3-20
Choosing Print Layout Options in Windows 3-20
Choosing Print Layout Options on a Macintosh 3-27
Saving Custom Settings 3-33
Redefining Custom Settings 3-34
Deleting Custom Settings 3-34
bunnyUG.book Page vi Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Contents
vii
4Managing Print Jobs
Managing Print Jobs in Windows 98, Windows 95,
and Windows NT 4.0 4-1
Using Status Monitor 2 4-2
Selecting the Speed & Progress Options (Windows 98 and
Windows 95) 4-9
Using the Spool Manager (Windows 98 and
Windows 95) 4-11
Additional Monitoring Options in Windows NT 4.0 4-12
Managing Print Jobs in Windows 3.1 4-13
Using the Spool Manager 4-13
Managing Print Jobs on a Macintosh 4-15
Using Monitor3 4-16
Using the Macintosh Status Monitor 4-17
Selecting Configuration Options 4-19
5Maintenance and
Transportation
Replacing an Ink Cartridge 5-1
Removing an Empty Ink Cartridge 5-2
Installing the New Cartridge 5-4
Replacing an Outdated Ink Cartridge 5-5
Cleaning the Print Heads 5-6
Using the Head Cleaning Utility 5-6
Using the Control Panel 5-7
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern 5-8
Aligning the Print Heads 5-8
Using the Print Head Alignment Utility 5-9
Using the Control Panel 5-9
Cleaning the Printer 5-10
Transporting the Printer 5-10
bunnyUG.book Page vii Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Contents
viii
6Troubleshooting
Diagnosing Problems 6-1
Checking the Control Panel Lights 6-2
Running a Self Test 6-3
Using Hex Dump Mode 6-4
Improving Print Quality 6-4
Solving Printing Problems 6-8
Solving Printer Software Problems 6-10
Fixing Paper Problems 6-13
Solving Miscellaneous Printout Problems 6-15
Uninstalling Printer Software 6-17
AEPSON Accessories
BTechnical Specifications
Glossary
Index
bunnyUG.book Page viii Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

1
Your EPSON Stylus®COLOR 850Ne bundled printer/print
server is the ideal shared output device for business graphics,
layout proofs, digital photography, or any project created by
users on your network. With resolutions up to 1440 by 720
dpi, you get amazingly realistic photographic images and vivid
graphics in color, or razor-sharp black printing. All at the fastest
speed of any EPSON ink jet printer.
The printer software for Microsoft®Windows®and
Macintosh®provides advanced color management with
adjustable levels of brightness, contrast, saturation, and ink
colors. Support for ColorSync™2.01 and Windows ICM
ensures printouts that closely match the colors on your monitor.
Your printer offers flexible resource sharing; you can use it with
multiple types of operating systems and network operating
systems. With an integrated Ethernet card for complete
network connectivity, setup is fast and easy.
Windows System Requirements
To use your printer and its software with a PC, your system
should have:
◗An IBM®compatible PC with at least a 386/25 MHz (for
Windows 3.1) or 486/25 (for Windows 98, Windows 95 or
Windows NT 4.0) or faster processor
◗DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.1x, Windows 95,
Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0
◗At least 16MB of RAM (20MB recommended)
Introduction
Note:
Your EPSON Stylus
COLOR 850Ne printer is
identical to the EPSON
Stylus COLOR 850 except
for the added network
capabilities. Therefore, this
guide refers to the EPSON
Stylus COLOR 850 printer
driver software.
bunnyUG.book Page 1 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
2
◗At least 50MB of free hard disk space for storing images
(100MB or more is recommended)
◗VGA, Super VGA, or better display adapter and monitor
◗Double-speed CD-ROM drive (quad-speed or faster
recommended) for installing the printer software
◗Network connection to Ethernet
◗A twisted-pair (10BaseT) cable to connect the printer’s
Ethernet card to your network
Macintosh System Requirements
To use your printer and its software with a Macintosh, your
system should have:
◗Any Macintosh or Power Macintosh model except the
Macintosh +, Macintosh 512, Performa®410,
PowerBook®100, and some early versions of the
Macintosh, such as the II or Classic
◗System 7.1 or later (7.5 or later recommended)
◗At least 16MB of RAM (20MB or more is recommended)
◗At least 50MB of free hard disk space for storing images
(100MB or more is recommended)
◗13-inch RGB display or better
◗Double-speed CD-ROM drive (quad-speed or faster
recommended) for installing the printer software
◗Network connection to Ethernet
◗A twisted-pair (10BaseT) cable to connect the printer’s
Ethernet card to your network
bunnyUG.book Page 2 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
3
How To Use Your Manuals
See the Setup Guide to set up your printer, install your software,
and configure the card for the network. See the Administrator’s
Guide for network, configuration, and Ethernet card
information. This User’s Guide contains the following
information:
Chapter 1 covers the basics of printing with Windows or
Macintosh.
Chapter 2 gives guidelines for selecting the right paper or other
media for your print job and instructions for loading it in your
printer.
Chapter 3 tells you how to print special projects with custom
settings for print quality, color management, and distinctive
layouts.
Chapter 4 explains how to manage print jobs and check printer
status while you’re printing.
Chapter 5 gives instructions for replacing ink cartridges,
cleaning and aligning the print heads, and cleaning and
transporting the printer.
Chapter 6 provides solutions for problems you may have. (For
solutions to network problems, see Chapter 7 in your
Administrator’s Guide.)
Appendix A lists the EPSON accessories you can use with your
printer.
Appendix B provides technical details on your printer, ink
cartridges, and media.
A Glossary and Index are included at the end of the book.
bunnyUG.book Page 3 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
4
Warnings, Cautions, Notes, and Tips
You’ll find this information throughout your manual:
Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.
Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your
equipment.
Notes contain important information about your printer.
Tips contain additional hints for great printing.
bunnyUG.book Page 4 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
5
Where To Get Help
EPSON provides technical assistance through electronic
support services and automated telephone services 24 hours a
day. The following tables list the contact information:
Electronic support services
Service Access
World Wide Web From the Internet, you can reach EPSON’s Home Page at
http://www.epson.com.
EPSON Internet FTP Site If you have Internet FTP capability, use your Web browser (or
other software for FTP downloading) to log onto ftp.epson.com
with the user name anonymous and your e-mail address as the
password.
EPSON Download Service You can call the EPSON Download Service at [phone]. Set
your communications software to 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
Modem speed can be up to 28.8 Kbps.
EPSON Forum on
CompuServe®
Members of CompuServe can type GO EPSON at the menu
prompt to reach the Epson America Forum. For a free
introductory CompuServe membership, call [phone] and
ask for representative #529.
Automated telephone services
Service Access
EPSON SoundAdviceSM For pre-recorded answers to commonly asked questions about
EPSON products 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call
[phone].
EPSON FaxAdvice™Access EPSON’s technical information library by calling
[phone]. You must provide a return fax number to use
this service.
EPSON Referral Service For the location of your nearest Authorized EPSON Reseller or
Customer Care Center, call [phone].
bunnyUG.book Page 5 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
6
To speak to a technical support representative, dial
[phone] (U.S.) 6 AM to 8 PM Pacific Time, Monday
through Friday and 7 AM to 4 PM, Saturday, or [phone]
(Canada), 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
Toll or long distance charges may apply.
Before you call, please have the following information ready:
◗Product name
◗Product serial number
◗Computer configuration
◗Description of the problem
You can purchase ink cartridges, paper, manuals, and
accessories from EPSON Accessories at [phone] (U.S.
sales only). In Canada, please call [phone], for dealer
referral. Or visit our website at www.epsonsupplies.com (U.S.
sales only).
ENERGY STAR Compliance
As an ENERGY STAR Partner, EPSON has determined that
this product meets the ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy
efficiency.
The EPA 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.
Year 2000 Ready
Your EPSON Stylus COLOR 850Ne is Year 2000 Ready.
However, be sure the other parts of your computer system are
also ready for the year 2000.
Note:
If you need help using
another manufacturer’s
software with an EPSON
product, see the
documentation for that
program for technical
support information.
bunnyUG.book Page 6 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
7
Important Safety Instructions
Before using your printer, read the following safety instructions
to make sure you use the printer safely and effectively:
◗Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning. Clean
with a damp cloth only. Do not spill liquid on the printer.
◗Do not place the printer on an unstable surface or near a
radiator or heating vent.
◗Do not block or cover the openings in the printer’s cabinet
or 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.
◗Place the printer near a wall outlet where the plug can be
easily unplugged.
Placez l’imprimante près d’une prise de contacte où la fiche
peut être débranchée facilement.
◗Do not let the power cord become damaged or frayed.
◗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
plugged into the wall outlet does not exceed the wall
outlet’s ampere rating.
◗Except as specifically explained in this User’s Guide, do not
attempt to service the printer yourself.
Caution:
Always turn the printer
off using the
Ppower
button. If you’re using a
power strip, do not
switch it off or unplug the
printer until the
Ppower
light is off.
bunnyUG.book Page 7 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Introduction
8
◗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.
◗Do not put your hand inside the printer or touch the
cartridge during printing.
◗Under normal circumstances, ink will not come out of the
cartridge. If it does get 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.
◗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 foil 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
Ppower button.
When you press this button, the
Ppower light flashes
briefly then goes out. Do not unplug the printer or turn off
the power to the outlet until the
Ppower light is off.
◗Before transporting the printer, make sure the print head is
capped in the far right position and the ink cartridges are in
place.
bunnyUG.book Page 8 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

1-1
1
It’s easy to print all your color and black-and-white documents
with your EPSON Stylus COLOR 850Ne. First set up your
printer, install the software, and configure the card on the
network, following the instructions in the Setup Guide. Then
read this chapter to find out about:
◗Printing from Windows
◗Printing from a Macintosh
◗What to do when the printer lights flash
Printing from Windows
To print from a Windows application, you choose Print from
the File menu. You can then choose which pages to print, the
number of copies, and other options from your application’s
Print dialog box.
When you click a button in the Print dialog box, you select
additional settings using your printer software, such as the
media type you’ve loaded and the resolution you want to use.
The following sections tell you how to do the following:
◗Select printer software settings and print from Windows
applications
◗Change the default printer software settings
◗Check your printer’s status while you print
Basic Printing
Note:
Setup instructions for
NetWare using
PCONSOLE, OS/2, and
UNIX are in the
Administrator’s Guide
.
Appendix B has DOS
support information.
bunnyUG.book Page 1 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Basic Printing
1-2
Setting Printer Options from Windows
Applications
This section describes the settings you’ll need to check for all
your everyday printouts. See Chapter 3 for information about
advanced settings for special print jobs.
1. Open your word processor or other Windows software
application and open a file you want to print.
2. Choose Print from the File menu. You see the Print dialog
box for your application.
3. Make sure your EPSON Stylus COLOR 850 printer is
selected, and then click the Printer, Setup, Properties, or
Options button. (You may have to click a sequence of
buttons in different dialog boxes.)
You see the printer settings dialog box:
4. Click the Main tab if necessary and make sure the Mode
option is set to Automatic. This is the easiest way to get
good printing results for all kinds of documents, on all
types of paper.
Note:
You can also set printer
options by clicking Print
Setup in the File menu,
then clicking the Printer,
Setup, Properties, or
Options button.
However, in most
applications you’ll then
have to select the Print
option from the File
menu to print using your
changes.
Click to
select your
media type
Click for
more
information
Use the Quality/Speed slider to select
your print resolution
Click to
select
Automatic
mode
For more information
about printer settings,
click the Help button.
In Windows 98,
Windows 95, and
Windows NT, you can
right-click any item on
the screen and then click
What’s This?
bunnyUG.book Page 2 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM

Basic Printing
1-3
5. Choose the Media Type you want to print on from the
following list:
◗Plain paper
◗360 dpi Ink Jet Paper
◗Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper
◗Photo Paper
◗Photo Quality Glossy Film
◗Ink Jet Transparencies
The type of paper or other media you choose determines
the print quality (resolution) you can use. If you’re not sure
which setting to select for your media, see the table on
page 2-1.
6. Choose Color or Black ink.
7. Set the slider to Quality or Speed. This lets you choose
between the fastest printing or highest resolution for the
media you’re using.
To use the highest resolution available for plain paper
(1440 dpi), access the More Settings dialog box. (Click
Advanced, then click More Settings.)
8. Click the Paper tab and choose your paper size, number of
copies, orientation, and printable area.
9. Click the Layout tab (not available in Windows 3.1x) and
check the proportional printing, page layout, and
watermark options to make sure they’re correct for your
print job.
10. Click OK when you’re finished checking your settings.
11. In the Print dialog box, click OK or Print. You may need to
click a sequence of these buttons on different dialog boxes.
To print at the highest
resolution (1440 dpi), you
can use plain paper, Photo
Paper, or one of the Photo
Quality media. For the
best printing at any
resolution, always use
EPSON media.
The Quality/Speed slider is
not available for certain
media types.
Note:
See Chapter 3 for detailed
instructions on using printer,
layout, and paper settings.
If you installed Status Monitor
2, you may want to click the
Utility tab and open the
Printer Status window. See
Chapter 4 for information on
Status Monitor 2; see
Chapter 5 for instructions on
using the other utilities on the
Utility tab.
bunnyUG.book Page 3 Wednesday, November 4, 1998 9:22 AM